Hawker Siddeley Andover
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| HS780 Andover | |
|---|---|
 Andover C.1 |
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| Type | Transport aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Hawker Siddeley |
| Maiden flight | July 1965 |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force Eureka Aviation 748 Air Services |
| Number built | 37 |
| Developed from | Hawker Siddeley HS 748 |
The Hawker Siddeley Andover (HS 780) is a twin engined turboprop military transport aircraft produced by Hawker Siddeley for the Royal Air Force developed from the Avro-designed HS 748 airliner. The Andover was named after the Avro Andover, a Royal Air Force (RAF) biplane transport used for medical evacuation between the wars, and RAF Andover, where trials of the aircraft were partially carried out.
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[edit] Design and development
The HS Andover has good short field performance. It was expected to deliver cargo and evacuate casualties intra-theatre in a European-war scenario. The Royal Air Force ordered 31 aircraft and these were delivered as the Andover C.1. Subsequent RAF types are the Andover CC.2 VIP transport and Andover E.3 electronic calibration aircraft.
[edit] Operational history
The Andover C.1 was flown for the first time on 9 July 1965. The first four examples were flown to RAF Boscombe Down for acceptance trials that year. The full contract of 31 aircraft were delivered and deployed to squadrons in Transport Command. These were 46 Squadron at RAF Abingdon, 52 Squadron at RAF Seletar (Far East) and 84 Squadron at RAF Sharjah (Middle East). [1]
There was a follow on order for six aircraft that were designated C.C.2 and these went initially to 21 Squadron at RAF Khormaksar. The squadron had these for six months before being disbanded when the aircraft went to 32 Squadron at RAF Northolt, designated the Metropolitan Communications Squadron. The aircraft were with 32 Squadron for over 18 years including some time spent on detachment at RAF Bruggen (Germany). [2]
Three of these RAF Andovers continue to fly, one C.1 with the Empire Test Pilots' School and one C.1 with the Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron of the Joint Test and Evaluation Group. The remaining aircraft is a modified C.1 converted for photo-reconnaissance, the Andover C.1(PR), serial number XS596. This is the UK-designated aircraft under the Treaty on Open Skies. All three are based at RAF Boscombe Down.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force operated 10 aircraft, acquired while still relatively new in 1976. These saw service with UN missions to Somalia and on the Iran-Iraq border, and in disaster relief work in the Pacific. The type was retired from service in 1998. The main difficulty with their service in New Zealand was their limited range - 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km) of Pacific Ocean separate New Zealand from its nearest neighbours.
[edit] Variants
- Andover C.1
- First production series for RAF, 31 aircraft built.
- Andover C.1(PR)
- One C1 aircraft was converted for Photographic Reconnaissance duties.
- Andover CC.2
- Not a variant of the cargo/transport Andover but a VIP transport version of the HS 748.
- Andover E.3
- Six C.1 aircraft were converted for radio and airport aids calibration.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
Only 3 Aircraft currently remain airworthy. All 3 are operated out of Boscombe Down by the Empire Test Pilots' School, Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron and the UK open skies mission.
[edit] Civil operators
In August 2007 a total of 5 former-military Andover aircraft remain in airline service. Current operators are[3]:
- Air Transport Office (1)
- International Trans Air Business (3)
- 748 Air Services (1)
Both former RAF and RNZAF [4] aircraft were later sold to civil operators mainly in Africa.
- Bionic Aviation (Congo) operates at least one Andover CC2 (reg. 9Q-CLL) currently (2007) on charter use between Johannesburg (Lanseria) and Kolwezi, DR Congo
- Eureka Aviation bought 4 aircraft from RNZAF for operations in Africa.
- Eastern Congo Airlines operated at least one Eureka Aviation aircraft.
- ITAB (Congo) operates at least one ex-RNZAF Andover between Lubumbashi and Kolwezi carrying passengers and limited cargo.
- Katanga Air bought 2 aircraft from Thameside Aero Services.
- ITAB Cargo bought one aircraft from Eureka Aviation in 1997.
- Gabon Express bought 1 aircraft from Eastern Congo Airlines in 1998.
- Jesus Alive Ministries bought 1 aircraft.
- Thameside Aero Services bought 3 aircraft from RNZAF in 1998.
- Thames Aero Spares bought 1 aircraft from RNZAF in 1998 and sold it to 748 Air Services.
- 748 Air Services operated 2 aircraft in 1998.
- Unknown operator bought one aircraft from Gabon Express.
[edit] Survivors
As well as the small numbers of Andovers which are still flying (including three British military examples, the following aircraft are on public display:
- XS639 Andover E.3A
- Former navigation aid calibration Andover is exhibited in the Royal Air Force Museum.
- NZ7621 Andover CC.1
- A former Royal Air Force aircraft XS600 sold to the Royal New Zealand Air Force is on display at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum in Christchurch.
[edit] Specifications (Andover C1)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2-3
- Capacity: 44 troops or 14,000 lb (6,350 kg) of cargo
- Length: 78 ft (23.77 m)
- Wingspan: 98 ft 6 in (30.02 m)
- Height: 30 ft 1 in (9.15 m)
- Wing area: 811 ft² (75.4 m²)
- Empty weight: 25,524 lb (11,577 kg)
- Loaded weight: 40,000 lb (18,000 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 51,000 lb (23,100 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Dart 12 Mk 201 turboprop, 3,245 shp (2,420 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 320 mph (512 km/h)
- Range: 1,624 miles (2,613 km)
- Service ceiling 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
- ^ Jefford
- ^ Jefford
- ^ Flight International, 21-27 October 2007
- ^ New Zealand Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Hawker Siddeley HS.748MF Andover C.1
3 ^JEFFORD, RAF Squadrons 2nd edition, 2001
[edit] External links
- RAF Museum Andover page
- Various RAF Andover photos, including the unique and still-serving Andover C1 (PR)
- RNZAF Museum Andover page
- New Zealand Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Hawker Siddeley HS.748MF Andover C.1
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