Invicta International Airlines
Encyclopedia
Invicta International Airlines was a Charter Airline
based at Manston Airport in the United Kingdom
. It operated non-scheduled passenger and freight services between 1965
and 1982
.
following a takeover by Air Holdings of Air Ferry
. A provisional base was established at Ramsgate Airport
.
Two Vickers Viking
aircraft were purchased from Autair International Airways on 12 February 1965, G-AHPL and G-AHOY. Two Douglas DC-4
aircraft were purchased from British Eagle International Airlines
, G-ASPM on 18 February and G-ASPN on 20 February. Crew training took place from 3 March and the first revenue earning flight took place on 20 March when one of the Vikings flew a charter flight to Basle, Switzerland
. On 30 March, one of the DC-4s operated the first revenue earning freight, carrying 8 tons (8,100 kg) of lamb carcasses to Metz Airport
for the Royal Canadian Air Force
.
Air Ferry ceased using the Viking in January 1966, and the purchase of three of these was negotiated. G-AIVD, G-AIVF and G-AOCH were acquired. G-AIVD never flew for Invicta, having been purchased as a spares source. In April, DC-4s G-APID, G-ASEN and G-ASZT were leased, all three joining the fleet by 7 April. Following the accident to G-APID on 20 June, DC-4 G-ARWK was dry-leased from Lloyd International Airways
between 29 June and 31 August.
In 1967, DC-4 G-APID was sold, leaving Invicta on 28 February and joining Spantax
. It suffered a collapsed nosewheel in March 1967 and was subsequently withdrawn from use. By December 1976, G-APID was in use as the "Aerolandia" snack bar at Seville
, Spain
. Viking G-AHOW was withdrawn from use after Easter, being scrapped later in the year. It was still in existence in September, parked in a corner of the car park at Manston where people were able to view the interior on payment of a small fee. DC-4 G-ASZT was returned to Autair on 29 September.
On 1 February 1968, Vickers Viscount
G-AOCC was delivered to Manston, followed by G-AOCB on 26 March. Viking G-AIVF was officially withdrawn from use on 3 February, and scrapped in September. Viking G-AOCH was also officially withdrawn from use on this date. The aircraft was scrapped by the end of the year.
It was announced on 3 January 1969 that Invicta was to merge with British Midland
, effective 18 March. British Midland was to operate passenger flights using a fleet of 12 Viscounts. Invicta was to operate a cargo service under the name "British Midland - Invicta Cargo" using a fleet of three DC-4s. By April, Kennard had decided that the merger was not working, and in June he formed Invicta Airways (1969) Ltd. The aircraft were the three DC-4s, G-ASPM, G-ASPN and G-ASEN. The Viscounts having gone to British Midland as part of the merger.
A former employee of Invicta, Cornelius Donovan, sued them for £1,500 damages claiming that Invicta had wanted him to fly aircraft in "illegal and dangerous" circumstances. Donovan had been employed in 1965 and the aircraft in question were Vikings G-AHPL and G-AHOY. Invicta counter-sued for £2,151 in lost flights and charters, denying Donovan's allegations. The case was found in favour of Invicta.
were on strike, leading to increased air freight business. On 10 October, Vickers Vanguard
G-AXNT was leased from Air Holdings.
DC-4 G-ASEN was sold to Wenela on 3 February 1971, arriving at Johannesburg on 4 February. On 1 March, Vanguard G-AXOO was acquired, followed by G-AXOP on 8 May. This aircraft was leased from Air Holdings.
Vanguard G-AZRE was leased from Air Holdings on 27 March 1972. DC-4 G-ASPN was sold to Africair on 18 April, and delivered to Johannesburg. On 2 May, Vanguard G-AXOY was leased from Air Holdings. On 5 September, DC-4 G-ASPM was sold to Africair. She was the last DC-4 on the United Kingdom civil register at the time.
