Bristol 175 Britannia

The first time I ever flew was on the Britannia in the mid 60's. It was not
overseas. Did she fly from possibly bournemouth or Southampton and
possibly to the channel islands?
Would like to know if anyone remembers.
Mary

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I am sure that I flew from Heathrow to Bombay in November 1957 aboard a BOAC Britannia (nicknamed the Whispering Giant) There were two stops for fuel, probably Rome and Bahrain. It was my first long distance flight and very enjoyable

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I only had the pleasure of flying in this wonderful aircraft once. Back in 1962 I was offered an opportunity of an "International Flight" as a reward for my services in the Combined Cadet Force at school. In order to comply with certain regulations I was given an RAF identity pass in lieu of a Passport and I seem to recall the official Designation of supernumerary air loading officer. At that time the RAF flew its spares out to Singapore On these flights and I shared the cabin with the crew and two Bristol Centaurus engines on pallets. I do recall that the few seats fitted were at the front of the aircraft and faced firmly backwards. We flew via El Adam, Aden and Gan to Changi. I recall with some wry amusement that at Aden it was necessary to move cautiously as local tribespeople took the occasional pot shot. I wonder how parents, teachers and politicians would view taking schoolboys into that situation today?

Further excitement in the flight occurred in the last hour or so before landing when a severe local storm forced the aircraft to lose height rapidly, the flight bing concluded at low level, affording a wonderful view as we arrived. The aircraft was superb and in later years I recall the quite cabin with some fondness after enduring the cattle pen of some wide bodied jets.

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Muchas gracias. ?Como puedo iniciar sesion?

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Flew with my young family on a Britannia from Heathrow to Australia in August 1966, via (if I recall) Aden, Colombo, Darwin, Melbourne, then on to Adelaide with a local airline (MMA?). Can't recall too much of the flight but do remember it was mostly uneventful. In Colombo we were able to get off the flight for a while and were ushered under a tent on the grass beside the Britannia and offered cold drinks that were, in fact, warm! First introduction to Australia was in Darwin where showers were available which many of us took advantage of. We nearly didn't make the flight in London due to the fact that a cab we took from a railway station to my sister's address, I accidentally left my briefcase in the cab that contained travel documents, identity documents, money and other personal stuff. Raced to the London Black Cab lost-property office somewhere to discover the cab driver had handed it in and it was returned to me in tact, otherwise our story might never have happened!

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I flew with 2 Troop RHA in this lovely aircraft from Heathrow to Singapore Changi on our way to Borneo in August 1965. Stopped over at Ceylon where the terminal seemed to be a very basic tin shed.
Remember playing cribbage with a mate for most of the flight.
Return flight eight months later was via Istanbul.

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I had five flights in this beautiful aircraft,two in G-AOVT{DX}with British Eagle and Monarch,67&73,she was the subject of my first ever photograph,my Mother pointed her Kodak camera at her on the apron in Pisa and click,ive still got this superb photo,she was named "ajax"magic.

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for sailor Chris Howell. artical Brit. to Singapore. if you flew thie Eagle way your route would have been at that time through Kuwait-Columbo-Singapore not Abadan. with military personnel on board we were not allowed to fly into just any country, only those England had agrements with. your flight would have been like 131 /64 or the last number could be a bit lower. hope this helps keith moody ex Training Steward. British Eagle.
also for Lester Stenner, I was with Donaldson1s from the day it was registered to 1973. both G-APNB and G-APNA flew with this airline. but i do not remember your father?
Eagle flew a couple of aircraft to Ghana around 1961-1963.

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I remember flying out from Stansted on a Bristol Britannia on December 8th 1961 to join HMS Cavalier at Singapore. All I know was, it was a freezing night and when we got to Stansted by coach all there was was a little Nissan Hut selling Coffees etc. All the crew had their winter clothing on, and I would be happy if someone would tell me what the airline was? But anyhow, the flight took a life time to reach Singapore and someone wrote on here about being 29 hours and I think that must have been about right. We went to Instanbul first and we still had our overcoats on when they opened the doors, boy was it hot. Then we flew on to Bombay for another stop before touching down in Singapore at long last. Like someone said on here, the smell was awful and nearly made me sick. Then on the way to the Dockyard I saw Matelots eating off these filthy food carts - a few days later I was doing the same. Happy memories of a very fine aircraft.

