Travel back in time with the Viscount
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England
G-AVJL - Alidair - June 1972 to April 1975
Purchased from Channel Airways. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in June 1972 awaiting an overhaul and repaint.
Note the small cabin window at the rear.
The other Viscount is from Nora Air Services (NAS) in West Germany and was sold to British Midland Airways (BMA).
Photo source - Tony Ward collection
Aircraft Summary
Continental Airlines
This aircraft c/n 389, a V.812, was built for Continental Airlines as N247V and first flew on Wednesday, 23 July 1958 at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
During its life it was also owned and/or operated by Channel Airways, Alidair and Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)
Its final owner/operator was Mandala Airlines as PK-RVW.Its fate:-
During an approach to Achmad Yani International Airport, Semarang, Java, Indonesia 7 October 1983 the aircraft touched down just short of the runway. Although the aircraft continued on to the runway the nose undercarriage leg and steering system were damaged by the concrete edge of the runway which prevented the crew from taxiing off to the ramp area.
After the aircraft was towed to the ramp subsequent inspections discovered extensive damage to the fuselage where the nose leg was mounted which had been pushed rearwards.
The pilot could not explain why the aircraft suddenly started to sink as he approached the runway threshold as the weather was calm and the visibility was good.
After temporary repairs were carried out the aircraft was ferried to Kemayoran Airport, Jarkarta, Indonesia where it was declared as beyond economic repair and withdrawn from service. Broken up for scrap after spares recovery circa September 1985.