January 1956 to July 1973
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)
G-AOHV - c/n 170 - 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 21st Type 802 ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
Production Aircraft No. 24 - the 24th production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 21st 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 24th 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
Production Order No. F21/802. Sales Order No. F21/63B. Stock Order No. F21/26B.
2 January 1956
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
2 January 1957
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
February 1957
Fuselage transported by road from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England to Weybridge, Surrey, England.
21 February 1957
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
10 July 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
22 July 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England during the pre-delivery test flight phase.
25 July 1957
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Sir John Barrow'.
6 December 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
3 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
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 3,241 hours.
BEA 'Malta' livery
22 April 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.
12 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
20 January 1964
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
July 1968
Noted at Luqa, Malta with Malta logos applied to the 'Red Square' livery for the service to Heathrow Airport, London, England.
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 70s before this was accomplished.
BEA 'Channel Islands' livery
26 December 1969
During a night landing at Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, West Germany in poor weather conditions the pilot became dazzled by the bright runway landing lights combined with a residue of de-icing fluid on the windscreens.
This resulted in the aircraft touching down to the left of the runway, in several inches of snow.
The nose undercarriage collided with a concrete block supporting a runway guidance light, which burst both tyres. This resulted in a loss of directional control and the aircraft veered to the right across the runway and off the other side where it collided with another concrete block which collapsed the nose undercarriage leg. The aircraft finally came to a stop in the snow.
There were no reported injuries to the 66 passengers and 4 crew on board.
Repaired and returned to service.
July 1971
Noted with 'Channel Islands' titles added to the BEA livery.
20 July 1971
Total time 29,539:24 hours and 23,499 total landings.
8 August 1972
Total time 31,366:30 hours and 25,732 total landings.
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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