August 1959 to April 1960
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)
VH-TVR * - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
22 June 1954
Registration to Australian National Airlines Commission trading as Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) reserved on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TVR.
1956
This was the third of four Type 816 Viscount ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).
August 1959
The proposed sale to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) named as ‘John Murray’ was not completed.
Registration VH-TVR was eventually applied to TAA Viscount (C/N 318) in March 1962.
24 August 1959
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa7 Mark 525 engines.
It had an extra small sized window at the rear of the cabin on both sides and a set of integral front 'airsteps'.
7 to 13 September 1959
Exhibited as a static display at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors (SBAC) air show at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England in full TAA orange tail livery.
September 1959
Exhibited at RAF Gaydon, near Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, England, still in full TAA orange tail livery.
April 1960
Converted to V.836 standard for the Union Carbide & Carbon Corporation (UCC).
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April 1960 to August 1964
Union Carbide & Carbon Corporation (UCC)
N40N - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United States registered
April 1960
Converted from V.816 to V.836 and fitted with extended range ‘slipper’ fuel tanks.
14 April 1960
First flight as a V.836 from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and further test flying.
26 April 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out a single ILS approach and overshoot.
The test flying accumulated 17 hours and 35 minutes.
17 May 1960
Handed over to the Union Carbide & Carbon Corporation (UCC) at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England.
20 May 1960
Noted at Squires Gate Airport, Blackpool, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.
22 May 1960
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.
23 May 1960
Noted back at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England.
23 May 1960
Total time 46:30 hours.
23 May 1960
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England to clear customs.
It then departed to Keflavik, Iceland on delivery to the USA.
26 January 1961
Total time 284:25 hours and 249 total landings.
17 April 1961
Total time 419:50 hours.
15 September 1962
Total time 1,137:45 hours and 745 total landings.
19 November 1962
Total time 1,187:50 hours and 780 total landings.
25 February 1963
Total time 1,327:00 hours.
24 October 1963
Total time 1,721:05 hours.
20 January 1964
Total time 1,883:20 hours and 1,211 total landings.
5 August 1964
Sold to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
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August 1964 to November 1969
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
A6-435 - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
5 August 1964
Purchased from the Union Carbide & Carbon Corporation (UCC) to supplement the hard pressed Convair Metropolitans and Douglas Dakotas of 34 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
12 August 1964
Departed the USA under the command of the 34 Squadron CO Wing Commander W Addison MVO AFC via a North Atlantic crossing, then through Europe, Iran, India, South East Asia and Western Australia.
28 August 1964
Finally arrived at RAAF Fairbairn, Canberra, Australia from Edinburgh Airport, South Australia.
In was operated as a layout of three flight crew and up to 32 passengers this aircraft became the flagship, along with Viscount A6-436 (C/N 436) of 34 Squadron's VIP fleet.
13 February 1965
Noted flying in formation with sister Viscount A6-436 (C/N 436) From Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to their home base at RAAF Fairbairn, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. Australia. They had taken a flight crew down to Melbourne to collect the other Viscount which had just had a major overhaul with Ansett Airlines.
20 February 1965
The Duke of Edinburgh became the first member of the Royal family to fly in a RAAF Viscount when he flew from Sydney to Canberra, Australia.
Noted at the air pageant
at Mangere, New Zealand
25 January 1966
Noted at Rongotai Airport, Wellington, New Zealand after crossing the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand.
29 January 1966
Attended the air pageant at Mangere Airport, Auckland, New Zealand to mark the opening of the new International Airport.
29 January 1967
Took Prime Minister Harold Holt to Rongotai Airport, Wellington, New Zealand as part of an official visit.
8 February 1967
Took Prime Minister Harold Holt back to Australia from Harewood Airport, Christchurch, New Zealand after an official visit.
March 1969
Withdrawn from service with under 5,000 airframe hours.
August 1969
Put up for disposal by the Australian Department of Supply.
November 1969
Sold to the Alda Corporation.
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November 1969 to December 1969
Alda Corporation
N40NA - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United States registered
November 1969
Purchased from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) still in the basic livery with all military markings painted out.
The aircraft remained stored at Bankstown Airport, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
December 1969
Sold to Jetair Australia / Jet Airlines Australia.
27 February 2018
US registration eventually cancelled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)!!
