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

Viscount c/n 253

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 253
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

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

It first flew on Thursday, 18 July 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 European Airways (BEA) and British Airways (BA)


Photo of Viscount c/n 253
Newcastle Airport Fire Service


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
Newcastle Airport Fire Service as G-AOHW.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Woolsington Airport, Newcastle, England in November 1975. Donated to the Newcastle Airport Fire Service 18 May 1976. Used for fire and rescue practice. Broken up for scrap in August 1983.


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1956 to January 1956

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AORC * - c/n 253 - 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 23rd Type 802 ordered by British European Airways (BEA).

Allocated registration G-AORC but this was not taken up. It was then used on C/N 254.

2 January 1956
Registered as G-AOHW to British European Aiways Corporation (BEA). This registration was originally allocated to C/N 171.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-AOHW *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1956 to July 1973

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AOHW * - c/n 253 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

2 January 1956
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

18 July 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

1 August 1957
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Sir Francis Younghusband'.

19 August 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

A new BEA ‘Red Square‘ livery was adopted.
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.

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

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

19 April 1960
Noted painted in the new BEA 'Red Square' livery.

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

12 October 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.

April 1968
Noted with 'The Malta Airlines' titles in place of the 'Red Square' logos on the cheatline. A joint summer service was operated from Heathrow Airport to Malta via Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy.

circa 1968
Painted in the new BEA 'Flying Union Jack' livery. Aircraft were repainted when they went in for major overhaul, which took some of them into the early 1970s before this was accomplished.

14 May 1969
Total time 26,119:26 hours and 19,776 total landings.

28 January 1970
Total time 27,375:30 hours and 21,113 total landings.

BEA ‘Channel Islands‘ titles were added.
BEA
‘Channel Islands‘ titles

circa 1971
'Channel Islands' titles were added to the BEA ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery.

7 April 1973
A bomb was reported on-board this aircraft at Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands which resulted in all the passengers being offloaded and they then had to identify their baggage which had been offloaded onto the ramp. It turned out to be a hoax call and a spectator on the observation deck was later arrested. An article appeared in the Guernsey Press on the following Monday, 9 April.

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-AOHW *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1973 to May 1976

British Airways (BA)

G-AOHW * - c/n 253 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

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

November 1975
Withdrawn from service and stored at Woolsington Airport, Newcastle, England.

18 May 1976
Donated to the Newcastle Airport Fire Service for training use.

FURTHER READING: Books about British Airways (BA)



Photo of Newcastle Airport Fire Service Viscount G-AOHW *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1976 to August 1983

Newcastle Airport Fire Service

G-AOHW * - c/n 253 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

18 May 1976
Donated by British Airways (BA) and used for fire and rescue practice.

31 March 1979
Noted mounted on brick plinths with the outer wings and tail removed.

circa March 1983
Noted lying on its belly.

August 1983
Gutted and fire damaged remains broken up for scrap.


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.


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