
April 1957 to July 1973
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)
G-AOHL - c/n 161 - 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 12th Type 802 ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
Production Order No. F12/802. Sales Order No. F12/63B. Stock Order No. F12/26B.
2 January 1956
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
29 March 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
17 April 1957
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Charles Sturt'.
19 April 1957
First noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.
6 December 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
29 October 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
25 November 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
2 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out ILS approaches and overshoots. It then returned to Heathrow Airport.
15 January 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.
BEA 'Red Square‘ livery
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 3,697 hours.
9 December 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
18 December 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
25 January 1965
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
BEA 'Flying Union Jack‘ livery
circa 1968
A new BEA ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery was adopted and most aircraft were repainted when they went in for major overhaul, which took some of them into the early 1970s before this was accomplished.
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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