Freighter & Wayfarer @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • Bristol 170 Mk.31 Freighter Bristol 170 Mk.31 Freighter
    Bristol 170 Mk.31 Freighter
  • Bristol 170 Mk.21 Freighter (1963) Bristol 170 Mk.21 Freighter (1963)
    Bristol 170 Mk.21 Freighter (1963)
  • Bristol 170<br>Queensland,<br>1952 Bristol 170<br>Queensland,<br>1952
    Bristol 170
    Queensland,
    1952
  • Cockpit Cockpit
    Cockpit
  • Bristol Freighter A81-1 at the RAAF Museum Bristol Freighter A81-1 at the RAAF Museum
    Bristol Freighter A81-1 at the RAAF Museum
  • A Bristol 170 of Northcoast Airline at Vancouver, in 1966 A Bristol 170 of Northcoast Airline at Vancouver, in 1966
    A Bristol 170 of Northcoast Airline at Vancouver, in 1966
  • Bristol 170 Freighter Bristol 170 Freighter
    Bristol 170 Freighter
  • At the RAAF Museum At the RAAF Museum
    At the RAAF Museum
  • Bristol 170 Mk.31 Freighter (1953) Bristol 170 Mk.31 Freighter (1953)
    Bristol 170 Mk.31 Freighter (1953)
  • Fuerza Aerea Argentina Fuerza Aerea Argentina
    Fuerza Aerea Argentina
  • Bristol Freighter of 41 Sqn RNZAF, Thailand, 1962 Bristol Freighter of 41 Sqn RNZAF, Thailand, 1962
    Bristol Freighter of 41 Sqn RNZAF, Thailand, 1962
  • At the Winnipeg Aviation Museum At the Winnipeg Aviation Museum
    At the Winnipeg Aviation Museum
  • Bristol 170 Mk.31M (RCAF, 1966) Bristol 170 Mk.31M (RCAF, 1966)
    Bristol 170 Mk.31M (RCAF, 1966)
  • Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1973) Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1973)
    Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1973)
  • Bristol Freighter 32 Bristol Freighter 32
    Bristol Freighter 32
  • Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1952) Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1952)
    Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1952)
  • Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1964) Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1964)
    Bristol 170 Mk.31 (1964)
  • At the RAAF Museum At the RAAF Museum
    At the RAAF Museum
  • Bristol 170 Freighter Bristol 170 Freighter
    Bristol 170 Freighter
  • Bristol Freighter at Palmerston North, New Zealand, in 1974 Bristol Freighter at Palmerston North, New Zealand, in 1974
    Bristol Freighter at Palmerston North, New Zealand, in 1974
  • Bristol 170 Mk.32 "Superfreighter" Bristol 170 Mk.32 "Superfreighter"
    Bristol 170 Mk.32 "Superfreighter"

Bristol Type 170 Freighter

The Bristol Freighter was a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner. Its best known use was as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively short distances. A passenger-only version was known as the Wayfarer.

Design and development

The Bristol Type 170 was designed as a stop-gap project to provide work for the Bristol company while the Bristol Brabazon was under development. Subsequently, the Air Ministry expressed interest in the project, believing that it would provide a rugged transport aircraft capable of using unimproved airstrips, and two prototypes were ordered on the condition that the design was modified so that the aircraft could carry an British Army 3-ton truck, and Air Ministry specification 22/44 (later revised as C.9/45) was drawn up around the design.

The proposal was for an all-metal, twin-engine high-wing monoplane based on the pre-war Bristol Bombay, having wings of the same section and taper but with a swept leading edge and straight trailing edge with two spars in place of the seven used in the Bombay. The square-section fuselage was clear of internal obstructions; in the original design this was to be loaded via a trapdoor in the nose, but the Air Ministry requirements necessitated a change to clamshell doors in the nose. The flight deck was above the load space, accessed via a fixed vertical ladder on the side of the cargo bay. Power was to have been provided by a pair of a development of the Bristol Pegasus using nine Bristol Centaurus cylinders, each engine rated at 1,150 hp (860 kW). When it was clear that the war would be over before the aircraft could enter service, a cost analysis demonstrated that for civil use it would be more economic to increase the all-up weight of the design from 30,000 to 35,000 lbs and use a more powerful Bristol Hercules engine. It was also considered that there would be a market for a passenger aircraft suitable for use from basic airstrips, and so a version without the nose doors and capable of carrying up to 36 passengers, to be known as the Wayfarer, was proposed.