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December 1969 to September 1970
Jetair Australia / Jet Airlines Australia
VH-EQP - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
December 1969
Purchased from the Alda Corporation in the basic livery with all military markings painted out.
There was a government restriction on the import of aircraft of this size, so these two Viscounts were ideal.
The company was owned by Alexander Barton and his son Thomas. Together with investors it was intended to put this aircraft and VH-EQQ (C/N 436) into service in competition with the two main carriers TAA and Ansett. This never happened and the company filed for bankruptcy.
The aircraft remained stored at Bankstown Airport, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
25 September 1970
Title transferred to Brins Finance Corporation, which was another company owned by the Bartons.
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September 1970 to September 1970
Brins Finance Corporation
VH-EQP - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
25 September 1970
Title transferred from Jetair Australia / Jet Airlines Australia after that company filed for bankruptcy.
This was another company owned by Alexander Barton and his son Thomas.
It was still in the basic RAAF livery with all military markings painted out.
25 September 1970
Sold to Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales.
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September 1970 to June 1971
Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales
VH-EQP - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered
25 September 1970
Purchased from Brins Finance Corporation still in the basic RAAF livery with all titles painted out.
10 October 1970
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England during the delivery from Australia to the USA.
16 October 1970
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England during the delivery from Australia to the USA.
November 1970
Noted at Stapleton Airport, Denver, Colorado, USA.
June 1971
Sold to the Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO).
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June 1971 to September 1978
Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO)
501 - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Oman registered
June 1971
Purchased from Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales.
Noted at Rochford, Southend, Essex, England in July 1971
June 1971
Noted at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in basic Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) livery but with AFSO arabic serial ٥٠١ (501) applied, and fitted with extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.
October 1971
Noted at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England now repainted in full SOAF livery outside a British Air Ferries hangar.
At Airwork Services Ltd, Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England
30 September 1971
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to AFSO.
31 January 1972
Total time 5,226:15 hours.
25 January 1973
Noted at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England undergoing maintenance with the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).
Total time 5,873:00 hours.
10 November 1973
Noted at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England undergoing maintenance with the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).
Total time 6,507:50 hours.
15 August 1974
Total time 7,136:55 hours.
December 1977
Ferried from Oman to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England after retirement from AFSO service.
The actual date is not known. Details please to
information@vickersviscount.net
December 1977
Ferried from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.
The actual date is not known. Details please to
information@vickersviscount.net
January 1978
Noted stored at Ringway Airport, Manchester, England together with 502 (C/N 436).
July 1978
A sale to Royal Swazi National Airways was not completed, however the registration 3D-ACM was noted applied to the basic AFSO livery.
12 September 1978
Sold to British Midland Airways (BMA).
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September 1978 to September 1978
Royal Swazi National Airways
3D-ACM - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Swaziland registered
September 1978
The purchase from the Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO) was not completed.
Registration 3D-ACM was applied to the AFSO livery.
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September 1978 to March 1979
British Midland Airways (BMA)
3D-ACM - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Swaziland registered
12 September 1978
Purchased from the Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO) and ferried from Ringway Airport, Manchester, England to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in full AFSO livery.
Repainted in full British Midland Airways (BMA) livery.
The extended range ‘slipper’ tanks were removed during pre-service modifications and maintenance.
This aircraft had been fitted with extended range ‘slipper’ fuel tanks for 18½ years.
12 March 1979
Re-registered G-BFZL.
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March 1979 to October 1983
British Midland Airways (BMA)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
12 March 1979
Re-registered from 3D-ACM.
24 March 1979
First service for British Midland Airways (BMA) from East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire, England to Jersey Airport, Channel Islands.
2 October 1983
Leased to Manx Airlines.
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October 1983 to November 1983
Manx Airlines (Skianyn Vannin)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
2 October 1983
Leased from British Midland Airways (BMA) in full BMA livery but with ‘Manx’ titles.
26 November 1983
Returned to British Midland Airways (BMA).
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November 1983 to November 1985
British Midland Airways (BMA)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
26 November 1983
Returned from lease to Manx Airlines.
December 1983
Aircraft noted still in British Midland Airways (BMA) livery with ‘Manx’ titles.
1985
Noted stored at Teesside International Airport, Darlington, County Durham, England.
circa September 1985
Noted at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England undergoing a major overhaul.
16 November 1985
Leased back to Manx Airlines in full livery.
