May 1954 to May 1961
Air France
F-BGNQ - c/n 33 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered
March 1951
An order was placed by Air France for twelve Type 700 aircraft. This was the seventh Type 708 built.
Production Aircraft No. 31 - the 31st production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 27th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 7th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Production Order No. F07/708. Sales Order No. F07/85A. Stock Order No. F27/10B.
20 September 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
October - November 1953
Fuselage transported by road from Weybridge, Surrey, England to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
4 November 1953
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
14 April 1954
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
21 May 1954
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.
27 May 1954
Delivered to Air France.
12 June 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 Type 708 aircraft flew with an ‘intermix’ of both types of propeller blades.
circa 1955
Larger Air France titles applied.
Seating capacity increased from 48 to 63 passengers.
16 November 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
c May 1961
Leased to Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).
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