Motion History: The Air Ferry - Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair
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Documentary (2020)
Production:
Ruairidh Mac Veigh (Editor)
Ruairidh Mac Veigh (Writter)
Ruairidh Mac Veigh (Narrator)
Documentary on the Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair a car-carrying conversion for the Douglas DC-4, built to provide improved air ferry services between England, Ireland and Continental Europe.
Also from this series:
Motion History
Entrepreneur Freddie Laker's origin
Handley Page H.P.59 Halifax B.II Series IA
Escorted by a Supermarine Spitfire.
With more than 6000 aircraft produced, the Halifax would be a source for civilian use after WWII.
Freddie Laker's new company Aviation Traders Ltd (ATL) created in 1948 will participate at the conversion of several ex RAF Bombers for civilian use, and for the 1948/49 Berlin Airlift.
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax C.VIII
Cargo and passenger version used as civil transport after WWII, especially in the Berlin Airlift 1949.
Registration G-AIAP, c/n 1354. Built for the RAF as PP281. Sold to B.O.A.C in September 1946. Sold to Airtech Ltd in October 1948. Sold to Eagle Aviation Ltd in February 1949. Destroyed in a crash on takeoff from Calcutta Dum Dum Airport (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport nowadays (CCU/VECC)) the 25th November 1950.
Douglas C-54D Skymaster
Berlin airlift.
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Berlin airlift.
Flughafen Berlin-Tempelhof (THF/EDDI) during Berlin Airlift.
Vickers VC1 Viking 1B & Vickers 701 Viscount
In 1949, ATL changed the name of its company to Aviation Traders Engineering Limited (ATEL) and became in the 1950s a sales agent of refurbished ex BEA Vickers Viking.
From left to right:
1 - Vickers VC1 Viking 1B, unknown registration.
2 - Vickers VC1 Viking 1B, registered G-AJBY, c/n 250. First flight in September 1947 owned by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Delivered to British European Airways in October 1947. Sold to Aero Express in November 1955, registered D-AFUS. Sold to Deutsche Flugdienst in April 1958, re-registered D-BELA. Written off in October 1958 after an emergency landing due engine failure in Belgium.
3 - Vickers 701 Viscount, registered G-AMNY, c/n 006, named RMA Sir Ernest Shackleton. Delivered new to British European Airways in February 1953. Written off in February 1960 after losing control due hydraulic failure while taxying.
4 - Vickers 701 Viscount, unknown registration.
Douglas Dakota IV
Registration G-ANTD, c/n 26414/14969. Delivered new to USAAF as Douglas C-47B-10-DK in October 1944, registered 43-49153. Lend lease to RAF changed to Dakota IV, registered KJ977. Bought by C E Harper Aircraft Co in July 1954, registered G-ANTD. Sold to Derby Aviation in April 1955, named Dove Dale. Changed to British Midland Airways in October 1964 after merge with Mercury Airlines. Sold to Aircraft & General Finance Corp. Ltd and leased to Cameroon Air Transport in October 1968, registered TJ-ACF. Returned to G-ANTD when sold to Field Aircraft Services Ltd in August 1970. Sold to East Lease Ltd in April 1971, operated by Air Anglia until November 1973. Broken up at International Norwich (EGSH/NWI).
Vickers 744 Viscount
First turbo-prop powered airliner in the history of aviation, fitted with 4 Rolls-Royce Dart engines.
Hawker Siddeley HS.748
Powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Dart engines. A fair success for this generation of turbo prop airliners.
Registration G-HD**. Could be G-HDBA, G-HDBB or G-HDBC delivered to British Airways in 1984 / 1988 as 748-426 Srs2B and 748-378 Srs2B.
Handley Page HPR.7 Herald 206
Fitted with 2 Rolls-Royce Dart engines, the turbo prop version of the Herald arrived too late compared to the competitors on the market such as Fokker Friendship, Avro 748.
Registration G-BDFE, c/n 167. Delivered new to Eastern Provincial Airways in March 1963, registered CF-EPC. Leased to Bahamas Airways in February 1964, registered VP-BCG. Returned to CF-EPC from Eastern Provincial Airways in May 1964. Sold to BAF-British Air Ferries in June 1975, registered G-BDFE, named Rory Keegan. Leased to TAT-Touraine Air Transport in April 1979, then to Air Algérie in April 1980. Bought by Keegan Leasing And Management Southend-On-Sea in September 1982. Leased to Janus Airways in May 1983, then to Star Offshore Services Ltd. Sold to MMM Aéro Services as 9Q-CAA in February 1984. Wfu and stored at N'djili International Kinshasa (FZAA/FIH) in April 1986. Broken up in March 1987.
