EGPF Forum

Just read an online post that this week marks the 60th anniversary of the BAC1-11 first flown in 1963.

My first ever flight was on 1-11 G-ASJF Burgh of Fort William of British Caledonian Airwaysfrom GLA-NCL on 13AUG73 being fifty years ago. Trip report to follow in due course.

Over the years I’ve flown on many other 1-11s domestically and internationally on Series 200/400/500 aircraft. Carriers include BA, BCal, British World and Dan-Air London. Destinations include BHX, EMA, LGW, NCL, CDG, FAO and LEI.

What are your1-11 memories?

atuk wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:35 pm
What are your1-11 memories?

My first of many flights in G-AWYS. The regular late BR911 LGW-GLA. Was just approaching MAN northbound when we started a leisurely right turn that took ages. Back we were going to LGW due to an open door indication (this was in the 70's so door sensors were not what they are now so no idea how that worked then). Uneventful landing in Gatwick and 45 mins later we were back on our way. False alarm was the explanation.

Only other memories were BA constantly putting them on scheduled 757 shuttle flights - such disappointment!!!!

My best was a European Air Charter 1-11 subbing for Ryanair on PIK-DUB. Must have been around 1994 so it was a rare vintage even then. It was good because it was refurbished with a luxuriously appointed cabin. I remember big new leather seats and the smell of fresh paint.

Also flew on a BEA 1-11 as a baby (outbound leg of the same 1971 trip as the Vanguard I mentioned previously from PMI), and BCal on LGW-GLA - a flight that got me interested in aircraft as a boy as we got on by the skin of our teeth on standby after flying into LGW on a British Airtours Boeing 720 from Pisa. My Dad had decided to try and get us on the GLA flight instead of the sleeper train we had booked as part of the package holiday. Gazing out the window at the rain bouncing off the Braniff Int. 747 holding next to us was a seminal moment for this young boy.

Most recent flight on a BAC1-11 was in 2000 a late booking on NationwideAir in South Africa. Decided I didn’t fancy driving from Durban to Johannesburg as I had already driven quite a few thousand kilometers in the previous 3 weeks. To my surprise it was a very pleasant experience and very quiet, not what I was expecting.
Probably flew on them with BEA in the early seventies but in those days flying was a chore and not something I really enjoyed, it was just a means for getting from one place to another, so no aircraft info unlike nowadays.

One-eleven memories, from the passenger perspective, are rather limited, with a total of 8 flights all with the BR flight code. First couple were on the series 200s with British United, the rest on 500s on the British Caledonian brand. However, spotting memories are many, from 1960's GLA through 1981 USA to the type's disappearance from the UK scene in the early '90s.

Time for a photo tribute, I think, to remember a type which played a major part in UK aviation history.

Starting from early days, a July 1970 view of BUA series 201AC G-ASJE at Manchester, this was the aircraft for my 2nd 1-11 flight.
BWscan0017 G-ASJE B1-11 EGCC 140770 by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

Aer Lingus were also a long-time user of the type, seen almost daily on the Glasgow-Dublin service, and EI-ANF is seen basking in winter sunshine on stand 12.
F0623E 05JAN74 EI-ANF BAC1-11 GLA by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

British Airways series 510ED G-AVMJ in a snowscene at GLA in November 73, parked on stand 12 while operating the 4 times weekly Copenhagen service
F0513E 30NOV73 G-AVMJ BAC1-11 GLA by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

British Caledonian's series 501EX under the lights on stand 12 in March 74.
K0202E 23Dec74 G-AXJM BAC1-11 GLA/EGPF by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

The 500 series did not achieve any North American sales, however Cayman Airways operated a pair of the type on flights to the Southern States, series 531FS VR-CAB seen here at Houston Intercontinental in 1981.
K1929E 05Nov81 VR-CAB IAH by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

Last US airline operator of the type was the re-constituted Braniff, in its 3rd iteration, taking over Florida Express. BAC1-11 series 203AE N1545 was a Braniff original in 1965, then going to Allegheny/US Air in 1972, finding its way back to Braniff mark 3 via Florida Express., and seen in the full new colours in November 1988
L3-scan0026 1-11-88 N1545 MCO by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

Resplendent in "Landor" livery, BA series 510ED G-AVMO is preserved at the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune
IMGP2373 Museum of Flight East Fortune by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

My first. Flight was GLA to LGW to Join. A virgin flight to the US mid 70s
There was more seating space on the 1.11. Than the 747 long haul LGW to MIA
Would had rather the. 1.11 took us all the way as it was more comfortable than the 747

The back up for the BA Shuttle (in the good old days) was often a BAC 1-11

4th January 1966 flew in G-ASJJ BAC111 of British United from Renfrew to Gatwick. If memory serves me correctly this was the first jet service from Renfrew. We were presented with a souvenir bottle opener to commemorate the first service. I was 20 years old and my parents thought I was off my head. Came back from LHR on British Eagle Britannia next day.

I work on the 1-11 at east fortune on my days off .. love the fact it has the same engines as a F4 fighter .. first aircraft to have a stall warning system installed .. iconic aircraft .

My experience of the 11 was a surprise visit to head office . Must have been 83/84. Glasgow to Heathrow. BCal. I felt like a Rock Star going to HQ. Cant remember why why they sent me. I wasnt even in charge of the tea bags.