Traveled from England to Southern Rhodesia in one (BOAC) 1961. Earned the nickname “Whispering Giant “ Never forget this plane. Had chance to work on the catering for the last few years before the comet took over. Big place in my heart for this aeroplane.
I flew in a RAF Transport Command Britannia from England to Kuala Lumpur in 1968. A wonderfully smooth and enjoyable flight. A very underrated aircraft.
1964. Dad in Fleet Air Arm. Got posted to RNA Holding Unit at RAF Changi. Flew out to Singapore on a Chartered British Eagle Britannia. I was 5years old. What a journey. I remember everything . Refuelling stops at Istanbul and Bombay (Mumbai) . Landed at Paya Lebar airport in a monsoon storm. Took a whole 24 hours to get there. Loved it. Fabulous aircraft. Great fun watching out of the windows seeing the engines shut down when cruising above the Indian Ocean as the pilots did to save fuel then starting up again as we neared Singapore.
When it taxied on the ground the engine sound is exactly the same as the mighty SRN4 hovercraft which also had four Bristol Proteous engines. Reminded me of being in Dover watching the hovercraft arrivals and departures from the Prince of Wales Pier viewing area. Thanks for sharing this amazing footage!
Worked on BOAC Brits as an apprentice at Filton around 1958 or so. Did electrical installation in the freight hold. On your knees most of the time! Lucky enough to scrounge a flight or two, one on G-AOVA. Also remember the tragic loss of G-ANCA over Downend.
I was there! On the walk around you could see the damage done by dirt runway landings, holes in the flaps and props scarred and nibbled by stones. Also the leaking Dowty hoses and rusty oleo legs on Cheltenham’s finest products. Many thanks to that brilliant South African pilot. Such a display in that tired but Grand old Lady...
Flew from somewhere down south to Singapore in a British Eagle Britannia in 1967. Stopped for fuel in Abadan and Colombo, Ceylon, as it was then. Last leg to Payar Lebar Airport. About 24 hours all together. 845 Naval Air Commando Squadron one third personnel turnover. Happy (ish) Days!!
I flew in one of these from the UK to RAF Changi as a youngster in 1967.. via Constantinople, Bombay and the Singers.... and then return 3 years later on one of the first VC10@s great memories...
That's amazing. I was about to post the same. Went to Singapore in '67 also (My dad was RN). Was only 3 at the time, but still remember the view from those large windows. Returned to UK via Cyprus in '69, also in a VC-10...Small world!
I had the privilege of working on numerous examples of the Britannia during my early years with Airline Engineering (AEL), which became Monarch Aircraft Engineering (MAEL), from 1977 at Luton. The technology was way ahead of its time for a 1950s airliner, although the jet era put pay to the long range turboprop. Seeing and hearing the ‘whispering giant’ again gave me a lump in my throat. For me the most beautiful turboprop airliner to grace the skies. Thank you for posting such wonderful footage.
I was lucky enough to see one at the old Melbourne airport(Essendon) in the late 50s, I think I was 9 or 10yo at the time. It had BOAC livery and we were shown aboard by one of the Hostesses. An experience I will never forget.
yep, worked on that one and all the others at Brize in base hangar and then on the line 1970/75. What a wonderful shift system on the line, 3days 3 nights 6off. probably the only job in my life for which I ever feel any nostalgia.
When I was about 12 we flew from Luton to Majorca on a monarch brittania ,first time I'd ever flown,I had a window seat right on the wing,I stared out of it the whole way,it was pretty noisy but smooth,I loved it. This is a great vid.
As an 8-year old in1966, my first flight was in a Bristol Britannia - an RAF Charter from British Eagle Airways. RAF Lyneham-Istambul-Bombay-Singapore (RAF Changi). With refuelling stops, I believe the flight took about 24 hours! the return flight in 1968 was in an RAF VC-10, which was a bit quicker, via RAF Gan. I still remember both flights pretty well! Lovely to see one still flying so long after.
