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

Viscount c/n 257

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 257
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

This V.806 series Viscount was built for
British European Airways Corporation (BEA) as G-AOYI

It first flew on Thursday, 14 November 1957 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 520 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Cambrian Airways, British Airways (BA), British Air Ferries (BAF), Esso Standard Libya Inc, Occidental of Libya Inc, Sirte Oil Company, Polar Airways, Guernsey Airlines, London European Airways and Caicos International Airways Ltd


Photo of Viscount c/n 257
Hanningfield Metals


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
Hanningfield Metals as G-LOND.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service with British Air Ferries (BAF) and returned to Caicos International Airways Ltd and stored at the BAF facility at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in June 1988.

Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A) expired 20 June 1988. Advertised for sale in Flight International magazine 6 February 1991. Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use 1 June 1992.

Sold to Hanningfield Metals for scrap in February 1993 with broken down sections transferred to their yard at Templewood Industrial Estate, Stock Road, West Hanningfield, Essex, England. Some fuselage sections still noted in existence in November 1994.


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1956 to January 1958

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AOYH * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

January 1956
An order for eighteen Type 806 was placed by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

The first (C/N 255) was not delivered as it was loaned to Vickers-Armstrongs forType.810 development work.

1956
Allocated registration G-AOYH but this was not taken up and was later used on Viscount C/N 311. Delivered as G-AOYI.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1958 to July 1970

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

20 June 1957
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA) instead of the originally nominated G-AOYH.

14 November 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

2 January 1958
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Sir Humphrey Davy'.

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

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

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

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

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

31 March 1959
BEA annual report quotes a total time of 2,375 hours.

Painted in the new 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.

6 December 1959
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

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

16 March 1960
Total time 4,484:24 hours.

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

19 April 1961
Total time 7,131:00 hours.

16 October 1961
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

20 December 1965
Total time 15,619:32 hours.

The time between overhauls (TBO) for the Rolls-Royce Dart was then approved by Rolls-Royce to increase from 3,750 hours to 4,000 hours.

15 October 1966
Total time 17,205:19 hours.

In open storage at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England.
In open storage at
Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England

October 1969
Noted in open storage at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England under the care of Marshall's.

15 July 1970
Sold to Cambrian Airways.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1970 to July 1973

Cambrian Airways

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

15 July 1970
Purchased from British European Airways (BEA) and ferried from Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England to Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, Wales.

When it entered service it continued operating BEA services to West Germany in a basic Cambrian / BAS livery with 'BEA' titles on the forward door and just before the rear door.

Operated in a basic Cambrian/BAS livery with small 'BEA' titles.
Operated in a basic
Cambrian Airways livery

1 January 1971
Returned to Cambrian Airways / BAS - British Air Services.

Total time 21,626 hours.

Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'Orange' livery.
Cambrian Airways
'Orange' livery

circa late 1971
Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'Orange' livery.

1 April 1972
Cambrian Airways came under the control of British Airways (BA).

1 September 1972
Cambrian Airways became part of the Regional Division of British Airways (BA).

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


Photo of British Airways (BA) Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1973 to June 1981

British Airways (BA)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 July 1973
Transferred from Cambrian Airways due to a corporate merger.

Continued to operate on the Cambrian Airways routes.

2 April 1980
Operated its last service for British Airways (BA) from Birmingham International Airport, Elmdon, West Midlands, England to Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales and put into storage.

16 June 1981
Sold to British Air Ferries (BAF).

FURTHER READING: Books about British Airways (BA)



Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1981 to July 1981

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

16 June 1981
Purchased from British Airways (BA).

2 July 1981
Ferried from Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

12 July 1981
Leased to Esso Standard Libya Inc.


Photo of Esso Standard Libya Inc Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1981 to October 1981

Esso Standard Libya Inc

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

12 July 1981
Leased from British Air Ferries (BAF).

It was delivered in ex British Airways (BA) livery with BAF on the nose and 'ESSO' titles in English on the port side and in Arabic on the starboard side.

October 1981
Returned to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1981 to December 1981

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

October 1981
Returned from Esso Standard Libya Inc lease.

Named as 'Elaine'.

December 1981
Leased to Occidental Libya Inc.


Photo of Occidental of Libya Inc Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1981 to April 1982

Occidental of Libya Inc

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

December 1981
Leased from British Air Ferries (BAF).

April 1982
Returned to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1982 to June 1982

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

April 1982
Returned from Occidental Libya Inc lease.