At the low speeds and short ranges for which the aircraft was intended the fuel economy provided by a retractable undercarriage was outweighed by the increase in structural weight, and it was therefore decided to use a fixed undercarriage, also reducing production and maintenance costs.

The prototype, registered G-AGPV, was first flown at Filton on 2 December 1945 by Cyril Uwins; he found it generally satisfactory, but asked for the tailplane to be lowered and increased in span to enable the aircraft be trimmed to fly "hands off" over a wide range of centre of gravity positions.

Operational history

The second prototype and the first 34-seat Wayfarer, registered G-AGVB, first flew on 30 April 1946, and began proving flights in the colours of Channel Islands Airways. It carried over 10,000 passengers in under six months. The third aircraft, registered G-AGVC, was the first Freighter I and had fully operating nose doors. After a number of demonstration flights around the world, the Bristol 170 entered full production. One of the first sales was to the Argentine Air Force, which ordered 15 aircraft.

The managing director of Silver City Airways was Wing Commander Griffith James Powell, who realised that he could adapt the Bristol Freighter to fly passengers with their cars from Britain to Continental Europe and Jersey. This "air ferry" would allow people going on holiday to avoid the lengthy waits for the sea ferries. On 14 July 1948 the airline made the first flight with a car, from Lympne Airport in Kent to Le Touquet on the northern coast of France.

In 1953 production of the freighter was moved to Whitney Straight's Western Airways factory at Weston-super-Mare airport. A lengthened version, the Freighter 32, which featured movable wooden partitions in the cargo compartment, was introduced; it could be configured to carry either three 14 ft (3.3m) cars and 20 passengers or two larger s cars and 12 passengers, the passenger seats being in the rear section of the fuselage. Silver City Airways dubbed this variant the Superfreighter and subsequently built an airport named "Ferryfield" at Lydd in Kent, beginning air ferry services in 1955. In the same year, Channel Air Bridge started operations from Southend, with four Bristol Freighters flying to Calais.

The last two freighters of the 214 built were delivered in 1958, one to New Zealand in February and the last aircraft to Dan-Air in March 1958. The New Zealand aircraft was delivered to Straits Air Freight Express (SAFE), which eventually operated one of the largest fleets of Freighters. One of the lengthened aircraft, registered G-AMWA, had 60 seats fitted and was known as a Super Wayfarer.

Other civil uses

In New Zealand SAFE Air moved rail freight from Wellington (the North Island) across the Cook Strait to Blenheim (the South Island) and back, using Bristol Freighters, starting in 1951. The airline later reconfigured its aircraft to accept palletised cargo loaded on patented "cargons". This was a first anywhere in the aviation world.

Cargons were loaded near the rail yards and their load was calculated and arranged to remain within the aircraft's load and centre of gravity limits. They were then trucked to the airport and placed on the Freighter using a mechanical loading device. The loader accepted cargons from horizontal-tray road vehicles and then raised them to the level of the aircraft's cargo deck on electrically powered screw-jacks. The pallets could then be rolled into the nose of the aircraft. Other adaptations allowed the carrying of horses and other high-value large animals.

Freighters were the major link between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand until Armstrong Whitworth Argosy aircraft replaced them. SAFE Air developed a soundproofed "container" for the half of the aircraft given over to passengers on these flights. Bristol 170s were still in commercial use with SAFE until the late 1970s.

Military uses

In military service, Bristol Freighters were operated by the air forces of Argentina, Australia, Burma, Canada, Iraq, Pakistan and New Zealand. Bristol Freighters were operated briefly by the Pakistan Air Force. After withdrawal, some of the Pakistan aircraft were bought by SAFE Air and used in New Zealand. The Royal Canadian Air Force used five Freighters to carry spares and supplies between the UK and their bases in France and West Germany.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force ordered 12 Mk 31M Freighters in the late 1940s. RNZAF Freighters ranged as far as supplying the New Zealand Army in Malaya, the British High Commissions (and other support staff) in the Maldives, Ceylon, India and Nepal, performing Far East Air Force tasks in Malaya (often when other aircraft types were unserviceable owing to maintenance problems) and Hong Kong. They ran a highly reliable military shuttle service for allies in Thailand during the Vietnam War and served several other roles, being adapted for—amongst other things—aerial top dressing experiments, although to avoid competition with private enterprise, the New Zealand government did not use them in that role.

