June 1949 to July 1959
Ministry of Supply
VX217 - c/n 2 - a V.663 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
8 June 1949
Civil registration cancelled.
13 July 1949
The Ministry of Supply issued a Secret Document outlining the requirements that Vickers need to comply with in order to carry out the flight trials work in accordance with aircraft specification 8/46.
A military serial number was allocated in order to carry out flight trials for the development work relating to the Vickers Valiant.
15 March 1950
First flight from the 6,600 foot grass runway at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England piloted by Gabriel (Gabe) Robb 'Jock' Bryce.
A tarmac 6,688 foot runway at Wisley wasn't built until 1952.
1 May 1950
Departed from Wisley Airport, Surrey, England on a test flight flown by Vickers test pilots Gabriel (Gabe) Robb 'Jock' Bryce and Brian Alexander Powell. The flight lasted for 55 minutes.
1950
Delivered to the Ministry of Supply for high altitude trials and operated from Seighford Airfield, Staffordshire, England.
SBAC show at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England
September 1950
Exhibited at the Society of British Aircraft Contructors (SBAC) air show at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England including flying demonstrations by Vickers test pilot Brian Trubshaw.
Leased to Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd and operated from Defford Airfield, Worcestershire, England on electrically powered flying control trials.
Leased to Louis Newmark Ltd for trials.
Leased to Decca Navigator Company.
1957
Returned to the Ministry of Supply at Seighford Airfield, Staffordshire, England.
31 December 1958
Damaged beyond repair by fire due to a hydraulic failure in a wheel bay at Seighford Airfield, Staffordshire, England.
The aircraft was declared as written off as the wing main spar was burnt through.
Total time of 110 hours 15 minutes.
8 July 1959
After the removal of all useful parts the remains were sold to International Alloys Ltd for metal salvage.
|