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| The Hermes 4 was the first British post-war airliner built to modern standards to go into service; 25 were delivered to BOAC for use on its Commonwealth routes, services beginning in August 1950. Normal accommodation was for 40 passengers, but alternative seating arrangements provided for a maximum of 74. Originally powered by four 1,565kW Bristol Hercules 763 radial engines, all were subsequently re-engined with 1,583kW Hercules 773s and were thereafter known as Hermes 4As.
| MODEL | Hermes IV |
| ENGINE | 4 x Bristol Hercules 763, 1566kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 39000 kg | 85981 lb |
| Empty weight | 25100 kg | 55336 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 34.44 m | 113 ft 0 in |
| Length | 29.51 m | 97 ft 10 in |
| Height | 9.14 m | 30 ft 0 in |
| Wing area | 130.80 m2 | 1407.92 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 563 km/h | 350 mph |
| Cruise speed | 435 km/h | 270 mph |
| Ceiling | 7470 m | 24500 ft |
| Range | 3200 km | 1988 miles |
| John Terry, e-mail, 25.11.2015 21:46 In 1957 my father was posted to RAF Seletar and flew out to Singapore on G-ALDA. 3 Months later, my mother and I followed him on this accompanied posting, again on G-ALDA. Six months after this my sister joined us, again travelling on G-ALDA
In all cases the route I belive was Cyprus, Bahrain, Karachi, Calcutta, Changi although I cannot now be sure of the route. I do recall during the stops an abundance of eggs and Camel steaks. I believe the height we travelled at was 10,500 feet. Leaving Cyprus there was a loud bang and the a /c returned but was able to leave several hours later. I was amazed and delighted to find several photographs of G-ALDA on the net and will never forget the running up of its engines prior to take off.
We had an Empire in those days and whilst we didnīt have too much television or anything else, they were good times. reply |
| john mills, e-mail, 12.11.2015 16:49 My first ever flight was 19.7.1954 as 22year old RAF national service man. I left Blackbush in Air Work Hermes G-AKFD at 22-oo Hrs arriving Malta 03-40. Departing 05-30 to arriving Fayid 10-30 am. After time there and RAF Eastleigh Nairobi flown between by RAF Vickers Valetta. When demob time came I left Eastleigh again by RAF Valetta to Juba 3 Hrs. then on to Kartoum 3.45 Hrs. Overnight stay then on then on to
Wadi Halfa 2.20 Hrs. then to Fayid 3.25 Hrs. Thus early on 16.8 1955. borded Britania Hermes G-ALDJ and let Fayid for return with stop at malta to arrive back at blackbush at 15.00 Hrs. under Captain D. Williams whose flight bulletin shows us flying 30 miles west of Paris at 6500 ft ?? at 215 mph. Sorry to saw both AKFD & ALDY had later unrearable accidents reply | | David Everitt, e-mail, 18.10.2015 18:08 I flew as a 10 year old with my family from Blackbushe to Singapore in 1955 in a Hermes of Airwork Ltd, London.
I'm not sure of the route, but after a stop over in Rome to fix a problem I believe we flew onto Bengazi, and hopped our way via Karachi, Calcutta, had a night in the King George Hotel somewhere, and we spent a night in some sort of Beau Geste fort with armed guards at the gate, truly amazing, finaly landing at Changi, they opened Paya Lebar Airport when we were there. reply | | Chris Pope, e-mail, 02.08.2015 22:41 When I was four years old, my Mum, flew with me and my 1 yr old Brother in a Hermes - I believe of Airworks - from Blackbushe via Brindisi, Ankara, Karachi and Delhi to Paya Lebar in Singapore.
The plane had some sort of mishap on landing at Ankara and the whole of the passenger complement were shunted into a city centre hotel, under armed guard, because they were having some kind of civil war or something. ANY further information about the plane, the crew and /or the incident would be REALLY appreciated as my Mum has now passed away and my memories of this trip are scant to say the least.
Thanks in advance. reply |
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| | Shirley Black, e-mail, 01.04.2015 19:02 I flew with my mother and 3 sisters and 1 brother from London to Singapore via Brindisi Bahrain Beiruit Karachi stop over Bombay stop over Calcutta Stopover Bankok and Singapore 3 days in total and arrived on my 14 Birthday.....
It was marvellous... reply | | Paul Cox, e-mail, 21.12.2014 01:28 In May 1958 I flew from Singapore to Blackbushe via Calcutta, Karachi, Bahrain, Beiruit, Brindisi. We had to stop over in Calcutta for a few days due to engine failure on the way to Karachi reply | | Graham Collins, e-mail, 15.12.2014 18:30 I flew in G-ALDL from Singapore to Stansted in 1959. My Dad Mum and I were leaving Changi to return to UK. My Dad kept a meticulous log of all flights he was on.
The Captain was named Woodley and he flew the aircraft from Paya Lebar to Bangkok to Calcutta. The Captain was then Janaski and he flew Calcutta to Karachi to Abadan to Ankara.
The Captain changed ( no name ) and he flew Ankara to Brindisi to Stansted reply | | Mike Longhurst, e-mail, 01.10.2014 16:42 We flew to Singapore from I think Stanstead in June 1954, stopping off about seven times and taking 4 days. Much as I loved the Hermes, we were travelling parallel with a beautiful BOAC Constellation and on the leg from Baghdad or thereabouts, could see it off to the left for a while. How I wished I was in that! They got better meals and nice little pennants on their tables during stops.