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November 1985 to November 1988
Manx Airlines (Skianyn Vannin)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
16 November 1985
Leased again from British Midland Airways (BMA) in full Manx Airlines livery and delivered to Ronaldsway, Isle of Man.
May 1986
British Midland Airways (BMA) sold the aircraft to British Aerospace, leased it back and continued this sub-lease to Manx Airlines.
November 1988
Returned to British Midland Airways (BMA) at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.
Manx Airlines replaced the Viscount with a newly delivered British Aerospace ATP aircraft.
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May 1986 to May 1986
British Aerospace PLC (BAe)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
May 1986
Purchased from British Midland Airways (BMA).
May 1986
Leased to British Midland Airways (BMA) for the continuation of a sub-lease to Manx Airlines.
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November 1988 to November 1988
British Midland Airways (BMA)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
November 1988
Returned from Manx Airlines sub-lease.
November 1988
Returned to British Aerospace PLC.
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November 1988 to November 1988
British Aerospace PLC (BAe)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
November 1988
Returned from British Midland Airways (BMA) lease, Manx Airlines sub-lease.
11 November 1988
Leased to Baltic Airlines.
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November 1988 to January 1989
Baltic Airlines (UK)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
11 November 1988
Leased from British Aerospace PLC and ferried from East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire, England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in a Manx Airlines livery with Baltic Airlines titles.
12 November 1988
First service from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Côte D'Azur Airport, Nice, France and Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands.
It returned to Southend 3 days later.
13 December 1988
Registered to STH Sales Ltd.
STH stood for Sean T Hulley who owned Baltic Airlines (UK).
7 January 1989
Noted at Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands operating a service for British Air Ferries (BAF).
23 January 1989
Last Baltic Airlines service and then returned to British Aerospace.
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January 1989 to February 1989
British Aerospace PLC (BAe)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
23 January 1989
Returned from Baltic Airlines lease and stored at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.
1 February 1989
Sold to Landhurst Leasing PLC.
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February 1989 to February 1989
Landhurst Leasing PLC
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
1 February 1989
Purchased from British Aerospace PLC.
1 February 1989
Leased to British Air Ferries (BAF) and ferried to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.
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February 1989 to April 1990
British Air Ferries (BAF)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
1 February 1989
Leased from Landhurst Leasing PLC and ferried to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.
Two of the Rolls-Royce Dart RDa7 Mark 525F engines were then removed and fitted to Viscount G-OHOT (C/N 349).
10 November 1989
Entered the BAF maintenance hangar at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England for a major overhaul and repaint.
11 April 1990
Sub-leased to Manx Airlines.
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April 1990 to May 1990
Manx Airlines (Skianyn Vannin)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
11 April 1990
Sub-leased from British Air Ferries (BAF) and delivered to Speke Airport, Liverpool, England in a basic white livery with light grey underside, red horizontal stripe on the fin and ‘Manx’ titles and logo.
20 May 1990
Returned to BAF – British Air Ferries.
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May 1990 to April 1993
British Air Ferries (BAF)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
20 May 1990
Returned from Manx Airlines sub-lease.
23 May 1990
Returned to British Air Ferries (BAF) service.
12 December 1990
Registration with the CAA formerly changed from STH Sales Ltd to British World Airlines (BWA).
23 May 1992
Stored at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England after positioning flight BAF9508 from Abbotsinch Airport, Glasgow, Scotland.
May 1992 to April 1993
Returned to service (actual date unknown).
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net
1 April 1993
Transferred to British World Airlines (BWA) due to a corporate name change.
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April 1993 to April 1997
British World Airlines (BWA)
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
1 April 1993
Transferred from British Air Ferries (BAF) due to a corporate name change.
10 May 1993
Rolled out at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in the new BWA livery and in cargo configuration. This was the first Viscount to appear in the new livery. Date of commencement of painting and cargo configuration change unknown.
 Viscount illustrations by David Carter
11 May 1993
Entered service with first flight from Stansted Airport, Essex, England to Abbotsinch Airport, Glasgow, Scotland on a newspaper contract.
February 1996
Noted named as 'Capt. Beau Winter-Myers'.
