Skypower: Nigeria Airways' Flying Elephants

[RStretton]

Back when I was a kid in the 1980s the concept of the national carrier was still alive and well. A trip to Heathrow, unlike today, meant a wide variety of airlines from exotic countries you were only vaguely aware of. I always particularly liked the trijets - Gulf Air Tristars and Ghanian and Nigerian DC-10s. Now most of these airlines have been mismanaged to death and replaced by boring megacarriers (at LHR anyway). But still we can rejoice in their history even when its as torrid as that of Nigeria Airways:

http://yesterdaysairlines.weebly.com/airline-history-blog/skypower-nigeria-airways-flying-elephants

Nigeria Airways McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 & Vickers VC-10-1101 by rstretton, on Flickr

[Adrian]

Nigeria Airways started life with the help of BOAC that leased Stratocruisers and DC-7Cs to them, both of which have been made by Aeroclassics, as well as a beautiful Nigeria Airways Boeing 707. Nigeria Airways then leased VC10 G-ARVC from BOAC and painted in full livery. A shame GJ didn't make that one, as it was more colourful that their release.

[RStretton]

Nigeria Airways then leased VC10 G-ARVC from BOAC and painted in full livery. A shame GJ didn't make that one, as it was more colourful that their release.

Agreed - I see Aeroclassics did release it on their very first VC-10 mould but only made about 70 pieces.