Viscount c/n 366
Operational Record
Continental Airlines
United States
This V.812 series Viscount was built for Continental Airlines as N254V It first flew on Thursday, 2 April 1959 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.
During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by Channel Airways and Treffield International Airlines
Channel Airways
England
Its final owner/operator was Channel Airways as G-ATVE.Its fate:- Final service from Tegel Airport, Berlin, Germany to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England then withdrawn from service and stored 26 October 1969. Certificated of Airworthiness expired 26 May 1970. Channel Airways ceased all operations 29 February 1972. Broken up for scrap in June 1972. A Channel Airways forward fuselage section was donated to the local Historic Aircraft Museum at this time and identified as being from this aircraft, but it was actually from G-AVHE (C/N 363).
April 1959 to May 1966
Continental Airlines
N254V - c/n 366 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered
December 1955
Continental Airlines placed an order for fifteen V.812 aircraft, which were to be marketed by Continental as the 'Viscount II'.
Sales Order No. F14/94B.
1 February 1959
Noted in open storage at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
2 April 1959
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
The test flying accumulated 8 hours and 20 minutes.
4 April 1959
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training and ILS approaches.
10 April 1959
Handed over to Continental Airlines fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.
10 April 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out a single ILS approach and overshoot.
11 April 1959
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.
19 May 1966
Sold to Channel Airways.
May 1966 to January 1967
Channel Airways
G-ATVE - c/n 366 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
19 May 1966
Purchased from Continental Airlines and delivered to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England as N254V.
25 May 1966
Registered to Channel Airways.
27 May 1966
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.
The integral front 'airsteps' were removed in order to save some weight.
28 May 1966
Entered service from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Jersey Airport, Channel Islands.
3 January 1967
Leased to Treffield International Airlines.
January 1967 to June 1967
Treffield International Airlines
G-ATVE - c/n 366 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
3 January 1967
Leased from Channel Airways and delivered to Treffield International Airlines at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in full Treffield livery.
The company name is derived from Lord TREFgarne and Charles MaseFIELD.
12 February 1967
Flown to Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales to promote Hourmont Holidays, returning to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England the same day.
February 1967
Crew training continued pending receipt of the Treffield International Airlines AOC - Air Operators Certificate.
April 1967
Inclusive tour flights operated by Channel Airways as the Treffield AOC had still not been obtained.
27 April 1967
Operated its first service for Treffield International Airlines from Lulsgate Airport, Bristol, England to Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France.
21 June 1967
Operated its last service for Treffield International Airlines from Perpignan Airport, France to Speke Airport, Liverpool, England.
24 June 1967
Returned to Channel Airways.
June 1967 to June 1972
Channel Airways
G-ATVE - c/n 366 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
24 June 1967
Returned from Treffield International Airlines lease and ferried from Speke Airport, Liverpool, England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England and stored.
18 December 1967
Re-entered service with Channel Airways from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.
26 October 1969
Final service from Tegel Airport, Berlin, West Germany to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England then withdrawn from service and stored.
Total time 25,509 hours and 28,185 total landings.
26 May 1970
Certificate of Airworthiness expired.
29 February 1972
Channel Airways ceased all operations due to financial problems.
19 June 1972
Broken up for scrap.
A Channel Airways forward fuselage section was donated to the local Historic Aircraft Museum at this time and identified as being from this aircraft,
but it was actually from G-AVHE (C/N 363).
8 September 1972
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.