Bristol Britannia

[Spitfire]

That Vickers Vanguard thread started me thinking about - and remembering - a flight I took with my parents and sister in 1970, when I was 17, from Luton to Akrotiri in Cyprus to visit my uncle who was stationed there (Vulcans and lightnings a plenty )

We flew on the 'Whispering Giant' and it too 6 and a half hours non stop

If I remember rightly we had to climb to get over the Alps and there was ice on the inside of the windows

A brilliant plane - and a most enjoyable flight. Nothing like the site and sound of 4 props



Very old footage of one landing at Aden back in the 60's

[RLN]

Lovely 'plane. Flew on one once to Jersey, and I was so good, they let me come back

[Wedgy]

Great stuff, easily forgotten - so thanks for reminding us

[Pujgnie]

[Mackrick]

Another classic shape thanks for photos.

[Proteus]

Britannia 102 Series

Although you can't see him, Mike Simpson, who let me have this picture, was on board. Mike, who died in August 2011, was Chief Flight Engineer on the Britannia at Bristols in the 1950s. Picture taken 1956.

[Jigsaw]

That's a great picture

[Proteus]

Just want to remember and celebrate the anniversary of an all British achievement and world first, when on 19th December 1957 a Bristol Britannia operated by BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation – later to merge into British Airways) opened the first non-stop scheduled passenger service between Heathrow and New York. In October the following year the Britannia was joined on the route by the Comet 4. The event was recorded by Pathe News and here’s the link to the report on their website is

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/brita ... +britannia

[Mayfly]

Nice to be reminded - Our aviation industry in only a shadow of what it once was.