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Well time of return was set. I had mixed feelings as I wished the small vacation could have lasted longer, on the other hand, I managed to meet my agenda of visits which turned the vacation as a time-racer since I used either trains or coaches as means of transportation. On the morning of the planned departure, I was still in Lyons, so I was facing a dilemna. Either I resorted to call on Air Inter to make it back to Paris, although they landed at Orly, or else ...
So, in the wee morning, my uncle Gerald drove me up with his Citroen DS 21 sedan to Bron where I purshased a ticket to Paris on the next flight. Boarding pass in hand, I sat to a bar sharing a coffee with Gerald and finally we parted when the flight was called.
F-BLHI
Vickers 708 Viscount
Air Inter
[photoid=230503]
Lyon-Bron/Paris-Orly
Lyons Bron's layout was pretty similar as many a major French Airport in term of building architecture and overall layout. Reaching the Viscount was by going on foot and in procession behind the ground hostess. Loaded with a new Kodakchrome 64 roll, the camera started working when I got Hotel-India in frame. The Vickers classic was fairly well loaded, a good point for the airline. Founded in 1954 and starting trading 4 years later, Air Inter overcame objections at best, hurdles at normal times from various parties especially Air France as soon as DAY ONE !!! But much to the chagrin of everyone, Admiral Hébrard, a strong-willed former french Navy top officer, who among others took part to WWII on the Free French Navy's escort Flower class ships, was the CEO !!! And fairly soon, i's were dotted...
We entered the aircraft thru the rear main exit and I sat on a window seat ahead the engines and prop, eager to take advantage of the broad ovoid window and camera on knees. Sitting next to me was a uniformed IT captain who was flying to assignment. He straightforwardly introduced as Jacques Dubreuil, the airline's chief pilot and altogether the living legend on the being.
The Rolls Royce Darts were spooled up and soon we taxyed to runway from which we rotated under full crescendo of the unique Darts' tunes. When at cruise level, conversation actually started with Mr Dubreuil, who explained me his employer was not at all an AF subsidiary. "Well, let rank them as some nemesis .... See, we got the Viscounts from them back in 1962, but their after sale servicing proved so bad, that type ratings were and are still completed across the Channel !!!
I remember the final written exam session. Our British instructors did not lose from sight the French penchant for working collectively in sharing data when outside, so tea-time was served in the exam room Time was again elapsing too fast as the Viscount banked over Bretigny, and then above Villeneuve Saint-Georges prior to finals on runway 08/26 which we kiss landed one hour and twenty minutes after rotation from Bron. Mr Dubreuil added "Old chap Chapuis is a compulsive magic carpet driver, even when we got back from over Germany with our battered (Handley Page) Halifax, he could not help".... Pretty soon we taxyied to our allocated stand on remote Juliet ramp and came to an halt between two Air France Boeing 707-328s. Mr Dubreuil introduced me to his old friend and crew mate Bernard Chapuis and Mr Delbarre the first officer.
Looking to the AF birds, he bluntly stated :"I can't wait to kick their b*lls ....
At year end, we get our three first Caravelles IIIs out of 15 ordered new and fitted with Cat III .... ha-ha-ha, some are up to start wimping even if they are not yet fully aware of it Mr Dubreuil laughed so heartily that it seemed he wanted the Seven-O-Sevens' drivers to hear it resounding from their respective office ... Finally, he asked : "By the way, how do you plan going to Le Bourget ? No problem, I spoke to Yann Delbarre who lives pretty close, he accepts making a detour to drop you" ...
So, in the wee morning, my uncle Gerald drove me up with his Citroen DS 21 sedan to Bron where I purshased a ticket to Paris on the next flight. Boarding pass in hand, I sat to a bar sharing a coffee with Gerald and finally we parted when the flight was called.
