
June 1954 to February 1961
Air France
F-BGNS - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered
March 1951
An order was placed by Air France for twelve Type 700 aircraft. This was the ninth one built.
Production Aircraft No. 33 - the 33rd production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 29th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 9th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Production Order No. F09/708. Sales Order No. F09/85A. Stock Order No. F01/21B.
20 November 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
January 1954
Fuselage transported by road from Weybridge, Surrey, England to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
15 January 1954
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
30 May 1954
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
30 June 1954
Delivered to Air France.
7 July 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.
Capacity later increased from 48 seats to 63 seats.
29 January 1958
To Weybridge Airfield, Surrey, England for spar checks and modifications.
15 April 1958
Returned to Air France.
29 January 1959
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.
7 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
25 January 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
circa February 1961
Registration OY-AFO allocated to Danish Air Charter (DAC) but the sale was not completed.
3 February 1961
Sold to Starways Ltd.
|