Early in 1973, Invicta's financial situation was critical. Suppliers refused them credit for goods and services. On 15 January, Air Holdings repossessed their five Vanguards, which were all flown to Lydd Airport for storage. In February 1973, European Ferries Group acquired a 76% shareholding in Invicta and reached an agreement with Air Holdings to purchase the Vanguards on a deferred term basis. The aircraft were returned to Manston, but the Certificate of Airworthiness for Vanguard G-AXOO expired on 28 February and was not renewed. She was used as a spares souce until she was scrapped later in the year. On 10 April, Vanguard G-AXOP was lost
at Solothurn
, Switzerland
. Vanguard G-AYFN was leased as a replacement for G-AXOO on 16 April, and purchased on 16 October. Vanguards CF-TKA, CF-TKM and CF-TKS were purchased in Canada
and broken up there to provide a spares source, the part being shipped to the United Kingdom. On 3 November, Boeing 720B
G-BCBA was delivered to Manston. Middle East Airlines
not having taken up an option on the aircraft, which was leased by European Ferries.
On 10 May 1974, Boeing 720 G-BCBA was purchased by European Ferries. During the year, the aircraft was sent to the United States
for extra seats and windows to be fitted. The process took two months. On 5 June Vanguard G-BAFK was leased from Air Holdings.On 13 December, Bristol Britannia
G-AOVT was leased from Monarch Airlines
.
Britannia G-AOVT came off lease on 10 March 1975, and was retired by Monarch. It was preserved at the Imperial War Museum
, Duxford
. In May, European Ferries announced that they had decided to withdraw from the aviation business by the end of October. Vanguard G-AYRN was sold to Europe Air Service and delivered to Perpignan on 29 August. This was followed by the sale of Vanguards G-AXNT, G-AXOY and G-AZRE. G-AXOY made the last passenger flight of a Vanguard in the United Kingdom on 26 October 1975, a one hour pleasure flight from Luton. The goodwill and assets of Invicta were purchased in December 1975 by Universal Air Transport Sales Ltd, whose chairman was Hugh Kennard. An agreement was made with IAS Cargo Airlines
for Invicta to lease two Britannias.
On 1 January 1976, Britannia G-AOVS was leased from IAS, followed by G-AOVF on 22 January. The lease was on an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) basis, with the aircraft operating under IAS callsigns and flight numbers. On 13 June, G-AOVS came off lease and was returned to IAS. On 14 June 1976, Britannia 5Y-AZP was wet-leased from Monarch.
On 7 January 1977, Vanguard 5Y-AZP was purchased by Invicta, and re-registered G-AOVF three days later. Vanguard G-AOVF was returned to IAS at the end of September. Britannia G-ANCF operated all Invicta's flights until November 1978. On 2 November, G-AOVF was purchased by Invicta form IAS.
In January 1979, both Britannias were repainted. During the summer, the Broadstairs
Water Gala was held, which included an airshow. Invicta was invited to take part, with the result that G-AOVF made a low flypast on three engines and the port side covered in oil. Photographs show that the starboard side was presented to the crowd.
n businessman Horatio De Gama Rose. Kennard left the company and established a business at Canterbury
renovating classic cars. Britannia G-ANCF was withdrawn from use on 30 October 1980, leaving just G-AOVF flying. In December, it was agreed that G-AOVF would be leased out to IAC Cargo Airlines of Zaire
. The aircraft was repainted between 30 December 1980 and 2 January 1981, reregistered 9Q-CAZ.
Britannia G-AOVF returned off lease on 16 June 1981. De Gama Rose was in talks with Redcoat Air Cargo
about selling Invicta to them. This came to nothing as Redcoat collapsed in December 1981. On 8 April 1982, De Gama Rose declared that Invicta was insolvent, and the receivers were called in. The remaining Britannia, G-AOVF, was undergoing a maintenance check when Invicta collapsed. It was intended to complete the check and return her to flying condition, but she was eventually stripped of parts. On 28 August, the aircraft became the property of the Official Receiver. The assets of Invicta were sold to Seabourne Aviation. G-AOVF was later made fit for a ferry flight to Southend
, where she was noted in February 1983. In 1984, she was flown to Cosford where she is preserved at the Aerospace Museum. G-ANCF was dismantled in 1984. She was subsequently stored at Kemble and in 2007 agreement was made to restore her at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
.
