|
|
The Hastings
was a general-purpose long-range transport flown
by the RAF and RNZAF. Its roles included those
of freighter, paratroop-transport, ambulance,
troop-carrier, supply-dropper, jeep-carrier and
glider-tug.
The initial production version was the C.1, first flown on 25 April 1947 and powered by four Bristol Hercules 101 engines. All C.1s were subsequently modified to Mk 2 standard and redesignated C.1As. The C.2 was powered by four Hercules 106 engines, had the tailplane lowered to the centreline of the fuselage and increased in area, extra fuel tanks, and the crew rest station replaced by an air-quartermaster post. The Hercules 737-powered C.3 was similar to the Mk 2 - and four were supplied to the RNZAF. The final version was the C.4, a VIP version of the Mk 2 with accommodation for four VIPs and staff. Four were delivered to RAF Transport Command, bringing the total number of Hastings operated by the RAF up to 147. The last Hastings were withdrawn from service in 1968.
| MODEL | Hastings C.Mk 2 |
| ENGINE | 4 x Bristol Hercules 106, 1249kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 36280 kg | 79984 lb |
| Empty weight | 21960 kg | 48414 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 34.44 m | 113 ft 0 in |
| Length | 25.20 m | 83 ft 8 in |
| Height | 6.86 m | 23 ft 6 in |
| Wing area | 130.80 m2 | 1407.92 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 560 km/h | 348 mph |
| Cruise speed | 486 km/h | 302 mph |
| Ceiling | 8075 m | 26500 ft |
| Range | 2720 km | 1690 miles |
| G.W. Gijsbertsen, gwgijsbertsen(@)hetnet.nl, 13.04.2009 Dear Sir,
For the municipality of Ede (a town in Holland)I am compiling a book on the annual airborne memorial drops on Ginkel Heath and the memorial services. These are part of the Battle of Arnhem memorial activities. In the early sixties the planes used for the annual parachute drop on Ginkel Heath were the Beverly and the Hastings. So far, from the Hastings I was not able to find suitable pictures. What I am looking for are pictures of the Hastings in the European environment, as a troop carrier, preferrably when dropping para's or whith para's entering the plane.
Could you help me on that?
Regards, Gerard Gijsbertsen (Ede, Holland) | | Pete Finlay, pete(@)hhrlegal.co.uk, 25.09.2008 The article mentions that the last Hastings aircraft were withdrawn from service in 1968, which is incorrect. I was an airman at RAF Scampton 1970 - 1973, and I remember 1066 Squadron flying their Hastings aircraft in. They were based there for some time as Navigator Bombing Trainers, and I ended up doing about 50 hours flying in them (jollies) before going on to become a Flight Engineer. |
|
Do you have any comments about this aircraft ?
|
| |