To this day I have a soft spot for this beautiful aircraft. As a 9 years old boy I flew on it for the first time with my family (March 3rd 1967). My father was in the RAF and he was being posted to RAF Luqa, Malta. The RAF chartered a Britannia Airways flight from Luton airport. I will never forget our plane banking over Malta and how small the island appeared. I could see the entire island and neighbouring Gozo as I gazed out the oval shaped window. My 2nd flight on this wonderful plane was in the autumn of 1968...a new posting for my father to Cyprus (RAF Akrotiri). I recall a temporary stopover at RAF El Adem in Libya...a parched and barren wasteland if ever there was one. My 3rd flight was in late February 1970 - this time from RAF Akrotiri to the Britannia's UK homebase of RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire. We lived in RAF quarters at Lyneham (100 Melsome Road) and I recall the drone of the Britannia's as they daily and nightly revved up on the tarmac...quite clearly visible from our home. Then one day in the summer of that same year that comforting drone stopped completely. The whole Britannia squadron had permanently left for a new home at RAF Brize Norton. Mind you the C130 Hercules squadrons were there and as an Air Cadet I enjoyed many a ride on these equally iconic aircraft...but that's another story. The Britannia remains my favourite aircraft to this very day and I frequently look back nostalgically at that iconic "Royal Ar Force transport Command" logo, and the red, white and blue tail fin emblem. Sigh! Care free and happy days.
The Whispering Giant got it's name because the Proteus engine had a 'buried' compresor intake;i.e reverse flow, meaning high frequency sound was mostly shrouded.
I flew in one of these at RAF Lyneham in 1964, as a very excited 13 year old air cadet it was my first flight. We spent about two hours doing circuits and bumps, unsupervised me and some other cadets tried standing up in the isle on take off and landing (idiots) I remember that all the seats faced backwards! Not the pilot and co pilots obviously!! I lived in Royal Wootton Bassett just up the road and when a Britannia was coming into land our old TV would fade in and out until there was no picture at all until it had passed over, very happy memories.
Flew to Nairobi in G-AOVR, Brit. 312 of BOAC, JAN. 1959. 10 minutes late arrival due to number 2 engine deciding not to play over L. Victoria. My first flight aged 10. Wonderful!,
Flew in one of these from London to Kuala Lumpur, Malaya in 1966. I was about 8yo, very airsick 'til we got to Constantinople (Istanbul) but was ok after that. It was all a bit of an adventure as my father's artillery regiment had been posted to Malaya to deal with the insurgency in Borneo. last gasp of empire and all that.The Malaysians kicked us out and renamed their country after we'd gone. Liked the plane, with good views from the windows, but boy was it a long flight. My elder brother made a plastic scale model of the Britannia but it was almost indestructible. I think we blew it up with Chinese bangers in the end.
I can remember these coming in and out of Colerne back in the day. Always had a soft spot for these. Well, for anything that came out of Filton, actually...
Remember being a passenger on these as a youngster to and from boarding school. But always preferred the Viscount as it had better windows to see out of.
My first plane ride ever when I was 10 years old taking British RAF families to Cyprus to join our Dads. Then again when we were evacuated during the troubles… what I remember most was the rear facing seats… Agree beautiful aircraft… But my all time favorite was the Victor… an aircraft ahead of it’s time. For 3 years we were stationed at RAF Wyton a V-Bomber base… by then the Valiant had been decommissioned for metal fatigue I believe… 2nd would be the Vulcan and 3rd the VC10… Aloha all from Hawaii (expat in exile)
Yep so much fun! I went to the same school....for heavy weather training schools in 44 foot motors foot boats in Oregon... I was in the While in the U.S.Coast Guard......just a bit northern of San Fran cal in Oregon
@@ooklamoc4411 Hiya,yes indeed.I have seen some low passes at airshows over the years but nothing like this!!!! His props are just feet off the deck! Cheers.
The big difference between flying this aircraft and the modern stuff is pretty simple...in those days the machine used to do what the pilot asked,..nowadays it's the pilots that do what the machine says..
My first flight was on one of these in 1968 when I was 10 years old. Britannia Airways Manchester to Gerona. There was a strong smell of fuel when we boarded, which made me feel unwell for most of the flight.
Stunning aircraft, really wish one of those could have been preserved in flying condition. When I grew up near Heathrow in the 60s the Britannia was a regular sight. It was also the very first aircraft I ever flew on. around 1966.