Vickers 498 Viking 1A. c/n 124.
First flight 4 October 1946. To British European Airways
on 11 October 1946 as G-AHOW, named Vanessa. To Ministry of Civil Aviation
on 2 February 1948. Later sold to James Stewart Travel and then passed to G S Sale. Sold on 4 August 1950 to Trans World Charter. Sold on 3 December 1951 to Crewsair, named African Trader. Sold in December 1952 to Eagle Aviation. On 11 January 1953 she was leased to Airwork
. Re-registered with military serial XD636 on 10 March, used for trooping duties. Sold on 5 November 1954 to Trek Airways
, South Africa
. Re-registered ZS-DKI and named Louis Trichardt. On 2 April 1955, the aircraft lost some fabric from a wing. An emergency landing was made at an airstrip near Messina
. Sold on 31 July 1958 to African Air Safaris, re-registered G-AHOW and named Skukuza
. On 26 November 1959, the airline changed its named to Air Safaris Ltd
. Leased on 4 May 1962 to Eros Airline (UK) Ltd. Sold on 6 April 1964 to Air Ferry Ltd
. Sold on 28 October 1966 to Invicta. Withdrawn from service in September 1967 at Manston. Officially withdrawn from use on 3 February 1969. Scrapped later that year.
G-AHOY
Vickers 614 Viking Mark 1, c/n 128.
First flight on 26 October 1946, then to Ministry of Supply
. To British European Airways on 5 November 1946 as G-AHOY, named Vanity. To Ministry of Civil Aviation on 21 July 1947 and stored. Sold on 17 January 1949 to Hunting Air Travel. Sold on 26 February 1958 to Pegasus Airlines, which ceased trading on 25 October 1961. Leased on 10 May 1963 to Autair. On 6 April 1964 she suffered substantial damage in a ground loop at Stansted
. Sold on 12 February 1965 to Invicta. Certificate of Airworthiness expired on 15 March 1968. Officially withdrawn from use on 3 February 1969.
G-AHPL
Vickers 610 Viking Mark 1B, c/n 149.
First flight on 9 April 1947. To British European Airways on 14 April 1947 as G-AHPL, named Verdant. extensively damaged on 28 August 1949 in a wheels-up landing at Le Bourget
. Renamed Lord Anson in 1951. Sold on 10 April 1953 to Eagle Aviation, then on 28 April to Central African Airways Corporation
. Re-registered VP-YKK and named Lundi. Sold on 22 December 1958 to Pegasus Airlines, which ceased trading on 25 October 1961. Leased on 14 March 1963 to Autair. Sold on 12 February 1965 to Invicta. Withdrawn from service in May 1967. Certificate of Airworthiness expired on 15 March 1968.
G-AIVF
Vickers 610 Viking Mark 1b. c/n 219.
First flight on 16 May 1947. To British European Airways on 30 May as G-AIVF, named Vibrant. Renamed Sir James Somerville
on 3 February 1953. Sold on 28 March 1956 to Deutsche Flugdienst and re-registered D-AGIL. Re-registered D-BARI on 2 April 1958. Sold on 15 April 1958 to Balair
and re-registered HB-AAN. During 1958 she was leased to the United Nations
. On 3 September 1960, the starboard undercarriage failed to retract on take-off from Southend
. The aircraft was substantially damaged in the subsequent emergency landing at Basle. Sold on 12 April 1963 to Air Ferry and re-registered G-AIVF. Sold on 23 March 1966 to Invicta. Withdrawn from service in May 1968. Officially withdrawn from use on 3 February 1969 and scrapped in September that year.
G-AOCH
Vickers 610 Viking Mark 1B, c/n 150.
