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

[Bozza]

Seems my mum did this with her family in the early 1960s. I thought she was making it up. Then I saw this photo.

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

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

Who knew?

 

[Mackenzie]

Seems my mum did this with her family in the early 1960s. I thought she was making it up. Then I saw this photo.

View attachment 181023

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

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

Who knew?

Calling @Your Mum

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Flight probably cost more than the car

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

A friend of mine used this service in the early 60's.

 

[hart's shirt]

Even factoring in environmental concerns, it still looks like a better option than Southern Rail.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Genuine question. Did your mum say if she had to stay and sit in the car during the flight or get out and sit elsewhere?

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

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.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Genuine question. Did your mum say if she had to stay and sit in the car during the flight or get out and sit elsewhere?

Seperate cabin for the passengers!

 

[Brownstuff]

Are you Prince Andrew?

 

[ManOfSussex]

James Bond and Auric Goldfinger driven by Oddjob took separate ones to Switzerland in 'Goldfinger' too.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

When I saw the thread title I thought you were ‘aving a Lafayette, then I saw the photo.

 

[Morvangull]

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]

A friend of mine used this service in the early 60's.

Bond? James Bond?

(Goldfinger. Fact).

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

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.

They probably undercharged, given the rip-roaring success of Lydd airport as an international hub, these days

 

[maffew]

Whilst cool, that must have been seriously commercially unviable!!

Not as much as going to SPACE with a Tesla on a ROCKET

 

[Zeberdi]

Are you Prince Andrew?

The first flight from their Lydd base was allegedly made by the Duke of Edinburgh

Bond? James Bond?

(Goldfinger. Fact).

Ian Fleming apparently used the service

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

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

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]

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

Stratocruiser bar

 

[swindonseagull]

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

Stratocruiser bar

I was based at Wildenrath for 6 years........thats all

 

[LamieRobertson]

Genuine question. Did your mum say if she had to stay and sit in the car during the flight or get out and sit elsewhere?

….had to use indicators if the plane veered left or right …thumb up or down for taking off and landing …amazing

 

[portlock seagull]

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.

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!