December 1956 to October 1960
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd
G-AOYV - c/n 316 - a V.810 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
20 December 1956
Registered to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.
23 December 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England painted in Continental Airlines livery.
It landed back at Brooklands Airfield, Surrey, England for further test flying.
This aircraft was fitted with an experimental rudder. The rudder included the complete fin cap which acted like a horn balance. This type of rudder had previously been fitted to G-AOYF (C/N 255) when owned by Vickers but during a flight trial suffered a serious rudder failure and fuselage damage and was grounded.
During flight trials with this aircraft a similar failure occurred but fortunately without any damage to the fuselage.
N240V (C/N 353) of Continental Airlines also has this type of rudder temporarily fitted, for US certification purposes and was test flown in this configuration.
It reverted to the standard rudder type before delivery. No customer aircraft were delivered with this type of rudder.
27 January 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.
14 February 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training flights with BEA pilots.
February 1958
Noted at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England with a mast fitted above the cockpit which carried equipment to measure the amount of yaw encountered during varying flight conditions.
1 April 1958
Local flight from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England with Gabriel (Gabe) Robb 'Jock' Bryce and John W Charles Judge which lasted for 55 minutes.
April 1958
Noted at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England now fitted with a standard rudder. The tail was painted white.
22 April 1958
US Certificate of Airworthiness issued.
July 1959
Temporarily fitted with a Vickers Vanguard tail and water spray rig for de-icing trials.
It also had a mast fitted above the cockpit which carried equipment to measure the amount of yaw encountered during varying flight conditions.
21 March 1960
UK registration cancelled as aircraft scheduled for export.
5 September 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.
16 September 1960
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
It then departed to Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England .
6 October 1960
Sold to Viação Aérea São Paulo SA (VASP) after conversion to Type 827 standard.
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