First flight on 19 August 1947. To Ministry of Supply on 5 September 1947 as VL231 in Royal Air Force
markings. To Royal Australian Air Force
on 3 December 1947 as A 82-1. Used as a transport aircraft at the Long Range Weapons Establishment, Woomera
. Damaged on 17 December 1947 when she tipped on her nose. To 34 Squadron, RAAF
in May 1948. Returned to the RAF on 29 October 1951, allocated to the Empire Test Pilots' School
on 28 December. Damaged on 15 August 1952 when she tipped on her nose after landing at RAF Chilbolton
. Sold on 13 May 1955 to Field Aircraft Services and re-registered G-AOCH. Sold on 6 June 1956 to Dragon Airways. Sold on 13 February 1957 to LTU
and re-registered D-AMOR. Re-registered D-BABY on 15 March 1958. Substantially damaged on 19 October 1961 when the port undercarriage collapsed on landing at Rhein-Main Air Base
, Frankfurt
. Sold on 14 August 1963 to Air Ferry and re-registered G-AOCH. Sold on 23 March 1966 to Invicta. Certificate of Airwothiness expired on 7 July 1968. Officially withdrawn from use on 3 February 1969 and scrapped later that year.
Douglas C-54A-15-DC
, c/n 10408.
Delivered on 20 September 1944 to the United States Army Air Force as 42-72303. Sold in 1947 to California Eastern Airways and re-registered NC54305. Leased in 1952 to Avensa
, re-registered YV-V-EVB. Re-registered NC54305 on return to California Eastern Airways. Leased to Transocean Airlines
from 3 July to 2 September 1957. Sold on 24 November 1957 to Independent Air Travel and re-registered G-APID. On 21 December 1957, the aircraft infringed Albania
n airspace and was forced to land at Valona Air Base by the Albanian Air Force
. Independent Air Travel became Blue Air in April 1959 but was declared bankrupt in October. Sold in November 1959 to Continental Air Services, which became Continental Air Transport in December. Noted in Air Condor colours in November 1960 but not delivered as the airline went bankrupt. Sold to Trans World Leasing. Leased to World Wide, British United Airways
, Starways
and then Lloyd International Airways
, returning to Trans World in March 1962. On 18 October 1962 the aircraft made a wheels-up landing at Speke Airport. Leased to Trans Meridian
between July 1963 and January 1965. Leased to Dan-Air
between 10 March 1965 and 15 February 1966. Sold on 25 April 1966 to Dunkersloom Ltd. To Invicta on 6 April 1966. Sold to Spantax
on 14 August 1967. Withdrawn from use by April 1968. By December 1976 it was in use as the "Aerolandia Snack Bar" at Sevilla. In late 1978 the aircraft was damaged in a gale, and was later broken up.
G-ARWK
Douglas C-54G-1-DO, c/n 35936
Delivered on 12 June 1945 to the United States Army Air Force as 45-483. Sold in 1954 to United States Steel Corporation
and re-registered N904. Leased in December 1956 by Trans American Airways for use during an airlift due to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Sold on 16 June 1958 to Charlotte Aircraft Leasing and leased the same day to Seaboard & Western
. Returned to Charlotte on 15 September 1958 then leased to Resort Airlines. Leased on 15 October 1958 to Riddle Airlines
. Sold in January 1962 to Alaska Airlines
. Sold on 3 May 1962 to Lloyd International and re-registered G-ARWK. Sold on 31 December 1965 to IPEC Aviation but not imported to Australia
. Leased on 29 June 1966 to Invicta. Off lease on 31 August 1966, to Autair. Sold on 13 November 1967 to All-Air and re-registered D-ADAD. All-air merged on 31 March 1969 with Transportflug, aircraft subsequently named Inn. Sold in August 1969 to Aeroflete, re-registered EC-BSK. Withdrawn from use in 197e. Sold in 1975 to AMAZ, re-registered 9Q-COC. Withdrawn from use in April 1981 at N'Dolo Airport
, Kinshasa
, Zaire
and later scrapped.