Final days

The New Zealand Freighters were retired from military use when replaced by Hawker Siddeley Andovers in the 1970s. After retirement, a number of smaller local operators briefly flew Freighters. Some were exported to Canada. A SAFE Air Freighter is preserved in taxiable condition at Blenheim and another at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum in Christchurch. A third is on display at Founders Historical Park in Nelson, and a fourth is being restored at Ardmore near Auckland. Other Freighter airframes around New Zealand now serve as novelty tea-rooms, backpacker hostels, and motel rooms, such as one in Otorohanga.

One Freighter was in service in turn with British Ministry of Supply, the Royal Australian Air Force and subsequently went into commercial use in Australia until 1978 after which it went on to become a museum exhibit and was given over to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Victoria, Australia in 1988.

Bristol freighter Mk 31M G-BISU was operated by Instone Airline at Stansted, Essex, UK, for a number of years. This was an ex-RNZAF aircraft and left Ardmore on 2 March 1981 for its 86-hour ferry flight to the UK. It subsequently flew its first charter flight on 3 August 1981 delivering two racehorses to Deauville. This role of flying livestock was to take up half a year, while other work included carriage of oil drilling machinery, car parts, newspapers and mail. Re-registered as C-FDFC, in 1996 it crashed on takeoff with the crew escaping, but was essentially a write-off. The captain, John Duncan, and co-pilot Malcolm Cutter reported that the aircraft entered a severe yaw after takeoff, which was uncontrollable despite use of full opposite aileron and rudder control.

The last Freighter in service, which flew for Instone Airline then later returned to New Zealand, was bought from surplus by Hawkair in Terrace, British Columbia, Canada. In 2004, this aircraft undertook its final flight to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

Variants

  • Freighter Mk I : Utility transport Series I or Freighter with a strengthened floor and hydraulically operated nose doors.
  • Freighter Mk IA : Mixed-traffic variant with 16-passenger seats
  • Freighter Mk IB : Variant of Mk I for British European Airways
  • Freighter Mk IC : Variant of Mk IA for British European Airways
  • Freighter Mk ID : Variant of Mk IA for British South American Airways
  • Wayfarer Mk II : Airliner (passenger variant) Series II or Wayfarer. Nose doors were omitted and additional windows were added.
  • Wayfarer Mk IIA : Variant of Mk II with 32 seats
  • Wayfarer Mk IIB : Variant of Mk IIA for British European Airways
  • Wayfarer Mk IIC : Variant of Mk II with 20 seats and baggage hold
  • Freighter Mk XI : Variant of Mk I with 108 ft (32.92 m) wing and extra tankage
  • Freighter Mk XIA : Mixed-traffic version of Mk IX
  • Freighter Mk 21 : More powerful engined version
  • Freighter Mk 21E : Convertible version of Mk 21 with 32 removable seats
  • Freighter Mk 31 : Variant of Mk 21 with larger tailfin
  • Freighter Mk 31E : Convertible version of Mk 31
  • Freighter Mk 31M : Military version of Mk 31 with provision for supply dropping
  • Freighter Mk 32 : Higher-capacity version with fuselage lengthened by 5 ft (1.52 m)
  • Type 179 Freighter : Unbuilt project. Twin-boom version. Not built
  • Type 179A Freighter : Unbuilt project. The aircraft was intended to have an unswept tail and a ramp-loading door.
  • Type 216 Freighter : Unbuilt project. Car ferry version. It was intended to be powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines.

