Airliner near-ifs

[AS.12]

A couple of finds from the Flight archive:

Indian Airlines had signed a LoI for 12 757-200s in 1984, but cancelled it in September 1985 after a price war led to a deal for the A320.

Air France signed a lease agreement in November 1967 for an Il-62 to enter service by May 1968 on the Paris-Moscow route.  Did this actually happen?  if so I suspect it was just with small Air France titles but the full livery would make a nice WHIF.

[AS.12]

November 1971, JF Airways of Portsmouth ( UK ) placed an LoI for a single Yak-40 contingent on ARB approval, the price remaining at £450,000 and the economic projections being favourable.  It was to supplement Twin Pioneers on services to the Channel Islands.

[Dizzyfugu]

Here's an example of a leased Tu-114 in JAL service from the Tokyo-Moscow route (note the small JAL logo on the front fuselage):



And here's a KLM-leased Il-62:



Quite subtle additions to the Aeroflot markings.

[Mossie]

BEA were very keen on buying 727-200's and 737-200's, they also looked at the DC-9-40, but favoured Boeing.  They were vetoed by the government who insisted they buy British.  They continued to run their Tridents instead of the 727 and bought One-Eleven 500's instead of the 737.

737:
http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/search/photo_search.php?id=00009597

727.  I've got to admit, I find it hard to distinguish between the Trident and 727 and this artwork makes it even harder.
http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/search/photo_search.php?id=00014466

[PR19_Kit]

BEA were very keen on buying 727-200's and 737-200's, they also looked at the DC-9-40, but favoured Boeing.  They were vetoed by the government who insisted they buy British.  They continued to run their Tridents instead of the 727 and bought One-Eleven 500's instead of the 737.

737:
http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/search/photo_search.php?id=00009597

727.  I've got to admit, I find it hard to distinguish between the Trident and 727 and this artwork makes it even harder.
http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/search/photo_search.php?id=00014466

If BEA had stopped shilly-shallying about over the Trident's spec they'd have GOT a 727 effectively, but one built by de Havilland and with RR engines. Instead they effectively wrecked the aircraft's sales prospects worldwide and then spent the whole time complaining about them!

I've had a 727-100 done in the BEA High Speed Jack scheme in build for at least 20 yrs. now, I really MUST get it done!

[AS.12]

Oooh... in July 1961 KLM's favourite as successor to the Electra was allegedly the Trident, with the 727 and Caravelle 10 also in the running.  Delivery would have been in 1964.

Of course the DC-9 then came along and eliminated the potential for a Trident in any of those KLM blue liveries.

[PR19_Kit]

Of course the DC-9 then came along and eliminated the potential for a Trident in any of those KLM blue liveries.

But here in WhiffWorld it's entirely possible to produce one, and I just might now that you've brought the idea to mind. 

I've never done a Trident Three yet, so a conversion and a KLM decal job would be pretty good perhaps?

[AS.12]

In 1958 the  newly-formed Austrian Airlines was evaluating the following for their main equipment; Viscount 800, Vangaurd, Caravelle, Comet 4 and CV-880.  In our timeline they went with the Viscount but a WHIF customer for the Vanguard would be interesting...

Around the same time LOT was considering the Comet 4, they thought it was technically superior to the Tu-104 as well as cheaper to operate.  However Britain unexpectedly cut the quota for importing Polish bacon in 1960, which not only reduced Polish holdings of sterling currency but also peeved them considerably. 

[AS.12]

In  January 1977 Boeing was soliciting interest in a 747SP Combi variant.  It would have had the 134x120in side cargo door of the -200 and a truncated version of the handling equipment, adding 6,000lb to the basic weight.

Main-deck configuration would have been 4 pallets + 227 pax or 8 pallets + 170 pax.  5,300nm range with 4 pallets + 170 pax.

Performance and weights as for the standard SP.  Pan Am expressed some interest as part of its top-up order for seventh and eighth SPs.


On the opposite end of a the scale, a Combi version of the 747 stretch was proposed for 1983-84 service entry.  It could have taken 14 pallets on the main deck, or six pallets and as many pax as a -200.

[PR19_Kit]

A Combi SP would have been rather odd for the pax I guess. There'd be a very short cabin with 8 pallets aboard.

I've flown in an SP and a -200 Combi and they both seemed short on the inside compared to a standard -200.

[Mossie]

One Kit has mentioned a few times, Court Line bought a Blackburn Beverley with the idea of using it to ferry parts.  The plan was to paint it in pink, but Court Line went bust before it could happen.

[PR19_Kit]

One Kit has mentioned a few times, Court Line bought a Blackburn Beverley with the idea of using it to ferry parts.  The plan was to paint it in pink, but Court Line went bust before it could happen.

Somewhere in my chaotic house (when I get back there........) I have all the bits to do the Court Beverley, and I'd really like to get it done too.