Vickers Vanguard

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The name "Vanguard" had earlier been used on a civilian model of the Vickers Virginia bomber, other versions of the same aircraft being the Victoria and Valentia.

The Vanguard (Type 950) was a short/medium-range turboprop airliner introduced in 1959 by Vickers-Armstrong, a development of their successful Viscount design with considerably more internal room. The Vanguard was introduced just before the first of the large jet-powered airliners, and was largely ignored by the market. Only 43 were built, ordered by Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA) and British European Airways (BEA). After only about 10 years service TCA experimentally converted one of theirs to a freighter configuration, calling it the Cargoliner. This was considered rather successful, and in the early 1970s most were converted to freighters, those from BEA becoming the Merchantman. These freighters remained in service for many years, with the last one (G-APEP) only retiring in 1996.

The double-bubble fuselage is clearly visible, as are the larger than normal windows kept from the Viscount

1 History
2 Variants
3 Operators
4 Preserved Aircraft
5 Specifications (Type 952)
6 External link
7 Related content

[edit] History

Originally designed to a BEA requirement for a 100-seat aircraft to replace their Viscounts. The original Type 870 design was then modified when TCA expressed their interest in the design as well, and Vickers returned the updated Type 950 that filled both requirements.

The main difference between the Viscount and Vanguard was the construction of the fuselage. The Vanguard started with the original Viscount fuselage, but cut it off about 1/2 of the way up from the bottom, and replaced the top section with a larger-diameter fuselage to give it a double bubble cross-section (similar to the Boeing Stratocruiser). The result of the larger upper portion was a considerably roomier interior, with increased cargo capacity below the floor.

Vickers Vanguard (G-APEC) at London (Heathrow) Airport in 1965. This aircraft was built in 1959 and was lost (broke up in flight) in 1971.

With this larger, and heavier, fuselage came the need for a new engine to lift it. Rolls-Royce was ready for this, and delivered their new Tyne design with a nominal 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) (as compared to the Viscount's Dart of about 1,700 hp (1,300 kW)).

This allowed for a much higher service ceiling and cruise speed, the Vanguard had a service ceiling almost twice that of the Viscount. The Vanguard was one of the fastest turboprops ever to have existed and was faster than the present day Saab 2000 or DHC Dash 8.

The first Type 950 prototype flew on 20 January 1959, entering service in 1961. The last Merchantman (Vanguard) was retired by Hunting Cargo Airlines on 30 September 1996 and donated to Brooklands Museum on 17 October.

[edit] Variants

Type 951: BEA, 20 ordered, 6 delivered. All in 127 seat mixed class configuration (18 First and 109 Economy)

Type 952: TCA, more powerful engine and stronger fuselage and wing for higher weights, 23 delivered

Type 953: BEA, Same engines as 951, but the stronger airframe of the 952. Mostly operated as 135 seater all economy, but some configured as 127 mixed class the same as 951. 14 delivered replacing an order for 951's

Type 953C Merchantman: 9 Conversions from Type 953

[edit] Operators

Air Bridge Carries
Air Canada
Air Trader
Air Viking
Angkasa Civil Air Transport
British European Airways
European Aero Service
Hunting Cargo Airlines
Invica Air Transport
Lebanese Air Transport
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Thor Cargo
Trans Canada Airlines

[edit] Preserved Aircraft

Type 953C Merchantman Superb (Registration G-APEP) at the Brooklands Museum, Surrey, England

[edit] Specifications (Type 952)

General characteristics

Crew: 2-3
Capacity: 139 passengers
Length: 122 ft 10 in (37.50 m)
Wingspan: 118 ft 7 in (36.10 m)
Height: 34 ft 11 in (10.60 m)
Wing area: 1,527 ft² (142 m²)
Empty weight: 82,500 lb (37,421 kg)
Loaded weight: 141,000 lb (63,977 kg)
Max takeoff weight: lb (kg64410 in BEA service)
Powerplant: 4× Rolls-Royce Tyne RTy.11 Mk 512 turboprop, 5,545 hp(952) 4700 SHP/4950 EHP (951 & 953) (4,135 kW) each