1961 The Britannia ................


This was Mitchell's first flight (unless the stork story is to be believed). We were off to Singapore, off into the unknown.
Not long before, the British government had stopped using troop ships to carry men to and from the far corners of the Empire. British United Airways had the contract for getting us there. A pity in some ways, the troop ship gave you time to get a tan and adjust to the climate changes etc. We flew from Standstead Airport in Essex. Stanstead was about to become London's "third" airport after Heathrow and Gatwick.

The trip of about 12,000 miles, took 23 hrs (is that right? eek!). Calling at Istambul and Calcutta on the way for fuel and servicing. I'd call it a rough and tough trip. No doubt every seat full, many children and ever worsening jet-lag. Soldiers, airmen, wives and kids. Close your eyes and picture the scene as everyone gets more and more tired!

Memories? We saw the Alps at nighttime. I remember flying over desert. The toilets at Istanbul were a clear indication that Turkey is where East meets West. Half were "European", the other half had 'footprint depressions' in the floor and a hole in that same floor for, well, for 'using'. So began a general eye opening for our hero.

I was airsick on approach to Calcutta and died the the traditional thousand deaths for the third leg to Singapore. Calcutta was wickedly hot and humid and still dark.

We landed at Paya Lebar airport in Singapore in the morning, with the smell of rotting vegetation. The smell of Singapore. And that was it, we were there for two and a half years. Another Britannia would take us home in 1963 .................

The 'plane. The Bristol Britannia, the 'Whispering Giant' was the nickname they soon acquired. With four Bristol 'Proteus' turboprops she was perhaps the peak of turboprop development. Soon overtaken by the rapidly gathering success of the pure jets. It was to be Bristol Aircraft's last hurrah ..... they really were lovely machines.