I flew the Brittania for 2 1/2 years until the government decided to axe it!! It was a magnificent airplane to fly and it was like being a member of private club. Had hoped to go from being a new copilot to a second tourist captain instead moved to Lyneham and spent the rest of my time, over 12 years on Hercs or ‘Fat Albert’ as it was affectionately known.
After previous flights in piston powered aircraft, I flew in a Canadian Pacific Airlines Britannia and still remember how smooth and quiet it was. It’s still a great looking plane, although electrical maintenance crews didn’t like it because of constant electrical problems.
Brave crew! Times I watched BOAC and British Eagle arrive at LHR with one feathered! Flew a few times to GIB' on a RAF Brit' and can say that they are quieter outside than inside!
Ben, I used to fly the Brits at Filton with Hugh Statham, a charming man.He could fly low too ,used to frighten the garage attendants on the eastern threshold so they shortend the streetlights for him!!
My gramp was the one talking when the plane was flying died back in 2016 love and miss him so funny how he said oh bugger me 😂
Great commentary with appropriate accent as well!
I was also going to say that it was the perfect accent for this
Traveled from England to Southern Rhodesia in one (BOAC) 1961. Earned the nickname “Whispering Giant “
Never forget this plane. Had chance to work on the catering for the last few years before the comet took over.
Big place in my heart for this aeroplane.
Surely one of the most impressive aircraft to grace the skies .
I flew in a RAF Transport Command Britannia from England to Kuala Lumpur in 1968. A wonderfully smooth and enjoyable flight. A very underrated aircraft.
1964. Dad in Fleet Air Arm. Got posted to RNA Holding Unit at RAF Changi. Flew out to Singapore on a Chartered British Eagle Britannia. I was 5years old. What a journey. I remember everything . Refuelling stops at Istanbul and Bombay (Mumbai) . Landed at Paya Lebar airport in a monsoon storm. Took a whole 24 hours to get there. Loved it.
Fabulous aircraft. Great fun watching out of the windows seeing the engines shut down when cruising above the Indian Ocean as the pilots did to save fuel then starting up again as we neared Singapore.
We went out there in 1963 when I was 3.5 years my dad was based at Seletar, like you we flew there and back in 1966 British Eagle Britannia
When it taxied on the ground the engine sound is exactly the same as the mighty SRN4 hovercraft which also had four Bristol Proteous engines. Reminded me of being in Dover watching the hovercraft arrivals and departures from the Prince of Wales Pier viewing area. Thanks for sharing this amazing footage!
Just recently visited her at Kemble. Very well preserved and looked after by a very friendly and dedicated ground crew.
A beautiful aircraft. I still remember clearly the BKS Brittanias flying into Southend for maintenance in the sixties. Never failed to impress.
Gorgeous airplane... and the best flyby I've seen!
Worked on BOAC Brits as an apprentice at Filton around 1958 or so. Did electrical installation in the freight hold. On your knees most of the time!
Lucky enough to scrounge a flight or two, one on G-AOVA. Also remember the tragic loss of G-ANCA over Downend.
That is one gorgeous looking aircraft! spectacular flying skills !!
Awesome footage, thanks for posting!! First aircraft I flew in back in 1966.
Great video. Spent a few years working on the Monarch Britannia at Duxford. A beautiful aircraft.
I was there! On the walk around you could see the damage done by dirt runway landings, holes in the flaps and props scarred and nibbled by stones. Also the leaking Dowty hoses and rusty oleo legs on Cheltenham’s finest products. Many thanks to that brilliant South African pilot. Such a display in that tired but Grand old Lady...
I remember that day too, saw it approach but didn't realise it did this many runs.
Is the pilot's name known?
It takes a highly skilled pilot with big balls to do that extremely low fly by. No margin left should something go wrong.
How graceful. I m sure it’s not the easiest aircraft to fly. But he make it look majestic
Sweeeet! Never seen such great footage of a Britannia. Thanks for posting.
Flew from somewhere down south to Singapore in a British Eagle Britannia in 1967. Stopped for fuel in Abadan and Colombo, Ceylon, as it was then. Last leg to Payar Lebar Airport. About 24 hours all together. 845 Naval Air Commando Squadron one third personnel turnover. Happy (ish) Days!!
