Vickers Viking G-AIVE

Irish Law, Largs, North Ayrshire

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UK (BEA)

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PAGE 2

(Largs and Millport Weekly News feature 2007)

PAGE 3

(Scottish Sunday Express feature 2007)

PAGE 4

(Evening Times feature 2007)

PAGE 5

(Sunday Post feature 2007)

PAGE 6

(Sunday Post feature 2008)

PAGE 7

(Gazette [Renfrewshire] feature 2008)

PAGE 8

(Evening Times feature 2008)

PAGE 9

(Viking Down! - The Book. Information and ordering details)

Please Note: This book has now sold out.

MediaCredits

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the following for kindly providing photos, feature articles, and other information for Vickers Viking G-AIVE:

Dougie Martindale,

Giovanni Metra,

Shaun Moroney,

Danny J Parkinson,

James Towill,

Stevie,

Steve White

Copyright Notice

All photos remain the property of their original author(s) and may not be reproduced elsewhere without the respective author's prior written permission.

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Aircraft Type Photo

BELOW: BEA Vickers Viking 1B G-AHPO "Venturer" at Manchester Airport. This aircraft was very similar to the one featured below.

a vickers vicking at Manchester

Photo: 1952 'RuthAS'. Released by the author to the public domain under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

Aircraft Type and Background

BEA Vickers 610 VC.1 Viking 1B / G-AIVE

Aircraft Type Acronym: VC = Vickers Commercial.

A civilian aircraft operated by British European Airways (later incorporated within British Airways)

The design of the Vickers Viking was derived from Vickers Wellington bomber. The Viking was a twin-engine medium-range aircraft, capable of accommodating 21-24 passengers, depending on the variant. Later variants could accommodate more passengers.

The Viking 1B variant, which carried 24 passengers, was equipped with two Bristol Hercules 634 14-cylinder radial air-cooled piston engines. The aircraft's maximum speed was about 423km/h (263mph).

BELOW: Another similar BEA Vickers Viking Mk I. At the time this photo was taken, this preserved aircraft was being restored for static display at Brooklands Museum.

another similar BEA vickers viking being restored at Brooklands Museum

BELOW: External view of cockpit of above Viking.

outside view of cockpit of viking shown above

(For more photos of this aircraft at Brooklands Museum, see under Preserved Aircraft on this website.)

Aircraft Accident Details

BEA Vickers Viking G-AIVE, had started its journey from London Northolt airport (c.6 miles from the present Heathrow) and was about to make its final approach to its destination airport—the former Glasgow Renfrew aerodrome.

Apparently, however, the pilot experienced some difficulty in locating the outer landing beacon. This situation was exacerbated by severe turbulence together with low cloud and mist over the hills.

As he had been unable to locate the outer marker, the pilot began his procedure turn too far west of this beacon resulting in him flying over high terrain. Unfortunately, during this manoeuvre, the aircraft struck the hillside at Irish Law.

Aircraft Crew and Passengers

Fortunately, the 16 passengers and 4 crew escaped serious injury, and managed to make their way clear of the stricken aircraft just before it was engulfed in flames.

Although shocked and badly shaken, the pilot—Captain John Ramsden of Glasgow—and one of the passengers managed to make their way westward across the rugged moorland in the darkness.

Three hours later, they arrived at Largs, where they raised the alarm. Meanwhile, some of the other survivors, led by First Officer D. P. Clifton, had managed to reach Flatt Farm (now disused) in Largs.

After spending a night on the moors, other members of the group sought help in the opposite direction. From Irish Law, and with the aid of a miniature compass, they made their way eastward to Ladyland House near Kilbirnie, where they sought assistance for their plight.

Crash Site Photos

BELOW: A photo taken in October 2007 of Vickers Viking G-AIVE lying on the hillside at Irish Law. In this photo, remains of the engine, nacelle and landing gear tyre can be seen. Other remains lie scattered across this area.

The aircraft remains have now lain on this hillside for over 60 years.

overview of remaining vickers viking wreckage at 2007

BELOW: Viking nacelle, engine, and part of the wing structure.

viking nacelle, engine, and part of wing

BELOW: Overall view of the Vickers Viking wreck as it appeared in April 2007.

overview of viking wreck as it appeared at april 2007

BELOW: A similar view of the above taken in 2006.

a similar photo of the above wreckage taken in 2006

BELOW: Detached tail cone wreckage from the Viking. The mainframe can be seen in the background.

detached wreckage from the viking. the mainframe can be seen in the background

BELOW: Close-up view of detached wreckage, showing some names and dates of site visitors.

Among the inscriptions is one by a group from the ATC (Air Training Corps) who were regular visitors to these crash sites.

Another inscription near the top right hand corner is dated 1947. However, the aircraft did not crash until April 1948!

close-up of above detached section

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

BELOW: Close-up of landing gear tyre. The rubber tread is still quite evident, even after 60 years of exposure to the elements on the Largs hills.

a tyre from one of the main landing gears

BELOW: Close-up of remains of an engine section from the Vickers Viking.

close-up of remains of an engine section from vickers viking

BELOW: Remains of one of the two Bristol Hercules engines from Viking G-AIVE.

remains of one of the two engines from the viking

BELOW: Close-up section of engine shown above.

close-up of engine section

BELOW: Section of Viking's wing, showing internal geodetic (lattice) construction. The same geodetic structure was used in the Vickers Wellington bomber, on which the Viking design was based.

part of wing showing geodetic structure