
January 1956 to July 1973
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)
G-AOHH - c/n 157 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
11 February 1953
An order was placed for the first 800 series Viscount which was specifically designed for British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
Initially the order was for twelve Type 801 aircraft, which was actually longer than the Type 802 which BEA finally decided to receive.
This was the 8th Type 802 ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
Production Order No. F08/802. Sales Order No. F08/63B. Stock Order No. F08/26B.
2 January 1956
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
15 February 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
1 March 1957
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.
5 March 1957
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Sir Robert McClure'.
28 March 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
5 December 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
2 February 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out ILS approaches and overshoots. It then returned to London Airport (Heathrow).
February 1959
Noted at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England awaiting overhaul with Marshall's.
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 including the nameplate on the forward cabin bulkhead.
31 March 1959
BEA annual report quotes a total time of 4,086 hours.
7 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
17 November 1959
Seen at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England about to take V.I.P. Sekou Toure, first President of the recently independent Republic of Guinea to Köln Airport, West Germany as part of his tour of the Western World, having already visited the United States and attended the United Nations Assembly.
British Conservative Prime Minister Harold MacMillan was there to see him off.
Despite the bad weather a rostrum had been set up so that speeches could be made. Spectators were able to get a good view of the proceedings from the gallery above the Queen's Building.
9 December 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
3 April 1961
Noted at London Airport (Heathrow) in the later 'Red Square' livery. It operated a scheduled service to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
3 September 1961
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
circa 1968
Painted in the new BEA 'Flying Union Jack' livery.
22 January 1969
Struck a pier at Heathrow Airport, London, England. There were no injuries amongst the 24 passengers and 4 crew. Further details please to information@vickersviscount.net
1971
BEA Scottish Airways titles applied.
circa 1971/1972
Noted on several occasions operating services on behalf of Gibraltar Airways, but still in full BEA livery.
The services were operated by BEA flight crews with local cabin crews.
circa 1971/1972
Noted on several occasions operating services on behalf of Royal Air Maroc on their internal routes, but still in full BEA livery.
The services were operated by BEA flight crews with local cabin crews.
31 July 1973
Transferred to British Airways (BA) due to a corporate merger.
FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways
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