This is the only surviving example of the 44 Vickers Vanguard airliners produced. This aircraft was built at Brooklands as a Vanguard, and had its maiden flight on 29th November 1961. BEA took delivery in December, when they christened it ‘Superb’. In 1969 it was withdrawn from service and converted into a Merchantman, and would serve BEA/BA until 1981. In 1992 it was sold to Hunting Cargo Airlines, who operated it until 1996, when it was retired to Brooklands Museum for display.
N2980 is the only surviving Brooklands-built Wellington. During a training flight on the 31st December 1940 she developed engine trouble and ditched into Loch Ness. All the crew escaped, but the rear gunner was killed when his parachute failed to deploy.
C/n 438. Flew by the Research Centre of the British Ministry of Defence (Royal Aircraft Establishment) with the radar at the bottom of the fuselage. Exhibited in Brooklands from January 1996.
This is the only surviving Brooklands-built Wellington. During a training flight on the 31st December 1940 it developed engine trouble and ditched into Loch Ness. All the crew escaped, but the rear gunner was killed when his parachute failed to deploy. The aircraft, used during the first bombing raid on Germany in 1939, was recovered from the lake in September 1985.
First flew 28/Jul/61. Delivered to BEA 16/Aug/61. Converted to Merchantman 72/73. Re-entered service 31/March/73. To BA Cargo 01/Apr/74. Operated BA's last scheduled Merchantman service 01-02/Dec/79 Heathrow-Stockholm-Gothenburg-Heathrow. Sold to Air Bridge Carriers 13/Dec/79. To Hunting Cargo Aug/92. Last flight Belfast-East Midlands 24/Dec/92. WFU an used for spares.
First flew 29/Nov/61, delivered to BEA 13/dec/61. Converted to Merchantman 69/70, re-entered service 23/Feb/70. To BA Cargo 01/Apr/74. Sold to Air Bridge 08/Nov/79. Stored East Midlands 79/80. Entered service 81. Modified for bloodstock work 91. To Hunting Cargo 92.
Manufactured in 1964 for British United Airlines as G-ASIX. With British Caledonian 1970-1974. Sold to the Omani Government 1.10.1974 and re-registered to A4O-AB. Donated to Brooklands museum in 1987. Final flight to Brooklands on 6.7.1987 is the last civil Vickers VC-10 flight.
G-ARVM is last built "standard" VC-10 for BOAC, mainly used as training aircraft. Ferried to RAF Cosford for preservation after retired on 22.10.1979. Affected by changes in RAF Cosford, when civil aircraft were moved to different places. Future museum size limitation and lack of money to secure in good condition cause current stage.
