24 April 2024
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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 13

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 13
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

This V.701 series Viscount was built for
British European Airways Corporation (BEA) as G-AMOC

It first flew on Thursday, 14 May 1953 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 505 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Viação Aérea São Paulo SA (VASP), Channel Airways, British Eagle International Airlines Ltd, Starways Ltd, Bahamas Airways, BKS Air Transport Ltd, Cambrian Airways and Air France


Photo of Viscount c/n 13
J S Shackleton Ltd


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
J S Shackleton Ltd as G-AMOC.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Cambrian Airways and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales 9 October 1970.

Registration cancelled 19 July 1971.

Purchased by J S Shackleton Ltd for metal recovery in October 1971 and moved in sections by road to their yard at Siddal for final processing.


Operational record
Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1952 to April 1953

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

August 1949
Discussions concluded between Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd and British European Airways Corporation (BEA) regarding the specification for the Type 701 aircraft.

Accommodation for 47 passengers at a gross weight of 53,000 lbs was specified with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 505 engines.

3 August 1950
Order placed by British European Airways Corporation (BEA) for 20 Type 701 aircraft which was later increased to 26.

23 May 1952
Registered to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.

This was the 7th V.701 Viscount ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

Production Aircraft No. 8 - the 8th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 10th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 8th Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F07/701. Sales Order No. F07/84A. Stock Order No. F10/10B.

10 October 1952
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

13 November 1952
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

20 April 1953
Registration to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd cancelled.

24 April 1953
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Corporation.


Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1953 to August 1962

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

24 April 1953
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA), Keyline House, Ruislip, Middlesex.

8 May 1953
Engine ground running commenced.

14 May 1953
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.

29 May 1953
Certificate of Airworthiness issued.

4 June 1953
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Richard Chancellor'.

It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 505 engines.

The cabin was fitted out with a 47 seat all-tourist class layout.

4 October 1953
Operated the first Viscount service from Abbotsinch Airport, Glasgow, Scotland to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England carrying 46 passengers and under the command of Captain J Munro.

4 October 1953
Operated the first Viscount service to Kloten Airport, Zurich, Switzerland and Schwechat Airport, Vienna, Austria from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England.

2 December 1954
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training flights.

1955
This aircraft made a brief appearance in the British comedy film 'All For Mary'.

April 1956
Noted at Weybridge, Surrey, England undergoing modification work inside the main assembly hall.

1954 to 1962
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.

May 1955 to December 1956
All BEA Type 701 aircraft were gradually retrofitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines which were upgraded using modified Mark 505 engines.

Aircraft are known to have flown with an ‘intermix’ of both engine marks between these dates.

When completely retro-fitted with Mark 506 engines, the Type 701A designation was applied to these aircraft although this has not been seen widely used or quoted.

31 December 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training flights.

29 January 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

March 1959
A new BEA 'Red Square' livery was adopted and aircraft were repainted during the early 1960s when they next went in for overhaul.

Sadly, after repainting, the aircraft no longer carried a name and the nameplate on the forward cabin bulkhead was also removed.

This nameplate now forms part of the Brian R Burrage collection.

from 1959
Converted from 40/47 seats to 60/63 seats in a new high density configuration. This modification also entailed the installation of an 11th standard size window on the rear starboard side and a small window behind the rear entrance door on the port side.

13 March 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

31 March 1959
BEA annual report quotes a total time of 10,633 hours.

10 April 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.

23 July 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Jersey Airport, Channel Islands weather diversion.

24 July 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Jersey Airport, Channel Islands weather diversion.

26 October 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

16 October 1961
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

circa June 1962
Offered for sale for £110,000.

30 August 1962
Sold to Viação Aérea São Paulo SA (VASP).

The aircraft was painted up in VASP livery and the Brasilian registration PP-SRK was applied. However, the sale was not completed.

This registration had already been applied to C/N 22 which was also not sold.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of Viação Aérea São Paulo SA (VASP) Viscount PP-SRK

Country of Registration Brasil

August 1962 to January 1963

Viação Aérea São Paulo SA (VASP)

PP-SRK - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
Brasil registered

30 August 1962
A proposed sale to Viação Aérea São Paulo SA (VASP) as PP-SRK was not completed.

The aircraft had been painted up in VASP livery and the Brasilian registration applied.

This registration had already been applied to C/N 22 but was eventually delivered as PP-SRL. A spotters nightmare!

Ten other Type 701 aircraft were eventually delivered to VASP.


Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1963 to December 1963

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 January 1963
Returned to British European Airways Corporation (BEA) ownership after the sale to Viação Aérea São Paulo SA (VASP) was not completed.

6 December 1963
Leased to Channel Airways.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1963 to December 1963

Channel Airways

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

6 December 1963
Leased from British European Airways (BEA) and delivered from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

28 December 1963
Sub-leased to British Eagle International Airlines.

21 February 1964
Purchased from British European Airways (BEA) and registered to Channel Airways.

The aircraft still remained on lease to British Eagle International Airlines Ltd / Starways Ltd.


Photo of British Eagle International Airlines Ltd Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1963 to December 1963

British Eagle International Airlines Ltd

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

28 December 1963
Leased from Channel Airways who had purchased it from British European Airways (BEA).

Delivered to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England painted in full British Eagle livery and named as 'City of Glasgow'.

