The Vickers Viscount G-APIM Stephen Piercey

<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#808080" link="#3333CC" vlink="#666699" alink="#990099"> <div align="center"> <center> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="810" id="AutoNumber1" height="5368"> <tr> <td height="100"> <p align="center"><b><font size="7">Welcome to VSP.org.uk <br> </font><font size="5">The home of Viscount Stephen Piercey<br>  </font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="37"> <p align="center"><b><font SIZE="6" COLOR="#008000">The Viscount Stephen Piercey Story</font></b><font size="6"> </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="261"> <p align="center"> <img border="0" src="images/vis-sp.jpg" hspace="6" vspace="6" width="636" height="249" alt="Vickers Viscount Aircraft Stephen Piercey Photo by TOM SINGFIELD"></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="20"> <p align="center"><font color="#008000"><b>Vickers Viscount Aircraft Stephen Piercey (Photo by TOM SINGFIELD)</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"> <p align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="81"><font size="+1">These pages have been produced and donated by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.familylambert.net/andy">Andy Lambert</a> They are here for the friends of this fine aircraft, to use as they will. Any articles sent in, will be gratefully received and published. </font> <p><font size="+1">If you cannot get on with HTML etc. Send me the words as text (NOT formatted i.e. If produced in MS Word save as 'txt' before sending) and I will do the rest. Relevant pictures are very welcome.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"> <p align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="27"> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Arial" color="#008000">A Brief Viscount  History </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="4494"> <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor="#111111" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="660" border="0"> <tr> <td align="left"><font size="4"><br> The Vickers Viscount was born out of the 1945 Brabazon Committee for a short medium range Airliner. The <span lang="en-gb">initial</span> VC2 design carried only 24 passengers, this was considered too few and was increased to 32 by the time the go ahead for construction of the prototype was given. Vickers had intended to name their new Aircraft the Viceroy, however as India gained its independence from the British Empire in 1947, it was considered prudent to re-christen the type and the name Viscount was chosen.<br> <br> The prototype V.630 Viscount G-AHRF took to the air on the 16th July 1948 from the Vickers testing airfield at Wisley, surrey. The production V.700 Viscounts were stretched 6ft 6in over the two prototype V.630,s giving a length of 81ft 2in, allowing a seating capacity of 43 in a two class layout as adopted by initial customer, British European Airways (B.E.A.) whose V.701,s inaugurated scheduled Viscount Services on 18th April 1953.<br> <br> Forty Five type V.700 Viscounts were built at Brooklands before production moved to allow construction of the new V.800 series to commence. The new Viscounts featured a 3ft 10in stretch over the V.700 series, but an increase in useable cabin length of 9ft 3in was obtained by moving the rear bulkhead further aft.<br> <br> The initial production version of the V.800 series the V.802 for B.E.A. first flew on 27th July 1956 and carried 58 passengers in the corporations two class layout with B.E.A. receiving 24 V.802,s. Even with over 50 Viscounts either in service or on order B.E.A. needed more, and ordered 14 V.806 Viscounts (G-AOYT-G-AOYT). Essentially the V.806 was identical to the V.802 with the addition of more powerful Rolls Royce Dart R.da.7 MK 520 engines. <br> <br> This order was later increased to 16 adding G-APEX and G-APEY, and again when order 39c was received by Vickers to comprise three Aircraft, the first of which was construction number 412 to become G-APIM. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"> <img border="0" src="images/bea.jpg" vspace="5" width="650" height="365" alt="A great picture of Viscount G-APIM Stephen Piercey in the air "></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"> <font lang="2" face="Arial" PTSIZE="10" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" color="#008000"> Picture courtesy of Jürgen Lutz   </font> <font face="Arial" color="#008000"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.flugzeugbilder-juergen.de/"> http://www.flugzeugbilder-juergen.de/</a><br>  </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><font size="4">The other two being G-APKF (396) and G-APJU (413). These three Aircraft being ordered to cover for two V.802,s (G-AOJA (G-AOHP) which had been written off, and the initial V.806, G-AOYF which was badly damaged at Johannesburg on 20th October 1957 although subsequently the remains of `YF` were brought back to Vickers and it was rebuilt as c/n 418 G-APOX becoming the last viscount to be delivered to B.E.A.<br> <br> Vickers continued to modify the V.800 Viscount and came up with the V.810 series. As a result of further improved R.DA 7/1 MK 525 darts, and internal strengthening greater operational weights and higher speeds were achieved. The vast majority of V.810 sales were to overseas customers, with the last of a total of 438 Viscounts sold being delivered to the Chinese state airline C.R.A.C. on 16th April 1964.