Travel back in time with the Viscount
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Oman
502 - Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO) - June 1971 to June 1978
Purchased from Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales. Taken stored at Ringway Airport, Manchester, England 18 February 1978 with AFSO Viscount serial 501 (C/N 435) in the background.
Note the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks fitted to both aircraft.
Photo source - David A Ingham
Aircraft Summary
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)
This aircraft c/n 436, a V.816, was built for Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) as VH-TVS and first flew on Tuesday, 1 September 1959 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
During its life it was also owned and/or operated by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd, Iranian Government, Iran National Airlines Corporation, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Alda Corporation, Jetair Australia / Jet Airlines Australia, Brins Finance Corporation, Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales, Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman (AFSO), Royal Swazi National Airways, Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC), Dan-Air London and Air Zimbabwe
Its final owner/operator was Flying Pot Restaurant as Z-WGB.Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Air Zimbabwe and stored at Harare Airport, Zimbabwe in December 1990. Noted in derelict condition in June 1996.
Dismantled and moved to Chegutu, Zimbabwe circa March 1997, 70km southwest of Harare next to the main road to Kadoma and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe for use as a Bar/Restaurant together with Viscount Z-WGC (C/N 446). The port wing was not refitted. Painted in a red and white livery circa 1999. Still visible on Google Earth 18 July 2021 despite the rumours over the years that it was soon to be scrapped.