Viscount c/n 364
Operational Record
Continental Airlines
United States
This V.812 series Viscount was built for Continental Airlines as N252V It first flew on Saturday, 25 October 1958 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.
During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd
Channel Airways
England
Its final owner/operator was Channel Airways as G-APPU.Its fate:- Damaged beyond repair after landing too fast and too long on a wet runway during a rainstorm at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England inbound from Zestienhoven Airport, Rotterdam 4 May 1968. The aircraft aquaplaned and went off the end of the runway and slid sideways into and over a railway embankment. The fuselage was broken open forward of the wing. The aircraft was subsequently written off as beyond repair. Registration cancelled 5 May 1968.
June 1958 to November 1958
Continental Airlines
N252V - c/n 364 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered
December 1955
Continental Airlines placed an order for fifteen Type 812 aircraft, which were to be marketed by Continental as the 'Viscount II'.
Sales Order No. F12/94B.
25 October 1958
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
7 November 1958
Re-registered as G-APPU for Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd for use as a short-term demonstrator.
November 1958 to November 1958
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd
G-APPU - c/n 364 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
7 November 1958
Re-registered from N252V by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd for use as a short-term demonstrator.
12 November 1958
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.
12 November 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England. It came from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England and later departed to Athens, Greece.
15 November 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England. It came from Athens, Greece and later departed to Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England.
16 November 1958
It flew to Warsaw Airport, Poland for a demonstration flight to LOT - Polish Airlines and returned to Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England.
17 November 1958
Title transferred to Continental Airlines and registered as N252V.
November 1958 to March 1967
Continental Airlines
N252V - c/n 364 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered
17 November 1958
Title transferred to Continental Airlines and registered as N252V.
February 1959
Noted in open storage at Weybridge Airfield, Surrey, England now marked as N252V.
23 March 1959
Handed over to Continental Airlines fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.
The plush first class cabin, designed by Charles Butler & Associates was laid out in two plus two configuration with a capacity for 52 passengers, who enjoyed a sumptious meal en-route. A lounge area at the rear allowed for four people to sit on two curved side couches when the aircraft was cruising. A small window was added on each side.
25 March 1959
Departed from Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England on delivery.
Continental Airlines 'Golden Tail' livery
circa 1962
Painted in the Continental Airlines 'Golden Tail' livery.
19 March 1967
Sold to Channel Airways.
March 1967 to March 1967
Channel Airways
N252V - c/n 364 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered
1 March 1967
Purchased from Continental Airlines.
Delivered to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in a basic Continental livery less titles.
20 March 1967
Re-registered as G-APPU.
March 1967 to May 1968
Channel Airways
G-APPU - c/n 364 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
20 March 1967
Registered to Channel Airways.
The integral front 'airsteps' were removed in order to save some weight.
Crashed at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex
4 May 1968
Damaged beyond repair after landing too fast and too long on a wet runway during a rainstorm at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England inbound from Zestienhoven Airport, Rotterdam at 21:20 local time.
The parking brake was used to try and bring the aircraft to a halt but it aquaplaned and went off the end of the runway and slid sideways into and over a railway embankment.
It stopped short of the main electrified railway line but caused disruption until the aircraft was recovered.
The fuselage was broken open forward of the wing. There were four crew and 79 passengers on board and 22 were injured.
The Viscount had just returned from the Dutch Bulb fields with a party from the Women’s Institute organised by Clarksons.
The operator and registration markings were quickly painted out.
The aircraft was subsequently formally written off as beyond economic repair.
Total time 25,219 hours and 28,335 total landings.
5 May 1968
Registration cancelled as aircraft destroyed and subsequently scrapped.