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Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 18:14
by Paul K
NigelC wrote: Paul K wrote:I flew from Heathrow ( or was it Gatwick ? ) to Lagos, via Kano in 1976 with BCal, and I wonder now if it was a DC10 ? I have a feeling it was.
In '76 it was more likely to be VC10.

How I wish, Nigel. I'd love to be able to say I'd flown in a VC-10, but it definitely wasn't one.
cstorey wrote:Paul : you are almost certainly correct that it was a DC10 as I think that all the VC10s had gone ( to Malawi, Oman etc) by late 1974, and BCal did not acquire its only 747 ( known as Hitler's Revenge for some obscure reason connected with its lack of reliability) until rather later
Yes, it definitely wasn't a 747 so you must be right, Chris. I've flown on a number of DC-10s, but had completely forgotten about that one until this thread came up. I believe its also the only time I ever flew with British Caledonian.
Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 18:51
by Garry Russell
BCAL had two Boeing 747's that I can think of
G-BJXN, G-HUGE
Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 20:15
by speedbird591
Garry Russell wrote:BCAL had two Boeing 747's that I can think of
G-BJXN, G-HUGE
BA inherited them and operated them on routes out of Gatwick. At least one of them was a combi and had freight on the main deck. We Heathrow crews were called to work them when they were short at LGW. It only carried a small number of economy passengers which meant that the senior crew took those positions in contrast to LHR aircraft which had hundreds
That picture of the Caledonian Tristar is very odd. It is dated 1998 but BA had got shot of Airtours/Caledonian by then so it can't be. But as Dave says, Utopia came in in 1997 so that could be right. I don't remember the BCAL Airbuses being in Caledonian colours either. I wish I hadn't found that photo now
Ian

Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 20:18
by TSR2
I think one of the BCAl airbuses was painted in Caledonian, but I'm not sure when... I think it was just prior to the take over

Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 20:33
by TSR2
Here you go Ian... there was 2 I think, the one below and G-CVYE
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... entry=true
Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 20:38
by Paul K
G-HUGE...better its on a Jumbo than a Chipmunk.

Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 21:32
by NigelC
One for the road......

Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 21:36
by NigelC
Or a real classic...

Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 22:09
by DaveB
It is dated 1998

I hadn't noticed that!
I was going to add that G-HUGE was BA's toe-dip into big time freight. Thank goodness I checked.. that one was G-KILO
An interesting shot Ian that's giving us all plenty to wonder about
ATB
DaveB

Re: An Old Favourite
Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 23:19
by speedbird591
DaveB wrote:I was going to add that G-HUGE was BA's toe-dip into big time freight.
BA have had a few of their own freighters in the past. At the moment they wet lease three brand new 747-8F freighters in BA World Cargo livery as well as leasing others on an ad hoc basis.
I used to love working on the 707 freighters. I know I'm always going on about it - but a steward on a freighter? It was the best job in the world
Ian