22 March 1996
At 21.30 hrs while taxing for a freight flight from Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland to Baginton Airport, Coventry, England the right hand main undercarriage ran off the taxiway onto the grass before sinking into the mud causing the right-hand propellers to strike the ground. One main undercarriage oleo was bent and the propellers were damaged by contact with the ground resulting in shockload damage to the Dart engines which were subsequently removed for repair. None of the 3 crew were injured.
The crew were to depart from Edinburgh at the beginning of their duty day having had a minimum of twelve hours rest since their previous duty. The aircraft was taxied forward from stand 31 on the Eastern Apron and turned left through 90 degrees onto the main taxiway before commencing a right turn through approximately 120 degrees onto the link taxiway that connects the eastern apron with the threshold of Runway 13.
The pilot stated that despite allowing what he considered to be adequate provision for the turn, the right hand main undercarriage ran off the taxiway onto the grass.
The weather conditions at the time of the accident consisted of a surface wind of 060/5 kts, overcast cloud at 800 feet, visibility 2,500 metres with light rain and a temperature of +2 C. The taxiway was wet.
The link taxiway has a tarmac surface and is marked by blue edge lights and a yellow centre line with green reflective studs at 10 metre intervals. The crew commented that in the poor visibility at the time, the centre line was difficult to see causing them to undershoot the turn and run the right hand undercarriage onto the grass.
Repaired and returned to service.
2 June 1996
Appeared at the Heathrow Airport, London, England, 50th Anniversary flypast.
24 December 1996
Last service from Baginton Airport, Coventry, England to Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland for Parcelforce as BWL4201. Aircraft then ferried to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England and stored.
22 April 1997
Sold to Heli-Jet Aviation Ltd.
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April 1997 to April 1998
Heli-Jet Aviation Ltd
G-BFZL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered
22 April 1997
Purchased from British World Airlines (BWA).
27 April 1997
Departed on delivery in passenger configuration and painted in basic BWA livery with titles removed to Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa via Bari Airport, Italy, Cairo Airport, Egypt, Addis Ababa Airport, Ethiopia, Nairobi Airport, Kenya and Harare Airport, Zimbabwe.
30 April 1997
Arrived at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.
5 March 1998
UK registration cancelled as aircraft sold abroad.
5 April 1998
Sold to Planes R Us (Pty) Ltd.
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April 1998 to November 2002
Planes R Us (Pty) Ltd
ZS-NNI - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
South Africa registered
5 April 1998
Purchased from Heli-Jet Aviation Ltd.
6 April 1998
Registered to Planes R Us (Pty) Ltd as ZS-NNI, but there is no evidence that the aircraft ever carried this registration.
April 1998 to April 1999
Stored at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, , South Africa with no apparent activity, still carrying the cancelled UK registration G-BFZL.
22 April 1999
Damaged during storm when a hangar door fell onto the tail.
2 December 1999
Noted in a hangar at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa, probably after repair, painted in a basic medium blue and white livery without a registration.
7 October 2001
Noted stored outside at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, , South Africa still in the basic medium blue and white livery without a registration. Was it ever applied?
November 2002
Sold to Trans IntAir. The actual date is not known.
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November 2002 to February 2003
Trans IntAir
ZS-NNI - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
South Africa registered
November 2002
Purchased from Planes R Us (Pty) Ltd. (exact date unknown). Further details please to information@vickersviscount.net
November 2002
Painted at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa with Trans IntAir livery and possibly with registration 9Q-CHL applied (not verified).
13 November 2002
Arrived at Ndjili International Airport, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
10 February 2003
Re-registered as 9Q-CGL with the South African registration cancelled.
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February 2003 to April 2003
Trans IntAir
9Q-CGL - c/n 435 - a V.816 series Viscount
Zaire registered
10 February 2003
Re-registered from ZS-NNI.
27 April 2003
Damaged beyond economic repair at Bondo airstrip in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after an aborted three engine takeoff from a laterite airstrip.
One engine / propeller was damaged after landing on the 900 metre laterite airstrip.
The crew then attempted a three engine ferry flight, but another engine failed during the takeoff run causing the crew to abort. It was then abandoned.
Further details please to information@vickersviscount.net
Noted in poor external
condition in May 2010
24 May 2010
Noted in poor external condition pushed off to the side of the airstrip with the propellers and engines removed.
24 July 2023
Still visible on Google Earth using co-ordinates 3°48'48.75"N / 23°40'24.95"E.
It is gradually disappearing into the undergrowth.
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