Avro Tudor, Trader and Ashton

The Wooksta! · July 18, 2019, 08:14:04 AM

Don't think we've a thread on this one, so here goes with some interesting links.

http://britishaviation-ptp.com/avro688.html

Possible Australian production for the RAAF and Quantas!
http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a76Tudor.htm
http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Avro-Tudor

http://www.british-caledonian.com/Air_Charter_Tudor_Model.html
http://saadonline.uk/archives/272

PR19_Kit · July 18, 2019, 08:37:46 AM

What a weird window arrangement the Tudor has.

The Wooksta! · July 18, 2019, 08:58:31 AM

And they are all different!

NARSES2 · July 19, 2019, 06:18:52 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 18, 2019, 08:37:46 AM
What a weird window arrangement the Tudor has.

First, second and third class layout ? Although back in the day I don't think there would be a need for third as the hoi-polloi didn't fly unless in uniform

The possibility of Australian production is interesting

The Wooksta! · July 19, 2019, 09:01:28 AM

Google search turned these up:

Highly useful loading diagram if anyone wants to try scratching the interior for the Contrail kit.

Cutaway

Just a nice photo:

https://alchetron.com/Avro-Tudor
Interesting mention of the Tudor III, used for toveying about cabinet ministers. Serials VP301 and VP312.

PR19_Kit · July 19, 2019, 09:43:01 AM

Look at the size of those seats!

A Ryanair accountant would have a heart attack just glancing at them!

rickshaw · July 19, 2019, 11:27:49 PM

What or who is a "star girl"?

NARSES2 · July 20, 2019, 02:09:51 AM

It's the "Bullion Compartment" that gets me.

Weaver · July 20, 2019, 04:57:05 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on July 20, 2019, 02:09:51 AM
It's the "Bullion Compartment" that gets me.

Not to mention the "Star Girls".....

zenrat · July 20, 2019, 05:12:17 AM

Where is the crew toilet?
Surely the sort of people who would fly in a fast long range luxury passenger aircraft would not expect to have to share facilities with the help.

Or with the Star Girls.

Weaver · July 20, 2019, 05:23:26 AM

Doing a little research, it seems that British South American Airlines (principle user of the Tudor) had a thing about stars. They used 'Fly With The Stars' as a marketing slogan and gave all their aircraft individual 'Star (Something)' names like ' Star Tiger' or 'Star Pilot'. I can't find a definitive statement on the matter, but it seems highly likely that they called their stewardesses 'Star Girls' to fit in with this theme, especially given the opening (and given the times) for comments about 'heavenly bodies' etc...

zenrat · July 20, 2019, 05:33:26 AM

And undoubtedly, should one have accidentally slipped ones hand up their skirt they would have turned incandescent with rage...

kitnut617 · July 20, 2019, 06:58:06 AM

There's been an interesting article in Air-Britain's Aviation World quarterly about BOAC's North Stars. It was split over three issues and covered all of the operations of BOAC and other airlines associated with BOAC as they got the North Stars handed down to them. It starts off with the first versions with the standard exhaust system equipment like you see here on the Tudors, but then it goes on to how the 'cross-over' exhausts were developed, which there was a couple of different ones, and was mainly done for passenger comfort. Did the Tudor get the same treatment ?

EDIT: that should be BOAC's Argonauts

The Wooksta! · July 28, 2019, 02:48:39 AM

BOAC didn't keep the Tudor long - they were too wedded to US aircraft and kept making changes to the spec. I've yet to see an arrangement like the North Stars.

It's the Merlins with the Shackleton Griffon style side vents that interest me more.

The Wooksta! · August 12, 2019, 04:21:09 PM

Nice photo of the sole Tudor VIII, the forerunner to the Ashton.

I'm rather liking the idea of an Ashton in BOAC colours