Vickers Vanguard/Merchantman

Vickers Vanguard At Brooklands

Welcome to the home page for the only complete Vanguard/Merchantman out of the total of 44 that were built. 

For the latest news, please select the news page.

We are located at Brooklands Museum, Weybridge.

All the Vanguards were built on this site by Vickers-Armstrongs between 1959 (prototype G-YOYW S/No 703) and the last one G-APEU (S/No 723) in March 1662.

G-APEP Superb was built in 1961 and had seating for 135 passengers, after conversion to a freighter, it could carry 11 pallets 108" x 88" (2.75m x 2.25m) and a load of 19 Tonnes (19,000 kg).  It ceased commercial operations on 30th September 1996 and it was the last one of it's type to fly when it was delivered back to Brooklands on 17 October 1996.  See the history page for further information

After its arrival it was parked adjacent to the runway and was often taxied along it until the final time on 29 May 2004.

On Saturday 5 June 2004, it was moved over the bridge and into it's present home in the Vickers Aircraft Park.

The aircraft is kept as serviceable as possible, although spares are non-existent now.

We do run the engines from time to time.  Watch this website for news or contact us via email to get onto our email list for notification.

The Mercedes World complex now covers the site of the runway where it landed.

Latest News

Last Updated

January 6, 2010