September 1957 to September 1957
BOAC Associated Companies Ltd
OD-ACV - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered
circa June 1955
This was the 3rd Type 754 ordered by BOAC Associated Companies Ltd for use by Middle East Airlines (MEA).
Production Aircraft No. 218 - the 218th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 175th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 173rd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Production Order No. F03/754. Sales Order No. F03/97B. Stock Order No. F34/32B.
24 April 1957
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
3 June 1957
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
10 September 1957
First engine run.
19 September 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
27 September 1957
Delivered to BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.
27 September 1957
Leased to Middle East Airlines (MEA).
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September 1957 to February 1961
Middle East Airlines (MEA)
OD-ACV - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered
27 September 1957
Leased from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.
The company name at that time was: - Associated British Airlines (Middle East) Limited.
18 December 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.
22 February 1961
Returned to BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.
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February 1961 to February 1961
BOAC Associated Companies Ltd
OD-ACV - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered
22 February 1961
Returned from Middle East Airlines (MEA) lease.
23 February 1961
Sold to Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) and departed on delivery from the UK.
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February 1961 to January 1968
Central African Airways Corporation (CAA)
VP-YTE * - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered
23 February 1961
Purchased from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd and departed the UK on delivery, still in full MEA livery.
25 February 1961
Arrived at Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland on delivery from the UK.
Registered as VP-YTE. This registration was later used on Viscount C/N 243.
30 March 1961
Entered service in full CAA livery named as 'Zambezi' after the river.
22 October 1964
Total time 16,976:03 hours.
1964 - 1 January 1968
Operated as Central African Airways Corporation (CAA), Air Malawi, Air Rhodesia and Zambia Airways.
At this time the CAA Viscounts were fitted with removable nameplates that were easily fitted to both sides of the rear fuselage. An ingenious quick release system held these nameplates in place as they were regularly changed over to suit the next departure schedule.
1 June 1966
Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) celebrated their 20th anniversary and a special set of four stamps was issued featuring the de Havilland Dragon Rapide, Douglas DC3, Vickers Viscount and the BAC One-Eleven.
1 January 1968
Transferred to Air Rhodesia due to a corporate name change.
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March 1964 to January 1968
Air Malawi
VP-YTE * - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered
1964 - 1 January 1968
Owned by Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) and operated as CAA, Air Malawi, Air Rhodesia and Zambia Airways.
At this time the CAA Viscounts were fitted with removeable nameplates that were easily fitted to both sides of the rear fuselage. An ingenious quick release system held these nameplates in place as they were regularly changed over to suit the next departure schedule.
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March 1964 to January 1968
Air Rhodesia
VP-YTE * - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered
1964 - January 1968
Owned by Central African Airways (CAA) and often operated by them on behalf of Air Malawi, Air Rhodesia and Zambia Airways when required.
At this time the Central African Airways (CAA) Viscounts were fitted with removable nameplates that were easily installed to both sides of the rear fuselage.
An ingenious quick release system held these nameplates in place as they were regularly changed over to suit the next airline departure schedule.
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March 1964 to January 1968
Zambia Airways
VP-YTE * - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered
1964 - January 1968
Owned by Central African Airways (CAA) and often operated by them on behalf of Air Malawi, Air Rhodesia and Zambia Airways when required.
At this time the Central African Airways (CAA) Viscounts were fitted with removable nameplates that were easily installed to both sides of the rear fuselage.
An ingenious quick release system held these nameplates in place as they were regularly changed over to suit the next airline departure schedule.
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January 1968 to January 1968
Air Rhodesia
VP-YTE * - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered
1 January 1968
Transferred from Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) due to a corporate name change.
Named as 'Gwai', a river northwest of Bulawayo.
1 January 1968
Leased to Air Malawi.
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January 1968 to March 1979
Air Malawi
7Q-YDL - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Malawi registered
1 January 1968
Leased from Air Rhodesia and repainted in full Air Malawi livery.
2 April 1968
Operated its first service from Blantrye Airport, Malawi to Jan Smuts International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.
It often operated services for Air Rhodesia, but was still in the full Air Malawi livery.
29 March 1979
Sold to Aviation Equipment, Spares & Service (Pty) Ltd.
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March 1979 to May 1980
Aviation Equipment, Spares & Service (Pty) Ltd.
ZS-KJG - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
South Africa registered
29 March 1979
Purchased from Air Malawi.
It often operated services for Air Rhodesia.
Landed with the starboard main undercarriage leg retracted
25 January 1980
Landed with the starboard main undercarriage leg still retracted at Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Zimbabwe.
Curled propeller blades meant that the Dart engines would need an extensive repair to rectify any shockload damage.
14 May 1980
Sold to Air Zimbabwe. The South African registration was cancelled on this date.
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May 1980 to October 1983
Air Zimbabwe
VP-WJI - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered
14 May 1980
Purchased from Aviation Equipment, Spares & Service (Pty) Ltd.
This date is the South African registration cancellation date but it is likely that it was purchased soon after the landing accident.
Repaired and initially seen in the ex Aviation Equipment, Spares & Service (Pty) Ltd livery with the Zimbabwe registration applied, presumably for an air test.
14 February 1980
Total time 37,786:48 hours.
February 1981
Noted now repainted in the 'Calair' livery.
20 February 1981
Total time 38,788:43 hours.
24 January 1982
Total time 39,788:16 hours.
October 1983
Re-registered Z-WJI.
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October 1983 to December 1985
Air Zimbabwe
Z-WJI - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Zimbabwe registered
October 1983
Re-registered from VP-WJI.
June 1984
Withdrawn from service and stored at Harare International Airport, Kentucky, Zimbabwe.
Total time 42,788 hours and 33,800 total landings.
December 1985
Sold to Aviation Equipment, Spares & Service (Pty) Ltd.
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December 1985 to December 1992
Aviation Equipment, Spares & Service (Pty) Ltd.
Z-WJI - c/n 241 - a V.754D series Viscount
Zimbabwe registered
December 1985
Purchased from Air Zimbabwe and robbed of all useful parts.
2 September 1986
Noted minus outer wings, tail unit, Rolls-Royce Dart engines and all identifying markings.
February 1991
Noted in the same condition as above but now with badly faded painted.
circa 1992
Broken up for scrap.
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