F-BLHI
Vickers 708 Viscount
Air Inter
[photoid=230503]
Lyon-Bron/Paris-Orly
Lyons Bron's layout was pretty similar as many a major French Airport in term of building architecture and overall layout. Reaching the Viscount was by going on foot and in procession behind the ground hostess. Loaded with a new Kodakchrome 64 roll, the camera started working when I got Hotel-India in frame. The Vickers classic was fairly well loaded, a good point for the airline. Founded in 1954 and starting trading 4 years later, Air Inter overcame objections at best, hurdles at normal times from various parties especially Air France as soon as DAY ONE !!! But much to the chagrin of everyone, Admiral Hébrard, a strong-willed former french Navy top officer, who among others took part to WWII on the Free French Navy's escort Flower class ships, was the CEO !!! And fairly soon, i's were dotted...
We entered the aircraft thru the rear main exit and I sat on a window seat ahead the engines and prop, eager to take advantage of the broad ovoid window and camera on knees. Sitting next to me was a uniformed IT captain who was flying to assignment. He straightforwardly introduced as Jacques Dubreuil, the airline's chief pilot and altogether the living legend on the being.
The Rolls Royce Darts were spooled up and soon we taxyed to runway from which we rotated under full crescendo of the unique Darts' tunes. When at cruise level, conversation actually started with Mr Dubreuil, who explained me his employer was not at all an AF subsidiary. "Well, let rank them as some nemesis .... See, we got the Viscounts from them back in 1962, but their after sale servicing proved so bad, that type ratings were and are still completed across the Channel !!!
I remember the final written exam session. Our British instructors did not lose from sight the French penchant for working collectively in sharing data when outside, so tea-time was served in the exam room Time was again elapsing too fast as the Viscount banked over Bretigny, and then above Villeneuve Saint-Georges prior to finals on runway 08/26 which we kiss landed one hour and twenty minutes after rotation from Bron. Mr Dubreuil added "Old chap Chapuis is a compulsive magic carpet driver, even when we got back from over Germany with our battered (Handley Page) Halifax, he could not help".... Pretty soon we taxyied to our allocated stand on remote Juliet ramp and came to an halt between two Air France Boeing 707-328s. Mr Dubreuil introduced me to his old friend and crew mate Bernard Chapuis and Mr Delbarre the first officer.Looking to the AF birds, he bluntly stated :"I can't wait to kick their b*lls ....
At year end, we get our three first Caravelles IIIs out of 15 ordered new and fitted with Cat III .... ha-ha-ha, some are up to start wimping even if they are not yet fully aware of it
Mr Dubreuil laughed so heartily that it seemed he wanted the Seven-O-Sevens' drivers to hear it resounding from their respective office ... Finally, he asked : "By the way, how do you plan going to Le Bourget ? No problem, I spoke to Yann Delbarre who lives pretty close, he accepts making a detour to drop you" ...
We finally lined up behind the integrated rear collapsible airstairs. I positioned myself last in rank for viewing Douglas' latest release on close quarters and get some associated close-up pics. A good aeronautical topic in the pipeline when back at DLA as the Douglas was still an UFO while Caravelles were barely acquainted with thanks to Air Afrique's freshly delivered 11Rs. Last to get inside India-Kilo, I noticed an empty window left side seat to which I walked straight to. Although the Nine was well patronized, row 18A/B looked as waiting for occupency by your (occasional) reporter.
The harbour, then the downtown area and the industrial districts were soon maped out at their (quick) turns. Finally Mike-Victor banked sharply over the "Monkey Forest" and catched the runway glide scope. Touching down occured just a couple of minutes later. As with the DC.3 she replaced, "Giralda" parked on the side ramp alongside Air Afrique SE210 Caravelle 11R TU-TCY "Yaoundé" pax/frtr combi, which was just a few months old. Nobody stood at the usually packed vewdeck and the terminal accesses were cordoned, Gotchha !!!, President Ahidjo was again on tour as testified by the government's own short-nose Convair CV340 acting as the local AirForceOne parked alongside Air Afrique DC.8-53 TU-TCB "Brazzaville".
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