27 July 2024
This website is regularly archived by the British Library who selectively archive websites with research values that are representative of British social history and cultural heritage.

Museum search


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.

Viscount history


Discover the history of the Viscount with film, video, contemporary reports from the pages of Flight Magazine, our newsletters, and aircraft operational records and photos from our database.


Share your photos and stories


Our 'Live Magazine' is used by members and non-members to share their Viscount photos and stories with fellow enthusiasts located throughout the world in real time.

You are able to send in your photos, stories and comments by Facebook, Twitter or email and we will post them for all to enjoy.

Contact us


Join the Vickers Viscount Network
for FREE


Featured pages

Our website contains over 20,000 pages of photos and information that can all be accessed from the menu at the top of every page. Here are a few to get you started.



This website does not use cookies or capture your details


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

Viscount c/n 168

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 168
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

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

It first flew on Thursday, 20 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), British Air Ferries (BAF), Aqua Avia Society, Bouraq Indonesia Airlines, Polar Airways, Euroair Transport Ltd and Virgin Atlantic Airways


Photo of Viscount c/n 168
British Air Ferries (BAF)


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
British Air Ferries (BAF) as G-AOHT.

Its fate:-
Certificate of Airworthiness expired 16 May 1986.

Withdrawn from service and stored at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in July 1987.

Noted minus its outer wings 8 December 1987.

Broken up for scrap in March 1991.

Registration cancelled 21 July 1994.


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1957 to July 1973

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - 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 19th Type 802 ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

Production Aircraft No. 21 - the 21st production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 19th 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 21st 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F19/802. Sales Order No. F19/63B. Stock Order No. F19/26B.

11 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.

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

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

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

3 July 1957
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Ralph Fitch'.

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

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

A tyre burst on landing.

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

18 February 1959
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.

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

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

4 May 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

17 October 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

8 December 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

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

25 April 1964
Total time 21,696:04 hours and 15,844 total landings.

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



Photo of British Airways (BA) Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1973 to July 1981

British Airways (BA)

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

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

18 August 1975
As the Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines were brought up to maximum power and 14,500 RPM prior to takeoff at Belfast Airport, Northern Ireland the No.3 engine torque pressure remained at a low 150 PSI and vibration was felt through the airframe. The takeoff was abandoned, the No.3 engine was shut down and precautionary fire drills were instigated.

After the aircraft returned to the gate an examination through the jet pipe confirmed that an uncontained Low Pressure (LP) Turbine Disc had failed resulting in the release of a segment of disc and five LP Turbine blades. The Nozzle Box Heat Shield had also separated from its original location. Secondary damage to engine related wiring looms and other fittings also occurred.

Instances of Turbine Disc failures (LP and HP) were often experienced due to high cycle fatigue or corrosion pitting induced. Various modifications were introduced by Rolls-Royce to help reduce the failure rate and the Discs had a cycle life limit imposed on them along with the Propshaft, LP and HP Impellers and the Turbine HP Air Seal. A cycle was effectively counted at each takeoff, where the stresses imposed on these components were at their highest.

The 66 passengers and 5 crew were not affected by the incident other than the obvious travel delay!

Repaired including a replacement No.3 Dart engine and returned to service.

April 1980
Withdrawn from service and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, Wales.

17 July 1981
Sold to British Air Ferries (BAF).

FURTHER READING: Books about British Airways (BA)



Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1981 to September 1981

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

17 July 1981
Purchased from British Airways (BA) and named as 'Carol'.

23 September 1981
Leased to Aqua Avia Society in 'SkyBus' livery.


Photo of Aqua Avia Society Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1981 to October 1981

Aqua Avia Society

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

23 September 1981
Arrived at Mangere Airport, Auckland, New Zealand on a two year wet lease (i.e. with BAF crews) from British Air Ferries (BAF) in 'SkyBus' livery.

20 October 1981
Re-registered ZK-SKY in New Zealand.


Photo of Aqua Avia Society Viscount ZK-SKY

Country of Registration New Zealand

October 1981 to November 1981

Aqua Avia Society

ZK-SKY - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
New Zealand registered

20 October 1981
Re-registered from G-AOHT.

The aircraft never entered service as Air New Zealand placed an objection which was upheld by the New Zealand Airworthiness Authorities. The Aqua Avia Society had argued that their business plan of forming a club with annual membership meant that they weren't charging a fare for flights and were therefore not in competition with Air New Zealand and didn't need to obtain licences for their proposed routes.