G-ASEN
Douglas C-54A-15-DC, c/n 10412
Delivered on 24 September 1944 to the United States Army Air Force as 42-72307. Returned to Douglas Aircraft Company
on 13 June 1946 for conversion to DC-4 standards. To Pan American World Airways
on 8 February 1947, re-registered NC88936 and named Clipper Meteor. Sold in 1950 to Canadian Pacific Air Lines, re-registered CF-CPD. Later sold to Cathay Pacific
and re-registered VR-HFF. Sold on 22 January 1963 to Starways. Sold in January 1964 to Aviation Overhauls. Leased in May 1964 to Icelandair
and re-registered TF-FIM, re-registered G-ASEN when returned to Aviation Overhauls. Leased on 5 November 1964 to ACE Freighters
and operated on behalf of Ford Motor Company
. Sold on 7 April 1966 to Invicta. Sold on 4 February 1971 to Wenela and re-registered ZS-IJT. Scrapped in 1972 at Bulawayo Airport, Rhodesia
.
G-ASPM
Douglas C-54B-1-DC, c/n 10543
Delivered on 27 January 1945 to United States Army Air Force as 42-72438. Sold in March 1946 to Transocean Airlines, re-registered NC66644. Re-registered N66644 in 1949. Sold in June 1952 to Saudi Arabian Airlines and re-registered HZ-AAI. Sold on 16 February 1964 to British Eagle International Airlines and re-registered G-ASPM. Sold on 18 February 1965 to Invicta. Sold on 5 September 1972 to Africair, re-registered ZS-IRK. Sold later that year to Wenela and withdrawn from use until 1974. Re-registered A2-AAD in 1975. Sold in 1976 to Société Générale d'Alimentation, re-registered 9Q-CWQ. Reported stored at Kinshasa
, Democratic Republic of the Congo
in 2004.
G-ASPN
Douglas C-54A-10-DC, c/n 10337.
Originally destined to be 42-72232 for the United States Army Air Force but not taken up. Transferred on 1 July 1944 to the United States Navy
as R5D-1 Bu39175. Sold in 1948 to Transocean Airlines, re-registered NC49288. Leased in September 1948 to Pakair, re-registered AP-ADL. Returned to Transocean late in 1949 and re-registered NC49288, named Taloa Tokyo. Sold in June 1952 to Saudi Arabian Airlines
and re-registered HZ-AAG. Sold on 6 February 1964 to British Eagle International Airlines and re-registered G-ASPN. Sold on 20 February 1965 to Invicta. Damaged in a gale at Manston on 26 January 1971. Sold on 18 April 1972 to Africair Ltd and re-registered ZS-IRE. Sold in June 1972 to Wenela and re-registered A2-ZGU. Impounded at Blantyre, Malawi
. To Société Générale d'Alimentation as 9Q-CBP, later re-registered 9Q-CWP. In 1991, the aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure at N'djili Airport, Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo and was withdrawn from use by July of that year.
G-ASZT
Douglas C-54D-1-DC, c/n 10640
Originally intended for delivery to the United States Army Air Force as 42-72535 but transferred to the United States Navy on 26 March 1945 as Bu91997, designated R5D-3. Sold in 1958 to Americada Corporation, re-registered N40434A. Sold later that year to Golden State Airlines. Leased on 1 July 1959 to Slick Airways
, returned to Golden State in June 1960. Sold on 9 April 1962 to Seefahrt-u-Transportinteressen GmbH and re-registered D-AMAX. Sold on 22 April 1963 to Flugzeug Handels. Sold in June 1963 to Malta Metropolitan and re-registered VP-MAA. Sold in January 1965 to Autair and re-registered G-ASZT. Sold in August 1965 to Rhodesian Air Services
and re-registered VP-YYR. To Air Trans Africa
in January 1966 and re-registered 9J-RBL. Sold to Autair on 9 March 1966, then leased to Invicta on 1 April 1966. Returned to Autair on 29 September 1967. Sold on 15 May 1968 to Aero Service Africa and re-registered TN-ABC. Sold on 23 October 1968 to Lina Congo. Sold in September 1974 to SOACO and re-registered TR-LTJ. Sold in 1980 to INCO International and then sold to Air Affaires Gabon
in July that year.