I actually got a ride in the left hand seat over Brindisi. Vivid memories of the wave of heat that struck us as the doors were opened in Bahrain. Flew back in June 1957 with just a few different stops, but both ways I suffered terribly with perforated eardrums. reply | | Peter, e-mail, 18.09.2014 13:40 can some one help me my Mother was on a flight in July 1955
from Blackbushe to Malaya the plan got into difficulties and landed on a dessert air strip before reaching Karachi mum was heavily pregnant and was flown on in a small tween seated aircraft to Singapore the flight was a troop carrying one I would like to know the flight number who was the crew and to here from other passengers maybe even some photos a long shot I know Mum is in her 80s now reply | | iris harris, e-mail, 19.06.2014 00:03 please can anyone tell me the cost of flying on the hermes in the early 50,s when it was just pure luxury i work on the one we have at duxford and children always ask this question reply | | George Adams, e-mail, 25.02.2014 11:01 September 1951. 11 years old and off to school in England from Nairobi via entebbe(awful turbulence)' khartoum (first time I sawa city from the air at night), cairo, Rome at dawn, then cold London
Next time it was argonauts reply | | MIke Saunders, e-mail, 03.02.2014 09:00 I recall reading a long description in FLIGHT of the accident when the BOAC Hermes got lost over the Sahara and eventually had to land in the desert. It was a classic example of the Navigator making observations which did not quite agree so he made them agree !! If anyone can point me to this article I would love to re read it and show it to some of the latest crop of techno aircrew Mike S reply | | Anthony Walsh, e-mail, 11.10.2013 17:46 I forgot to mention the stewardess's were Miss E Downing and Miss D Hayden. reply | | Anthony Walsh, e-mail, 11.10.2013 17:25 April 1958 I flew with G-ALDO to Singapore from Stanstead.Brindisi to Ankara, Basra (God it was hot there)on to Karachi for a nights sleep in a garden chalet, full of giant cockroaches.Next day we flew to Delhi and then on to Calcutta But,half way there we lost an engine due to a storm. Landing safely in Calcutta we had to stay in the great eastern hotel for four days waiting for spares.Rangoon then Bangkok and finally Singapore thanks to Captain B Talbot reply | |
| | Terry Offord, e-mail, 20.07.2013 08:53 I flew from Paya Lebar (Singapore)1959. to Stanstead, we took almost ten days as we were prevented from over flying Iran (or maybe Iraq at the time) after three attempts, eventually we had permission to overfly. General Kassim was in trouble, we had to stay in a Bahrain hotel, a ghastly place in those days, The Aircraft was G-ALDL, nice to fly in, comfortable, unlike today's dreadful high density seating (Cattle Class) Delta Lima was broken-up after being made non operational by Skyways ,(1961). She had belonged originally to BOAC. reply | | Michael Taylor, e-mail, 14.07.2013 23:33 I did the same journey in November 1958. Incident free, save that in Karachi as a 10 year old, I asked what was the meat we were eating in the hotel. It tasted pretty disgusting and was like leather. Camel steak my father chirped up and told me to eat it. The other thing I recall was spending time in the cockpit as we flew from Brindisi to the UK, I think over the Alps. reply | | John Plumb, e-mail, 07.07.2013 13:27 Flew home from Singapore in 1954, the aircraft failed to take off at the end of the runway and careered into the perimeter fence. another day in Singapore while they fixed it.
Stopped at Bangkok, Calcutta, Bahrain, Rome, Nicosia and finally Blackbush. reply | | Lester Stenner, e-mail, 23.09.2012 12:30 My father was Chief Pilot and Training Captain with Airwork(1946 - 1956ish) and flew many hours on the Hermes. I flew with him numerous times, mainly training flights and to Basle, and Fayed, Egypt, on trooping flights. I remember him saying it was a nice aircraft to fly, very stable, but susceptible to engine over heating, and it wasn't good in very hot conditions. It was a BOAC Hermes that 'got lost' over the Desert and crash landed. reply | | Sven, 13.04.2012 00:32 Message for James Talbot.
James my information is from the book That Spread of Wings by Angus Mcmillin. It is quite possible that with the passing of years that such details were vague.
I am a St.Albans man. My father and several of my aunts and uncles were HP employees.The late Angus McMillin was press officer untill the last days of the company and was the uncle of a close friend of mine. As for the day of the flight I can't imagine that it was not a matter of record in the log books available to A M. The crash sight was in the opposite direction to St Albans at Radlet. The runway was paralell with the southbound railway to Kings Cross. I don't know if I can shed any more light on the subject but will do my best if asked. Regards. Sven. (Ndp) reply | | James Talbot, e-mail, 10.04.2012 20:11 and a message for Sven - maybe it was the Sunday as you say - I cannot remember being only 3 months old at the time !! However I do know that he would never have been referred to as JIM and was always known by colleagues and friends as James - are you an American? reply |
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Chris Pope
My family (minus Dad - who had flown out earlier) left Stanstead in January 1956 bound for Singapore. The aircraft was Hermes G-ALDA. I remember the many stops for their understanding of hospitality. I have a vivid memory of a late landing in Karachi with a short bus ride to the accommodation. The name of the hotel was quite unrelated to its appearance. Hotel Paradise was a run-down place and I remember standing at the back of it and all I could see was desert. The refreshments consisted of a jug of lime juice on a table outside the room.
I would love to hear from anyone with similar experiences on this route.
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