Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊

Register Log in

[Albion] Going to France. On the plane. WITH YOUR CAR.



Bozza

Bozza

You can change this
Helpful Moderator
Jul 4, 2003
55,830
Back in Sussex
Seems my mum did this with her family in the early 1960s. I thought she was making it up. Then I saw this photo.

438221229_1466902977513980_8729223560561087250_n.jpg


I then looked up Silver City, and it really was a thing!

simpleflying.com

Silver City Airways: The Airline That Flew A Million Cars

Taking a closer look at the airline that flew cars across the English Channel.
simpleflying.com simpleflying.com

Who knew?
 




Mackenzie

Mackenzie

Old Brightonian
Nov 7, 2003
33,572
East Wales












Cowfold Seagull

Cowfold Seagull

Fan of the 17 bus
Apr 22, 2009
21,665
Cowfold
Yep I'm a bit of an anorak as far as the history of air travel in concerned, and can remember, (just), the days of Silver City and it's Bristol Freighters.

The aircaft could only accommodate two or three cars though, so it made it an expensive business. No surprise really that the service only lasted for a few years.
 








ManOfSussex

ManOfSussex

We wunt be druv
Apr 11, 2016
14,749
Rape of Hastings, Sussex
James Bond and Auric Goldfinger driven by Oddjob took separate ones to Switzerland in 'Goldfinger' too.
 


Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,724
The Fatherland
When I saw the thread title I thought you were ‘aving a Lafayette, then I saw the photo.
 




Morvangull

Morvangull

Active member
Oct 19, 2010
717
Bognor Regis
I have said on another thread that when I was a youngster My dad took us to France using the Bristol freighters. We flew from Lydd to Le Touquet and I mostly remember the way the aircraft shook as it revved up for take off. Also, my dad was usually quite frugal so I don't think it can have been that expensive, but have no idea on the actual cost.
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
50,413
Faversham
Morvangull said:
I have said on another thread that when I was a youngster My dad took us to France using the Bristol freighters. We flew from Lydd to Le Touquet and I mostly remember the way the aircraft shook as it revved up for take off. Also, my dad was usually quite frugal so I don't think it can have been that expensive, but have no idea on the actual cost.
Click to expand...
They probably undercharged, given the rip-roaring success of Lydd airport as an international hub, these days :wink:
 






Zeberdi

Zeberdi

Brighton born & bred
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
4,894
Brownstuff said:
Are you Prince Andrew?
Click to expand...
The first flight from their Lydd base was allegedly made by the Duke of Edinburgh


Harry Wilson's tackle said:
Bond? James Bond?

(Goldfinger. Fact).
Click to expand...
Ian Fleming apparently used the service

www.motorpunk.co.uk

Eurotunnel blues? Let's fly our cars to the Continent again. • MotorPunk

Operation stack. It sounds like a temporary emergency measure but, sadly, it’s just the fairly permanent traffic jam on the M20. Getting your car abroad is a pain. Eurotunnel or Ferry, either way, if you want to reach the nearest bit of the continent you’re often stuck with this horrible...
www.motorpunk.co.uk www.motorpunk.co.uk

Of course you could fly your favourite car to your destination on a cargo plane so you have it the other side
www.dailymail.co.uk

Arab playboys show off their supercars on the streets of London

The car owners, many of them Qataris, Saudis, Emiratis and Kuwaitis, will happily pay a small fortune - in excess of £20,000 - for their metal marvels to be flown around 3,000 miles each way.
www.dailymail.co.uk
 


Flounce

Flounce

Well-known member
Nov 15, 2006
1,222
Random fact, I have flown on one of those. I was very young but I think it was on a flight to Wildenwrath in Germany, my father was in the army. There was some sort of drama on landing and a fire engine was running alongside the plane when we landed. Not needed though. Bristol Freighter?

I have also flown on Dakotas (gave me my fear of flying with the drops that had your stomach in your mouth through air pockets), a Britannia, a Viscount, a Comet, a Stratocruiser (with a stand up bar upfront that kids weren’t allowed in) and Concorde :smile:

Stratocruiser bar
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0108.jpeg
    IMG_0108.jpeg
    2.8 MB · Views: 47
Last edited:


swindonseagull

swindonseagull

Well-known member
Aug 6, 2003
9,294
Swindon, but used to be Manila
Flounce said:
Random fact, I have flown on one of those. I was very young but I think it was on a flight to Wildenwrath in Germany, my father was in the army. There was some sort of drama on landing and a fire engine was running alongside the plane when we landed. Not needed though. Bristol Freighter?

I have also flown on Dakotas (gave me my fear of flying with the drops that had your stomach in your mouth through air pockets), a Britannia, a Viscount, a Comet, a Stratocruiser (with a stand up bar upfront that kids weren’t allowed in) and Concorde :smile:

Stratocruiser bar
Click to expand...
I was based at Wildenrath for 6 years........thats all
 






portlock seagull

portlock seagull

Why? Why us?
Jul 28, 2003
17,199
Morvangull said:
I have said on another thread that when I was a youngster My dad took us to France using the Bristol freighters. We flew from Lydd to Le Touquet and I mostly remember the way the aircraft shook as it revved up for take off. Also, my dad was usually quite frugal so I don't think it can have been that expensive, but have no idea on the actual cost.
Click to expand...
It can’t have been because my grandpa and nana also used to fly their car to Eire in the late 50s and early 60s. Have a very similar photo to Bozzas, I too found it amazing such service existed. Told people about and it’s hard to believe admittedly!
 


You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Albion and Premier League latest from Sky Sports


Top
Link Here