September 1953 to June 1960
Air France
F-BGNM - c/n 12 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered
March 1951
An order was placed by Air France for twelve Type 708 aircraft. This was the third one built.
Production Aircraft No. 12 - the 12th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 9th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 12th Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
Production Order No. F03/708. Sales Order No. F03/85A. Stock Order No. F09/10B.
19 September 1952
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
27 October 1952
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
21 May 1953
Engine ground running commenced.
3 July 1953
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
23 September 1953
Delivered to Air France fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 505 engines.
29 September 1953
Registered to Air France.
1954 to c1959
The original ‘cutlass’ design propeller blades were gradually replaced by new symmetrical ‘needle’ blade propeller sets. From photographic evidence, both propeller types were fitted to Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3, Mark 505 and Mark 506 engines and many aircraft flew with an ‘intermix’ of both types of propeller blades.
circa 1955
Larger Air France titles applied.
Capacity later increased from 48 seats to 63 seats.
18 February 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
1 June 1960
Sold to Maitland Drewery Aviation Ltd via W S Shackleton & Co.
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