Fokker F27-600 Friendship
Powered by 2 Rolls-Royce Dart engines. Around 750 aircraft built, exceeding the number of Viscount produced.
Registration D-AELD, c/n 10442. First flight in September 1970, registered PH-EXA. Leased to Air Anglia in April 1971, registered PH-FPR. Leased to Royal Air Inter in September 1972. Expected to be operated by Turavia, as I-VANA, but not taken up. Sold to Bangladesh Biman in November 1973, registered S2-ABP. Purchased by Satair Leasing as OY-SLF in August 1990. Sold to WDL Aviation in August 1991, registered D-AELD, named Jaegermeister. Wfu at Wahn,Cologne (Köln) - Bonn ( EDDK/CGN) in October 2002.
NAMC YS-11
Another turbo prop airliner fitted by 2 Rolls-Royce Dart engines. 182 aircraft produced.
Exclusive type of airplane operated by Gambia Airways. This one is one their 2 aircraft registered C5-GA*, either C5-GAA or C5-GAB.
Aviation Traders ATL-90 Accountant
In 1957, Freddie Laker with its ATEL company tried to address the promising market of regional turboprop aircraft and launched the ATL-90 Account twin-engined 28-passenger turboprop airliner, powered by 2 Rolls Royce Dart engines as it direct competitors listed above. Unfortunately the aircraft did not attract much commercial interest, in a context of an already oversaturated market.
Registration G-ATEL (test period G-41-1), c/n ATL.90. First flight the 9th of July 1957. Displayed at the Farnborough Airshow in September 1957.The aircraft last flew on 10 January 1958, development was abandoned and the aircraft was scrapped in February 1960.
Car air-carrying Laker's idea
In 1958, Freddie Laker noticed a potential market for ATEL, with conversion of improved aircraft design into cross-channel air ferries. At the time, this market was operated by several companies with outdated Bristol 170 Freighter developped for military transport at the end of WWII, reconverted as civilian in 1946. Low capacity and performances of the Bristol 170 combined with extremely tight schedules necessary to meet the high demand for cross-channel flights, especially during the summer, involved rolling maintenance plans very expansive for the companies. A developpment for replacement of this aircraft might seem wise.
Bristol 170 Freighter
Unknown registration. Seems to wear Silver City Airways colours.
Bristol 170 Freighter Mk 21
Registration G-AGVC, c/n 12732. Built as Mk 1, first flight in November 1945. Leased to Canadian Pacific Air Lines in 1947, then to LAV Línea Aeropostal Venezolana. Converted to Mk 21 as G-18-2. Sold to Silver City Airways as G-AGVC again, named City of Sheffield in June 1953. Sold to Manx Airlines in December 1961. Withdrawn from use after undercarriage collapse at Ronaldsway (EGNS/IOM), Isle of Man UK in June 1962.
In the background, 2x Douglas C-54 Skymaster from Flying Tiger Line.
Bristol 170 Freighter Mk 21 & Mk 21E
Background left to foreground right:
Registration G-AHJI, c/n 12741. Built as Bristol 170 Wayfarer Mk IIA, first flight in July 1946. Sold to Dalmiajain Airways in November 1946, registered VT-CHK. Return to the Bristol Aeroplane Company in January 1950. Converted to Bristol 170 Freighter Mk 21E. Sold to Aviaco in April 1950, registered EC-AES. Sold to Air Kruise in December 1955, registered G-AHJI. Sold to Silver City Airways, named City of Bath in October 1957. Changed to BUAF-British United Air Ferries with the merge in the new company in 1963. Withdrawn from use in 1964. Broken up at Southend (EGMC/SEN),UK in December 1965.
Registration G-AIC*. Either G-AICM or G-AICS, named City of *****)
Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.32 Superfreighter
Unknown registration.
Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.32 Superfreighter
Registration G-APAU, c/n 13256. First flight in April 1957, owned by Bristol Aircraft Co Ltd until July 1961. Sold to Air Charter Ltd in July 1961. Changed to BUAF-British United Air Ferries after merge in the company in July 1965. Changed name to BAF-British Air Ferries in 1967. Sold to Midland Air Cargo in April 1971, named City of Edinburgh. Wfu in December 1977.
Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.32 Superfreighter
Unknown registration.
Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.32 Superfreighter
Registration G-ANVR, c/n 13256. First flight in April 1954, owned by the Bristol Aeroplane Company renamed Bristol Aircraft Co Ltd until December 1957. Sold to Air Charter Ltd in December 1957. Sold to BUAF-British United Air Ferries after merge in the company in July 1965. Changed name to BAF-British Air Ferries in 1967. Wfu in 1971. Broken up in 1973.
Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31M
Registration 9699, c/n 13219. Delivered new to Royal Canadian Air Force - 137 Transport Flight in July 1955, based at Baden Sollingen, West Germany. Sold to Norcanair in 1967, registered CF-WAE. Preserved at James Armstrong Richardson International Winnipeg (CYWG/YWG) Canada (Manitoba).
Replacement of the Bristol Freighter
Laker's first idea was to create a car-carrying version of the ATL-90, named ATL-96, but the failure of the Account project and the weak financial resources of ATEL could not validate this industrial option. Another possibility was to convert existing second-hand aircraft which had become abundant on the market with the emergence of more modern jet aircraft in the late 1950s. The Douglas DC-4 would be the proper design for such a solution. The Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair project was born.
Aviation Traders ATL-96 Accountant Car-carrier
New design for a replacement of Bristol 170 Freighter based on the defunct ATL-90 concept. Abandoned project.
Vickers VC10 Srs 1101
Illustration of a new generation of jet airliner replacing previous post-war propeller-driven airliners in the commercial aviation, offering a significant amount of second-hand aircraft available at a fair price for conversion to car-carrier.
First variant of Vickers VC10 Srs 1101 from B.O.A.C wearing Blue Tail Twin Stripe livery.
Another one in the background left.
Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster
Western Airlines operated 15x Douglas C-54 Skymaster or Douglas DC-4 between 1946 and 1957. Two of them, NC88721 and NC88816 were sold and converted in the following years to Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair.
This one, NC88701, remained as C-54 Skymaster.
Registration NC88701, c/n 10474. First days during WWII registered 43-72369 with the USAAF. Bought by Western Airlines in August 1946 as NC8871, re-registered N88701 later. Sold to California Eastern Airways in 1950, registered N4002B. Sold to TACA International Airlines in 1951, registered YS-04C. Sold to Rutas Aereas Nacional SA (RANSA) Costa Rica as TI-1046 in 1952. Sold to Trans Caribbean Airlines in 1952, registered N4664S. Leased to TALOA Transocean Air Lines from 1952 to 1960. Sold to Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas S.A. in October 1963, registered ZP-CAR. Sold to Paraense Transportes Aereos in October 1969, registered PP-BTV.
Douglas DC-4-1009
South African Airways have operated 8x Douglas C-54 Skymaster or Douglas DC-4 between 1946 and 1967. None of them were converted to Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair.
Registration ZS-AUB, c/n 10474. Delivered new to South African Airways in May 1946, registered ZS-AUB named Outeniqua. Sold to South African Air Force in September 1967. Returned to South African Airways in 1995 as ZS-AUB for the SAA-Historic flight .Leased to Swissair in summer 1997 for the 50 years of Trans-Atlantic service, registered ZU-ILI with Swiss Air Lines colours and HB-ILI registration.
Still airworthy nowadays, based at Rand Germiston - Johannesburg (FAGM/QRA], owned by the SAA Museum and operated by Skyclass Aviation, with Orange tail SAA's colour scheme adopted from 1960 to 1967.
Douglas DC-4-1009
Delta Air Lines have operated 9x Douglas C-54 Skymaster or Douglas DC-4 between 1945 and 1953. N37477 has been the sole of them converted to Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair in the following years.
Registration N37474, c/n 27238. First days during WWII as Douglas C-54B-DO Skymaster. registered 44-9012 with the USAAF. Converted to Douglas DC-4 in January 1945. Sold to Delta Air Lines in February 1946, named 74. Sold to Consolidated Airline Equipment in May 1953. Leased to California Eastern Airways in May 1953. Written off from use in June 1955. Broken up in February 1958.
The Carvair production and air-ferry exploitation
Based upon a DC-4 airframe with two hinged-doors in the front, the cockpit positionned above and enlarged tail fin. The plane could carry 25 passengers and 5 cars. 21 conversions have been produced from 1961 until 1968, at Southend on Sea ATEL's plant.
Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair (drawing presentation)
Designed by Freddie Laker himself.
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See also
- Motion History
- Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair
- Bristol 170 Freighter
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain
- Douglas C-54 Skymaster
- Douglas DC-4
- Fokker F27 Friendship
- Handley Page Dart Herald
- Handley Page Halifax
- Hawker Siddeley HS.748
- NAMC YS-11
- Supermarine Spitfire
- Vickers VC10
- Vickers Viking
- Vickers Viscount
- Air Anglia
- British Air Ferries
- British Airways
- British Overseas Airways Corporation
- British United Air Ferries
- Capital Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Eagle Aviation Ltd
- Flying Tiger Line
- Silver City Airways
- South African Airways
- Western Airlines