For the f irst part
of their life with
BOAC, the Argonauts
operated in an all-
First class, two-cabin
conf iguration, with 40
passenger seats plus a
lounge at the rear.
BA H C when planning the loading diagram for a multi-sector schedule.
Flight crews also found that, as the fuel tanks were virtually
on the centre of gravity, there was little need to alter the trim
towards the end of a flight when much of the fuel had been used.
Unexpected Longevity
The Argonauts’ days appeared to be numbered when the new
jet-powered Comet was pressed in to service to Singapore in
October 1952, cutting the journey time by more than half. But
in 1954, following the Comet accidents, the Argonauts returned
to the fore.
For a time they shouldered all of BOAC’s flying to Africa and
all of the Eastern routes except Sydney, providing much needed
capacity in that benighted period before the airline was able
to bring in all-First class Constellation 749s to East and South
Africa (leaving the Argonauts to carry Tourist class), and later
introducing Bristol Britannia 102s in 1957.
On West African routes Argonauts had taken over from the
Handley Page Hermes – which was found to lack payload and
range – in 1953 and remained there until the end of 1956.
Although they were increasingly criticised by passengers and the
West African authorities alike, the Nigerian government agreed
that West African Airways Corporation (WAAC) could charter
BOAC Argonauts between Lagos and London in 1957.
Losses
Two fatal accidents in the space of nine months – both
weather-related – marred an otherwise successful career with
BOAC. On Wednesday, September 21, 1955 Argonaut
G-ALHL Altair, en route London-Kano via Rome and Tripoli,
crashed while attempting a night landing in Tripoli. The crew
misjudged altitude, attitude and angle of approach after threehttp://www.airlinerworld.com 47misjudged altitude, attitude and angle of approach after threeBOAC Argonaut Fleet List
Reg: Name: MSN: Delivered: Fate:
G-ALHC Ariadne 145 March 29, 1949 Royal Rhodesian Air Force, January 14, 1960.
G-ALHD Ajax 146 May 11, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, May 22, 1959.
G-ALHE Argo 151 June 16, 1949 Crashed on take-off from Kano, June 24, 1956.
G-AHLF Atlas 152 June 28, 1949 East African Airways, August 25, 1957.
G-ALHG Aurora 153 July 7, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, April 14, 1960.
G-ALHH Attica 154 July 17, 1949 Royal Rhodesian Air Force, February 23, 1960.
G-ALHI Antares 155 July 23, 1949 Royal Rhodesian Air Force, March 28, 1960.G-ALHJ Arcturus 156 July 28, 1949Retained for training apprentices. Used by
Heathrow Fire Service for training, surviving
until 1982.
G-ALHK Atalanta 157 August 4, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, March 25, 1959.
G-ALHL Altair 158 August 10, 1949 Crashed landing at Tripoli, September 21, 1955.
G-ALHM Antaeus 159 August 17, 1949 East African Airways, August 30, 1957.
G-ALHN Argosy 160 August 23, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, February 1, 1960.
G-ALHO Amazon 161 August 31, 1949 East African Airways, March 29, 1957.
G-ALHP Aethra 162 September 3, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, June 12, 1959.
G-ALHR Antiope 163 October 14, 1949 Aden Airways, February 17, 1960.
G-ALHS Astra 164 October 15, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, February 17, 1960.
G-ALHT Athena 165 October 19, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, October 31, 1958.
G-ALHU Artemis 166 October 27, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, January 30, 1959.
G-ALHV Adonis 167 October 21, 1949 Aden Airways, May, 1960.
G-ALHW Aeolus 168 October 23, 1949 Royal Rhodesian Air Force, December 15, 1959 (VIP interior).
G-ALHX Astraea 169 October 30, 1949 Aden Airways, January 28, 1960.
G-ALHY Arion 170 November 11, 1949 Overseas Aviation Ltd, March 9, 1960.T WO fatal accidents in the
space of nine months marred an
otherwise successful career...