A •
In 1979 Allegheny
was rebranded as
USAir in a bid to
expand nationwide.
A S
C Overseas Competition
Despite the eventful test programme, the BAC 1-11 entered
BUA service on April 9, 1965 and orders from other airlines
flooded in. Although the type had strong support at home,
the manufacturer was keen to explore export markets and the
fact that its main rival – the Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale)
Caravelle – had entered service with United Airlines on July 14,
1961 showed that a European jet could succeed in the USA.
United’s competitors were also spurred on to offer jet service of
their own and BAC’s sales team seized the moment.
As well as the Caravelle, the BAC 1-11 had competition in
the form of the Douglas DC-9. However, the introduction of
the US manufacturer's first jetliner – the four-engined DC-8 –
had mired the company in production and cashflow problems,
meaning the new DC-9 would not enter service (with Delta
Air Lines) until December 8, 1965. Thus, the stage was set for
the BAC 1-11 to make major inroads into the world’s biggest
aviation market. The aircraft was almost tailor-made for the US,
which was crying out for a jet airliner capable of flying multiple
short sectors each day. The type had an APU (Auxiliary Power
Unit) to provide ground power and engine start and also boasted
integral steps, minimising the reliance on ground handling
facilities at remote or poorly-equipped airfields. The aircraft also
benefited from single-point refuelling under the right wing, and
could uplift 1,090kgs (363 US gallons) of jet fuel per minute,
even with the right-hand engine still running. This combination
meant an airline could turn around a flight, from brakes on to
brakes off, in just five minutes.
A lack of oxygen masks meant the BAC 1-11 was limited to
a cruising altitude of 25,000ft (7,620m) according to Federal
Aviation Authority rules but, as the type was intended for
short flights, this was not considered a major setback.“A N airline could turn around
a f light, from brakes on to brakes
off, in just five minutes”
The f irst f irm
commitment from a
US customer came in
October 1961 when
Braniff International
ordered six BAC 1-11-
203s with six options.
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