Bristol Britannia 102 – G-ANBF, Britannia Airways 1/144

Bristol Britannia 102 G-ANBF in the superb livery of Britannia Airways. Limited edition of only 1,800 from 2001, has to be seen to be appreciated. Very hard to find.

Length 10.25 inches Wingspan 11.75 inches

The Bristol Type 175 Britannia was a British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the British Empire. During development and acceptance testing, the turboprop engines proved susceptible to inlet icing and two prototypes were lost while solutions were found.

By the time development was completed, “pure” jet airliners from France, United Kingdom and the United States were about to enter service, and consequently, only 85 Britannias were built before production ended in 1960. Nevertheless, the Britannia is considered one of the landmarks in turboprop-powered airliner design and was popular with passengers. It became known by the title of “The Whispering Giant” for its quiet exterior noise and smooth flying, although the passenger interior remained less tranquil.