Airspeed Ambassador G-AMAD c/n 5211 in service with BKS at London-Heathrow during 1959.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

After extensive development work and engine-testing G-ALFR finally went into service with Dan-Air, in whose colours it is seen at Hannover on 24.4.64 having been chartered by members of the London Society of Air-Britain in order to visit the Hannover Air Show.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

The Decca Navigator Company's G-ALZP c/n 5213 in a simple blue colour scheme taxies out for a demonstration flight.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

C/n 5215 HB-IEK of Swiss charter airline Globe Air seen receiving open-air maintenance. The 'petal' cowlings of the port engine are open and a mobile work station is in position.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

C/n 5215 was restored as G-ALZS to Autair, see here at its Luton base in 9.65. The script on the rear fuselage aft of the door reads "De Havilland Ambassador"! The engine cowling is labelled "Bristol Centaurus 661".

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-ALZR c/n 5214 "Sir Walter Raleigh" just after take-off shows the undercarriage not yet fully retracted. All the wheels retracted forwards and the slipstream aided extension and locking down in the event of hydraulic failure.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Ambassador production under way with the first three production aircraft marked 3, 4 and 5 and other fuselages under construction in the background. On No.3 nearest, the top of the centre fin is not yet completed, perhaps because of alterations to fix the rudder centrally.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

C/n 5213 G-ALZP operated the first scheduled London - Paris service for BEA.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Ambassador 2 production prototype G-ALFR c/n 5210 being used for tropical trials 13.8.51 to 20.9.51. The extensive trials were flown by Ron Clear and it is seen here at Khartoum base before flying to Wadi Seidna where most of the trials were carried out.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Ambassador был красивым самолетом. Если бы машина с самого начала была оснащена ТВД (как в свое время предлагалось), ей бы, возможно, удалось разделить успех с лайнером Fokker F27 Friendship. Самолет оснащался ТВД (на снимке машина с двигателями Eland), но только для испытаний.
G-ALFR "RMA Golden Hind" wore BEA colours throughout its trials and retained them when in 1955 it was used by Napier as a flying testbed for the Eland turboprop - with the addition of the engine name on the nose. It was afterwards reconverted to Centaurus power and actually flew in airline service with Dan-Air for over three years.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-ALZS in a classic above-cloud study from 1954.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-ALZT c/n 5216 "Sir John Hawkins" seen here at Heathrow on 15.4.58, was soon to be handed over to BKS.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-ALZR c/n 5214 in BEA colours dramatically demonstrates the Ambassador's single engine capabilities in spite of the obviously unpleasant weather conditions.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Airspeed's power-pack cowlings on the Centaurus were cleverly designed to open up clear of personnel working on the engines, having rods to hold them up (like the Tiger Moth!). Here at the tropical trials they could have provided some shade with the nose away from the sun, the servicing apparently being done in the open air.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-AMAD at Newcastle/Woolsington with BKS, with whom it served as a passenger aircraft for ten years before being converted to a freighter and used to carry horses, as was the case when it crashed at Heathrow on 3.7.68.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Seen here at Cambridge, c/n 5213 spent two years as the King of Morocco's CN-MAK.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-ALZR during its later career as a freighter with BKS in 1965. This followed its use by Rolls-Royce as G-37-4 for Tyne turboprop development. It was uneconomical to repair following a nosewheel collapse in 1969 and was sold to Dan-Air for spares use. BKS got its name from the initials of three directors' names. Barnby, Keegan and Stevens, all ex-Crewsair.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-ALZS c/n 5215 "William Shakespeare" on public display with a queue waiting to explore the inside. Briefly painted as LN-BWE for Norronafly, this was not taken up and instead it became HB-IEK with Globe Air.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Unusual in opening upwards, the passenger doors of the Ambassador looked small but proved to be perfectly satisfactory for twenty years.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Following a short but interesting career in Jordan and Morocco, c/n 5213 was taken over by the Decca Navigator Co in 1963. It is seen here as G-ALZP in the company's markings at Gatwick in February 1968.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-ALZR c/n 5214 became the second Tyne Ambassador with Rolls-Royce as G-37-4.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Ambassador passenger cabin, almost certainly that of 2nd prototype G-AKRD. The intrusive wing centre section bisected the cabin.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-ALFR lies engineless but otherwise intact at Christchurch on 13.11.50 after shedding its two Centaurus at the point of its heavy touchdown.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-AMAD in an undignified position after the starboard undercarriage leg collapsed on landing at Christchurch during trials.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-AMAD upside down and broken in two after the 3.7.68 accident at Heathrow. It crashed on final approach after rolling to the left when a flap actuating rod failed and allowed the port flap to retract.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947