31 December 1963
Sub-leased to Starways Ltd.


Photo of Starways Ltd Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1963 to April 1964

Starways Ltd

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 December 1963
Sub-leased from British Eagle International Airlines Ltd.

Delivered to Speke Airport, Liverpool, England with Starways titles.

1 April 1964
Returned to British Eagle International Airlines Ltd.


Photo of British Eagle International Airlines Ltd Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1964 to April 1965

British Eagle International Airlines Ltd

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 April 1964
Returned from Starways Ltd sub-lease.

Returned to service with British Eagle titles still named as 'City of Glasgow.

28 April 1965
Returned to Channel Airways.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1965 to December 1965

Channel Airways

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

28 April 1965
Returned from British Eagle International Airlines Ltd lease.

Delivered to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England from Speke Airport, Liverpool, England.

Repainted in full Channel Airways livery.

2 May 1965
Entered service with Channel Airways from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Middelkerke Airport, Ostend, Belgium.

10 December 1965
Leased to Bahamas Airways.


Photo of Bahamas Airways Viscount VP-BCH

Country of Registration Bahamas

December 1965 to March 1966

Bahamas Airways

VP-BCH - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
Bahamas registered

10 December 1965
Leased from Channel Airways.

It was still in Channel Airways livery but with 'Bahamas Airways' titles.

Delivered via Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland and Keflavik Airport, Iceland.

December 1965
Re-registered VP-BCH after arriving in the Bahamas.

20 December 1965
UK registration cancelled as aircraft exported.

30 March 1966
Returned to Channel Airways.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1966 to June 1966

Channel Airways

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 March 1966
Returned from Bahamas Airways lease and delivered to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

1 April 1966
Re-registered for Channel Airways.

David Carter illustration of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


7 April 1966
Re-entered service with Channel Airways from Southend, England to Rotterdam, Netherlands.

7 April 1966
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Southend Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to Southend by coach.

12 - 15 May 1966
Provided 'Joy Flights' at the Air Fair, Biggin Hill Airport, Kent, England.

1 June 1966
Leased to BKS Air Transport Ltd.


Photo of BKS Air Transport Ltd Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1966 to July 1966

BKS Air Transport Ltd

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 June 1966
Leased from Channel Airways in full Channel livery and delivered to Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England.

BKS relates to the surnames of three company directors: - James W Barnby, Thomas D Keegan, and Cyril Stevens.

21 July 1966
Returned to Channel Airways.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1966 to September 1966

Channel Airways

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

21 July 1966
Returned from BKS Air Transport Ltd lease and delivered to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England from Heathrow Airport, London, England.

21 July 1966
Re-entered service with Channel Airways from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Son Sant Joan Airport, Palma, Mallorca, Spain.

26 September 1966
Final service from Barcelona Airport, Spain to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

28 September 1966
Leased to BKS Air Transport Ltd.


Photo of BKS Air Transport Ltd Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1966 to December 1966

BKS Air Transport Ltd

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

28 September 1966
Leased from Channel Airways in full Channel livery and delivered to Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England.

BKS relates to the surnames of three company directors: - James W Barnby, Thomas D Keegan, and Cyril Stevens.

30 December 1966
Returned to Channel Airways.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1966 to January 1967

Channel Airways

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 December 1966
Returned from BKS Air Transport Ltd Lease and delivered from Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yorkshire, England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

1 January 1967
Sold to Cambrian Airways.


Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1967 to January 1967

Cambrian Airways

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 January 1967
Purchased from Channel Airways.

Delivered to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for maintenance by Marshalls.

January 1967
Leased to BKS Air Transport Ltd.


Photo of BKS Air Transport Ltd Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1967 to January 1967

BKS Air Transport Ltd

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

January 1967
Leased from Cambrian Airways and delivered to Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England.

BKS relates to the surnames of three company directors: - James W Barnby, Thomas D Keegan, and Cyril Stevens.

13 January 1967
Returned to Cambrian Airways.


Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1967 to April 1967

Cambrian Airways

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

13 January 1967
Returned from BKS Air Transport Ltd lease.

1 April 1967
Leased to Air France.


Photo of Air France Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1967 to March 1968

Air France

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 April 1967
Leased from Cambrian Airways.

8 September 1967
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.

13 December 1967
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.

31 March 1968
Returned to Cambrian Airways at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.


Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1968 to October 1971

Cambrian Airways

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 March 1968
Returned from Air France lease and returned to service still in the full Air France livery.

9 November 1968
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.

circa 1969
Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'BAS - British Air Services' livery.

9 October 1970
Withdrawn from service after Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expiry and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.

Total time 29,320 hours and 21,026 (or 21,300) total landings.

19 July 1971
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

October 1971
Sold to J S Shackleton Ltd for metal salvage.


Photo of J S Shackleton Ltd Viscount G-AMOC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1971 to October 1971

J S Shackleton Ltd

G-AMOC - c/n 13 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

October 1971
Purchased from Cambrian Airways for metal recovery and broken up into sections at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, Wales and moved by road to their yard at Siddal, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, England for final processing.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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