Type 170 Series 32 Superfreighter
Cargo aircraft
Passenger aircraft
ManufacturerBristol Aeroplane Company
First flight16 January 1953
Introduction1953
StatusRetired
Primary userSilver City Airways
British United Air Ferries
British United Airways
Developed fromBristol Freighter

The Bristol Type 170 Superfreighter Mk 32 was a larger, stretched version of the Bristol Freighter designed for Silver City Airways for use on the short air ferry routes to France.

Production and operation

The first Superfreighters, with a longer - 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m) - hold than the earlier Mark 31, were delivered to Silver City Airways in spring 1953 and were used on cross-channel services to Europe. One example was converted to a 60-seat all-passenger "Super Wayfarer".[1]

The Mark 32 could carry 20 passengers instead of 12 in the smaller Mark 31 Freighter, and three cars instead of two in its air ferry role.[2]

The Superfreighter was distinguishable from the earlier Freighter by having a longer nose, in which the extra car was carried, and a fin fillet as well as rounded wingtips.

A British United Air Ferries Superfreighter appears in the 1966 comedy film That Riviera Touch as the means by which Morecambe and Wise travel abroad with their car. The aircraft also appears in the 1965 film "Hysteria", and in the 1969 TV series "The Gold Robbers"

Operators

References

  1. ^ Jackson, A. J. (1973). British Civil Aviation since 1919 Volume 1. 2nd ed. London: Putnam. pp. 252–259. ISBN 978-0-370-10006-7.
  2. ^ Windsor, H.H. Jr. (September 1954). "British Air Ferry takes automobiles across the English Channel". Popular Mechanics. 102 (3): 94. Hearst Magazines.

Further reading