June 1982
Leased to the Sirte Oil Company with titles applied to the basic BAF livery.


Photo of Sirte Oil Company Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1982 to July 1982

Sirte Oil Company

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

June 1982
Leased from British Air Ferries (BAF) with Sirte Oil titles applied to the basic BAF livery.

July 1982
Returned to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1982 to August 1982

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

July 1982
Returned from Sirte Oil Company lease.

1 August 1982
Leased to Polar Airways in a modified British Air Ferries (BAF) livery.


Photo of Polar Airways Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1982 to March 1983

Polar Airways

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 August 1982
Leased from British Air Ferries (BAF).

Delivered to Polar Airways at Teesside International Airport, Darlington, County Durham, England in ex British Airways (BA) livery with both Polar Airways and British Air Ferries (BAF) titles.

22 March 1983
Polar Airways ceased operating and the aircraft was returned to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1983 to August 1983

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

22 March 1983
Returned from Polar Airways lease.

August 1983
Leased to Guernsey Airlines.


Photo of Guernsey Airlines Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1983 to February 1984

Guernsey Airlines

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

August 1983
Leased from British Air Ferries (BAF) in BAF livery with Guernsey Airlines titles and named as 'Island of Guernsey'.

February 1984
Returned to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1984 to February 1985

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

February 1984
Returned from Guernsey Airlines lease and named as 'City of Aberdeen'.

Repainted in the new British Air Ferries (BAF) livery and re-named as 'Viscount Jersey'.
British Air Ferries (BAF)
'New' livery

4 August 1984
Noted repainted in the new British Air Ferries (BAF) livery and re-named as 'Viscount Jersey'. It also had the Jersey coat of arms applied in the middle of the name.

8 February 1985
Sold to London European Airways.


Photo of London European Airways Viscount G-LOND

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1985 to March 1986

London European Airways

G-LOND - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

8 February 1985
Purchased from British Air Ferries (BAF) and named as 'Danielle'.

25 February 1985
Entered service from Luton Airport, Bedfordshire, England to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

May 1985
Noted un-named.

10 February 1986
Ferried to Exeter Airport, Devon, England and stored outside the West Country Aircraft Servicing Ltd facility.

18 February 1986
London European suspended all operations.

March 1986
Sold to Caicos International Airways Ltd.


Photo of Caicos International Airways Ltd Viscount G-LOND

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1986 to April 1986

Caicos International Airways Ltd

G-LOND - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

March 1986
Purchased from London European Airways.

12 April 1986
Leased to British Air Ferries (BAF).


Photo of British Air Ferries (BAF) Viscount G-AOYI *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1986 to February 1987

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-AOYI * - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

12 April 1986
Leased from Caicos International Airways Ltd and ferried from Exeter Airport, Devon England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

22 April 1986
Registered to British Air Ferries (BAF).

25 April 1986
Entered British Air Ferries (BAF) service named as 'Viscount Churchill' in the new British Air Ferries (BAF) 'British' livery registered again as G-AOYI.

16 February 1987
Returned to Caicos International Airways.


Photo of Caicos International Airways Ltd Viscount G-LOND

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1987 to July 1987

Caicos International Airways Ltd

G-LOND - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

16 February 1987
Returned from British Air Ferries (BAF) lease.

Stored at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England re-registered as G-LOND.

20 July 1987
Leased back to British Air Ferries (BAF).


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1987 to September 1987

British Air Ferries (BAF)

G-LOND - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

20 July 1987
Leased again from Caicos International Airways Ltd as G-LOND and still named as 'Viscount Churchill'.

September 1987
Returned to Caicos International Airways.


Photo of Caicos International Airways Ltd Viscount G-LOND

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1987 to February 1993

Caicos International Airways Ltd

G-LOND - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

September 1987
Returned from British Air Ferries (BAF) lease.

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

20 June 1988
Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A) expired.

12 December 1989
Registration to British Air Ferries (BAF) finally cancelled.

6 February 1991
Advertised for sale in Flight International magazine.

1 June 1992
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

February 1993
Sold to Hanningfield Metals for scrap.


Photo of Hanningfield Metals Viscount G-LOND

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1993 to December 1994

Hanningfield Metals

G-LOND - c/n 257 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

February 1993
Purchased from Caicos International Airways Ltd and broken up into sections and transferred to their yard at Templewood Industrial Estate, Stock Road, West Hanningfield, Essex, England.

November 1994
Some fuselage sections still noted in existence.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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