Civil operators

  • Argentina : Argentine Civil Aeronautics Board
  • Australia
    • Air Express
    • Ansett-ANA
    • Ansett-MAL
    • Australian National Airways
    • Brain & Brown Airfreighters
    • Jetair Australia
    • Trans Australia Airlines
  • Belgium
    • Avions Fairey
    • SABENA
  • Brazil : Real Transportes Aéreos
  • Canada
    • Associated Airways
    • Central Northern Airways
    • Hawkair
    • Lambair
    • Maritime Central Airways
    • North Canada Air
    • Norcanair
    • Pacific Western Airlines
    • Transair
    • Trans Canada Airlines
    • Trans Provincial Airlines
    • Wardair
  • Ecuador : Shell Company of Ecuador
  • Ireland
    • Aer Lingus
    • Aer Turas
  • France
    • Air Atlas
    • Air Djibouti (operated in French Somaliland)
    • Air Fret
    • Air Outremer
    • Cie Air Transport
    • Cie des Transportes Aériens Intercontinentaux
    • Corse Air
    • Société Aérienne du Littoral
    • Société Indochinoise de Transport Aériens
    • Transportes Aériens Reunis
  • Germany
    • LTU
    • Panavia Ltd
  • India
    • Bharat Airways
    • Dalmia Jain Airways
    • Indian National Airways
  • Italy : Societe Avio Transporti Torino
  • Laos : Air Laos
  • Lebanon : Middle East Airlines
  • New Zealand : SAFE Air
  • Nigeria : West African Airways Corporation
  • Rhodesia : Central African Airways two aircraft delivered in 1948, both sold in 1949.
  • Saudi Arabia : Saudi Arabian Airlines
  • Spain
    • Aviaco
    • Iberia
  • South Africa : Suidair operated one Bristol Wayfarer.
  • Sweden : Trafik-Turist-Transportflyg
  • United Kingdom
    • Air Charter
    • Air Ferry
    • Air Kruise
    • Airwork
    • Autair
    • Aviation Traders
    • BKS Air Transport
    • Britavia
    • British Air Ferries
    • British European Airways
    • British United Air Ferries
    • Channel Air Bridge
    • Channel Airways
    • Channel Island Airways
    • Dan-Air
    • Hunting Aerosurveys
    • Instone Airlines
    • Manx Airlines 1947-1958
    • Midland Air Cargo
    • Ministry of Civil Aviation
    • Silver City Airways
    • Trans European Aviation
  • Vietnam : Air Vietnam

Military operators

  • Argentina : Argentine Air Force
  • Australia : Royal Australian Air Force - Four in service from 1949 to 1967. They were used for transport duties in support of the Weapons Research Establishment, Woomera, South Australia.
  • Burma : Burmese Air Force
  • Canada : Royal Canadian Air Force
  • Iraq : Iraqi Air Force
  • New Zealand : Royal New Zealand Air Force
  • Pakistan : Royal Pakistan Air Force
  • United Kingdom
    • A&AEE Boscombe Down
    • Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE)

Survivors

  • Argentina :
    • Mk 1A TC-330 of the Argentine Air Force at Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina, Morón, Buenos Aires.
  • Australia :
    • A84-1 of the Royal Australian Air Force at Royal Australian Air Force Museum Port Cook.
    • VH-ADL at the Australian National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne.
  • Canada :
    • Mk 31M CF-WAE, former Royal Canadian Air Force and Norcanair aircraft at Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Manitoba.
    • Mk 31 C-GYQS at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin Airport, Alberta.
  • New Zealand
    • Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum
    • Mk 31 Safe Air ZK-CPT at the Marlborough Aero Club, Omaka Aerodrome, Blenheim.

Accidents and incidents

Sixty-eight of the 214 Freighters built were destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair in accidents. At least 45 of these were fatal, resulting in the deaths of at least 385 passengers and crew.