<br>  </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5">G-APIM's History (Viscount Stephen Piercey) </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><font size="4"><br> As with all V.806 Viscounts the initial fuselage construction took place at Hurn, with G-APIM being the 50th type V.800 stated at the factory. The partly completed fuselage had arrived at Brooklands by 21st December 1957 when the main assembly commenced. It was moved to the finishing hanger on 5th May 1958 and GAPIM took to the air from Brooklands on 4th June 1958. G-APIM received its certificate of airworthiness on 20th June and was delivered to British European Airways Corporation at Heathrow on the 24th June 1958. Two days later IM made her first passenger flight, from London to Barcelona. The Captain on that inaugural flight, was one Ray Peircey! </font> <p><font size="4">All B.E.A. Viscounts were called "Discovery Glass" after famous discoveries G-APIM was named Robert Boyle after the Irish scientist born in 1627, who was the originator of "Boyles Law" one of the key gas laws of physics.<br> <br> G-APIM is a V.806 Viscount featuring more powerful R.DA 7 MK 520 however these were later removed to give the underpowered A.W arcosy freighters in the B.E.A. fleet more power, and so R.DA 6 MK 510 as fitted to the V.802 were fitter to IM and sister ships. In its original configuration along with all V.800 Viscounts in the B.E.A. fleet IM carried 42 tourist and 16 first class passengers. In service it was used on B.E.A.s European routes extending as far a field as Tel-Aviv Moscow and Tripoli from its Heathrow base G-APIM being used for route proving flights to Budapest and Prage in the early 60s. After more than ten years with B.E.A. on routes `India Mike' was put into open storage at Cambridge Airport from February to November 1969. returning to B.E.A. service for two years until G-APIM was transferred to an associate Cambrian Airways on 2nd November 1971 G-APIM flew to its new home at Cardiff- Rhoose Airport the next day.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"> <img border="0" src="images/cambrian.jpg" vspace="5" width="650" height="433" alt="G-APIM Viscount Stephen Piercey on the ground"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"> <font lang="2" face="Arial" PTSIZE="10" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" color="#008000"> Picture courtesy of Jürgen Lutz   </font> <font face="Arial" color="#008000"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.flugzeugbilder-juergen.de/"> http://www.flugzeugbilder-juergen.de/</a><br>  </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><p><font size="4">On 18th January 1972 G-APIM emerged from the paint shop resplendent in the new colours of Cambrian Airways consisting of an orange upper fuselage and tail with a stylised welsh dragon. A few months later Cambrian Airways was absorbed into the newly formed `British Airways' and G-APIM left the paint shop on 12th November 1973 repainted in B.A. colours with small Cambrian titles.<br> <br> On 7th December 1977 G-APIM was flying as BZ 762 from Aberdeen to Kirkwall upon landing on runway 10 which was wet and swishy `India Mike' skidded off the concrete and ended up bogged down in the grass, the passengers left the aircraft via the starboard rear door slide thankfully there were no injuries to anyone on board and `India Mike' suffered only minor damage. In 1980 British Airways altered the title on their Aircraft to read just `British' and so India Mike found itself having its titles changed on 14th November 1980.<br>  </font></p> <p><font size="4">By 1982 our Viscount was the last of its type to be retired by B.A. and flown to Cardiff for storage pending sale. In 1984 the Southend based Airline British Air Ferries (B.A.F.) purchased G-APIM plus several other Ex B.A. V.800 Viscounts and was follow to Southend on 3rd February 1984. `India Mike' underwent a major overhaul and was ready for service with B.A.F. by July. <br> <br> <img alt="Stephen Piercey Borrowed from Superprops by Osprey" hspace="6" src="images/sp.jpg" align="left" border="0" width="350" height="293" vspace="4">On 25th August 1984 G-APIM was christened `Viscount Stephen Piercey' after the young and talented chief photographer of `Flight International' (pictured left). Who was tragically killed in a mid air collision at the Hanover Air Show on 20th May 1984 whilst on an assignment. </font></p> <p><font size="4">Stephen had founded and edited a high quality, quarterly magazine called `Propliner' which was devoted to Piston and Turboprop transport aircraft around the world, such was his esteem in the Aviation world that B.A.F. offered to name one of their Viscounts after Stephen. </font></p> <p><font size="4">The honours of naming `India Mike' fell to Stephens parents Ray and Patsy (who lived just a few miles from Brooklands). It had been Ray Peircey who had flown IM on its inaugural flight from London to Barcelona, back in 1958. </font></p> <p><font size="4">In commercial service with B.A.F the V.800 Viscount fleet was configured for either 76 passengers in an economy layout or 7 tons of freight, on routes that spanned across Europe. </font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5">The End Of A Career </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p><font size="4"> <img border="0" src="images/vsp-acc.gif" align="right" width="320" height="240" alt="G-APIM after the accident">An Abrupt end to G-APIM's flying career came on 11th January 1988 when `India Mike' suffered major damage at Southend when a taxing shorts 3.30 (G-BHWT of Guernsey Airlines) lost Hydraulic power, leading to a brake and steering failure. The shorts collided with the Empty parked Viscount, destroying the left hand side of the nose. </font> </p> <p><font size="4">Assessed as being beyond economical repair it was stored and later donated many serviceable parts to other Viscounts in the B.A.F. fleet. The shorts 3.30 was not so lucky, it was transported to Biggin Hill where it was subsequently scrapped. </font> </p> <p><font size="4">In the aftermath of 11th September BAF (now renamed British  World Airways), unhappily ceased trading. