24th June 1971

N4801B 59n 10w 1747 F090 BEN/Benbecula 1831 endurance 05+00, at 10w call Scottish on 124.5 VHF.

Dr. P.W. Reames, Cessna 310C, N4801B

[List of participants, with image of N4801B inserted, from 'Flight International' - 1st July 1971]

This aircraft was heading to RAF Abingdon, UK to participate in the London, UK to Victoria, BC 5,851 mile Air Race, due to start at 18:00 GMT on 1st July 1971. This was the third only trans-ocean, trans-continent race in aviation history. Unlike the 1934 and 1966 air races, this event puts the emphasis on piloting skills and aircraft efficiency rather than the limit of human endurance.
The route is divided into five sectors (1) UK to Goose Bay, via Prestwick (2) Goose Bay to Ottawa, via Quebec (3) Ottawa to Winnipeg (4) Winnipeg to Calgary, via Regina (5) Calgary to Victoria.

Sixty eight aircraft started the race but by the third stage this was down to 53. The ultimate winner, Mr. Blumeschein, stated on landing at Winnipeg that "my hands are still shaking from the turbulence, it's been miserable up there but each one of the legs of the race is just as bad as the other".

Dr. Reames' Cessna carried entry number 81 and won 3rd overall place when the results were announced. For the record, 1st was number 42, a Merlin III (D-IBMG) and 2nd place went to number 69, a Twin Comanche 160C (EI-AVD) flow by an Irishman, Tim Philips.

[I also heard N8513P called by Shanwick on the 24th, (a Comanche 400, number 38) heading for the UK but no position report was copied]

23rd June 1971

ADOLA 34 64n 13w 1919 F080 climbing F100, SF/Skardsfjara 2010 then VM/Vestmannaeyjar to Keflavik

USAF EC-121, from McClellan AFB

G-AYYP 57n 13w 1825 F080 59n 15w 1925 61n 17w 2025

Britten Norman BN-2 Islander, G-AYYP [position relayed via LH478]
This aircraft was noted at Shannon earlier on the 17th June.

Universal 854 63n 30w 1932 F190 climbing F230 DELTA 1957 GOLF 2029 62n 10w 2113 AB/Akraberg 2131 SUM/Sumburgh 2203 VIKING 2215 ETA ENZV/Stavanger-Sola 2241

Universal Airlines L-188 Electra, N854U

[Photo: at Oakland, CA on 7th July 1972 © Clinton H Groves collection]

First operated by KLM as PH-LLD in 1959. It was damaged in a hangar fire at Schipol Airport, Amsterdam in June 1968. Subsequently sold to Universal in February 1969 and converted by Lockheed to a L-188CF (cargo) in June of the same year.
Universal purchased KLM's fleet of surplus Electras and had them converted to cargo configuration. This fleet was used on their extensive network of MAC (USAF) contract flights, linking US military logistics centres. The Company gradually began falling into financial problems due to a combination of operating losses and poor management. They were forced to cease operation and declared bankruptcy on 1st May 1972. Nine of the remaining Electras were leased by Saturn Airways, who took over Universals MAC flights. This particular aircraft was repossessed on 4th May 1972 and leased to Saturn the following day.

21st June 1971

DA G-AYSL 61n 20w 1530 F330 61n 30w 1611

Dan Air B.707-321, G-AYSL

[Photo: at Prestwick on 25th August 1974 © emdjt42 (on flickr.com)]

19th June 1971

H.S. Aviation G-AYYG departed EGCD/Woodford 1004 STN/Stornoway 1207 F205 descending F200 60n 10w 1259 61n 14w 1324 ETA Reykjavik 1515

Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd HS-748-S2A, G-AYYG

[Photo: at Hannover Air Show, April 1972 © Tony McGhee]



This machine first flew the previous month, on the 7th May and was displayed at the Paris Air Show in 1971. It was used for tours of North and South America, Africa and in support of Harrier demonstrations in the Middle East and India. In 1976 it was sold to Mount Cook Airlines Ltd., as ZK-MCF.

14th June 1971

RFR 4013 passing the Athens/Nicosia FIR at 34.40n 30.00e 1801 F100, crossing airway W5 1851

Royal Air Force, Argosy on training flight; received from Athens on 8871