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Asking about the route from UK to Changi. In the RAF I was posted to British North Borne. We went with Army wives and their kids. Spent the night at Istanbul, in the airport, then left for Bombay. Took off but turned back with an engine on fire. Three nights later took off for RAF Changi. Never forget the smell as we crossed the Bombay river and the cardboard shanties and beggers

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I flew out to Singapore in 1963 from Stansted Airport to join my navy husband who was already out there. I had two little children with me, we stopped at Istanbul then Bombay, it was a very long flight something like 29 hours, it was a nightmare trying to keep the little one amused but worth it in the end to see my beloved husband when we landed

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Hi Steve Mercer,IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION POSTED IN MARCH THIS YEAR, I FLEW ON A RAF BRITTANIA FROM RAF LYNEHAM IN JUNE 1964 TO RAF CHANGI SINGAPORE. THE ROUTE WE TOOK WAS VIA EL ADEM, ADEN, GAN AND FINALLY SINGAPORE. WE STOPPED AT EACH OF THOSE LOCATIONS AND I THINK THE TOTAL FLYING TIME WAS SOMETHING LIKE 36 HRS. I FLEW BACK FROM SINGAPORE IN DEC 1966 ON A RAF VC 10 WHICH WAS SHEER LUXURY AND THE JOURNEY WAS DONE IN A FRACTION OF THE TIME IT TOOK US WHEN WE FLEW OUT. THE BRITTANIA WAS A WONDERFUL AIRCRAFT THOUGH. WHILST WORKING ON THE AIRFIELD AT CHANGI YOU COULD ALWAYS KNOW WHEN THE BRITTANIA WAS COMING IN TO LAND BY THE WONDERFUL SOUND OF ITS ENGINE PROPELLERS IN REVERSE THRUST JUST BEFORE TOUCH DOWN... HAPPY HAPPY MEMORIES.

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Hi Steve, not sure if you have the info you are looking for. I flew as an F.O on the Brit on these sectors. If you still need the details let me know and I will dig out some old log books. Cheers, John Heale

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Hi, I flew to Singapore in 1963 in one and back to UK in 1966.I was hoping if someone may be able to answer some questions for me?
What the route was both ways. approximate times for the legs and whether it would have been Military or Civilian. My Father was in the Army and we were travelling over to meet him.

Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks

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I was a crew member and flown the Cubana Bristol Britannia for some years from 1980-1982. Was a great aircraft on spite of the years of explotation and lacks of some spares flew to many countries in Europe from La Habana. One of the great history of Cubana Britannia´s was the air bridge from Havana to Luanda during the Angola War in 1975

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I remember coming to Australia in June 1966 from London -Abadan-Colombo-Singapore-Darwin-Essendon in one of these and yet can find very little information about it

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Can anyone give me details of routes flown by the Britannia from London to southern Africa (Salisbury in Rhodesia or Johannesburg)?

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My father was a flight engineer on Britannias with Monarch before converting to the 720B with them. He always said how good they were. I believe the one they have static at IWM Duxford was one he did a huge number of hours on.

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First flew when Monarch started ops in 1967-1968 from Luton to Barcelonathink it took 2hrs 40mins clear all the way, after one flight I became a huge fan and the following year as well.The year after they discontinued the Brittania for the 720B, a great pity.

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Flew on these at RAF Lyneham, I think 47 squadron but not sure 1960s. Always remember that the seats faced rearward for the passengers, in the event of a crash being safer for survival, something british airliners never did. Lovely aircraft a treat to fly in. I have some pics somewhere. Remember all were named aircraft something like Arcturus or similar

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