The positioning of the aircraft and crews had already been paid for by the Aqua Avia Society together with a deposit, so British Air Ferries (BAF) reclaimed the aircraft and prepared it for its return to the UK

30 November 1981
Re-registered as G-AOHT to BAF (NZ) Limited.


Photo of BAF (NZ) Limited Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1981 to December 1981

BAF (NZ) Limited

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 November 1981
Re-registered from ZK-SKY whilst still in New Zealand.

1 December 1981
Leased to Bouraq Indonesia Airlines and departed from Mangere Airport, Auckland, New Zealand on delivery to Kemayoran Airport, Jarkarta, Java, Indonesia.

8 December 1981
New Zealand registration ZK-SKY cancelled from the civil register.


Photo of Bouraq Indonesia Airlines Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1981 to March 1982

Bouraq Indonesia Airlines

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 December 1981
Leased from BAF (NZ) Limited.

31 March 1982
Departed from Kemayoran Airport, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia on return to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1982 to August 1982

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 March 1982
Returned from Bouraq Indonesia Airlines lease and departed from Kemayoran Airport, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia.

3 April 1982
Arrived at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England and stored.

1 August 1982
Leased to Polar Airways.


Photo of Polar Airways Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1982 to March 1983

Polar Airways

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 August 1982
Leased from British Air Ferries (BAF) with Polar Airways titles applied to the basic BAF livery.

6 August 1982
Operated its first service from Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, Scotland to Stavanger Airport, Norway.

1 March 1983
Purchased from British Air Ferries (BAF) while still on lease.

22 March 1983
Leased back to British Air Ferries (BAF) with the Polar Airways titles removed.


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1983 to May 1984

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

22 March 1983
Leased from Polar Airways in the BAF livery less titles in a cargo configuration.

May 1983
Polar Airways ceased all operations but the aircraft continued operating with BAF under the control of the trustees of Polar Airways.

May 1983
Noted at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England operating a regular cargo service to Maastricht, Netherlands with 'Aerolink' titles on the nose on behalf of Pandair who were a freight forwarder.

31 October 1983
Noted at Rochford, Southend, Essex, England with 'Skyrider' titles on the nose. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

1 May 1984
Returned to the trustees of Polar Airways.


Photo of Polar Airways Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1984 to May 1984

Polar Airways

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 May 1984
Returned from British Air Ferries (BAF) lease to the trustees of the defunct Polar Airways and immediately sold to Euroair Transport Ltd.


Photo of Euroair Transport Ltd Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1984 to April 1985

Euroair Transport Ltd

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 May 1984
Purchased from the trustees of Polar Airways.

16 May 1984
Rolled out at the BAF facility at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in full Euroair livery.

3 September 1984
Leased to British Airways for one month in full Euroair livery.

3 September 1984
Reportedly leased to Tunisavia for a very short period in full Euroair livery.

18 March 1985
Total time 44,580:55 hours.

1 April 1985
Leased to Virgin Atlantic Airways in a modified Euroair livery with Virgin titles.


Photo of Virgin Atlantic Airways Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1985 to August 1985

Virgin Atlantic Airways

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 April 1985
Leased from Euroair Transport Ltd in a modified Euroair livery with Virgin titles.

5 August 1985
Returned to Euroair Transport Ltd who immediately sold it to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of Euroair Transport Ltd Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1985 to August 1985

Euroair Transport Ltd

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

5 August 1985
Returned from Virgin Atlantic Airways lease.

6 August 1985
Sold to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOHT

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1985 to March 1991

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOHT - c/n 168 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

6 August 1985
Purchased from Euroair Transport Ltd.

It remained in the ex Virgin Atlantic Airways livery.

16 May 1986
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired and withdrawn from service and stored at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

Stored with all useful parts removed and awaiting scrapping.
Stored at Southend

18 March 1987
Noted minus its Rolls-Royce Dart engines, outer wings and rudder.

The port outer wing section was donated to the Brooklands Museum at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

March 1991
Broken up for scrap.

21 July 1994
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.


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.