27 April 2024
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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 163

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 163
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

This V.802 series Viscount was built for
British European Airways Corporation (BEA) as G-AOHN

It first flew on Wednesday, 1 May 1957 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 163
British Airways (BA)


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
British Airways (BA) as G-AOHN.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales in August 1975. Broken up for scrap later in the year.


Operational record
Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-AOHN

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1957 to July 1973

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AOHN - c/n 163 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

February 1953
An order was placed for the first 800 series Viscount which was specifically designed for British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

This was the 14th Type 802 ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

Production Aircraft No. 14 - the 14th production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 14th 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 14th 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F14/802. Sales Order No. F14/63B. Stock Order No. F14/26B.

13 October 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, England.

December 1956
Fuselage transported by road from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England to Weybridge, Surrey, England.

21 December 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

1 May 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.

2 May 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

10 May 1957
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Alexander Gordon Laing'.

6 December 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

2 December 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

24 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

Painted in the BEA ‘Red Square‘ livery.
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.

13 April 1959
After landing in a 25 to 30 knot cross-wind on a wet runway at Nutts Corner Airport, Belfast, Northern Ireland the aircraft ran off the side of the runway onto the grass. The nose undercarriage leg collapsed and all four propellers curled, resulting in shockload damage to the Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

There were no reported injuries to the 57 passengers and 4 crew on board.

June 1959
Returned to service after repairs, which included replacement Rotol propellers and Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines.

7 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

12 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

24 June 1961
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

6 November 1963
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

21 December 1963
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Ringway Airport, Manchester weather diversion.

June 1965
Noted at Luqa Airport, Malta with the Maltese Cross and 'The Malta Airlines' logo applied to the cheatline for the service to London Airport via Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy using Maltese cabin crews.

Painted in the BEA ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery.
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.

20 December 1969
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion.

31 July 1973
Transferred to British Airways (BA) due to a corporate merger.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of British Airways (BA) Viscount G-AOHN

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1973 to August 1975

British Airways (BA)

G-AOHN - c/n 163 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 July 1973
Transferred from British European Airways (BEA) due to a corporate merger.

Entered service in British Airways livery with a small 'Channel' on the lower forward fuselage.

1 April 1974
Operated the first British Airways 'Channel' service from Guernsey, Channel Islands to Heathrow Airport, London, England as BE3143 flown by Captain A Cole and First Officer A Pike. It departed at 09:35 and arrived at 10:35. A flown postal cover was issued to commemorate the event.

June 1974
Noted without the small 'Channel' on the lower forward fuselage.

July 1974
Noted at North Front Airport, Gibraltar with smal 'GIBAIR' titles on the rear fuselage.

August 1975
Withdrawn from service and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.

Broken up for scrap later in the year.

FURTHER READING: Books about British Airways (BA)



Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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Information@VickersViscount.net.


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This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.