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| The Hastings
was a general-purpose long-range transport flown
by the RAF and RNZAF. Its roles included those
of freighter, paratroop-transport, ambulance,
troop-carrier, supply-dropper, jeep-carrier and
glider-tug.
The initial production version was the C.1, first flown on 25 April 1947 and powered by four Bristol Hercules 101 engines. All C.1s were subsequently modified to Mk 2 standard and redesignated C.1As. The C.2 was powered by four Hercules 106 engines, had the tailplane lowered to the centreline of the fuselage and increased in area, extra fuel tanks, and the crew rest station replaced by an air-quartermaster post. The Hercules 737-powered C.3 was similar to the Mk 2 - and four were supplied to the RNZAF. The final version was the C.4, a VIP version of the Mk 2 with accommodation for four VIPs and staff. Four were delivered to RAF Transport Command, bringing the total number of Hastings operated by the RAF up to 147. The last Hastings were withdrawn from service in 1968.
| MODEL | Hastings C.Mk 2 |
| ENGINE | 4 x Bristol Hercules 106, 1249kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 36280 kg | 79984 lb |
| Empty weight | 21960 kg | 48414 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 34.44 m | 113 ft 0 in |
| Length | 25.20 m | 83 ft 8 in |
| Height | 6.86 m | 23 ft 6 in |
| Wing area | 130.80 m2 | 1407.92 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 560 km/h | 348 mph |
| Cruise speed | 486 km/h | 302 mph |
| Ceiling | 8075 m | 26500 ft |
| Range | 2720 km | 1690 miles |
| john prescott, e-mail, 29.10.2012 00:40 I had the great honour to be a passenger on a hastings met mk1 in the formation fly-past over belfast on the last day of its service. Does anyone know if any film was taken of this event and where it may be found if such exists.Thanks reply | | Andres Erdos, e-mail, 14.08.2012 20:55 The Hastings was retired from Royal Air Force Transport Command in early 1968 when it was replaced by the Lockheed Hercules. The Met Mk.1 weather reconnaissance aircraft were used by No. 202 Squadron RAF at RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland from 1950 until the Squadron was disbanded on 31 July 1964, being made obsolete by weather satellites.The Hastings T.Mk 5 remained in service as radar trainers well into the 1970s, even being used for reconnaissance purposes during the Cold War in the winter of 1975—76, finally being retired on 30 June 1977. reply | | John Perryman, e-mail, 17.05.2012 12:20 I jumped in 62 Got twisted nearly landed with wepon container. Beverly's better slipstreem. reply | | Steve, e-mail, 26.12.2011 17:42 As a child,between 1964-65 I lived on RAF Lindholme in the married quarters in Cunningham Rd. The Hastings and Varsities were still flying from there. I developed a real love for the Hastings and took every opportunity to watch them. We moved away then returned to the area as my father's 'last to a posting.' The Hastings were indeed still flying from RAF Lindholme in 1968-69, as they repeatedly flew over my school at Hatfield. Teachers were frequently interrupted, whilst giving lessons, by the Hastings in particular. No flying model aircraft of the type appear available. I have drawings of the C1 and C1a and though the task is formidable I shall attempt to alter that1 Hmmm! Best laid plans and all that! reply | |
| | Brian Mills, e-mail, 08.10.2011 23:51 I have just spent two years restored a Bristol Hercules 101 out of the Hastings H.P. 67 to running order (search "millsie216" on Youtube) to see it running.Hope to show it next year. reply | | chris rice, e-mail, 24.09.2011 10:56 TG 517 ex 1066 sqdn now living at Newark Air Museum. Flew in to the collection in June 1977 at the end of nav training. Come and visit us. reply |
| Maurice Broadbent, e-mail, 02.05.2011 17:17 I was a young RAF fireman stationed at RAF Scampton in the early 1970's when the hasting's arrived. We all got jollies on them during there time there.One day Our cpl was givening us rescue training on them, and was showing us how the pilots escaped through the floor hatch in the cockpit.suddenly he opened the hatch and dropped through, next we heard an almighty scream, as he hadnt realised how high the nose was from the ground, and broke his ankle!!!was a bit worried when we was given parachutes for our jollies!!great aircraft reply | | Bill Birch, e-mail, 07.02.2011 18:10 As a member of 196 sqdrn Walsall ATC, we were at annual camp at RAF Lindholme in summer of 1967. The Hastings transport plane took most of us in the squadron for a "jolly" out over the sea near to Scarborough.Very noisy at take-off revs, but i do remember that the flight was smooth and `relaxed`.What a week we had! reply | | Bob Ward, e-mail, 01.12.2010 20:18 I served in Hastings in 202 Sqdn at Aldergrove from 1952 to 1955 as a Meteorological Observer on secondment from the Meteorological Office. On return to the Met. Office at the end of my service I regularly came across the self same Hastings in different roles at various stations, especially at Scampton. reply | | Bob Bowman, e-mail, 04.10.2010 22:55 The Hastings was a superb aircraft and give me props anytime''1066 sqd'' was a fun title but we looked on it as an old post warhorse. I was the last of the storemen and was saddened in 1977 of its demise. Not only the aircraft loss but the many great air and ground crew who were parted for good. Hastings fly on. reply |
| rod ingerson, e-mail, 03.10.2010 19:00 flew xmas island to lulu as yank civie callsign "colonial boy " a real truck, never let us down..mob crews based changi crew and plane lost on paradrop ...bless em all... reply | | ron hunt, e-mail, 28.09.2010 17:50 I was an instrument fitter on 202 sqdn. We used Hastings
for weather forecasting, flying from Aldergrove in the late
1950's. reply | | Les Stone, e-mail, 07.06.2010 16:39 I had an air experience flight in a Hastings at RAF Lindholme in 1972 whilst in the Air Training Corps. reply | | John Cooper, e-mail, 05.09.2010 23:48 Yes I flew in Hastings in 1969 with '1066' squadron and the Hastings flew on until the mid 1970's
Just type in Google Splashdown Hastings Gan reply |
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| | G.W. Gijsbertsen, e-mail, 13.04.2009 15:22 Dear Sir,
For the municipality of Ede (a town in Holland)I am compiling a book on the annual airborne memorial drops on Ginkel Heath and the memorial services. These are part of the Battle of Arnhem memorial activities. In the early sixties the planes used for the annual parachute drop on Ginkel Heath were the Beverly and the Hastings. So far, from the Hastings I was not able to find suitable pictures. What I am looking for are pictures of the Hastings in the European environment, as a troop carrier, preferrably when dropping para's or whith para's entering the plane.
Could you help me on that?
Regards, Gerard Gijsbertsen (Ede, Holland) reply | | Pete Finlay, e-mail, 25.09.2008 18:09 The article mentions that the last Hastings aircraft were withdrawn from service in 1968, which is incorrect. I was an airman at RAF Scampton 1970 - 1973, and I remember 1066 Squadron flying their Hastings aircraft in. They were based there for some time as Navigator Bombing Trainers, and I ended up doing about 50 hours flying in them (jollies) before going on to become a Flight Engineer. reply |
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Bob Bowman
Hi Chris I am currently building a "Vac-form" 1 /72 kit of a Hastings C1 (very rare and no other kits exist!) Do you have any photos of the aircraft's nav station? I have a couple of photos of the front of the cockpit and that is all! Any help would be gratefully received.
Best regards
Dave
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