
May 1955 to August 1962
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)
G-ANHE - c/n 65 - a V.701C series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
14 May 1955
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA), Bealine House, Ruislip, Middlesex.
22 June 1955
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
28 June 1955
Certificate of Airworthiness issued.
29 June 1955
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Gino Watkins'.
It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines and designated as a Type 701C.
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.
15 June 1956
Operated the first BEA Viscount service from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Bergen Airport, Norway route.
16 February 1957
This aircraft was used to fly Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Portela Airport, Lisbon, Portugal during a state visit.
21 February 1957
This aircraft was used to fly Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh from Portela Airport, Lisbon, Portugal via Oporto Airport, Portugal to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England after a state visit. The aircraft was flown by Captain A S Johnson who then became a member of the Royal Victorian Order.
March 1957
Ferried to Vickers-Armstrongs at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for flap modifications.
8 April 1957
This aircraft was used to fly Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Orly Airport, Paris, France for a state visit.
11 April 1957
This aircraft was used to fly Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England after a state visit.
8 October 1957
Operated the first BEA Viscount service from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Luqa Airport, Malta.
On arrival, two flags were flown from the cockpit roof, the BEAC flag and the Maltese national flag.
From May 1958
Converted from 40/47 seats to 60/63 seats in a new high density configuration. This modification included 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 of the aircraft.
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 and the nameplate on the forward cabin bulkhead was also removed.
This nameplate now forms part of the Graeme Cavendish collection.
31 March 1959
BEA annual report quotes a total flying time of 8,699 hours.
24 October 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.
23 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.
30 August 1962
Sold to Viação Aérea São Paulo SA (VASP).
23 May 1963
Registration cancelled as aircraft sold abroad.
Total time 14,749 hours.
FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways
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