
April 1954 to January 1960
Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines
EI-AGI - c/n 34 - 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. 30 - the 30th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 4th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 6th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Production Order No. F04/707. Sales Order No. F04/86A. Stock Order No. F12/21B.
9 November 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
31 December 1953
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
14 March 1954
Engine ground running commenced.
24 March 1954
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
3 April 1954
Delivered to Aer Lingus named as 'St Lorcan O'Tuathail' / 'St Lawrence O'Toole'.
On delivery it was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines with serial numbers 1178 and 1179 on the port side and 1180 and 1181 on the starboard side.
1955
The cabin seating capacity was increased from 48 to 53.
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Temporarily withdrawn from service after the crash of BEA Type 701 G-ALWE (C/N 4) and replaced by two Douglas DC-3 aircraft on their routes.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.
Aer Lingus 'green top' livery
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.
Aer Lingus 'green/white top' livery
19 May 1957
Ferried from Dublin to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England via Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England for flap modification work with Vickers-Armstrongs.
At this time the cockpit roof was painted white.
26 May 1957
Attended an air show at Shannon Airport which was organised by the Shannon Aero Club including a flying demonstration.
Aer Lingus 'green/white top Viscount' livery
circa 1957
The word 'Viscount' was added to the cabin roof.
November 1957
Ferried to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for wing spar replacement work by Mashall's in order to extend the cycle fatigue life.
January 1958
Returned to service.
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-AFV (C/N 30) and EI-AFY (C/N 32).
They were cared for by Marshall's. At some point it was returned to Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland before eventually being sold.
Total time 8,427 hours.
circa October 1959
Aer Lingus considered converting this aircraft and EI-AFV (C/N 30) and EI-AFW (C/N 31) 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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