January 1959 to January 1961
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)
VH-TVS - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
22 June 1954
Registration to Australian National Airlines Commission trading as Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) reserved on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TVS.
1956
This was the fourth of four Type 816 Viscount ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).
The sale to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) named as 'George Evans' was not completed.
1 September 1959
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa7 Mark 525 engines.
It had an extra small sized window at the rear of the cabin on both sides.
Sadly, this was the last Viscount to be built at the Hurn facility.
January 1961
Converted to V.839 standard for the Iranian Government.
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January 1961 to March 1963
Iranian Government
EP-MRS - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Iran registered
January 1961
Purchased from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd and converted from a V.816 to a V.839.
The conversion included the fitment of extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks and integral front 'airsteps'.
6 January 1961
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England after conversion.
13 May 1961
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England to clear customs.
15 May 1961
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England to Frankfurt, West Germany on delivery to Tehran, Iran.
15 May 1961
Arrived at Tehran Airport, Iran on delivery to the Iranian Government for VIP use by the Shahanshah of Iran.
1 May 1962
Seen at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands bringing the Shah of Iran to a gathering of Heads of State to help Queen Juliana and Prince Berhard celebrate their silver wedding anniversary.
13 May 1962
Seen at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England still fitted with extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.
March 1963
Leased to Iran National Airlines Corporation.
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March 1963 to September 1964
Iran National Airlines Corporation (Iranair)
EP-MRS - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Iran registered
Queen Juliana of Netherlands
arriving at Tehran
March 1963
Leased from the Iranian Government.
circa 1963
Noted at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England circa June 1963 undergoing maintenance with Marshall's.
July 1963
Aircraft used by Queen Juliana of Netherlands for a visit to Iran in July 1963.
1964
Returned to the Iranian Government.
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September 1964 to September 1964
Iranian Government
EP-MRS - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Iran registered
circa September 1964
Returned from Iran National Airlines Corporation lease.
29 September 1964
Sold to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
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September 1964 to December 1969
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
A6-436 - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
29 September 1964
Purchased from the Iranian Government to supplement the hard pressed Convair Metropolitans and Douglas Dakotas of 34 Squadron RAAF - Royal Australian Air Force.
1 October 1964
Departed from Wisley Aifield, Surrey, England where the aircraft had been refurbished by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd. The ferry flights went south across Europe, Africa and from India transited through Hong Kong, Okinawa and Guam. The aircraft was flown by 34 Squadron RAAF Commanding Officer Wing Commander Addison MVO AFC and his crew.
10 October 1964
Arrived at RAAF Fairbairn, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia after the long delivery flights.
Configured to operate with three flight crew and up to 32 passengers in a VIP layout this aircraft became the flagship, along with A6-435, of 34 Squadron's VIP fleet.
 Viscount illustrations by David Carter
13 February 1965
Noted flying in formation with sister Viscount A6-435 (C/N 435) from Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to their home base at RAAF Fairbairn, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. Australia. A6-435 had taken a flight crew down to Melbourne to collect this Viscount which had just had a major overhaul with Ansett Airlines.
March / April 1965
Used by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother during her official royal tour of Australia.
November 1966
Noted with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks removed.
January 1967
Noted with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks refitted.
March 1969
Withdrawn from service with under 5,000 total airframe hours.
August 1969
Put up for disposal by the Australian Department of Supply.
December 1969
Sold to the Alda Corporation.
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December 1969 to January 1970
Alda Corporation
N40NB - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
United States registered
December 1969
Purchased from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the basic RAAF livery with all military markings painted out.
9 January 1970
Sold to Jetair Australia / Jet Airlines Australia.
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January 1970 to September 1970
Jetair Australia / Jet Airlines Australia
VH-EQQ - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
9 January 1970
Purchased from the Alda Corporation still in the basic RAAF livery with all military markings painted out.
There was a government restriction on the import of aircraft of this size, so these two Viscounts were ideal.
The company was owned by Alexander Barton and his son Thomas. Together with investors it was intended to put this aircraft and VH-EQP (C/N 435) into service in competition with the two main carriers TAA and Ansett. This never happened and the company filed for bankruptcy.
9 September 1970
Title transferred to Brins Finance Corporation.
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September 1970 to September 1970
Brins Finance Corporation
VH-EQQ - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
9 September 1970
Title transferred from Jetair Australia / Jet Airlines Australia after that company filed for bankruptcy.
This was another company owned by Alexander Barton and his son Thomas.
It was still in the basic Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) livery with all military marking painted out.
