Blackburn Beverley C1

A very different aircraft to anything the Sqn had yet flown.

An unusual looking aircraft indeed with a high wing and fixed landing gear.

The Blackburn B-101 Beverley was a heavy transport aircraft produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Blackburn Aircraft.  It was notably the only land-based transport aircraft built by Blackburn, a company that otherwise specialised in producing naval fighter aircraft.

It was the largest aircraft to enter service at that time and was designed specifically to drop heavy army equipment through removable rear-loading doors.

It could carry a payload of 94 troops or 70 paratroops, or 45,000lbs of freight over 230 miles, however, its maximum range was 1300 miles.  It was powered by four Bristol Centaurus 173 engines giving it a cruising speed of 173 mph.

More on the development and history of the Beverley can be see in this short video:

The Beverley was starting to show its age and was wearing quite badly therefore its future was quite uncertain.  At midnight 0n 6/7 September 1967, 30 Sqn ceased to operate, but was not disbanded.  The Sqn Standard was taken to RAF College Cranwell and kept there for safe keeping.  The Sqn subsequently returned to operation in September 1968 at RAF Fairford.