
December 1953 to May 1962
Air France
F-BGNP - c/n 18 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered
March 1951
An order was placed by Air France for twelve Type 708 aircraft. This was the sixth one built.
Production Aircraft No. 18 - the 18th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 15th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 18th Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
Production Order No. F06/708. Sales Order No. F06/85A. Stock Order No. F15/10B.
20 January 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
25 February 1953
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
2 October 1953
Engine ground running commenced.
13 October 1953
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
21 December 1953
Delivered to Air France.
22 January 1954
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.
29 January 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
9 May 1962
Sold to Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).
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