  • 4 July 1946 - Freighter IIA G-AHJB on delivery to REAL Transportes Aéreos of Brazil crashed into the sea 198 km east of Aracaju, Brazil. The crew were rescued by an American steamship.
  • 16 October 1947 - Freighter I F-BCJN Société Aérienne du Littoral crashed into the sea off Cartenega, Spain, 41 killed.
  • 23 October 1947 - Bristol's company demonstrator Freighter IA G-AIMC, named "Merchant Venturer", was damaged beyond repair at Wau, New Guinea during a worldwide sales and demonstration tour. The aircraft, which was on charter to Qantas, was parked at the top of Wau's 1:12 gradient airstrip after landing when the park brake cable failed. "Merchant Venturer" rolled backwards down the runway and off the lower end into a deep ditch.
  • 18 November 1947 - Freighter XI SE-BNG of AB Trafik-Turist-Transportflyg crashed into the Santa Marie del Monte mountain near Revello, Italy, 21 killed.
  • 25 January 1948 - Freighter 21E F-BCJA of Société Indochinoise de Transport Aériens disappeared on a flight from Cyprus to Iraq, five missing.
  • 11 April 1948 - Freighter 21E F-BENG of Cie Air Transport crashed at Los Barrios, Algecivon, Spain, three killed.
  • 6 May 1949 - G-AIFF a Bristol Aeroplane Company Freighter Mark 31 crashed into the English Channel about 26 km from Portland Lighthouse following rudder over-balance causing structural failure of the fin, seven killed.
  • 8 July 1949 - Freighter IA T-28 of the Argentine Air Force was damaged beyond repair, five killed.
  • 6 August 1949 - Freighter 21 HC-SBU of the Shell Company of Ecuador crashed near Salasca Hill, Cordilleras, Ecuador, 34 killed.
  • 24 November 1949 - Freighter 21E EC-ADK of Aviacion y Comercio was damaged beyond repair when it overshot the runway at Mahon Airport, Minorca.
  • 10 March 1950 - Freighter 21 F-BECR of Société Indochinoise de Transport Aériens crashed into high ground near Saigon, South Vietnam, four killed.
  • 21 March 1950 - G-AHJJ a Bristol Aeroplane Company Freighter Mark 21 crashed near Cowbridge, Glamorgan after take-off from Llandow, four killed.
  • 28 July 1950 - Freighter 21 F-BENF of Cie Air Transport crashed in the Sahara near Tanezrouft, Tunbukta, 26 killed.
  • 5 October 1950 - Freighter 21 WH575 operated by the Bristol Aeroplane Company crashed on take off during a simulated engine failure when both engines were stopped, aircraft later re-built.
  • 27 July 1951 - Freighter 21E VR-NAX of West African Airways Corporation was damaged beyond repair when it landed short of the runway at Kaduna, Nigeria.
  • 14 September 1951 - Freighter 21E G780 of the Royal Pakistan Air Force crashed.
  • 25 September 1951 - Freighter IA T-37 of the Argentine Air Force crashed in Argentina, three killed.
  • 26 August 1952 - Wayfarer 21P G783 of the Royal Pakistan Air Force crashed near Khewra, Pakistan, 18 killed.
  • 25 September 1952 - Wayfarer 21P G699 of the Royal Pakistan Air Force crashed near Lahore, Pakistan, two killed.
  • 19 January 1953 - G-AICM a Silver City Airways Freighter 21 crashed near Tempelhof Airport, West Berlin.
  • 27 May 1953 - Freighter 31M NZ5908 of the Royal New Zealand Air Force crashed into high ground at Wither Hills near Blenheim, New Zealand, five killed.
  • August 1953 - Freighter IA T-41 of the Argentine Air Force crashed.
  • 11 November 1953 - Wayfarer 21P G809 of the Royal Pakistan Air Force crashed.
  • 25 November 1953 - Freighter 21E A81-2 of the Royal Australian Air Force crashed after structural failure near Woomera, Australia, three killed.
  • 4 December 1953 - Freighter 21 EC-AEG of Aviacion y Comercio crashed near Guaderrama mountains 132 km from Madrid, Spain, 23 killed.
  • 16 August 1954 - Freighter 21E F-VNAI of Air Vietnam crashed near Pakse, Laos, 47 killed.
  • 5 February 1955 - Freighter 21E VR-NAD of West African Airways Corporation crashed 94 km north west of Calabar, Nigeria, 13 killed.
  • 17 September 1955 - Freighter 31 CF-GBT of Pacific Western Airlines was damaged beyond repair after a forced landing north of Thorhild, Alberta, Canada, two killed.
  • 3 December 1955 - Freighter 31M 9696 of the Royal Canadian Air Force crashed at Merville, France, seven killed.
  • 13 February 1956 - Freighter 31 CF-FZU of Maritime Central Airways was damaged beyond repair during a take off from Baffin Island, Frobisher Bay, Canada, three killed.
  • 30 May 1956 - Freighter 31 CF-TFZ of Pacific Western Airlines was damaged beyond repair at Beaver Lode Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada.
  • 18 June 1956 - Freighter 31 CF-TFY of Transair was damaged beyond repair after it sank in 40 feet of water at Hudson Bay, Canada.
