The Vickers Vanguard evolved out of a number of design studies made with BEA for a large version of the highly successful Viscount. The final design was very much a scaled up Viscount, but featuring a 'double bubble' fuselage, rather than a circular section, to allow for the largest possible cabin and cargo hold. Power was to be from four Rolls-Royce Tyne turboprops.

The prototype flew for the first time on 20th January 1959 and was quickly followed by the first of 20 machines for BEA on 20th April the same year. The initial batch of six were designated type 951, having Tyne 506 turboprops (4,985ehp) and an all up weight of 135,000lb.

Vickers also received an order for 23 aircraft from Trans Canada Airlines (later Air Canada). These were designated as type 952 and had the more powerful Tyne 512 engines and higher gross weight of 146,500lb.
The first TCA machine was delivered in December 1960 and entered service on 1st February 1961.
After testing and route proving, the first of the BEA aircraft went into service on 1st March 1961.

The remaining 14 of the BEA aircraft were developed as type 953, giving a mix of the 952's higher weights, but with the same Tyne 506 engines as the 951. The first of the 953's was in service with BEA by the end of May 1961.

After a promising start to the Vanguard project, orders failed to materialise and eventual sales were very disapointing and only ever reached 43. Had the Vanguard been developed a few years earlier, sales potential could have been enourmous, but by 1961 the jet age had arrived and the market shifted. While smaller propliners always remained viable, the large airliner sector was becoming the exclusive domain of the jet.

In October 1968 BEA began a project to convert nine of their Vanguard fleet into freighters. This was designed and completed by Aviation Traders, with the converted aircraft being named 'Merchantman'. The conversion featured a large cargo loading door and fully automated pallet handling cabin floor.
The first of the Merchantman conversions was completed and flew on 10th October 1969. The aircraft proved to be a very useful freighter, due to its size and power.
At around the same time as BEA were converting their aircraft, Air Canada began disposing of theirs, with many flying on with new airlines.

British Airways continued to use the aircraft in the freight role for many years with the last being sold in 1980. After that the type continued in service with cargo specialist airlines such as Air Bridge and Hunting.
The last Hunting Merchantman G-APEP was presented to the Brooklands museum on retirement where it is preserved in running condition by a volunteer workforce.

(Article by David Maltby)

Vickers Vanguard 952 data
Accommodation: 4 Crew & 76-139 passengers
Engines: 4 Rolls-Royce Tyne 512 turboprops 5,545ehp
Span: 118ft 7in
Length: 122ft 101/2in
Gross weight: 146,500lb
Max payload: 37,000lb
Max cruise: 425mph at 20,000ft
Range: 1,830 miles with max payload
data Civil Airliner Recognition 1973