July 1956 to January 1968
Central African Airways Corporation (CAA)
VP-YND - c/n 101 - a V.748D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered
July 1954
Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) placed an order for five Type 748 Viscounts
They were powered by Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines with a 47 seat high-density cabin.
They were also fitted with de Havilland propellers, which was the first application to a production Viscount.
Production Order No. F04/748. Sales Order No. F04/67B. Stock Order No. F49/27B.
Production Aircraft No. 126 - the 126th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 83rd Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 87th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
24 January 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
18 March 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
14 June 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Dorset, England after a record build time of 10 and a half weeks.
23 June 1956
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England during the pre-delivery test flight phase.
29 June 1956
This was the first Viscount to visit the USSR. The aircraft was sent from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Vnukovo Airport, Moscow to collect the British Industry delegation who had attended the Soviet Aviation day celebrations and was flown by G R 'Jock' Bryce in 5 hr 50 mins. The trip included a 13 hour stopover at Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, West Germany. In Moscow, officials from Tupolev, Ilyushin and Mikoyan took the opportunity to inspect the aircraft.
Vickers had to get permission from Central African Airways (CAA) to use their aircraft for this visit which delayed the delivery by a few days.
BRITISH PATHE FILM ARCHIVE
Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) VP-YND arrives at Vnukovo, Moscow, USSR.
 Click to see film
1 July 1956
After a 50 minute local acceptance flight flown between 12:15 and 13:05 by CAA Captain Glaser the aircraft was handed over to Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) named as 'R M A Mweru' and departed at 13:50 and arrived at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England at 14:25 flown by CAA Captain Beck.
2 July 1956
Departed from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England at 09:45 and arrived at Rome, Italy at 13:40 (3hr 55 minutes sector) flown by CAA Captain Beck.
Departed from Rome Italy at 15:00 and arrived at Benina, near Benghazi, Libya at 18:05 (3hr 05 minutes sector) flown by CAA Captain Beck.
Departed from Benina, near Benghazi, Libya at 18:50 and arrived at Wadi Halfa, Northern Sudan at 23:00 (4hr 10 minutes sector) flown by CAA Captain Beck.
3 July 1956
Departed from Wadi Halfa, Northern Sudan at 20:35 and arrived at Khartoum, Sudan at 22:30 (1hr 55 minutes sector) flown by CAA Captain Beck.
Departed from Khartoum, Sudan at 23:45 flown by CAA Captain Beck.
4 July 1956
Arrived at Entebbe, Central Uganda at 03:50 (4hr 05 minutes sector) flown by CAA Captain Beck.
Departed from Entebbe, Central Uganda at 04:40 and arrived at Ndola, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland at 08:15 (3hr 35 minutes sector) flown by CAA Captain Beck.
Departed from Ndola, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland at 09:05 and arrived at Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland at 11:10 (2hr 05 minutes sector) flown by CAA Captain Beck.
CAA
'White Top' livery
21 July 1956
Operated the first CAA 'Zambezi Coach' Viscount service from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and Jan Smuts International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.
circa July 1957
Weather radar installed by Marshall's at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England.
circa 1958
Painted in the CAA 'White Top' livery.
4 January 1959
Operated the first CE843 service from Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland to the new Bulawayo Airport, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, landing at 21:00 hours in a rainstorm. This new airport replaced the old Kumalo Airport.
5 January 1959
Operated the first CE840 service from the new Bulawayo Airport, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland to Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland with Captain Nash and crew and 29 passengers.
6 January 1959
Total time 5,325:22 hours.
7 September 1959
Total time 6,983:35 hours.
8 November 1959
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.
22 November 1960
Total time 9,923:44 hours.
1964 - 1 January 1968
Operated for Central African Airways Corporation (CAA), Air Malawi, Air Rhodesia and Zambia Airways as required.
20 January 1965
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.
21 January 1965
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.
18 November 1965
Total time 20,319:08 hours.
1 June 1966
Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) celebrated their 20th anniversary and a special set of four stamps was issued featuring the de Havilland Dragon Rapide, Douglas DC-3, Vickers Viscount and the BAC One-Eleven.
6 September 1966
Total time 22,074:19 hours.
circa June 1967
Noted with the registration repositioned on the rear lower fuselage.
At this time the CAA Viscounts were fitted with removable nameplates that were easily installed to both sides of the rear fuselage. An ingenious quick release system held these nameplates in place as they were regularly changed over to suit the next departure schedule.
1 January 1968
Transferred to Air Rhodesia due to a corporate name change.
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