BAC One-Eleven

BAC One-Eleven
source
Name	BAC One-Eleven
Type	Short-range jet airliner
Manufacturer	British Aircraft Corporation
First flight	20 August 1963
Introduced	1965
Retired	various dates
Primary user	British European Airways; Braniff International Airways; Ansett Airlines of Australia

BAC One-Eleven The BAC One-Eleven was a British short-range jet airliner developed in the 1960s by British Aircraft Corporation for short-haul routes competed by contemporaries such as the Douglas DC-9, Fokker F28 Fellowship, Sud Aviation Caravelle, Boeing 727 and Vickers Viscount. Designed to serve regional carriers and flag airlines including British European Airways, Aer Lingus and Ansett Airlines of Australia, the type entered service amid rapid expansion of postwar European and global aviation markets led by operators like Trans World Airlines and regulatory frameworks influenced by bodies such as the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). The aircraft combined aft-fuselage-mounted turbofan engines with a low-mounted wing and was produced during a period marked by aerospace consolidation involving Hawker Siddeley and later Hawker Siddeley Aviation interests.

Development and design

Development began after British European Airways sought a short-range jet to replace Vickers Viscount and Handley Page Dart Herald fleets, prompting BAC to outline designs influenced by studies from de Havilland and proposals seen in Gloster Aircraft Company projects. The prototype, powered by Rolls-Royce Spey engines, made its maiden flight on 20 August 1963, entering a competitive field alongside the Douglas Aircraft Company DC-9 and the Fokker F28. The One-Eleven incorporated features comparable with the Sud Aviation Caravelle such as aft-mounted engines and a clean fuselage, aiming to provide economic short-haul performance for carriers operating at airports like London Heathrow, Gatwick Airport, Sydney Airport, and Dublin Airport. Structural design reflected aerospace practices from Hunting Aircraft and aerodynamic input from wind tunnel testing at institutions linked to Royal Aeronautical Society researchers. Cabin configuration options appealed to operators including British United Airways and East African Airways.

Variants

Production included multiple series tailored for different markets: early Series 200 for British European Airways and charter operators, uprated Series 300 variants with increased weight and range requested by carriers such as Mohawk Airlines and Braniff International Airways, and long-range Series 500 stretch options pitched to Iranian Air Force and other state operators. Corporate and military adaptations were marketed to clients including Royal Air Force and Royal Navy units for transport and surveillance roles, while conversions for freight and combi operations were sold to cargo operators like Dan-Air. Proposed re-engined versions and stretched concepts drew interest from leasing firms and flag carriers including Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, though competition from the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and later Boeing 737 limited some sales.

Operational history

Commercial service began in 1965 with British European Airways on European trunk and feeder services, supporting schedules in alliance with carriers such as Airlines of New South Wales and Aer Lingus. The type saw service across continents with operators like Ansett Airlines of Australia, Braniff International Airways, Mohawk Airlines, Dan-Air, and Ariana Afghan Airlines, flying routes linking airports including Gatwick Airport, Manchester Airport, Perth Airport, and Jinnah International Airport. Military and government use included VIP transports and maritime patrol trials with organizations like the Royal Air Force and export customers in Nigeria and Kenya. The One-Eleven contributed to the growth of charter markets alongside companies such as TUI Group (historically linked firms) and regional scheduled services in postwar Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia.

Accidents and incidents

Several notable hull losses and incidents involved the type, affecting carriers including Mohawk Airlines, Austral, Dan-Air, and Avianca during varied operational environments. Accident investigations were conducted by authorities such as the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (United Kingdom), National Transportation Safety Board and equivalent national bodies, leading to recommendations on maintenance, crew training influenced by operators like British European Airways and regulator actions resembling those by the Federal Aviation Administration. Outcomes from major incidents prompted modifications and procedures adopted by corporations including British Airways-linked entities and state operators in Nigeria and Kenya.

Specifications

Typical specifications for a mid-series model included seating for approximately 89 passengers in mixed-class layouts used by British European Airways and Ansett Airlines of Australia, range suited to domestic and short international sectors comparable with the Douglas DC-9-10, cruise speeds akin to other turbojet transports of the era, and twin aft-mounted Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines shared in documentation with companies like Rolls-Royce and training organizations such as British Airways Training. Performance metrics were tailored to operations into secondary airports like Gatwick Airport and regional fields operated by Dan-Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines.

Operators

The type was operated by a wide array of airlines and air arms: European carriers such as British European Airways, Dan-Air, Aer Lingus; North American operators including Mohawk Airlines, Braniff International Airways; Australasian firms like Ansett Airlines of Australia and Trans Australia Airlines; African and Asian customers including Kenya Airways-predecessors and Nigeria Airways-era services; plus military and government units including the Royal Air Force and several small-state VIP fleets.

Category:British Aircraft Corporation aircraft Category:1960s British airliners