  • November 1956 - F-OAUO of Air Laos was damaged beyond repair when it overshot the runway at Vientiane, Laos.
  • 1 November 1956 - Freighter 31M S4413 of the Pakistan Air Force crashed.
  • 10 December 1956 - NZ5901 of the Royal New Zealand Air Force crashed at Cameron Highlands, Malaya, eight killed.
  • 9 May 1957 - EC-ADI an Aviacion y Comercio, later Aviaco, Freighter 21 crashed on approach to Barajas near Madrid, Spain, 37 killed.
  • 11 September 1957 - EC-AEH, a Freighter 21E of Aviacion y Comercia, was damaged beyond repair when landing at Tetuan, Morocco.
  • 8 October 1957 - Freighter 21E HZ-AAC of Saudi Arabian Airlines was damaged beyond repair during landing at Tarair, Saudi Arabia.
  • 21 November 1957 - Freighter 31 ZK-AYH of Straits Air Freight Express crashed and burned at Russley Golf Course, Christchurch, New Zealand, after it broke up in flight due to a severe gust of wind initiating the fatigue failure of the right wing. The wing failed at a bolt hole that had been drilled in its front spar during a modification meant to fix an existing fatigue problem in the wing. The four occupants were killed.
  • 27 February 1958 - Freighter 21E G-AICS of Manx Airlines crashed at Winter Hill, near Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom, 35 killed.
  • 25 March 1958 - Freighter 21E HZ-AAB of Saudi Arabian Airlines was damaged beyond repair during a landing at Guriat airstrip in Saudi Arabia.
  • 4 November 1958 - Freighter 31 F-BHVB of Cie Air Transport crashed on landing at Le Touqet, France.
  • 29 January 1959 - Freighter 31M S4426 of the Pakistan Air Force crashed near Chakala, Pakistan. seven killed.
  • 15 March 1959 - Freighter 31 EC-ADH of Aviacion y Comercio was damaged beyond repair on landing at Mahon Airport, Minorca, one killed.
  • November 1959 - Pakistan Air Force Mark 21P G778 was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident.
  • November 1959 - Freighter 31M S4419 of the Pakistan Air Force crashed.
  • 1 November 1961 - Freighter 32 G-ANWL of Silver City Airways crashed in Guernsey, two killed.
  • 18 December 1961 - VH-AAH of Pacific Aviation was damaged beyond repair while landing at Albion Park near Sydney, Australia.
  • 1961 - Freighter 31 S4415 of the Pakistan Air Force crashed on an unknown date.
  • 19 April 1962 - Freighter 31E EC-AHJ of Aviacion y Comercio was damaged beyond repair at Valencia, Spain.
  • 30 June 1962 - Freighter 21 G-AGVC of Manx Airlines was damaged beyond repair when the landing gear collapsed during landing at Ronaldsway, Isle of Man.
  • 26 July 1962 - S4414 of the Royal Pakistan Air Force crashed at Indus Valley, Pakistan.
  • 24 September 1963 - G-AMWA of British United Air Ferries crashed on take-off at Guernsey.
  • 30 December 1963 - Freighter 31M 9697 of the Royal Canadian Air Force crashed on approach to Marville aerodrome, France, eight killed.
  • 1967 - Freighter 31M 369 of the Iraqi Air Force was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident on an unknown date.
  • 12 June 1967 - Freighter 31M EI-APM of Aer Turas crashed on landing at Dublin, Ireland, 2 killed.
  • 10 April 1968 - Freighter 31E ZK-CPU of SAFE Air was damaged beyond repair by a hurricane.
  • 11 June 1969 - Freighter 32 F-BLHH of Cie Air Transport was damaged beyond repair at Le Touquet, France.
  • 21 August 1969 - G775 of the Pakistan Air Force was damaged beyond repair.
  • 3 May 1970 - Freighter 31M CF-WAG of Wardair was damaged beyond repair at Great Slave Lake near Snowdrift, Northwest Territories, Canada.
  • 31 May 1974 - Freighter 31M CF-QWJ of Lambair entered a spiral dive and crashed at Ranklin Inlet, Canada following an engine failure; two killed.
  • 10 May 1975 - Freighter 21E VH-SJQ of Air Express crashed in Bass Strait off Cape Paterson 40 km south of Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia following an engine failure; two killed.
  • 20 November 1977 - Freighter 31M C-FWAD of Norcanair stalled and crashed at Hay River Airport, Canada; one killed.
  • 14 January 1981 - Freighter 31E ZK-CAM of SAFE Air was damaged beyond repair while landing at Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport, New Zealand.
  • 21 June 1988 - Freighter 31M C-GYQY of Trans-Provincial Airlines crashed on landing at Bronson Creek, 350 km north of Terrace, British Columbia, Canada.
  • 18 July 1996 - Freighter 31 C-FDFC crashed on take off from Enstone Airfield, United Kingdom.
  • 24 April 1997 - Freighter 31A C-FTPA damaged beyond repair landing at Bronson Creek Airport, Canada.

