Travel back in time with the Viscount
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England
G-AHRF - British European Airways Corporation (BEA) - July 1950 to August 1950
Loaned from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd to carry out trial commercial operations. Taken at Northolt Airport, Ruislip, Middlesex, England 29 July 1950 prior to the departure of the world's first turbine powered scheduled commercial service, flight number BE392X2 to Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France.
The front row (l to r) has Norman Hill (Redifon Ltd), Captain A G Lamplugh (British Aviation Insurance) George H Edwards (Vickers Chief Designer), Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle (Jet Engine Designer), Sir Arnold Overton (Ministry of Civil Aviation) and Anthony Milward (BEA General Manager for Continental Services).
The man in the hat is Air Chief Marshal Sir Alec Coryton (Ministry of Supply) with Peter G Masefield (Managing Director of BEA) standing on the steps with Capt W G James (BEA) to his left.
Does anyone recognise the person between George Edwards and Frank Whittle?
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net
Keystone Press Agency Ltd Photo Ref BM/564592
Photo source - Brian R Burrage collection (gallery 1)
Aircraft Summary
Ministry of Supply
This aircraft c/n 1, a V.630, was built for Ministry of Supply as G-AHRF and first flew on Friday, 16 July 1948 at Wisley, Surrey, England.
During its life it was also owned and/or operated by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd. and British European Airways (BEA)
Its final owner/operator was Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd as G-AHRF.Its fate:-
Damaged beyond economic repair landing at Khartoum Airport, Sudan 27 August 1952.
This information came from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) World Airline Accident Summary. 'The gutted remains were reportedly buried in the sand.' Are they still there? This seems very unlikely as the airport has been extensively developed over the subsequent years. In March 1961 a Viscount fuselage was noted at the BEA Viking Training Centre, Green Man Lane, Hatton Cross, Feltham, Middlesex along with an Ambassador fuselage. They were both reported to be the prototypes and in use as cabin-crew trainers. Does anyone have any more information to confirm whether this really is the prototype, returned from Sudan after its accident.