March 1954 to January 1960
Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines
EI-AFV - c/n 30 - a V.707 series Viscount
Ireland registered
February 1951
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd announced that Aer Lingus were negotiating the purchase of four Type 700 series aircraft.
9 November 1951
An order was placed by Aer Lingus for four Type 707 aircraft which would have a two crew cockpit and a 48 seat cabin.
The order for these four aircraft was worth £800,000.
At that time British European Airways Corporation (BEA) held a 30% stake in the airline.
Production Aircraft No. 27 - the 27th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 1st Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 3rd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Production Order No. F01/707. Sales Order No. F01/86A. Stock Order No. F09/21B.
15 June 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
16 September 1953
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
14 January 1954
Engine ground running commenced.
30 January 1954
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
7 March 1954
Departed at 10:30 local time on delivery to Aer Lingus named as 'St Patrick' / 'St Pádraig' together with EI-AFW (C/N 31) as their first Viscounts.
The flight to Dublin was flown by Captain R N White.
Passengers on board for this delivery flight included Vickers Managing Director George Edwards, his assistant Charles Gardiner, Vickers General Manager T Gammon and Hurn Manager E C Tullett. Aer Lingus Director J J O'Leary and Deputy General Manager Captain J C Kelly-Rogers were also on board.
On delivery it was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines with serial numbers 1164 and 1165 on the port side, and 1166 and 1167 on the starboard side.
8 March 1954
Departed from Dublin at 09:10 local time to London Airport (Heathrow) returning the Vickers management to the UK.
22 March 1954
Departed from Dublin at 15:30 local time on a demonstration flight carrying Government officials and business leaders. The flight lasted for 30 minutes.
24 March 1954
Departed from Dublin on a demonstration flight carrying 35 press representatives. The flight lasted for 1 hour.
25 March 1954
Departed from Dublin on a demonstration flight to Shannon Airport and return carrying 43 press representatives.
18 March 1955
Temporarily withdrawn from service after the crash of BEA Type 701 G-ALWE (C/N 4) and replaced by two Douglas DC-3 aircraft on their routes.
22 March 1955
The Type 707 fleet returned to service after the completion of flap modification work.
23 July 1955
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.
Aer Lingus 'green top' livery
1955
The cabin seating capacity was increased from 48 to 53.
1955/1956
Painted in the Aer Lingus 'green top' livery that had a Winchester green cabin roof and an English green cockpit roof. The rudder was all white.
circa 1957
The word 'Viscount' was added to the cabin roof.
January 1958
Ferried to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for wing spar replacement work by Mashall's in order to extend the cycle fatigue life.
March 1958
Returned to service.
April 1958
Renamed as 'St Garan' and later as 'St Colmcille'.
23 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
April 1959
Withdrawn from service at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland on the North Apron.
Later on it was ferried to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for storage together with Viscounts EI-AFY (C/N 32) and EI-AGI (C/N 34).
They were cared for by Marshall's.
Total time 8,633 hours.
circa October 1959
Aer Lingus considered converting this aircraft and EI-AFV (C/N 30) and EI-AGI (C/N 34) to carry freight to replace their Douglas DC-3 freight fleet, but nothing came of it.
Artwork by Willem M van Velzen
1 January 1960
Sold to Tradair Ltd.
FURTHER READING: Books about Aer Lingus
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