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Bristol Freighter of Wikipedia ( authors )

Specifications (Freighter Mk 32)

  • Crew : two.
  • Length : 73 ft 4 in (22.4 m).
  • Height : 25 ft (7.62 m).
  • Wingspan : 108 ft (32.92 m).
  • Wing area : 1487 ft² (138.13 m²).
  • Empty weight : 29,950 lb (13,404 kg).
  • Gross weight : 44,000 lb (19,958 kg).
  • Maximum speed : 225 mph (362 km/h).
  • Range : 820 miles (1,320 km).
  • Service ceiling : 24,500 ft (7,470 m).
  • Powerplant : Two Bristol Hercules 734 14-cylinder sleeve-valve radial piston engine.
  • Power : 1,980 hp (1,476 kW) each.

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Bristol Freighter of Wikipedia ( authors )
Bristol 170 Freighter & Wayfarer : Your comments on this subject
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    Placing a link to third party sites or authorize a third party to include a link on their website refering to this Website does not mean that the Administrators recommend in any way the products or services offered by these websites.

    Modifications

    The Webmaster reserves the right to modify at any time without notification the present terms of use as well as all content or specific functionality that the Website offers.

    The modified terms and conditions immediately apply to the using Visitor when changes come online. Visitors are invited to consult the site regularly on the most current version of the terms and conditions

    Governing Law and Jurisdiction

    These general conditions are governed by Belgian law.

    In case of dispute regarding the interpretation and/or execution of the above terms, the parties agree that the courts of the district of Nivelles, Belgium shall have exclusive jurisdiction power.

    Credits page

    Wikipedia.org

    Wikipedia is a collaboratively edited, multilingual, free Internet encyclopedia.

    Youtube

    YouTube is a video-sharing website on which users can upload, view and share videos.

    Special thanks to all Youtube quality aviation vids providers, specially (Those I forgot, please excuse me or report) :

    Airboyd
    Andys Video
    Aviation videos archives
    Bomberguy
    Classic Aviation TV
    Historical Aviation Film Unit
    Horsemoney
    Jaglavaksoldier
    Joluqa Malta
    Just Planes
    Koksy
    Classic Airliners & Vintage Pop Culture
    Memorial Flight
    Octane130
    Okrajoe
    SDASM archives
    Spottydog4477
    The Aviators TV
    Valentin Izagirre Bengoetxea
    Vexed123
    VonBerlich
    Zenos Warbirds

    Bundesarchiv

    The German Federal Archives or Bundesarchiv are the National Archives of Germany.

    FAQ

    I don't see my comments any more!

    Please note that each page has it's own comment entry. So, if you enter a comment i.e. on the B-747, you will only see it on that related page.

    General comments are accessed via the "BLOG En" button.

