Southend, United Kingdom
Today Anglian Air Service has announced the retirement of it's fleet of vintage Vickers Vanguard aircraft from passenger service - the last of the type in operation globally.
In Q2 1990, the last Vanguard will touch down at London Southend, closing a 24 year chapter in the airline's history. The oldest aircraft in the fleet, G-VGDA, was delivered new to Anglian Air Service in February 1966 and has been in continuous use since, building over 140,000 flying hours.
Due to exponentially increasing maintenance costs and faster, more efficient modern alternatives management have decided it is time to say a fond farewell to the magnificent 4 engine turboprop before the next D checks; the oldest of the fleet will be put into storage, however the younger examples with long valid D-checks will be put onto the market to look for a second life.