I flew in one of these from the UK to RAF Changi as a youngster in 1967.. via Constantinople, Bombay and the Singers.... and then return 3 years later on one of the first VC10@s great memories...
That's amazing. I was about to post the same.
Went to Singapore in '67 also (My dad was RN). Was only 3 at the time, but still remember the view from those large windows. Returned to UK via Cyprus in '69, also in a VC-10...Small world!
I did in 1966, came back on a VC10 in 1968.
I had the privilege of working on numerous examples of the Britannia during my early years with Airline Engineering (AEL), which became Monarch Aircraft Engineering (MAEL), from 1977 at Luton. The technology was way ahead of its time for a 1950s airliner, although the jet era put pay to the long range turboprop.
Seeing and hearing the ‘whispering giant’ again gave me a lump in my throat. For me the most beautiful turboprop airliner to grace the skies. Thank you for posting such wonderful footage.
I was lucky enough to see one at the old Melbourne airport(Essendon) in the late 50s, I think I was 9 or 10yo at the time. It had BOAC livery and we were shown aboard by one of the Hostesses. An experience I will never forget.
yep, worked on that one and all the others at Brize in base hangar and then on the line 1970/75. What a wonderful shift system on the line, 3days 3 nights 6off. probably the only job in my life for which I ever feel any nostalgia.
Boy, what a treasure this video is of a much overlooked aircraft.
When I was about 12 we flew from Luton to Majorca on a monarch brittania ,first time I'd ever flown,I had a window seat right on the wing,I stared out of it the whole way,it was pretty noisy but smooth,I loved it. This is a great vid.
As an 8-year old in1966, my first flight was in a Bristol Britannia - an RAF Charter from British Eagle Airways. RAF Lyneham-Istambul-Bombay-Singapore (RAF Changi). With refuelling stops, I believe the flight took about 24 hours! the return flight in 1968 was in an RAF VC-10, which was a bit quicker, via RAF Gan. I still remember both flights pretty well! Lovely to see one still flying so long after.
To this day I have a soft spot for this beautiful aircraft. As a 9 years old boy I flew on it for the first time with my family (March 3rd 1967). My father was in the RAF and he was being posted to RAF Luqa, Malta. The RAF chartered a Britannia Airways flight from Luton airport. I will never forget our plane banking over Malta and how small the island appeared. I could see the entire island and neighbouring Gozo as I gazed out the oval shaped window. My 2nd flight on this wonderful plane was in the autumn of 1968...a new posting for my father to Cyprus (RAF Akrotiri). I recall a temporary stopover at RAF El Adem in Libya...a parched and barren wasteland if ever there was one. My 3rd flight was in late February 1970 - this time from RAF Akrotiri to the Britannia's UK homebase of RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire. We lived in RAF quarters at Lyneham (100 Melsome Road) and I recall the drone of the Britannia's as they daily and nightly revved up on the tarmac...quite clearly visible from our home. Then one day in the summer of that same year that comforting drone stopped completely. The whole Britannia squadron had permanently left for a new home at RAF Brize Norton. Mind you the C130 Hercules squadrons were there and as an Air Cadet I enjoyed many a ride on these equally iconic aircraft...but that's another story.
The Britannia remains my favourite aircraft to this very day and I frequently look back nostalgically at that iconic "Royal Ar Force transport Command" logo, and the red, white and blue tail fin emblem. Sigh! Care free and happy days.
I flew in one in 1970, Stansted to Luqa Airport, Malta. Gorgeous aircraft, and rightly named "The Whispering Giant"👍
Fantastic sight! The Britannia was a beautiful aircraft. Actually flew on one years ago.
That's a beautiful sound those turboprops miss that sort of sound
not me, those things are deafening
I`ve had a couple of tripS to Sardinia from RAF Coningsby in the early 70`s ,such a beautiful aircraft ..Also not forgetting the RAF VC10 ,,,,
I think that has to be one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen..
@halmc oh mate I did that three marriages then the whiskey not anymore got through all that..
As for women now I would rather have a dog.
That was pretty sweet, I'm from the USA. Salute.
Beautiful, just beautiful, bring um all back...