    Comments are moderated, so please allow some delay before they appear, specially if you are outside Europe.

    Menus are developing below the page, because they are too long!

    But they remain accessible, for example by scrolling the mouse wheel, or with your finger (on the menu) on a smartphone or tablet.

    I see adds on all videos.

    Use a good free add remover software.

    The site is loading random pages at startup.

    We think it is a good way to bring back the memory of aircraft, persons or events sometimes quite forgotten.

    HELP PAGE

    Why this site?

    Discovery

    This website is dedicated to one's aeronautical passion (which I hope we share) and was realised mainly as an educationnal tool. Knowing that, you'll notice that each new visit brings random topics for the purpose of making new discoveries, some achievements or characters certainly not deserving the oblivion into which they have sometimes fallen.

    By these pages, we also want to pay tribute to all those who gave at one time or another, their lives or health in the name of freedom, aeronautical security or simply our comfort.

    Centralisation

    Internet is full of websites dedicated to aviation, but most are dedicated to subjects or periods that are very limited in space or time. The purpose of this site is to be as general as possible and thus treats all events as well as characters of all stripes and times while putting much emphasis on the most significant achievements.

    The same years saw birth of technologies like photography and cinema, thus permitting illustration of a large part of important aeronautical events from the start. Countless (and sometimes rare) media recently put online by enthousiasts finally give us access to these treasures, but the huge amount of information often makes things a little messy. A centralization effort is obviously most needed at this level.

    All persons who directly or indirectly contributed to the achievement or posting of such documents are here gratefully acknowledged.

    General

    Fluid website

    This site automatically fits the dimensions of your screen, whether you are on a desktop computer, a tablet or a smartphone.

    Bilingual website

    You can change the language by clicking on the flag in the upper left or via "Options" in the central menu. Of course, the videos remain in the language in which they were posted ...

    Browser compatibility

    The site is not optimized, or even designed to run on older browsers or those deliberately deviating from standards. You will most probably encounter display issues with Internet Explorer. In this case, it is strongly recommended installing a modern (and free!) browser that's respecting the standards, like Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari.

    Cookies and Javascript

    This site uses cookies and JavaScript to function properly. Please ensure that your browser is configured accordingly. Neither of these technologies, or other means shall in no case be used on the Site for the retention or disclosure of personal information about its Visitors. See the "Legal" page for more on this subject.

    Website layout

    Left menus

    Because of the lack of space on smartphones and small tablets, these menus are hidden. Everything is nevertheless accessible via the main menu option, located between the video and photo sections. This menu is placed there for compatibility reasons with some browsers, which play the videos over the menus.

    "Search" and "Latest" :
    The link "In Titles" restricts the search to the titles of different forms. Use this option if you are looking for a plane, a constructor, a pilot or a particular event that could have been treated as a subject.

    The link "In Stories" will bring you to a search in all texts (the "Story" tab) and will take more time. The search term will appear highlighted in green when opening the corresponding story.

    Would you believe, "Timeline" will show all subjects in chronological order.

    "Random" will reload the entire page with a new random topic.

    The bottom section keeps you abreast of the latest five entries. New topics are added regularly. Don't hesitate to come visit us often : add bookmark.

    Blogs and Comments central section

    Under the photos section comes the comments tabs window :

    You can enter general comments in your own language via one of the two buttons on the left (BLOG EN and BLOG FR). Note that these buttons are accessible regardless of the language to allow some participation in the other language.

    All comments are subject to moderation and will be published only if they comply with the basic rules of decorum, while remaining relevant to the purpose of this site.

    The third tab allows you to enter comments on the shown topic and is bilingual. Personal anecdotes, supplements and other information questions will take place here.

    The "Story" tab shows the explanatory texts. They are most often taken from Wikipedia, a site where we participate regularly.

    The "Data" tab is reserved for list of features and specifications.

    Right menus

    On a smartphone, the lack of space is growing and this menu is moved to the bottom of the page to give priority to videos and pictures.

    The top right icons are links to videos posted by third parties (on their own responsabilities) or by ourselves. The link below these icons will take you to the channel of the one who posted the video. Feel free to suggest other videos if you think they are of some interest (Use the BLOG button or the "Contact" link).