Travel back in time with the Viscount
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England
G-ALWF - British European Airways Corporation (BEA) - February 1953 to December 1963
Delivered new to British European Airways (BEA) named 'R M A Sir John Franklin'. Taken during a flight from Kloten Airport, Zurich, Switzerland to Heathrow Airport, London, England 10 September 1955 flying over the Swiss Alps.
Photo source - Gordon Nice via Graham Nice
Aircraft Summary
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)
This aircraft c/n 5, a V.701, was built for British European Airways Corporation (BEA) as G-ALWF and first flew on Wednesday, 3 December 1952 at Weybridge, Surrey, England.
During its life it was also owned and/or operated by Channel Airways, British Eagle International Airlines Ltd, Cambrian Airways and the Viscount Preservation Trust
Its final owner/operator was Duxford Aviation Society (DAS) as G-ALWF.Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Cambrian Airways and stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales 24 December 1971.
Saved by the Viscount Preservation Trust and now preserved by the Duxford Aviation Society (DAS) within the Imperial War Museum facility at Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire, England in early British European Airways (BEA) livery.
The aircraft was initially loaned for a period of 99 years but on 26 November 2011 the title of the aircraft was officially handed over to the Duxford Aviation Society (DAS) by Paul St John Turner and Romer Adams who had founded the Viscount Preservation Trust when they first purchased 'WF' in April 1972. The aircraft entered the main hangar for a fresh repaint in BEA red stripe livery 9 Januard 2019. Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the museum closed to the general public until further notice in March 2020. The museum re-opened 19 May 2021 but entries must be pre-booked. The museum is now operating normally.