THE AVRO 688/689 Tudor - 2

In addition, two Tudor I's were to be converted into VIP Ministerial transports with the designation Tudor III.

BSAA put the Tudor IV into service on September 30th. 1947 with Santiago, Chile as final destination. The weekly service was disrupted when Tudor "Star Tiger" disappeared without trace on January 30th. 1948 en route to Bermuda with a crew of 6 and 25 passengers. The fleet was grounded until August when, following an inquiry services were resumed. On January 17th. 1949 "Star Ariel22disappeared under similar circumstances en route to Jamaica, bringing to an end BSAA Tudor services and the two VIP Tudor IIIs were not finished

Shortly after the original Tudor contract was placed, a second one was issued for a larger version of the Tudor designed for BOAC 'Empire' routes through Africa and the Far East to Australia. Designated Tudor II it was designed for 60 passengers.

(Colour Photograph showing - Tudor II prototype first flew at Woodford on March 10th 1946.)

Sadly, it suffered the same setbacks as the Tudor I and the substitution of Bristol Hercules engines on the second prototype in place of the Rolls-Royce Merlins early in 1947 as the Tudor VII did not improve matters.

(Colour Photograph showing - Tudor VII with Hercules engines.)