26 April 2024
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Viscount Survivors


59 of the 444 Viscounts built survive as complete airframes or major components. Some are in very good condition and are looked after by museums while others are just wrecks. They can be found in 24 countries.

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

Viscount c/n 167

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 167
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

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

It first flew on Friday, 7 June 1957 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
British Airways (BA)


Photo of Viscount c/n 167
Cardiff Airport Fire Service


Wales flag Wales

Its final owner/operator was
Cardiff Airport Fire Service as G-AOHS.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales in June 1975 and robbed of all useful spares.

The fuselage and wings less its tail were donated to the Cardiff Airport Fire Service for training use circa January 1976.

Remains finally scrapped circa March 1980.


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1957 to April 1974

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AOHS - c/n 167 - 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 18th Type 802 ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

Production Aircraft No. 19 - the 19th production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 18th 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 20th 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F18/802. Sales Order No. F18/63B. Stock Order No. F18/26B.

1 December 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

January 1957
Fuselage transported by road from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England to Weybridge, Surrey, England.

21 January 1957
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

7 June 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

22 June 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England during the pre-delivery test flight phase.

22 June 1957
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Robert Thorne'.

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

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


A new BEA ‘Red Square‘ livery.

March 1959
The 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.

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

24 September 1960
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.


David Carter illustration of British European Airways Corporation Viscount G-AOHS

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


The BEA ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery was adopted.

circa 1968
The 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 70s before this was accomplished.

circa June 1969
Noted at Luqa Airport, Malta with 'Malta' logos applied for a joint service to London.

BEA ‘Scottish Airways‘ titles were added.

circa 1971
'Scottish Airways' titles were added to the BEA ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery.

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

FURTHER READING: Books about British European Airways (BEA)



Photo of British Airways (BA) Viscount G-AOHS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1974 to January 1976

British Airways (BA)

G-AOHS - c/n 167 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

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

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

It was gradually robbed of all useful parts, especially the valuable Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

circa January 1976
Remains less its tail transferred to the Cardiff Airport Fire Service.

FURTHER READING: Books about British Airways (BA)



Photo of Cardiff Airport Fire Service Viscount G-AOHS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1976 to March 1980

Cardiff Airport Fire Service

G-AOHS - c/n 167 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa January 1976
Fuselage and wings less the tail transferred from British Airways (BA) for fire and rescue training use. The actual date is unknown. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

December 1979
Noted with the forward fuselage section totally burnt away.

circa March 1980
Remains finally scrapped. The actual date is unknown. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

The Vickers Viscount Network is always interested to hear from anyone who has information or photographs to help complete the story of the Viscount. If you can help please contact us at
Information@VickersViscount.net.


Click here for more details about the Vickers Viscount Network

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