Car Ferry 1948

[Garry Russell]

FIlm clip of the then new car ferry service across the channel

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/car-f ... ilver+city

[FlyTexas]

That's a nice way to cross. Using the Chunnel would be kinda boring compared to this.

Brian

[dodger]

That's a nice find Garry,

How time fly' s [pardon the pun] i remember the old Silver City and that Ford V8 Pilot being loaded takes me back as i learnt my trade as a Panel Beater on those, and they were built like Tanks!!

Cheers,

Roger.

[Tomliner]

Nice clip Garry.Am I right in thinking that the aircraft featured was one of the earlier models?.The reason being that its tail fin didn't have the strengthening strake fitted. EricT

[Garry Russell]

Hi Eric

Yes it is a Mk.21 and as shown was in fact the Bristol demonstrator that SCA later purchased.

Also noticable in that version is the smaller prop and blunter spinner. The 31 introduced more power to make better use of the 108ft wing of the 21 and the larger pitch mechanism meant a longer more pointed spinner. The 21 also has square tip shorter span tail planes but a lot of 21 adopted the larger rounded tip tailplane of the 31. The increase in power necessitated extra fin to counteract higher engine out assymetric loads and that gave the 31 the dorsal.

Contrary to popular belief, Silver City operated a fleet, but never bought the 31 as they didn't need the extra power and range the 31 offered over the 21. Their routes were short and 2-3 cars was not pushing the weight limit by any means. They didn't need that but did need more volume.

As a result of discussion with Bristol over their needs, Bristol proposed a simple nose extension of the 31E to increase the capacity to 3/4 cars.

An increase in fin area to offset the longer nose and the main gear shortened by 4 inches to lower the nose back down to 21/31 sill height to fit the ramps, produced the Superfreighter. Despite the very different look of the Superfreighter it really was just a 31E without any changes apart from the mentioned mods.

Channel Air Bridge, the ferry division of Air Charter, did have three Mk.31 and two of those were converted to Superfreighters after some years in service. They had a fleet of Superfreighters and wanted a couple more but the line had closed. Bristol solved the problem by converting two existing aircraft G-AMLP/G-AMSA. The un converted example, G-ANMF went on to serve as the only 31 in British United service and that often gets confused as a one time Silver City Mk.31.

[nigelb]

Interesting clip! Thanks for posting, Gary.

Nigel²

[guym-p]

There's a series called "Britain on Film" on BBC4, taken from the Rank Organisation's "Look at Life" series. It was shot in superb quality on 35MM colour film. The series is nearly over, but episodes are still available on BBC iPlayer.

In Episode 2: "Brits at Play", the Bristol 170 car ferry is covered (briefly) from 13'48" - 14'35".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... s_at_Play/

Guy.

[Garry Russell]

Hu Guy

That's a Carvair...but still interesting

[guym-p]

Carvair! How silly! Two engines, four engines, high wing, low wing. Pretty much unmistakable, really. Got carried away in my excitement.

[Garry Russell]

Right airline