Derby/BMA

[Garry Russell]

Photo Collection

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenmoll ... /lightbox/

[DaveB]

A lovely set of phots.. some great stuff going on in the background too

ATB
DaveB

[Tomliner]

Some very evocative pics Garry.They remind me of all my involvements/visits with EMA and British Midland either when working for BT or just viewing.I might even repost some of my own pics again.Ta very much EricT

[TSR2]

What a great collection. I'd forgotten about the BM 330's, and i didn't realise there were two BM 1-11's. The DC9 is however one of the worst looking jets to grace the skies (albeit not quite as bad a you know what)

[Garry Russell]

There were five One-Elevens Ben

G-AXLL,M,N were their own Srs. 500 bought new and introduced arround 1969/70

At the time they used to get more than they needed and lease out to help pay for the fleet

The One-Elevens didn't spend long there and I don't think all three were in service at the same time

Later on (late '80's) they leased two One-Eleven 300's that had been in service with Airways Cymru. G-WLAD in BM diamond livery and G-CYMU in full Airways Cymru livery.

[Dev One]

Looking at the Argonauts, brought back memories too!
And as an aside my Uncle would have been 100 yrs old tomorrow. ( He was the MD of Derby Aviation/Airways/British Midland before Michael Bishop stepped in in '69 (?)).
Keith

[Garry Russell]

They intended to re engine the Canadair with RR Darts.

This wa because the cost of operat8ing them was sending them towards ruin.

After a feesability study by RR they abandoned the idea as there was no possibilty of expanding the fleet beyond the three they alreay had and Visccounts started to become widely available and affordable.

They did a swap, with adjustment, which saw Viscount 736 G-AODG of British United joing BMA and Herald G-ASKK going to BUA (CI).

The single Viscount was joined by a mottly collection of machines later replace by the V.813 from SAA and V.814 from Lufthansa. One of the earlier 'odd' Viscounts, G-AWXI, was an ex Lufthansa V.814 but that was written off before any of it's bethren joined BMA.

As an aside, the Herald was another type that after a few years was re introduced. They had only one in the early 'fleet', G-ASKK, but that had been backed up with at different times by G-APWA and G-ATHE both leased from HP.

Later they aquired three SADIA machines which became G-ASVO, G-ATIG and G-BAVX.