Vickers 755D Viscount, c/n 92.
First flight on 24 May 1956. Intended for delivery to Airwork as G-AOCB but this was not taken up by them. Sold on 5 June 1956 to Cubana de Aviación
, re-registered CU-T604. Sold in April 1961 to Eagle Airways (Bermuda) Ltd, re-registered VR-BBL. Sold on 19 September 1962 to Cunard Eagle Airways, re-registered G-AOCB and named City of Edinburgh
. Cunard Eagle was renamed British Eagle in September 1963. Aircraft later named City of Belfast
. Sold on 26 March 1968 to Invicta. To British Midland Airways on 13 January 1969 due to merger. Withdrawn from use in October 1969 at East Midlands Airport, scrapped in May 1970.
G-AOCC
Vickers 755D Viscount, c/n 93.
First flight on 16 June 1956. Intended for delivery to Airwork as G-AOICC but this was not taken up by them. Sold on 20 June 1956 to Cubana de Aviación, re-registered CU-T605. Sold in April 1961 to Eagle Airways (Bermuda) Ltd, re-registered VR-BBM. Sold on 3 September 1962 to Cunard Eagle Airways, re-registered G-AOCC and named City of Belfast. Cunard Eagle was renamed British Eagle in September 1963. Aircraft later named City of Edinburgh. Sold on 1 February 1968 to Invicta, named Sylt
. To British Midland Airways on 13 January 1969 due to merger. Withdrawn from use in April 1969 at East Midlands Airport, scrapped in August 1969.
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 737.
First flight on 19 April 1961. Delivered on 2 May 1961 to Trans-Canada Air Lines
as CF-TKN. Airline changed name to Air Canada
on 1 June 1964. Sold on 28 August 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AXNT. Overhauled by British European Airways
in November/December 1969. Leased to Lebanese Air Transport
on 5 May 1970, off lease on 8 September. Leased to Invicta on 10 October 1970. Purchased by Invicta on 1 March 1971. Sold on 28 October 1975 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXOO. Used as a spares source at Perpignan
G-AXOO
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 733.
First flight on 19 April 1961. Delivered on 5 May 1961 to Trans-Canada Air Lines as CF-TKJ. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 1 June 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AXOO. Delivered to Stansted Airport on 17 December, then to Cambridge Airport
the next day for storage. Leased in February 1970 to Angkasa Civil Air Transport, re-registered PK-ICC. Off lease in May 1970. Sold to Invicta on 1 March 1971. Certificate of Airworthiness expired on 28 February 1973. Scrapped at Manston in 1977.
G-AXOP
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 745.
First flight on 1 May 1962. Delivered on 7 July 1962 to Trans-Canada Air Lines as CF-TKV. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 5 May 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AXOP and stored at Stansted Airport. Leased on 8 May 1971 to Invicta. Off lease on 1 March 1973 and purchased by Invicta on 5 March. Crashed on 10 April 1973
at Hochwald
, Switzerland
with the loss of 108 lives.
G-AXOY
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 727.
First flight on 24 October 1960. Delivered on 7 December 1960 to Trans-Canada Air Lines as CF-TKD. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 12 August 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AXOY and stored at Stansted Airport. Leased on 2 June 1970 to Air Viking, re-registered TF-AVA. Off lease on 2 December. Leased on 13 February 1971 to Thor Air Cargo, re-registered TF-JEJ. Off lease on 13 June. Leased on 2 May 1972 to Invicta, re-registered G-AXOY. Intended lease to Silver City Airways from 31 March 1973 was not proceeded with and Invicta bought the aircraft on 1 March. Sold on 5 November 1976 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXOH. Used as a spares source at Perpignan.