The Whispering Giant got it's name because the Proteus engine had a 'buried' compresor intake;i.e reverse flow, meaning high frequency sound was mostly shrouded.
I flew in one of these at RAF Lyneham in 1964, as a very excited 13 year old air cadet it was my first flight. We spent about two hours doing circuits and bumps, unsupervised me and some other cadets tried standing up in the isle on take off and landing (idiots) I remember that all the seats faced backwards! Not the pilot and co pilots obviously!! I lived in Royal Wootton Bassett just up the road and when a Britannia was coming into land our old TV would fade in and out until there was no picture at all until it had passed over, very happy memories.
Flew to Nairobi in G-AOVR, Brit. 312 of BOAC, JAN. 1959. 10 minutes late arrival due to number 2 engine deciding not to play over L. Victoria. My first flight aged 10. Wonderful!,
I grew up living, not far from RAF Lyneham and, have so many memories of Britannia, Beverley, Argosy and, Andover. Thanks for a great video 👍👍
I love seeing those vintage airliners in action!
"...it's doing a low flight pass... OH!!! BUGGER ME!!!!!... a VERY low flight pass!!!" LMFAO!!!
That was the second aircraft I ever flew in. The first was a DC3, complete with patched bullet holes.
Britannia… my favorite RAF carrier…100% the safest one in the history of aviation…! Thank u Britannia…!
Flew in one of these from London to Kuala Lumpur, Malaya in 1966. I was about 8yo, very airsick 'til we got to Constantinople (Istanbul) but was ok after that. It was all a bit of an adventure as my father's artillery regiment had been posted to Malaya to deal with the insurgency in Borneo. last gasp of empire and all that.The Malaysians kicked us out and renamed their country after we'd gone. Liked the plane, with good views from the windows, but boy was it a long flight. My elder brother made a plastic scale model of the Britannia but it was almost indestructible. I think we blew it up with Chinese bangers in the end.
wow, such a beautiful looking aircraft. Thanks for sharing.
Stunningly beautiful - a once in a life time to see this
Haha! FALA is my "Home Airport". Learned to fly fixed wing out of Lanseria!
Beautiful in the air and on the tarmac !
Never knew the Britannia was such a beautiful looking aircraft
As pretty as a Conny, maybe even more so
I flew in one from London to Melbourne in 1966. It was magic and so quiet.
Go visit Duxford there's one there!
Oh indeed!!!!
Tell the crew chief,we got another rabbit smashed on the windscreen! That was friggin AWSOME!!! That dude had to climb to drop the gear!.
Beautiful ! My all time favorite.
Woow! thank you Sir for sharing this video!! Beautiful Britannia!
2:42 'Whispering Giant'! Awesome! Worked on and flew in all of the RAF Brits at Lyneham 1960-1965.
Lovely Aircraft, another Bristol product expertly flown just for the joy of it!
I can remember these coming in and out of Colerne back in the day. Always had a soft spot for these. Well, for anything that came out of Filton, actually...
What a great aircraft. A real shame it missed out to the jet age, clearly an excellent plane.
? It has jets - its a turboprop.
1:29 uneal! Thank you for sharing this beauty!
Brilliant video! Know how the bloke from 1:10 feels when something like that happens its a rush, and you are so gone, such a great feeling!
Beautiful plane.Fantastic.
Bloody Hell, Incredible flying. very nice footage @Duncan Swift.
Beautifull airplane and amazing low pass. Thanks for share.
Best sound I ever heard from a four-engine prop job. Smooth...
Fantastic footage, would love to see a brittania fly again
He’s right, that was absolutely gorgeous.
Damn! Beautiful plane amazing pilot skills.
It looks like the pilots didn't want to stop flying the old Girl, What a beautiful looking and sounding aircraft 👌
Remember being a passenger on these as a youngster to and from boarding school. But always preferred the Viscount as it had better windows to see out of.
I flew from London to Melbourne in a Britannia in 1966. Long flight but a great ‘plane.
Me too with stops in Bahrain, Columbo, Singapore & Darwin. Jan 66
Just beautiful!!
