HS/BAe.748 Srs.2B ‘Super 748’

The HS.748 was a British short/medium-range twin-engined airliner designed during the late 1950s. It was originally developed and initially produced by A.V. Roe & Co., then – after its dissolution – by Hawker Siddeley Aviation and later by its successor, British Aerospace.

The 748 was a remarkably successful aeroplane and an effective DC-3 replacement in many parts of the world. The first prototype (G-APZV) first flew in June 1960. Initially, the Srs.1 version for 44 passengers was built, then production was switched to the 52-seat Avro 748 Srs.2, followed by the Srs.2A and 2B. The 748 Srs.2B was the main production model after Hawker-Siddeley was absorbed by British Aerospace (28 a/c were built); it featured a 4-foot increase in wing span, a modernized cabin, new engines and systems improvements.

A total of 350 HS.748s were built which also included 89 aircraft manufactured by Indian Hindustan Aeronautics and this type continued in production until 1988.

The HS.748 was a low-wing monoplane of an all-metal construction, fitted with a nose-wheel type tricycle undercarriage. The flight crew consisted of two members, while the cabin accommodated passengers or could be adjusted to mixed passenger/freight layout.

Powered by two Dart turboprop engines, it possessed a high level of performance, including short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities and overall ruggedness. In freight configuration the aircraft was capable of hauling payloads in excess of 10,000 lb (4,540 kg).

The 748s were used by a number of British and overseas airline operators, e.g. Autair, British Airways, Channel Airways, Deutsche Lufttransport, Emerald Airways, Scottish European, West Air Sweden, Air Madagascar, Indian Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas, VARIG, Phillipine Airlines, Thai Airways, LAN Chile and Bouraq Indonesia Airlines.