First flown in November 1961 it was delivered to BEA at Heathrow as V.953 Vanguard "Superb" on 13th December 1961. During 1970/71 it was converted as a V.953C Merchantman and re-delivered to BEA Cargo, (renamed British Airways Cargo on 1st April 1974), on 8th March 1971. Sold to Air Bridge Carriers, (Hunting Air Cargo from 1992), in November 1979, it was stored at East Midlands Airport until entering service in 1981. When retired in September 1996 it was the last airworthy Merchantman, and made its last flight on 17th October 1996 when it was donated to the Brooklands Museum by Hunting PLC.

It was reported as withdrawn from service by British Airways and acquired by Air Bridge Carriers circa Nov/79. It remained stored at EMA in basic British Airways colours until it was repainted and entered service with Air Bridge Carriers circa 1981.

This is the Merchantman conversion of the Vanguard. Delivered to BEA on 13 Dec 1961 as a Vanguard 953 registration G-APEP it was converted to a Merchantman in Mar 1971. Sold to Air Bridge Carriers on 08 Nov 1979. Renamed Hunting Cargo Airlines by 15 Aug 1992. Preserved at the Brooklands Museum on 17 Oct 1996. Still there in 2023.

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.

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.

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.

Parked at what was Prestwick Terminal's freight area. Built as a passenger Vanguard in 1961 for BEA. Converted to a Merchantman freighter in 1969/70. Served with British Airways until 1979, entering service with Air Bridge Carriers in 1981. Its final owner was Hunting Cargo Airlines. It was donated on its retirement to Brooklands Museum where it arrived on 17 October 1996, making the world's last Vanguard flight.

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

Operated by British Airways Cargo. Preserved in the Brooklands Museum (UK) since 1996.

Delivered new as a passenger Vanguard to BEA 13th Dec 1961 and converted to freighter (Merchantman) March 1971. Merged into British Airways Apr 1974 and transferred to Air Bridge Carriers Nov 1979

Ex British European Airways / British Airways of origin, and Air Bridge Carriers (previous name of Hunting Cargo). To the Brooklands museum on 17 Oct 96, the last ever flight of this type!

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.