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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0881.PDF
25 FLIGHT, RITANNIA slots are at lin pitch to permit rapid changes of seating accommodationeither four, five or six abreast. Movable partitions further permit variation of accommodation, and are designed to be installed quickly.Six-abreast seating for 93 passengers forms the standard version of the Britannia; this may be compared with the luxury first-class sleeperversion, suitable for transatlantic non-stop services, which seats 64, including 17 single-width upper berths and 15 double-width lowerberths with four fully reclining "sleeperette" chairs. The 17 upper sleeping berths are arranged to fold up into the roof; the lower berthsare formed by the ingenious folding of passenger seats. A crew rest-room may be installed in the forward cabin and anattractive cocktail bar-lounge may be fitted aft as required. Five toilets are available in each version, two opposite and in line with the airscrewdiscs and the other three right aft. Adequate adjoining washroom ADJUSTABLE-B/ SEATS FOR UP 1 101 PASSENGER \ BRISTOL PROTEUS 755 37 TURBOPROPS IN REVISED COWLINGS CREW ENTRY FORWARD UNDERFLOOR DOOR FREIGHT HOLD FLIGHT DECK. TWO PILOTS, RADIO OPERATOR (PORT) NAVIGATOR (ST'B'D) SUPERNUMERARY SEAT FRONT PRESSURE DOME roof windows on either side are of particular assistance when flying inthe circuit. The "systems" control panels are worthy of special note: the fuelpanel, for example, is virtually a diagrammatic picture of the fuel system. All fuel lines are indicated, warning lights are in their correct relativepositions and flow meters take the place of the engines. Similar panels are employed for other systems. The navigator has a large chart table and access to the roof sextant,and all crew members are provided with generous stowage space for documents, personal effects, and so forth. Crew sleeping-berths (twobunks) may be fitted as required on the starboard side immediately aft of the flight deck. Radio and Radar. A typical installation is as follows: duplicatedH.F. transmitter-receivers; twin V.H.F. transmitter-receivers; twin A.D.F. receivers; I.L.S.; D.M.E. (200 Mc/s); duplicated V.O.R.; Loran;search radar; intercom and public address systems. Wherever possible, all aerials are suppressed. The forward part ofthe fin tip is the Loran receiver and the H.F. aerials are suppressed in each wing-root leading edge. Twin A.D.F. suppressed loops are sub-merged in the fuselage upper skin and the search radar is contained beneath the radome in the unpressurized portion of the nose. Thelatter part of the aircraft also carries y.O.R./D.M.E. homing aerials on either side and a D.M.E. distance aerial below. PAYLOAD ACCOMMODATION. The Britannia's cabin is 99ftlong and 12ft wide, and the entire length is unobstructed, with a head- room of 6ft Sin. Seat attachments are provided by two sets of twinslotted-rails set at the international standard track of 31.7in, and these facilities are provided. The 76-seat mixed-class arrange-ment allows for 60 tourist-class passengers in the main cabin and 16 first-class seats in the aft cabin, including the cocktaillounge. A spacious pantry is situated behind the flight deck. Two underfloor freight holds, one forward of the wing (386cu ft), the other aft (443 cu ft), are accessible via large (30in by 5 lin) freight doors under the starboard side. Bothfreight holds are pressurized, and their floors stressed to 75 lb/sq ft. COMMERCIAL HISTORY. The first order for the Britannia wasplaced by B.O.A.C. in July 1949, for 25 aircraft. The first six of these were to have had Bristol Centaurus piston engines, but in December1950 this idea was abandoned, and it was decided that all the aircraft should be powered by the Bristol Proteus turboprop. In August 1955B.O.A.C. increased their order from 25 to 33 aircraft, made up as follows: 15 Britannia 102s, eight Britannia 302s, and ten Britannia 300LRs (sincedesignated 312). Towards the end of that year the Corporation sold one of its 300-series aircraft to the Ministry of Supply, and orderedone more long range Britannia 312. Five of the 302s, it was decided earlier this year, would be brought up to long-range standard by instal-ling full 312 wing tankage; their designation became 305. The first order for the Britannia from an overseas operator came fromEl Al Israel Airlines in June 1955; three 313-series aircraft were ordered, with an option on two more. In October of the same yearCanadian Pacific Airlines also placed an order for three Britannia 314s, with an option on a further five. In April 1956, C.P.A. increased theirorder to five aircraft, the option on five more remaining unchanged. 16(1 HOI PITC
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