Viscount c/n 92
Operational Record
Airwork Ltd
England
This V.755D series Viscount was built for Airwork Ltd as G-AOCB It first flew on Thursday, 24 May 1956 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.
During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A., Eagle Airways (Bermuda) Ltd, Cunard Eagle Airways Ltd, British Eagle International Airlines Ltd and Invicta Airways Ltd
British Midland Airways (BMA)
England
Its final owner/operator was British Midland Airways (BMA) as G-AOCB.Its fate:- Withdrawn from service by British Midland Airways (BMA) 30 October 1969 and stored at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England after a technical survey deemed the aircraft uneconomic to repair as extensive corrosion was found. Spares recovery process started May 1970. Remains finally cleared away for scrap 19 September 1970.
May 1955 to December 1955
Airwork Ltd
G-AOCB - c/n 92 - a V.755D series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
17 May 1955
Registered to Airwork Ltd but not taken up as BOAC objected to their proposed 'Colonial Coach' overseas routes as unfair competition.
December 1955
Sold to Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A. during construction but retaining the Airwork Type 755D.
4 January 1956
UK registration cancelled as aircraft sold abroad.
December 1955 to February 1960
Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A.
CU-T604 - c/n 92 - a V.755D series Viscount
Cuba registered
December 1955
Purchased from Airwork Ltd during construction retaining the Airwork type designation V.755D.
Production Order No. F02/755. Sales Order No. F02/72B. Stock Order No. F39/27B.
24 May 1956
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
5 June 1956
Delivered to Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A. at José Martí Airport, Havana Airport, Cuba and entered service to replace the Douglas DC4 services to the USA and Canada.
26 February 1960
Sold to Eagle Airways (Bermuda) Limited.
February 1960 to February 1962
Eagle Airways (Bermuda) Ltd
VR-BBL - c/n 92 - a V.755D series Viscount
Bermuda registered
26 February 1960
Purchased from Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A.
February 1962
Transferred to Cunard Eagle Airways Limited.
February 1962 to September 1962
Cunard Eagle Airways Ltd
VR-BBL - c/n 92 - a V.755D series Viscount
Bermuda registered
February 1962
Transferred from Eagle Airways (Bermuda) Limited within the Eagle Group.
9 February 1962
Delivered to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England.
19 September 1962
Re-registered G-AOCB.
September 1962 to September 1963
Cunard Eagle Airways Ltd
G-AOCB - c/n 92 - a V.755D series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
19 September 1962
Re-registered from VR-BBL.
12 October 1962
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued after re-painting and modification work to bring it up to British Board of Trade standards.
18 October 1962
Entered service on a British Government trooping contract flight to Luqa Airport, Malta replacing a Vickers Viking.
7 December 1962
Noted at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales on a charter service from Langenhagen Airport, Hannover, West Germany that returned the following day.
16 September 1963
Transferred to British Eagle International Airlines Ltd due to a corporate name change when Cunard joined forces with BOAC.
September 1963 to November 1967
British Eagle International Airlines Ltd
G-AOCB - c/n 92 - a V.755D series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
16 September 1963
Transferred from Cunard Eagle Airways Limited due to a corporate name change when Cunard joined forces with BOAC.
6 November 1963
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
19 January 1964
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
24 February 1964
Ferried to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for a 'Check 4' overhaul with Marshall's.
7 April 1964
Air test from Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England after an overhaul by Marshall's. It lasted for 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Now named as 'City of Edinburgh'.
20 March 1966
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
Reported re-named as 'City of Belfast'. Date not known as we have no photographic evidence - details please to information@vickersviscount.net
1 November 1967
Sold to Invicta Airways Ltd and registration to British Eagle International Airlines cancelled.
November 1967 to February 1969
Invicta Airways Ltd
G-AOCB - c/n 92 - a V.755D series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
1 November 1967
Purchased from British Eagle International Airlines Ltd.
12 January 1968
Registered to Invicta Airways Ltd.
25 March 1968
First flight at Heathrow Airport, London, England after repainting by British Eagle International Airlines in Invicta Airways livery.
26 March 1968
Delivered from Heathrow Airport, London, England to Manston Airport, Kent, England.
Operated Inclusive Tours flights from several UK airports to European summer and winter holiday destinations.
circa October 1968
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England with fictitious 'Victa' titles on the upper fuselage.
It was being used to make an episode of a London Weekend Television series called 'The Gold Robbers'. The episode was called 'Crack Shot'.
The black and white series was shown in 1969 and starred Peter Vaughan with George Cole amongst others. A DVD of the series was produced 6 December 2010.
This was the last Viscount to visit the airport and depart without being scrapped!
4 February 1969
Transferred to British Midland Airways (BMA) due to a corporate merger and registration to Invicta Airways Ltd cancelled.
February 1969 to September 1970
British Midland Airways (BMA)
G-AOCB - c/n 92 - a V.755D series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
4 February 1969
Transferred from Invicta Airways Ltd due to a corporate merger.
11 February 1969
Registered to British Midland Airways (BMA).
20 February 1969
Ferried from Manston Airport, Kent, England to Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland for re-painting in British Midland Airways (BMA) livery by Scottish Aviation Ltd.
11 April 1969
Ferried from Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.
30 October 1969
Withdrawn from service and stored at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England after a technical survey for the CofA renewal deemed the aircraft uneconomic to repair as extensive corrosion was found.
31 October 1969
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired.
Total time 24,545 hours and 18,518 total landings.
16 April 1970
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.
May 1970
Spares recovery process started.
19 September 1970
Remains finally cleared away for scrap.