My first plane ride ever when I was 10 years old taking British RAF families to Cyprus to join our Dads. Then again when we were evacuated during the troubles… what I remember most was the rear facing seats… Agree beautiful aircraft… But my all time favorite was the Victor… an aircraft ahead of it’s time. For 3 years we were stationed at RAF Wyton a V-Bomber base… by then the Valiant had been decommissioned for metal fatigue I believe… 2nd would be the Vulcan and 3rd the VC10… Aloha all from Hawaii (expat in exile)
Yep so much fun! I went to the same school....for heavy weather training schools in 44 foot motors foot boats in Oregon... I was in the While in the U.S.Coast Guard......just a bit northern of San Fran cal in Oregon
Let me know if I got any of any 44 MBL Coxswain’s were kinda dinosaurs lol.........or 30’s.lol’s I ran a few of them my self....in Reedsport Oregon
Wow! I bet he wasn't worrying himself with the altimeter? Pure visual judgement? What a sight!!!! Cheers.
Glenn Powell altimeter isn’t much use, can’t read inches.
@@ooklamoc4411 Hiya,yes indeed.I have seen some low passes at airshows over the years but nothing like this!!!! His props are just feet off the deck! Cheers.
The big difference between flying this aircraft and the modern stuff is pretty simple...in those days the machine used to do what the pilot asked,..nowadays it's the pilots that do what the machine says..
This is an awesome comment.... I love it..
Yep !
Very true. Not just airliners either
Absolutely Beautiful!
Good to meet you all today .
A year later I have tears in my eyes
My first flight was on one of these in 1968 when I was 10 years old. Britannia Airways Manchester to Gerona. There was a strong smell of fuel when we boarded, which made me feel unwell for most of the flight.
Stunning aircraft, really wish one of those could have been preserved in flying condition. When I grew up near Heathrow in the 60s the Britannia was a regular sight. It was also the very first aircraft I ever flew on. around 1966.
My father was a FE on the Canadian version Yukon.
What a beautiful well preserved British old bird.
I swear that thing was lower on its fly past than when he landed with the gear down!
Yep! That was low!!! Slightly nose down attitude! Ball of steel!
That is absolutely gorgeous
Crazy cool fly by sound.
ooo aar oo aar me mucker what a glorious fly past. Thank goodness for the intelligent commentary.
What a beautiful sound she makes.
I flew the Brittania for 2 1/2 years until the government decided to axe it!! It was a magnificent airplane to fly and it was like being a member of private club. Had hoped to go from being a new copilot to a second tourist captain instead moved to Lyneham and spent the rest of my time, over 12 years on Hercs or ‘Fat Albert’ as it was affectionately known.
Shame the mighty Brabazon never got built - you were a lucky man to have flown such a wonderful machine
OF COURSE THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS !
Immense skill.
Superb Video! Big LIKE!
Magnifique machine excellents pilotes 🥇🇬🇧🇫🇷
After previous flights in piston powered aircraft, I flew in a Canadian Pacific Airlines Britannia and still remember how smooth and quiet it was. It’s still a great looking plane, although electrical maintenance crews didn’t like it because of constant electrical problems.
And it is still there!
The sound of the engines makes is unusual!
Unusually quiet! Just a hum as it approaches then a whoosh as it passes... no wonder they called it the Whispering Giant!
Brave crew! Times I watched BOAC and British Eagle arrive at LHR with one feathered! Flew a few times to GIB' on a RAF Brit' and can say that they are quieter outside than inside!
Worked on these at Southend in the sixties beautiful and the cl-44
Aviation Traders?
Is this in England? Oh wait, it must be, it's raining! Beautiful airplane, and mad skills of the pilot!
wow, amazing
Just Wow!
Nice to see a later version of the ones my father flew as a test pilot at Filton back in the 50's.
Ben, I used to fly the Brits at Filton with
Hugh Statham, a charming man.He could fly low too ,used to frighten the garage attendants on the eastern threshold so they shortend the streetlights for him!!
@@wilyflier Thanks for that. That's one anecdote I hadn't heard about before!
Well, I was the guy who flew you back from Staverton to Filton to connect Walter Gibb;s Jaguar for the funeral in Kent
@@wilyflier Not me. Possibly my brother? And who's funeral?
Now that "GIANT" wasn't "Whispering" at zero feet. Fantastic!
Beautiful machine.