The ALT-98 Carvair: A Comprehensive History of the Aircraft and All 21 Airframes

417 Pages·2008·10.74 MB·English

by  William Patrick Dean

The ATL-98 Carvair
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The ATL-98 Carvair
A Comprehensive History
of the Aircraft and
All 21 Airframes
W P D
ILLIAM ATRICK EAN
Foreword by MICHAEL O’CALLAGHAN
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London
LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA
Dean, William Patrick, ¡944–
The ATL-98 Carvair : a comprehensive history of the aircraft and all
21airframes / William Patrick Dean ; foreword by Michael O’Callaghan.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-7864-3670-5
illustrated case binding : 50# alkaline paper
1. ATL-98 Carvair (Transport plane)—History.
2. ATL (Corporation)—History. I. Title.
TL686.A785D33 2008 629.133'343—dc22 2008023266
British Library cataloguing data are available
©2008 William Patrick Dean. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
On the cover: A British Air Ferries Carvair,
1960s, Southend, England
Manufactured in the United States of America
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 6¡¡, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
Acknowledgments
The Carvair began as an idea in the late 1950s. Its creator, Sir Freddie Laker, is no longer
with us, nor is his BAF successor, T.D. “Mike” Keegan. Many of the other significant personal-
ities throughout the Carvair story are also gone. I am privileged to have met so many fascinat-
ing personalities over the years who told me their stories and of their fondness for the Carvair.
Special thanks to Tony Merton Jones, Propliner Magazine, who graciously accepted my
request to review the manuscript. I am indebted to Ian Callier (ATC Southend), Guy Craven
(ATEL photographer), Richard Goring (ATEL Stores), Paul Howard, Sean Keating, Brian Kerry
(ATEL chief aerodynamicist), Ruth May (Falcon Airways), Richard Vandervord (Customs
Southend), and Michael Zoeller, all of whom provided their personal logs, photos, files and con-
tinually assisted in gathering contemporary documentation and fact verification. Many thanks
to everyone at Aviation Traders, BAF and British World Airways, who provided data without
offering their name. Thanks to Air Britain (AB) for allowing me to serve as the Carvair Spe-
cialist and the encouragement of all the staff, and to the American Aviation Historical Society
(AAHS), which asked me to write a story on the Carvair years ago.
The majority of memorabilia and photos reproduced came from my collection of 40 years.
Credit is given to the original photographer or source. In the 1960s when I began collecting
material this volume was not foreseen. Therefore over the years many names were not recorded
or have been lost. Apologies are extended to anyone who helped in the preparation of this work
or provided material and has been inadvertently not recognized or whose name does not appear
in the following alphabetical list:
J.S. Algranti, Ad Jan Altevogt, Michael Anciaux, Norman Atkins, Maurice Austin (CAHS),
Robert Austin, Simon Barker (SR Technics), Joseph Baugher, Alan Bennett (ATEL), Clifford
Berrett (ATEL), Peter Berry (AB), John Blatherwick, Thomas Blickle, James Blumenthal, Will
Blunt, J.W. Bossenbroek, Roger Braga, Keith Burton, Liam Byrne, Ian Carmichael, Guy Cassi-
man, Tony Clarke, Mike Clayton, Frank Conway, Ruth Cook (AirTran), Paul Crawley, Dave
Cummings, Alfred Damen, Robert Dedman (Interocean), Herman Dekker, Joe Dible (Aer Lin-
gus), Tony Doyle, Mike Draper (AB), Murray Dreyer (Pacific Aerospace), George Dyess (Full
Air), John Ebel, Ron Edwards, Keith Elliott, Ken Elliott, William Ernst, A.P. Fairchild (Intero-
cean, PAL, PAE, HPA), Bob Farnell, Malcolm Fillmore (AB), Patrick Fitches, John Flanagan,
Ray Flynn, Alan Fraser (Ansett), Fredrick Freeman Jr., Ola Furulund, Richard Gaudet (EPA),
Andrew Gider (Canadian Airlines), Kenneth Gilmartin, Simon Glancey, Kenny Goo (Century
Aviation), Geoffrey Goodall, Dennis Goodin, Keith Gordon (SINGAS), Jennifer Gradidge, Kjell
Granlund, David Greer (Berlin Airlift Association), Eddy Gual, Max Harrison, David Hartman,
Ian Haskell, Paul Hawkins (HawkAir), Dave Heaney, Leif Helstrom, D. Hollander (Southend
Airport Authority), Ian Howse (BUAF, Ansett), Kerry Jones (FBO Griffin), Terry Judge, Derek
King (AB), Leo J. Kohn, Dennis Leese, Ruud Leeuw, Terry Leighton (ATEL), Chris Leoni (P&W),
Clive Lynch, Ralf Manteufel, Eduard Marmet, Peter Marshall, Peter Marson (AB), Bernard Mar-
tin, Brian Martin, J.J. Masterson, Ian Matthews (Aerothrust), Bob McSwiggan (Custom Air
v
vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Service), Bruce McSwiggan (Academy Airlines), Mark McSwiggan (Academy Airlines), Brian
Mees (BAF), Mark Meltzer, Richard Micklefield (ATL), Larry Milberry (CANAV Books), Stephen
Miller, Mike Morgan (Warbelow’s Air), Frank Moss (Hondu Carib), Coert Munk, Bob Mur-
dock (Century Aviation), Leo Murray (Irish Aviation Archive), Howard Nash (AB), Bill Nel-
son (Aer Lingus), Howard Nessen, Odd Nilsen (NAHS), Fred Niven (Historian Ansett Group),
Michael O’Callaghan (Aer Lingus), Arthur Pearcy, Stephen Piercy (AB), Mike Pitman, Paul
Rakistis (Interocean, SEAAT, PAE), Han de Ridder, Gordon Reid, Don Robesky (HPA), Matthew
Rodina, Tony Rogers (ATEL), Marisa Ruiz-Ayucar (Iberia), Lawrence Safir, G. Salerno, Richard
Sartini (AirTran), Nicky Scherrer, Robbie Shaw (ATC Gatwick), L.B. Sides, John Simms, Steve
Siviter, Douglas E. Slowiak, R.N. Smith, Charles Stewart, J.J. Sullivan (Aer Lingus), Lynn Tay-
lor (British World Airways), Henry Tenby, Roger Thiedeman (Airways), John Thomas (ATL),
Kenneth Tilley, Rob Tracz, David Truman, Randy Tucker (PAE), Denny Turner (PAE), Ferand
Van De Plas, Aad Van De Voet, Ad Vercruijsse, Philip Warnault (Le Touquet Airport), Dacre
Watson, John Wegg (Airways), Carl Gustaf Wesslen, James R. Willis (Eastern Airlines), Roger
Winfield (Monarch Airlines), Lindsay Wise (Ansett, DCA Australia), Charles Woodley, Paul
Zogg.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v
Foreword by Michael O’Callaghan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
PARTI: GETTINGOFFTHEGROUND
