Canadair Argonaut?

robbie · Post by **robbie** » 09 May 2006, 15:50

Garry,

Were they flown by B.M.A. at that time?, only I'm sure I remember the Argonaut with something like Derby aviation or some such name, can't remember it's a long time ago!?

Robbie.
:think:

Post by **Garry Russell** » 09 May 2006, 15:58

Hi Robbie

Derby Aviation, later Derby Airways bought five and operated three of them.

They were later painted in a blue and white livery with DA on the tail.

Later the airline was renamed British Midland, the titles on the fuse and BM on the tail was the only livery change.

BM found them very expensive to operate and at one time they were seriously looking into re engining with Rolls Royce Darts.

The airframes were superb but the engines were a constant source of trouble.

They eventually dropped the idea and were just starting to introduce the Viscount as a replacement when the Stockport crash of G-ALHG in June 1967 occurred.

They retired the other two (G-ALHS&G-ALHY) by the end of that season.

Garry

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 09 May 2006, 16:30

SOmetimes dont you wish you had a camera - as I said earlier in the thread
I can remember seeing all three of BMAs C4s on the ramp simultaneously
at Luton AND all departing in unison the noise and smoke was impressive

Leif

robbie · Post by **robbie** » 09 May 2006, 16:56

Thank's Garry,
Damn you're a mine of info!.

I had a good friend who was licensed on the Argonaut, he proved to the caa, after a fatal crash, that it was possible to transfer fuel from one wing to another by making some dodgy switching in the cockpit, there were
some major mods carried out after that episode, don't know wether it was the stockport incident though?.

Leif: at E.M.A years ago we often changed engines on those oldies, and people would come out of the offices to watch the first start up, the whole airport used to disappear in a cloud of smoke, especially the P&W 2800
on FAA convair 440's, we even would leave the airstairs down for a quick getaway when one would catch fire, and they did!.

memories.

Robbie

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 09 May 2006, 17:12

Robbie - I cna relate

At Ocean airways we took two 440s from Sunshine Airways out of EYW -
Crews went to pick them up at St Pete and the first one caught fire on start
up and burnt off the nacelle .Needless to say Ocean kept the Martin 404s
until they closed up shop

Leif

migman29 · Post by **migman29** » 10 May 2006, 01:43

britishtourer wrote:Hi Lief!

Thanks for the sound pointer! The BMA paint comes with the base pack.

Oh and, I've heard that one before! (My mum's uncle was a customs officer!)

Bt I've got a damn good sound file for Merlins too.
It came from the Dambusters expansion pack for Fs2002.

If you want it pm me and I'll send it to you.

Mark :-({|=

britishtourer · Post by **britishtourer** » 10 May 2006, 08:05

Thanks Mark!

Vixus and I are going to take her on a little flight today to get some pics for you! Look out in the gallery area!

Avant-Garde-Aclue · Post by **Avant-Garde-Aclue** » 12 May 2006, 19:01

As a kid I used to watch ex BOAC Argonauts in Aden Airways livery at Khormaksar. I just had to get the Argonaut from Avsim, been flying it for a few months, the flight dynamics can catch you out at times, but all the same a nice aircraft that has fond memories for me.

Here are some screenshots, sorry they are not in good old nostalgic black and white.

Two notches of flap and plenty of up trim, don't make any violent control movements and she should settle nicely. It does occasionally stall at 200kts, not been able to figure that out yet.

Sean

cstorey · Post by **cstorey** » 13 May 2006, 08:48

The cause of the BMA Stockport crash was not mishandling of the fuel system, but mis-rigging of the fuel cocks so that when certain cocks were in the detent, they were not in fact operating as they should have been. Subsequent examination of DC4s revealed that this was a widespread problem

One little piece of history - can anyone help with it? It was an Argonaut that took the then Princess Elizabeth to Nairobi, and an Argonaut ( possibly the same one) that returned with her as Queen. Does anyone know which a/c were involved?

Chris

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 13 May 2006, 08:53

Chris
there is a website that has a lot of photos of Entebee and the "other" Eastleigh as Toby calls it - in there they talk about AND show photos
of both aircraft - damned if I can rememebr the link right now but Im sure someone else (HEY TOBY) will have it - there is also a Pathe news film fo the occasion again with (purportedly) the C4s involve - you find that at the Pathe news library

Leif