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5">The Rescue Operation</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><font size="4"><br> On 29th June 1989 G-APIM was offered to Brooklands Museum so in July Brooklands Curator of Aviation, <b>Julian Temple</b> and <b>Roger Hargreaves</b> of `Proteus Aero Services' inspected G-APIM and agreed with B.A.F. on a long term loan of the Aircraft to Brooklands Museum for Preservation and static display.</font> <p><font size="4"> <img hspace="8" src="images/vic-sp1.gif" align="left" border="0" width="536" height="302" alt="Natioanl Rescue Brooklands Belle and Milly Tant lift the Viscount ready for loading. Photo by Andy Lambert">Between August 1989 and February 1990, G-APIM was dismantled and repairs started by Proteus, with the welcome assistance of `National Rescue'. </font></p> <p><font size="4">This webmaster <b>Andy Lambert</b></font><font size="+1"> drove his Militant Crane "Milly" to Southend to help with dismantling, which <b>Mick Bates </b>does almost single handed. You can read more about Milly at <a href="http://www.millytant.com"> www.millytant.com</a> </font></p> <p><font size="+1">Milly spent three months at Southend as the guest of British World Airlines, dismantling VSP. </font></p> <p><font size="+1">On the 11-02-90 Milly was also joined by the Brooklands Belle pictures above (Milly's jib can just be seen at the back) and the main fuselage is loaded and transported by NRG to Brooklands. Next day the official unloading took place, in the presence of Stephen's family.</font></p> <p> <font size="4"> On 11th February 1990 G-APIM became the only Viscount to travel under the River Thames (via the Dartford Tunnel) on its way back to its birthplace at Brooklands. </font> </p> <p> <img src="images/vsp.jpg" align="center" border="0" vspace="5" width="800" height="487" alt="The Viscount is transported by road on a Natioanl Rescue low loader Photo by Andy Lambert"> <font size="4"> <br> On its way back around the M25 it was stopped by <b> Surrey Police</b> just one junction before the Brooklands Exit, because they thought it was getting too dark to travel! It therefore spent the night in a lay-by at Leatherhead and continued to Brooklands next morning. <br> <br> Since that momentous day, many hours of hard work and fund raising have gone into creating an historic and relevant exhibit for Brooklands Museum. </font> </p> <p><font size="+1">During May of 1990 the '<b>Friends of Viscount Stephen Piercey</b>' were formed to raise funds to keep the project going. Since then with the aid of BAF the Friends have flown 'fund raising Viscounts trips' (usually in YN with Capt Colin </font><font size="4"> Towle</font><font size="+1">), to all kinds of places including:- France, Jersey and Duxford, plus several local tours including beating up Heathrow's main runway at a few hundred feet. </font> </p> <p><font size="+1">Regrettable with the loss of Viscount from service in the UK they have now stopped. </font> </p> <p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"><font size="5" color="#008000">British Air Ferries</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><font size="4"><br> The company was founded in 1946 as <b>Silver City Airways</b> and was one of the longest surviving independent airlines in the UK. In 1962 it became <b>British United Air Ferries</b>, pioneering car-ferry services across the Channel. It operated predominately out of Southend Airport where its headquarters building was. </font> <p><img hspace="6" src="images/bwa.gif" align="left" width="295" height="138"><font size="4">In 1967 it changed its name to the shortened version - <b>British Air Ferries</b> (BAF) and experienced tremendous popularity with the UK flying public In 1993 it became <b>British World Airlines</b>, and adopted the logo shown on the left (which caused some wits to christen it British Warthog Airlines). </font></p> <p><font size="4">Like many other aviation companies it was unable to survive the aftermath of the 11th of September and went into receivership at the end of 2001.</font></p> <p><font size="4">It must be recorded that with out the generosity and support of BAF the preservation of Viscount Stephen Piercey would not have been possible.