Argonauts
inaugurated BOAC’s
first all-landplane
service to the Far East,
cutting the f ive-day
(Plymouth f lying boat)
journey time
to three days.
BA H
C
Despite the
go ernment’s
‘Buy British’
policy, Minister
of Civil Aviation,
Lord Pakenham,
conceded that ‘Fly
Commonwealth’
was an expedient
short-term substitute,
with the Rolls-Royce-
powered Canadian-
built Argonauts saving
previous US dollars.
A A ’
C
around a deficit on the Far East routes of £80,000 per quarter
into a contribution to overheads of £140,000.
BOAC put the Argonaut into service on the east coast of its
South America route from London to Buenos Aires via Lisbon
and West Africa, replacing Avro Yorks, the first service being
operated by G-ALHW Aeolus, and extended the route to
Santiago on February 28, 1950. The carrier had earlier operated
training and route proving flights to South America, the first
operated by G-ALHF Atlas on January 24 and the first proving
flight by G-ALHD Ajax on February 20.
In 1953, Argonauts took over BOAC services to West
Africa, and later that year began operating to East Africa, as
well as adding much needed extra seasonal capacity to North
America during the summer, additionally operating charters
across the world.Comfortable Interiors
In BOAC service the Argonaut was designed to carry 40
passengers in a four abreast configuration. The entrance
door, pantry, wardrobe and toilet were positioned amidships,
dividing the aircraft into a forward cabin, seating 24, and an
aft cabin, seating 16, with a semi-circular lounge at the rearaccommodating six people around a table. The passenger seats,
covered in dark blue Bedford cord and separated by a generous
40in (102cm) pitch, could be moved to a semi-reclining position
and each seat row had its own large window. The cabin was
tastefully appointed with mottled blue carpet with light grey side
walls and ceiling to create a restful atmosphere while wooden
tray tables and cabin fittings were finished in a light natural oak.
BOAC positioned the front two pairs of seats in each cabin to
face aft to create a ‘family foursome’ arrangement, while at the
front of the cabin were a gentlemen’s dressing room, decorated in
dove grey, and a ladies’ powder room in pale blue, complete with44 AIRLINER Classics 2018
“CROSSI NG the Sahara the
thermals could give you a
w i l d r i d e”
Former BOAC Steward, Howell Green