September 1970
Noted at Paya Lebar Airbase, Singapore in painted out RAAF livery during the delivery from Australia to the USA.
16 September 1970
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England in painted out RAAF livery during the delivery from Australia to the USA.
19 September 1970
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England to Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland during the delivery from Australia to the USA.
25 September 1970
Sold to Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales.
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September 1970 to June 1971
Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales
VH-EQQ - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
25 September 1970
Purchased from Brins Finance Corporation.
It was still in basic Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) livery with all military markings painted out.
18 October 1970
Noted at Stapleton Airport, Denver, Colorado, USA.
June 1971
Sold to the Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO).
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June 1971 to June 1978
Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO)
502 - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Oman registered
June 1971
Purchased from Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales.
18 August 1971
Noted at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England in full AFSO livery with arabic serial ٥٠٢ (502) and still fitted with extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.
It was departing on an airtest after an avionics upgrade by Airwork Ltd.
10 October 1972
Noted at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England while on maintenance with Airwork Ltd that included the fitting of a transponder system.
Total time 4,563:20 hours.
East Midlands Airport,
Castle Donington,
Leicestershire, England
14 February 1978
Noted stored at Ringway Airport, Manchester, England after retirement from the Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO) service.
circa June 1978
Sold to Royal Swazi National Airways.
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June 1978 to January 1979
Royal Swazi National Airways
3D-ACN - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Swaziland registered
circa June 1978
Purchased from the Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO) and named as 'Ludvondvolo', which is a township in the Manzini District.
12 July 1978
Departed from Ringway Airport, Manchester, England to Matsapha International Airport, Swaziland on delivery in full livery.
January 1979
Sold to Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC).
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January 1979 to April 1979
Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC)
G-BGLC - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
January 1979
Purchased from Royal Swazi National Airways.
19 March 1979
Re-registered to Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC).
1 April 1979
Wet leased to Dan-Air London painted in their new livery.
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April 1979 to October 1980
Dan-Air London
G-BGLC - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
1 April 1979
Wet leased from Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC), i.e. with ABC flight crews.
Viscount illustrations by David Carter
6 October 1980
Noted at Lulsgate, Bristol, England still in service with Dan-Air.
20 October 1980
Returned to Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC).
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October 1980 to November 1980
Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC)
G-BGLC - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
20 October 1980
Returned from Dan-Air London lease.
circa 1 November 1980
Sold to Air Zimbabwe.
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November 1980 to October 1983
Air Zimbabwe
VP-WGB - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Rhodesia registered
circa 1 November 1980
Purchased from Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC).
2 November 1980
Departed Ringway Airport, Manchester, England on delivery in ex Dan-Air London livery with registration VP-WGB applied.
October 1983
Re-registered Z-WGB.
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October 1983 to March 1997
Air Zimbabwe
Z-WGB - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Zimbabwe registered
October 1983
Re-registered from VP-WGB.
23 January 1985
Returned to service after an extended period in storage.
Total time 11,156:43 hours and 10,840 total landings.
17 October 1985
Total time 12,157:07 hours and 11,797 total landings.
18 October 1987
Total time 14,281:55 hours and 14,590 total landings.
28 December 1987
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) renewed.
5 December 1988
Total time 15,101:27 hours and 15,761 total landings.
Stored at Harare, Zimbabwe
November 1990
Withdrawn from service and stored at Harare Airport, Kentucky, Zimbabwe.
June 1996
Noted in a derelict condition.
circa March 1997
Dismantled and moved by road to Chegutu, Zimbawe, 70 km southwest from Harare for use as a bar/restaurant together with Viscount Z-WGC (C/N 446). The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net
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March 1997 to
Flying Pot Restaurant
Z-WGB - c/n 436 - a V.816 series Viscount
Zimbabwe registered
circa March 1997
Transferred from Air Zimbabwe and dismantled and moved by road to Chegutu, Zimbabwe, 70 km southwest of Harare next to the main road to Kadoma and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe for use as a bar/restaurant together with Viscount Z-WGC (C/N 446). The port wing was not refitted. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net
Flying Pot Restaurant livery
July 1997
Seen mounted on steel frames still in the ex Air Zimbabwe livery less titles together with Z-WGC (C/N 446) in the same condition.
October 1999
Noted painted up in 'Flying Pot Restaurant' red and white livery with a beer logo on the nose and fuselage.
The repaint date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net
18 July 2021
Still visible on Google Earth (18 08' 15.97" S - 30 08' 29.76" E) despite the rumours over the years that it was soon to be scrapped.
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