BAC 1 11: British Aircraft Corporations Successful Twin Jet

MotoArt's newest aircraft to join the fleet is the iconic BAC 1-11. Read more about this remarkable plane and one BAC 1-11-200 in particular. N1550 flew for Braniff International Airways and Allegheny Airlines before becoming the newest in the PlaneTags fleet!.

What is the BAC 1-11?

XX105 BAC 1-11-200 RAE EMA 30-08-79 flickr photo by cvtperson shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license 

The BAC 1-11 was a short haul, British-built jet airliner, produced by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) from 1964 to 1982, and in Romania as the Rombac from 1982 to 1989. 244 total were built, 235 in the UK and 9 in Romania. British United Airways (BUA) ordered 10 BAC 1-11-200s in 1961, followed by a Braniff International Airways order for 6 planes. The 200 series was the initial production variant and a popular one, 56 were built. Subsequent versions were the 300, 400 and 500, which had larger fuel tanks and better rated engines for a longer range. 

The One Eleven was a replacement for the Vickers Viscount turbo prop airliner, which had been designed by the same team (Vickers, Bristol and Hunting had been incorporated into the British Aircraft Corporation.)

The One Eleven offered a comfortable flight and spacious cabins, and promises of quick passenger turnaround time with simultaneous embarking and disembarking through its front and rear stairs and interior layout. It was ultimately not as successful as the DC-9 and 737-200 but was ordered by several international airlines including Kuwait Airways, Aer Lingus, Central African Airways and Western Airlines.

BAC 1-11 Prototype Crash

On October 22, 1963, the first BAC 1-11 prototype (registration G-ASHG) was performing flight tests, specifically its fifth test flight performing stall testing, suffered a fatal accident near Chicklade in Wiltshire, England. While flying at 16,000 feet the aircraft entered a stall and could not recover from it, and crashed.  All seven crew members on board were killed.

Check out this video about the crash and the lessons that were learned because of the pilots who sacrificed so much to make flying safer.

BAC 1-11 Specs

Specifications:

• Manufacturer: British Aircraft Corporation
• Tail #: N1550
• Crew: 4 (Two Pilots & Two Flight Attendants)
• Passengers: 72
• Wing Span: 88 Ft 6 In
• Length: 93 Ft 6 In
• Height: 24 Ft 6 In

Performance:

• Range: 1,850 Nm
• Cruise Speed: 440 Kts
• Ceiling: 35,000 Ft
• Empty Weight: 46,405 Lb
• Max Takeoff Weight: 79,000 Lb
• Rate Of Climb: 2,5000 Ft/Min
• Engine: 2x Rolls-Royce Rb.163 Spey Mk.506-14 Turbofans

N1550

Braniff International Airways

This American airline ran as Braniff International Airways from 1948 until 1965, and then as Braniff International from 1965 until air operations ceased in May 1982. Braniff's routes were mostly in the Midwestern and Southwestern U.S., as well as Mexico, Central America, and South America, and later to Asia and Europe.

Photo by Jon Proctor, courtesy of Jetphotos.net

N1550 was built as a BAC 1-11-200 series and delivered to Braniff International Airways in October 1965.  It was the 10th of 14 one-elevens delivered, first painted in the airline’s El Dorado Super Jet livery, but soon after decked out in the classic ochre Jellybean livery for the remainder of its service with Braniff. It was retired in early 1972.

This timetable from July 1968 gives you an idea of the routes Braniff used its fleet of 1-11s for. Check out timetableimages.com for more.

Allegheny Airlines

Allegheny Airlines was an U.S. airline that serviced routes mainly in the Eastern U.S and operated out of Pittsburgh, PA from 1952 to 1979. After deregulation, Allegheny rebranded itself to USAir and left behind its regional airline roots. USAir subsequently became US Airways, then later merged with American Airlines. 

After retirement from Braniff, N1550 was sold to Allegheny Airlines with 8 other 1-11s. N1550 operated with Allegheny for six more years. In July 1978, it overran the Rochester New York runway due to excessive landing speed and was damaged beyond repair. It was scrapped in 1978.

The photo above, from Yesterday's Airlines, shows the genealogy of US Airways, which includes Braniff International, Allegheny, and American Airlines in its roots.

MotoArt's BAC 1 11

When MotoArt owner Dave Hall discovered that the cockpit for N1550 was available, he was ecstatic. "The BAC 1-11 is such a great aircraft," says Hall. "Only 244 were produced but its legacy is enduring. People ask us for a One Eleven all the time so we were really glad to preserve one in the form of PlaneTags instead of seeing it chopped up and gone forever."

Hall and the team provided these behind the scenes photos of MotoArt's BAC 1-11.

BAC 1-11 PlaneTags

MotoArt’s BAC 1-11-200 PlaneTags will be released on November 3, 2022 on planetags.com and the PlaneTags app. They will be numbered to 3,000 and will initially be available in the following colors:

• Red
• White
• Gray
• Gray/White
• Red/White

The BAC 1-11 is another beloved aircraft, requested often by PlaneTags collectors because it is so iconic, with only 244 produced. Be sure to add one to your collection.