Not that common to have two Merch' on the ramp at EMA in the daylight. They usually spending their days parked up at Zurich, Belfast and Glasgow. The aircraft are G-APEP and G-APEK. G-APEP To British Airways on 13 Dec 1961 as a Vanguard 953 and was converted to a Merchantman in Mar 1971. Sold to Air Bridge Carriers 08 Nov 1979. Renamed Hunting Cargo Airlines by 15 Aug 1992. Preserved at the Brooklands Museum since 17 Oct 1996. G-APEK To British Airways 16 Sep 1961 as a Vanguard 953 and converted to a Merchantman Feb 1970. To Air Bridge Carriers 05 Nov 1979. WFU at EMA 1990 later broken up.

Delivered to BEA as G-APEP in 1961. Converted to a Merchantman freighter in 1971. Merged into British Airways in 1974. To Air Bridge Carriers in 1979. Renamed to Hunting Cargo Airlines in 1992. Made the last Vanguard flight to Brooklands for preservation in 1996 and is the last surviving Vanguard.

K25 slide scan. Aircraft history well documented. Ferried to Brooklands Museum 17 October 1996 as the final flight of the type worldwide.

This Merchantman was the last operational example of the type. It was withdrawn from use on 30 Sep 1996 and flown to the museum on delivery on 17 Oct 1996. This was the last flight of a Vickers Merchantman worldwide.

The Vanguard was a very capable aeroplane but came on the scene just as turbojets were all the rage. As a result only 44 Vanguards were produced and this is the only surviving example. This aircraft was built at Brooklands in 1961, delivered to BEA and christened 'Superb'. In 1969 it was converted to a Merchantman and would serve BEA/BA until 1981. In 1992 it was sold to Hunting Cargo Airlines and flew until 1996, when it was donated to the Brooklands Museum for display

'Superb' by name, superb by nature. One of my favourite aircraft, now preserved just a couple of miles from where I then lived - great memories of some rides LHR-BRU around the time of this shot, then of seeing her arrive on the shortened runway at Brooklands for the museum on 17.10.96 (lamp posts were temporarily removed specially from the road outside) - the last ever flight of a Vanguard