1. Corporate History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
2. Car-Ferry Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
3. Aviation Traders Engineering Limited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
4. Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
5. Carvair Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
PARTII: INDIVIDUALAIRCRAFTHISTORIES
6. Carvair Zero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
7. Carvair One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
8. Carvair Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
9. Carvair Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
10. Carvair Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
11. Carvair Five . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
12. Carvair Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
13. Carvair Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
14. Carvair Eight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
15. Carvair Nine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200
16. Carvair Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
17. Carvair Eleven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225
18. Carvair Twelve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237
19. Carvair Thirteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247
20. Carvair Fourteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257
21. Carvair Fifteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268
22. Carvair Sixteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .273
23. Carvair Seventeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284
24. Carvair Eighteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .295
vii
viii TABLE OF CONTENTS
25. Carvair Nineteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301
26. Carvair Twenty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .312
27. Carvair Twenty-One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334
Epilogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349
Appendix 1: Carvair’s DC-4 Airframes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .351
Appendix 2: Individual Aircraft Dated Histories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .352
Appendix 3: DC-4 Owners and Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .375
Appendix 4: ATL-98 Carvair Owners, Operators, Liveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .376
Appendix 5: DC-4 Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .377
Appendix 6: Carvair Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .378
Appendix 7: Aircraft Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381
Chapter Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .385
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .391
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .397
Foreword by Michael O’Callaghan
Most historians view the Carvair as a moment in aviation history. Those who read this
work will find that Patrick Dean has done extensive research to relate the story of an amazing
low production aircraft. This accounting provided details that I did not know and refreshed my
memory of those that had receded into the mist of time. It is an objective review of the aircraft
and all those who envisioned, designed, built, flew, repaired and loved it.
I was introduced to the Carvair when I applied for a position on the Aer Lingus cadet pilot
scheme. During the interview, I was asked to list the aircraft currently flown by the company.
I replied that Aer Lingus had Douglas DC-3s, Fokker F27s, Vickers Viscount V808s and Boe-
ing 720s. It was noted that I had left one type out. Somewhat taken aback I replied that I thought
the Bristol Wayfarer had been taken out of service and sold. The interviewer agreed then
informed me the company had just issued a press release announcing the purchase of Carvairs
for car-ferry service to the United Kingdom and France.
At the end of my time in flying school I returned to Dublin to fly F27s noting the new
Carvairs parked on the southern edge of the main ramp. They lived apart from the main
center of operations. The reputation of “unreliability” became well known to us as we watched
them taxi out only to return with a magneto drop or other ailment. It was said that if you
did depart on schedule you could not be sure to return on schedule, or on occasion, even that
day.
The 16 most junior first officers were converted to the Carvair when Aer Lingus F27 oper-
ations were phased out. None of us relished the prospect of flying one, but after completing the
conversion courses we found that despite its reputation it was in fact not as unreliable as said
to be. It was decidedly different to operate from the turboprops that we had flown. It reintro-
duced us to vacuum operated horizons and directional gyros that had to be set before takeoff
and regularly during the flight. There were engine run–ups and magneto checks, not to men-
tion the multitude of levers on the pedestal that did not exist on the turbine craft to which we
were accustomed. But then, the Carvair was based on a 25-year-old design.
During the conversion course we were all pleasantly surprised how simple and indeed how
pleasant the aircraft was to fly. Heavy, yes, but it was very stable, and the precision instrument
flying that was demanded by Aer Lingus flying instructors and necessary to operate in the cloudy
climate of Ireland and the United Kingdom was easy to achieve. One of the tricks was to increase
the engine rpm above the recommended for approach. This increased the airflow over the tail,
giving a greater, or quicker, response from the elevators. It also provided more power in the
event of a missed approach as you could go straight to METO power if required and eliminate
one set of levers from the task of initiating the missed approach.
After the conversion course we were assigned to the regular schedule of the car-ferry fol-
lowed by freighter operations that even in those days either started very early in the morning
or finished very late at night. The car-ferry operated to schedule, late at times, but not so
much so as to cause passenger worry. Freighters could be late for many reasons, but of course
1