c/n 714 V.951 / V.953 / V.953C Merchantman
Ordered by British European Airways Corporation 20 June 1956 as a Type V.951.
Registered to British European Airways Corporation 9 September 1957 as G-APEK
(Certificate of Registration R.6137 / 1 )
Re-registered 23 November 1959 as a Type V.953
First flew from Brooklands to Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England 30 August 1961.
Certificate of Airworthiness issued 15 September 1961
Delivered to British European Airways Corporation 16 September 1961 named " Dreadnought "
Registered to British European Airways Corporation 9 September 1957 as G-
Re-
First flew from Brooklands to Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England 30 August 1961.
Certificate of Airworthiness issued 15 September 1961
Delivered to British European Airways Corporation 16 September 1961 named " Dreadnought "
G-APEK BEA Red Square livery Heathrow Airport circa 1962
Photo source : Peter Upton Collection
Photo source : Peter Upton Collection
To British Airways Cargo Division 31 July 1973.
Registered to British Airways Board 1 April 1974. ( Certificate of Registration R.6137 / 2 )
Registered to British Airways Board 1 April 1974. ( Certificate of Registration R.6137 / 2 )
G-APEK British airways cargo livery East Midlands Airport 1 July 1977
Photo source : Peter Upton Collection
Photo source : Peter Upton Collection
Ferried from Heathrow Airport to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for modifications by Marshall’s of Cambridge 23 February 1962.
Returned to Heathrow Airport 6 March 1962.
Returned to Heathrow Airport 6 March 1962.
G-APEK BEA Red Square livery
Photographed with an Esso operated Foden Fuel Tanker in attendance at Turnhouse
Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland 23 August 1963 by Horace Hartill
Photographed with an Esso operated Foden Fuel Tanker in attendance at Turnhouse
Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland 23 August 1963 by Horace Hartill
G-APEK Air Bridge Carriers Photo source : Peter Upton Collection
to c/n 713 c/n 714 to c/n 715
Reported to have been leased to Inter Cargo Service February 1988 and returned to Air Bridge Carriers Ltd March 1988.
Certificate of Airworthiness expired 16 December 1989.
Withdrawn from use and flown to Rivesaltes Airport, Perpignan, France on sale to Europe Aéro Service.
Reduced to produce spares.
Registration cancelled as Permanently Withdrawn From Use 7 November 1996.
Certificate of Airworthiness expired 16 December 1989.
Withdrawn from use and flown to Rivesaltes Airport, Perpignan, France on sale to Europe Aéro Service.
Reduced to produce spares.
Registration cancelled as Permanently Withdrawn From Use 7 November 1996.
Name " Dreadnought " resurrected when re-painted into the red-white-black livery, and returned to
service 28 October 1982
G-APEK Air Bridge Carriers (early livery) Photo source : Peter Upton Collection
Withdrawn from use 28 October 1979 TT.33,857 hrs, 23,955 ldgs
Sold to Air Bridge Carriers Ltd October 1979, and delivered to them at East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire,
England 5 November 1979
Registered to Air Bridge Carriers 6 November 1979. ( Certificate of Registration G-APEK / R3 )
Entered service Luton - Glasgow 8 November 1979. Withdrawn from service and stored September 1980.
Sold to Air Bridge Carriers Ltd October 1979, and delivered to them at East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire,
England 5 November 1979
Registered to Air Bridge Carriers 6 November 1979. ( Certificate of Registration G-
G-APEK BEA - A view of the mid-cabin section taken in August 1964 en route Heathrow Airport,
London to Glasgow, Scotland taken by Dan Clark
Converted to V.953C Merchantman standard at London Heathrow Airport by British European Airways from 4 May 1969. This was the first of
seven Vanguard / Merchantman conversions carried out by BEA using kits supplied by Aviation Traders ( Engineering ) Ltd.
seven Vanguard / Merchantman conversions carried out by BEA using kits supplied by Aviation Traders ( Engineering ) Ltd.
This photograph was taken by Stephen Aubury in the BEA Maintenance Base at
Heathrow Airport, London on 7th June 1969, and is believed to show G-APEK being
Heathrow Airport, London on 7th June 1969, and is believed to show G-
prepared for conversion to a Merchantman. Can anyone provide further information ?
Re-registered as a Type V.953C Merchantman 13 August 1969.
Certificate of Airworthiness issued as a Merchantman 6 February 1970.
Repainted into BEA Flying Jack CARGO livery.
Entered service 17 February 1970.
Certificate of Airworthiness issued as a Merchantman 6 February 1970.
Repainted into BEA Flying Jack CARGO livery.
Entered service 17 February 1970.
G-APEK BEA Flying Jack CARGO livery
Photo source :
Photo source :
