27 July 2024
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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 23

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 23
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

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

It first flew on Wednesday, 4 November 1953 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 505 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Channel Airways, British Eagle International Airlines Ltd, BKS Air Transport Ltd and Cambrian Airways


Photo of Viscount c/n 23
J S Shackleton Ltd


England flag England

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

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Cambrian Airways and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales 13 February 1971.

Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired 24 April 1971.

Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use 19 July 1971.

Sold to J Shackleton Ltd for metal salvage and broken up into sections then moved by road to their yard at Siddal for final processing in October 1971.


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1952 to November 1953

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - 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 14th Type 701 Viscount ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

Production Aircraft No. 20 - the 20th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 22nd Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 20th Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F14/701. Sales Order No. F14/84A. Stock Order No. F20/10B.

26 May 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

1 July 1953
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

28 October 1953
Engine ground running commenced.

4 November 1953
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

9 November 1953
Registration to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd cancelled.

9 November 1953
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA).


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1953 to December 1963

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

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

25 November 1953
Certificate of Airworthiness issued.

30 November 1953
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Sir James Ross'.

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

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

14 September 1954
During a flight from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands a near miss (within 100 metres) was reported with a Royal Netherlands Air Force Gloster Meteor at Harderwjik, Netherlands.

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.

14 February 1955
This aircraft was used to fly HRH Princess Alexandra from Portela Airport, Lisbon, Portugal to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England.

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.

9 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out ILS approaches and overshoots.

10 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out ILS approaches and overshoots.

13 December 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out ILS approaches and overshoots.

24 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

18 February 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 including the nameplate on the forward cabin bulkhead.

Painted in the BEA ‘Red Square‘ livery.
BEA
‘Red Square‘ livery

31 March 1959
BEA annual report quotes a total flying time of 10,498 hours.

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

May 1959 to May 1960
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.

9 June 1959
Noted at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England operating a service to Portela Airport, Lisbon, Portugal on behalf of Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (TAP).

This happened on a regular basis with various BEA Type 700 and Type 800 Viscount aircraft

A 'TAP' decal was applied to the forward fuselage, near the door whenever the service was operated.

31 March 1961
BEA annual report quotes a total flying time of 14,895 hours. This was highest hours for a BEA Viscount at that time.

31 March 1963
BEA annual report quotes a total flying time of 17,440 hours. Again, this was highest hours for a BEA Viscount at that time.

6 December 1963
Sold to Tradair Ltd for use by Channel Airways.

Total flying time with BEA - 17,446 hours.

By March 1964 at the retirement of the Type 701 fleet this was the most utilised BEA Viscount of all three fleets - Type 701, 802 and 806.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1963 to July 1965

Channel Airways

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

6 December 1963
Purchased from British European Airways (BEA) via Tradair Ltd.

14 February 1964
Registration cancelled as aircraft sold.

14 February 1964
Registered to Channel Airways Ltd.

17 February 1964
Delivered from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

17 February 1964 to 14 April 1964
Repainted in full Channel Airways livery.

14 April 1964
Entered service from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Zestienhoven Airport, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

circa July 1965
Leased to British Eagle International Airlines Ltd in full Channel Airways livery.


Photo of British Eagle International Airlines Ltd Viscount G-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1965 to August 1965

British Eagle International Airlines Ltd

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa July 1965
Leased from Channel Airways in full Channel Airways livery probably while one of their own aircraft was on maintenance.

circa August 1965
Returned to Channel Airways.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1965 to March 1966

Channel Airways

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa August 1965
Returned from British Eagle International Airlines Ltd lease.

17 March 1966
Leased to BKS Air Transport Ltd and delivered to Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England retaining its full Channel Airways livery.


Photo of BKS Air Transport Ltd Viscount G-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1966 to March 1966

BKS Air Transport Ltd

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

17 March 1966
Leased from Channel Airways Ltd 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.

18 March 1966
Noted at Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England carrying out crew training circuits.

30 March 1966
Returned to Channel Airways Ltd from Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1966 to July 1966

Channel Airways

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 March 1966
Returned from BKS Air Transport Ltd lease.

31 March 1966
Re-entered service on the Zestienhoven Airport, Rotterdam, Netherlands route.

19 July 1966
Leased to Cambrian Airways.


Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1966 to July 1966

Cambrian Airways

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

19 July 1966
Leased from Channel Airways and delivered to Cambrian Airways at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, Wales retaining its full Channel Airways livery.

22 July 1966
Returned to Channel Airways.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1966 to November 1966

Channel Airways

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

22 July 1966
Returned from Cambrian Airways lease to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England and immediately re-entered service to Valencia Airport, Spain.

31 October 1966
Operated the last Channel Airways V.700 series Viscount service from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Fuhlsbuttel Airport, Hamburg, West Germany and return.

16 November 1966
Sold to Cambrian Airways.


Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1966 to October 1971

Cambrian Airways

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

16 November 1966
Purchased from Channel Airways and ferried to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for overhaul and repaint by Marshall's.

2 January 1967
Registration to Channel Airways Ltd cancelled.

13 January 1967
Registered to Cambrian Airways Ltd.

27 February 1967
Ferried from Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England to Speke Airport, Liverpool, England and entered service (exact date unknown).

November 1967
Cambrian Airways became a wholly owned subsidiary of British Air Services Ltd (BAS).

Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'White Cabin' livery.
Cambrian Airways
'White Cabin' livery

circa 1968
Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'White Cabin' livery with 'BAS' in the cheatline.

Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'British Air Services' livery.
Cambrian Airways
'British Air Services' livery

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

13 February 1971
Withdrawn from service and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.

Total time 28,113 hours and 21,702 total landings.

24 April 1971
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired.

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-AMOJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1971 to October 1971

J S Shackleton Ltd

G-AMOJ - c/n 23 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

October 1971
Purchased from Cambrian Airways for metal salvage 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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Information@VickersViscount.net.


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This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.