Bac Three-eleven

[BillSlim]

I came across the two images of the proposed BAC Three-Eleven on the net. I thought they'd be handy for anyone thinking of doing profiles of unbuilt British civil airliners.





For starters we could have the initial planned operators: BEA, Laker, Court Line, Tarom and Bavaria (haven't heard of those last couple). Then followed by any operator that inherited the aircraft after mergers, for example we could have a variety of British Airways colours after the merger of BOAC and BEA.

Basically any operator that bought the A300, or 727, would be a good candidate for the Three-Eleven.

[Hobbes]

I noticed that those dimensions are fairly close to the VC-10 (at 48 m, the VC-10 is a bit shorter, though). The wing shape looks similar too.  

[uk 75]

There is a new book out on the BAC Three Eleven which includes some nice side views of 311s in BEA, Courtline, Laker and other airlines. I forget the title and author, but it will be known to Aviation Booksellers.

UK 75

[Mike Wren]

There is a new book out on the BAC Three Eleven which includes some nice side views of 311s in BEA, Courtline, Laker and other airlines. I forget the title and author, but it will be known to Aviation Booksellers.

UK 75

The BAC Three-Eleven by Graziano Freschi, published by Tempus

book link

[BillSlim]

It's neat, but the VC10 is waaaaay sexier !

I agree, even the double deck design looks good.  

Hobbes, IIRC at the time the 3-11 was designed Vickers would have become part of BAC so the same people who worked on the VC10 may have worked on the 3-11.
Talking about the VC10, apparently in the '70s the PRC was seriously interested in building knock down kits of it, as they initially did not want to build the American 707. BAC was also willing to negotiate licence building in China.

The VC-10 could have continued in production well into the '80s if that deal had gone ahead.

I'll need to see if I can locate that pic of the BOAC double decked VC10...

[BillSlim]

Doubled decked VC10 in BOAC markings.



Various VC10 derivatives, including double decked VC10.



Three Eleven in BEA markings.

[Archibald]

The VC-10 could have continued in production well into the '80s if that deal had gone ahead.

It did - as the Il-62    !!!

I love the VC-10, too    

[BillSlim]

The VC-10 could have continued in production well into the '80s if that deal had gone ahead.

It did - as the Il-62    !!!

I love the VC-10, too    

I don't think I've me anybody who didn't like the VC10.  

How about an RAF Three-Eleven; a VIP aircraft in 32 Squadron? I think it would look good in the same markings as some of the VC10 C.1s have worn.
Come to think of it how about the double decked VC10 as an RAF tanker/transport? It would have one hell of a give away fuel wise, and be able to carry a lot of troops.

Darn, wish I could do profiles.    

[B777LR]

The BAC 3-11 was meant as a competitor to the Airbus A-300  

[BillSlim]

The BAC 3-11 was meant as a competitor to the Airbus A-300

Which is why the government at the time were rather lukewarm about it, wanting to be seen to be 'European'. The next government used all available money saving Rolls Royce, so no Three-Eleven.

Ironically we pulled out of Airbus, thus losing most of our influence over the design. Rather fortunately Hawker Siddeley stayed in using their own money, or it is possible that there would be no British input into Airbus at all.
How much longer we continue to make components probably depends on whether EADS wants to relocate wing manufacture to the Continent or not.

HS did design a 4 engined version of the A300B, the HS149 which is the direct ancestor of the A340. I'll see if I can locate a pic of it.

[Geoff]

Maybe as there was no market for it here due to UK gov being in Airbus; perhaps they sold the plans and a license to China who built the origional 1-11?

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Is there a way to convert an existing aircraft model to create the BAC Three-Eleven?  If yes, then why has nobody bothered to create a WHIF RAF Tanker?  Or failing that, a convincing profile of this rather attractive aircraft.