Hawker Siddeley 748 & Andover in Military Service
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Author: Adrian M. Balch
Publisher: Guideline Publications
ISBN: 9781916759312
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 52
In the 1950s, many nations started looking for a modern replacement for the venerable Douglas DC-3, which first flew in the 1930s and proved itself during the Second World War. In England, Avro (later Hawker Siddeley) developed the 748 when the British government suggested that all its manned military aircraft were going to be replaced by missiles. As the company that built the legendary Lancaster and Vulcan bombers, the switch to civilian aircraft was seen as the only way to remain in business, and the twin-engined 748 filled the regional airliner space currently being filled by the ageing DC-3.
First flying in 1960, the 748 quickly found customers in several regional airlines, both domestically and abroad. Its twin Rolls Royce Dart engines proved reliable and the aircraft was easy to fly, and production soon grew into the hundreds. In addition to civilian airline usage, the 748 also found service in the VIP and executive role, flying heads of state of many nations around the globe.
Militarily, the HS 748 served in the air forces of several nations as basic air transport, and its stable design led to the Andover variant that added a cargo ramp under the rear fuselage. The Andover variant remained in military service of several nations for decades, and the last operational Andover finally succumbed to an accident in Africa in 2015, marking the end of this cargo version’s flying life. The HS 748, though, continues to fly in the Indian Air Force, with its ultimate retirement not planned until 2031.
This book provides a solid overview of this popular twin, from those early days in regional airlines to the latest operations in military and cargo services around the world. The photos are extensive and show the plane in its highly varied color schemes over the years, both in civilian and military service. Complementing those are the nearly fifty side view profiles that further illustrate those varied markings. Overall, this is a great reference to have for anyone interested in the Avro/Hawker Siddeley HS 748 & Andover. My thanks to Guideline Publications for the review copy.