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| The Valetta was a military transport aircraft, the prototype of which flew for the first time on 30 June 1947. The C.I was the standard RAF version for use by Airborne Forces; could be used in various roles, such as troop-carrying, freighting, paratroop-carrying, supply-dropping and as an ambulance. The C.2 was a special VIP version for 9 to 15 passengers. The T.3 was designed specifically for use as a navigational flying classroom. A number of T.3s were later converted into T.4s with radar fitted in an extended nose. Production totalled 260 aircraft. Power was provided by two 1,472kW Bristol Hercules 230 radial engines.
 | A three-view drawing (800 x 734) |
| Tim Underhill, e-mail, 27.06.2009 16:35 My memory of the Valetta, yes "pig", was flying from Singapore to Hong Kong in 1955. From our stern-facing seats daylight could be seen between joins in the fuselage. The first leg was to RAF Labuan (a small island off the coast of British North Borneo. The second leg was to Clarke field Air Base in the Philipines (a little America with huge bombers with rearwards-facing propellors lined up nose-to-tail ready to scramble). The third and final leg was to the 'original' RAF Kai Tak /Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. I was not to fly in a comparable aircraft until my parachute training on Hastings from RAF Abingdon in 1966! reply | | john oliver, e-mail, 28.03.2009 19:30 i knew this aircraft well we maintained the way station at car nicobar in 1953 they came through with suplies evry 2 or 3 days. bases were ceylon malaya etc reply | | David Owen, e-mail, 27.03.2009 18:25 I worked on 'pigs',C1 and T4, on what was known as 1 Squadron at 228 OCU leeming. The T4 was uses as a flying classroom for AI17 training, and they pursued the C1s(Hotly is too strong a word) about the Yorkshire skies. Closely supervised by 'Teepol Tom' Pearson, we kept the noble beasts flying. The Pigs were featured on a cartoon Christmas card,as I remember. reply | | Ken Nutter, e-mail, 20.03.2009 19:16 I was a Gen Instruement mech on these aircraft 1955 -1957 in Abu-suer Eqypt and RAF Nicosia 114 Sgdn. they did have their problems but were a work horse during the Suez crisis. We did para drops of french troops and equipment Landies and small field guns, they were also sent in to pick up bodies the stench was awful.We lost one on take-off tyre burst but crew OK. We also did a lot of leaflet dropping during the IOKA period as well as Air Sea Rescue flights carrying survival kit on the bomb racks " yes they had them". Our other Squadron neighbours were 82 Valettas and 92 Hastings. Whilst I was there Markious was removed from the Island he walked past within 6 feet of us. " Damn it should have got an autograph". reply | |
| | Russell Fenwick, e-mail, 11.02.2009 16:30 The "pig" only had doors on the port side, the fuselage would not have been able to support doors on either side. In fact flying too often without the doors closed, caused undue stresses to the frame. I worked on the "pigs" in Egypt and Aden 1955- 57 reply | | Brian Gaunt, e-mail, 13.08.2008 02:34 Hi Philip,
The Valetta had a door on the port side of the fuselage only.I recall seeing Valettas at RAF Leeming in 1957 /58 when I was a National Service airframe mechanic serving with No33 Squadron which was equipped with Meteor Mk 14 night fighters.I remember flying down to RAF Waterbeach in a Valetta with other ground crew on detachment from RAF Leeming.We used to refer to the Valettas by their nickname'Pigs'which was quite appropriate with their portly appearance.This was especially so with regard to the Valetta T4 with its long radar nose. reply | | philip pratley, e-mail, 09.03.2008 23:03 i cannot remember...did this aircraft have doors on both sides? main freight door plus passenger on port side and paratroop door on starboard? reply |
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