<br>  </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5">Anorak Corner</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <ul> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">Vickers V.806 Viscount G-APIM Construction No: 412 </font> </li> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">Wing span:93ft 8 1/2 in (28.56m) first flight :4th June 1958</font></li> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">Length :85ft 6 in (26.06m) last flight :9th January 1988</font></li> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">Height :26ft 9in (8.15m) total flying hours:39756 hrs 56min</font></li> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">Wing area:961.38 square ft Total landings:42,210 Maximum take off weight:64,500 lb (29,257 kgs)</font></li> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">Cruise speed:320 mph</font></li> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">Seats: 58-76</font></li> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">G-APIM Was: 62nd Viscount 806 Built (Out of 71)</font></li> <li> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4">16th Viscount 806 Delivered to B.E.A. (Out of 19) <br>  </font></li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <p align="center"><b><font face="Arial" color="#008000" size="5"> A group shot of most of the friends in the mid nineties</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#008000"><br> (Sadly a number have flown away now)</font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> <img src="images/group.jpg" border="0" width="810" height="535" alt="Some of the friends of Viscount Stephen Piercey in the mid nineties. Photo by Cliff Knox"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><b>Please note:- <br> The above information has been collected from many sources. If you think anything is wrong please let us know</b></td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" height="26"><b><font color="#008000" size="5">Wanted</font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" height="58"><font size="4">A good picture of Capt Colin Towle<br> Pictures of VSP in earlier liveries<br> Any other VSP input <br> To hear from anyone who wants (and can) help me to keep the site updated. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"> <p align="left"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="26"> <p align="left"><font color="#008000"> <b><font SIZE="+2">Some Links</font></b> </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p align="left" style="line-height: 150%"><font size="+1"> <a href="images/vspps.gif" target="_blank">VSP's Livery by Nick Webb</a>                  </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p align="left" style="line-height: 150%"><font size="+1"><a href="images/yn.jpg" target="_blank">In Memory of YN</a>  The <font color="#000000">Friends of VSP 'other' plane</font></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p align="left" style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4"> <a href="http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/" target="_blank">Brooklands Museum</a> The home of VSP</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p align="left" style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gatwickaviationsociety.org.uk">Gatwick Aviation Society</a> </font><font size="+1">Great supporters of<font color="#000000"> VSP</font></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p align="left" style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gatwickaviationsociety.org.uk/viscount.asp">Gatwick Aviation Society</a> </font><font color="#000000" size="+1"> The Society's own G-APIM 'Viscount Stephen Piercey' page</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/index.html"> British Aircraft Directory</a> Lots of prop aircraft info</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p style="line-height: 150%"> <font size="4"> <a target="_blank" href="http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19880111-1">ASN Brief Report on the Accident</a>  Useful reference site for airline incidents</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p style="line-height: 150%"> <font size="4"><a href="http://www.tricatus.co.uk/">Corgi Aviation Archive (Unofficial)</a>  Extensive details of the Corgi Viscounts, (including of course VSP)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4"><a href="http://www.vickersviscount.net/"> Vickers Viscount Network</a> An excellent 'Virtual Museum' dedicated to the Viscount. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p style="line-height: 150%"><a href="http://www.vc10.net/"><font size="4">A Little VC10derness</font></a><font size="4"> Another excellent site dedicated to yet another Vickers great, the VC10</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4"> <a href="http://www.millytant.com">Milly Tant's Home Page</a>  Read all about Milly's time with the Army and then London Transport, before she became a Brooklands Museum Volunteer</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4"> <a href="http://www.vehiclerecovery.org">Vehicle Recovery</a>  Another website by the author, chronicling the fascinating history of UK vehicle recovery. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p style="line-height: 150%"><font size="4"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.familylambert.net/">Authors Home Page</a>  </font><font size="+1">Aviation and Recovery (things plus much more)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"><font size="+1"> <img border="0" src="images/mail.jpg" align="right" vspace="8" width="343" height="29"><font color="#008000">Email </font><br> (</font>Please forgive the picture link, but it stops Spam engines harvesting) </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p align="left"><font color="#008000"><font size="+2"><b>Site Sponsors</b></font><b><font SIZE="+2"> Links</font></b> </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"><font size="+1"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mtsltd.com">Marine Technological Services</a> </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="30"> <p align="center"><b>Web design by <a href="linkpage.htm">PFM</a></b></p> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> </body>