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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2675.PDF
464 FLIGHT, 17 September 1954 CIVIL AVIATION . . . VIKING FREIGHTER: As reported below and illustrated on the right. Eagle's latest Viking can be quickly adapted for freighting duties by the removal of a bolted panel on the left of the main passenger door. The door itself, which hinges on this panel, is also removed, leaving a hatch of just over iff square. FROM JETS TO PISTONS E XTERNALLY, there is little to dis tinguish G-AJPH from the nine other Vikings operated by Eagle Aviation, Ltd. Only the registration provides a clue to the unusual history of this aircraft, which was in fact the first airliner to fly solely on jet power. The work of converting the highly ex perimental Nene-Viking to a standard Hercu.es-powered Viking IB has been per formed at Biackbushe by Eagle Aircraft Services, Ltd. Its-jWiecessfur completion, asfce.w, days ag©, has added a virtually new aircraft to the Eagle fleet at co.nparitively low cost and, incidentally, has confounded a few sceptical forecasts as to the practic ability of such a conversion. Built to Ministry of Supply contract to investigate problems associated with jet transports, G-AJPH made its first flight on April 6th, 1948. Its airframe was one of the last built by the Viking production line at Weybridge and, being planned to take two Rolls-Royce Nenes at di: outset, embodied a number of non-standard features. Special under-slung nacelles and a new twin wheel undercarriage were fitted, fuel was carried in flexible tanks outboard of the engines and a strengthened tail permitted the aircraft to fly at true air-speeds of over 400 m.p.h. The Nene-Viking's first appearance was on Ju'.y 25th, 1948, when it flew from London Airport to Villacoublay, Paris and back, averaging nearly 400 m.p.h. It also took part in the S.B.A.C. Show the following September, but its career as a development aircraft was otherwise devoid of highlights. Wh;n Eagle bought the Nene-Viking from the Ministry of Supply in November last year it had flown a total of only 168 hr, which must be easily the shortest flying life of any Viking in existence. The first step was to remove the Nenes, which were sold to Handley Page, Ltd., for use in a new wind tunnel. Con- THEN AND NOW: Viking G-AJPH is shown below as it first appeared in 1948, with Nene turbojets and the temporary military serial VX 680, and as now modified to a Hercules-engined Viking passenger-freighter by Eagle Aircraft Services. version to normal Viking standards has entailed a good deal more than simply replacing the turbojets with Hercules 634 piston engines. New tail surfaces had to be fitted, the special under carriage replaced by standard units, instrumentation and radio completely changed and a normal fuel system installed. G-AJPH now has Eagle's standard "Mayfair" interior with attachments for 36 seats. In addition an ingenious rear-door modification allows the aircraft to be used as a freighter j this modification, which was developed and carried out by Eaglp Aircraft Services and has been approved by the A.R.B., was etribodied for the first time in the dual-purpose Viking sold recently to the King of Jordan. The dimensions of the.main passenger door of the Viking (62in high by 36in wide) make it unsuitable for loading of bulky consignments. The manner in which Eagle have overcome this problem is shown by the accompanying illustrations. The extra door, normally secured by a series of bolts, can be removed in about ten minutes, leaving a hatch of over 5ft square to omit large freight loads. It is expected that other aircraft of the Eagle fleet will be similarly modified, and Eagle Aircraft Services may also be requested to fit the freight door to the Vikings which they are now offering for sale to other operators. BREVITIES THE 22nd Viscount route record was set up on September 6di, when Flight BE 472, commanded by Capt. Derek Mason, covered 476 miles between London and Hamburg in 1 hr 35 min —a block speed of 301 m.p.h. * * * American Airlines report a 9 per cent reduction in operating mileage and a 1\ per cent reduction in staff as a result of the recent 25-day pilots' strike. Among die 1,300 employees being dis missed are 122 co-pjlefs* and 38 flight engineers. * * * Following a number of experimental flights made in September 1953, Compagnie Cherifienne du Pont Aerien have opened a Bristol 170 ferry service between Araoua, French Morocco, and Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. In July, the company reports, die service carried 91 cars, 10 motor cycles and 421 passengers. * * * Hunting-Clan Air Transport, Ltd., have announced the appointment of Lt. Col. D. Q. Hughes as their special represen tative for Africa. From his base in Nairobi, Col. Hughes will be concerned with planning and developing his company's operations throughout Africa. * * * On September 1st Mr. R. L.,G. Borgerhoff-Mulder relin quished his apoointment as general manager (U.S. and Ireland region) for K.L.M. Pending" the return to this country early next year of Mr. W. De^Mier, who went to Central America 18 months ago to open^dp K.L.M.'s new organization in that area, Mr. M. J. P. van-'cler Heyden has taken office as acting general manager.
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