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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0317.PDF
"Flight" photograph VANGUARD MAIDEN FLIGHT THE three photographs on this page were secured on thegusty afternoon of January 20, when—as we briefly recorded. last week—the first Vickers-Armstrongs Vanguard to leave the production line at Weybridge was taken into the air for thefirst time. The aircraft, registered G-AOYW, had originally been rolled out on December 4, but, after a short period of ground-running., the four Tyne turbqprops were returned to the Rolls- Royce factory at Derby for minor alterations. Only two men were aboard on the first flight; they wereG. R. "Jock" Bryce, Vickers chief test pilot, and his deputy, E. B. Trubshaw. The big Vanguard was positioned on the shortrunway at Weybridge at 3.54 p.m. and, assisted by a stiff southerly breeze, lifted off after., ploughing through puddles for about1,500ft, at a weight of some 95,000 lb. It had originally been intended merely to ferry the aircraft across to the company's mainairfield at Wisley, a scant three miles distant, but the pilots found the handling so much to their liking that an on-the-spot decisionwas made to prolong the flight. G-AOYW was brought back at about 1,000ft directly over the Weybridge works—most of whoseoccupants were enthusiastically watching—and was then retained in loose formation with the company's Dove, from which the photograph below was obtained. Finally, a fairly low pass wasmade along the Weybridge runway, before the approach ts Wisley was started just as the light began to fade. In spite of the cross-wind, the touch-down was perfect; and,as soon as the Vanguard was squarely down, beta-control was selected on the D.H. propellers and full reverse-pitch employed.After coming to rest, the aircraft was taxied backwards for a short distance before going on again and parking on the ramp,in front of an assembly of Vickers and airline engineers. First man on board was naturally Sir George Edwards, managing directorof Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft), who shortly afterwards announced his imminent departure for North America as headof a Vanguard sales team. On this first occasion the Vanguard was not flown higher than1,500ft nor faster than about 150 kt, and the undercarriage remained extended throughout the flight. Nevertheless, in thecourse of 18 min in the air it was possible to ascertain that the general handling was perfectly satisfactory, and "Jock" Brycehimself described the machine as "quite sprightly." Now that the aircraft is at Wisley it will be possible to start serious test-flying with a full crew of flight observers. On its first flight the Vanguard was flown by G. R. Bryce and E. B. Trubshaw (left and right below), respectively chief test pilot and deputy chief test pilot of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft). The air-to-air shot on the left emphasizes the dank and dismal weather in which the flight was made "Flight" photograph
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