May 1957 to April 1967
Philippine Air Lines (PAL)
PI-C770 - c/n 300 - a V.784D series Viscount
Philippines registered
1 May 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Viscount illustrations by David Carter
PAL - Philippine Air Lines 'Blue and Red Tail' livery
14 May 1957
Handed over to Philippine Air Lines (PAL) in a ceremony held at Weybridge Airfield, Surrey, England. Those in attendance from PAL were Mr James Earl, Captain Leoni des Yap, Miss Rosario Manendez and Luis Dallegas together with Philippine Ambassador Leon Ma Guerrero and Vickers deputy Managing Director Mr T Gammon.
It was fitted with extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks prior to delivery.
20 November 1957
On a service from Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong and on approach at 18:35 to Manila Airport, Philippines the flight crew noticed that the nose undercarriage leg warning light was showing unsafe. They aborted the landing and circled around while they cycled the undercarriage several times but the nose leg refused to drop.
A landing was eventually made on runway 06 at 20:00 resulting in substantial damage to the lower part of the forward fuselage and also shockload damage to the propellers and Rolls-Royce Dart engines.
There were no reported injuries to the 28 passengers and 4 crew on board.
A trunnion (part number 74426-25) had failed due to a manufacturing defect.
Repaired and returned to service.
March 1958
Noted with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks now removed.
January 1960
Noted with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks refitted.
circa 1965
Painted in the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) 'Blue and Red Tail' livery. The extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks have now been removed again.
17 April 1967
Sold to Falconair Charter AB.
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