This 1952-built Heron was bought in 7.56 by Gulf Aviation from Butler Air Transport with whom she had flown as VH-AHB. Acquired by Channel Airways in 6.69 but not used and seen here in Gulf colours after a clear-out of their storage hangar, immediately prior to scrapping which is recorded as having occurred at Lasham

One of Southend's 'Golden Viscounts' captured very shortly before her complete demise, Hotel Kilo was delivered by Vickers to Continental as N246V on 1.8.58. When Channel Airways acquired 11 Viscounts from Continental in 1966/7, the existing livery was adopted almost fully, receiving little more than a change of titling

The sad demise of a Comet, being broken up after Channel Airways went out of business and Dan-Air bought her for spares. Delivered to BEA 18.3.61, leased to Olympic immediately and registered SX-DAO 4.66. Returned to BEA and sold to Channel 4.70, retaining the basic Olympic livery

This 'Golden Viscount' had been withdrawn from use in Sep 68. Channel Airways ceased operations in Feb 72 and it was scrapped in Jun 72. Originally N250V, with Continental from 10.58 to 5.67. Check out those vehicles behind!

Operating an inclusive tour service from Ringway with an All-Air Douglas DC-4 and Dan-Air Comet also visible.

Ex RAF KG621. Served British European Airways as a 32-seat "Pionair" from August 1946. Sold to East Anglian Flying Services in May 1962, who changed their name to Channel Airways in October 1962. Operating a summer schedule from Rochester to the Channel Islands. Withdrawn in October 1966.

The days of this aircraft were numbered and it was later broken up at East Midlands.

Postwar-built DC-4 delivered to National Airlines in February 1946. Served Channel from March 1962 until withdrawal in 1970. Fitted with no less than 88 seats for inclusive tour flights from UK to Ostend.

The Freighter 21 wears 'Channel Airways Southend' titles as it arrives at Ringway on an inclusive tour passenger flight from Ostend in 1958. Aircraft operated by Channel from April 1957 until August 1966.

Channel's Viking C.2, ex King's Flight VL246, is refuelled from a motley collection of period vehicles before an inclusive tour flight to Ostend. Adria's DC-6B YU-AFE roars down 24 in the background bound for Dubrovnik.

The death of an aircraft. During the 1970's this aircraft was stored and stripped at East Midlands Airport before being broken up there.

Although living near Southend at the time, I only ever got b&w photos of the Channel jets there. Their second 1-11 was delivered new in 5.68 in the classic Goldenjet scheme inherited with the ex-Continental Viscounts. Passed to BA in 10.73 as G-BBMG following Channel's demise and served Birmingham European/Maersk Air till sold to Nationwide as ZS-OAH in 4.97. Wfu at Lanseria 2003 and b/u late 2005

Channel's third 1-11 was bought back by BAC on the airline's demise in 2.72 and after a period as G-BIII became the Philippine presidential transport, registered RP-C1. The BUA 1-11 behind is G-AWYV