G-AYFN
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 725.
First flight on 25 July 1960. Delivered on 7 December 1960 to Trans-Canada Air Lines as CF-TKB. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 12 August 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AYFN and stored at Cambridge Airport. Leased on 29 March 1971 to Thor Air Cargo, re-registered TF-JES. Off lease on 16 June 1971 then returned to store. Re-registered under Class B markings G-41-172 on 16 May 1972 for test flights at Stansted Airport. Leased on 21 July 1972 to Airtrader, re-registered SE-FTK. Off lease on 8 March 1973. Leased on 14 April 1973 to Invicta and purchased on 16 October 1973. Sold on 29 August 1975 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXAJ. Withdrawn from use on 17 July 1979 at Perpignan and later scrapped.
G-AZRE
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 729.
First flight on 19 November 1960. Delivered on 7 January 1961 to Trans Canada Air Lines as CF-TKF. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 18 March 1972 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AZRE. Leased to Invicta on 27 March 1972 and purchased by them on 1 March 1973. Sold on 11 September 1976 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXOF. Used as a spares source at Perpignan.
G-BAFK
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n739.
First flight on 30 May 1961. Delivered on 7 January 1961 to Trans Canada Air Lines as CF-TKP. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 9 December 1969 to Lockheed
and stored at Cambridge Airport. Sold on 30 August 1972 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-BAFK. Leased to Templewood Aviation and sub-leased on 23 November 1972 to Merpati Nusantara Airlines
, re-registered PK-MVR. Off lease on 28 February 1973. Sold on 5 June 1974 to Invicta, re-registered G-BAFK. Sold on 21 October 1975 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXOG. Withdrawn from use on 21 December 1975 at Perpignan.
Boeing 720-023, c/n 18014
First flight on 24 June 1960. Delivered on 24 July 1960 to American Airlines
as N7528A Flagship Connecticut. Returned to Boeing
on 31 July 1961 for conversion to Boeing 720-023B. On 1 July 1964 she was substantially damaged when the undercarriage collapsed on landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport
, New York
. Withdrawn from service in August 1971. Stored at Tulsa
and then to Beirut
as it was proposed to sell her to Middle Eastern Airlines but they did not take up their option. Leased on 3 November 1971 to European Ferries, re-registered G-BCBA. Operated by Invicta. Purchased on 10 May 1974 by European Ferries. Leased in October 1975 to Tempair and stored at Luton. Sub-leased on 6 February 1976 to Air Niugini
, re-registered P2-ANG. Off lease on 2 February 1977 and stored at Luton. Leased on 26 March 1977 to Monarch Airlines
and sold to them on 1 September. Leased from 31 January 1978 until May to Cyprus Airways
. Leased from 21 September 1979 until January 1980 to Royal Air Maroc
. Leased on 20 June 1980 to Air Malta
. Sold on 23 October 1981 to Maof Airlines, re-registered 4X-BMA. Operated by Maof for El Al
between September 1982 and October 1984, then stored at Tel Aviv. Maof ceased operations on 2 November 1984. Sold in November 1985 to Israel Aerospace Industries. Sold on 26 January 1986 to Omega Air and then sold two days later to Boeing MAC for use as a spares source for United States Air Force
KC-135Es
, re-registered N341A. Scrapped at Tucson, Arizona in June 1991.
Bristol 305 Britannia, c/n 12922.
First flight on 19 November 1958. Originally destined for British Overseas Airways Corporation
but not taken up. Capital Airlines
also did not take up an option to purchase and she was sold to Northeast Airlines
as N6597C, but this too was not taken up. To Bristol
as G-ANCF. Later flown under Class B markings G-18-4 and G-14-1. Converted in October 1958 to type 308. Sold on 24 August 1959 to Transcontinental SA, registered LV-PPJ, delivered on 16 December. Re-registered LV-GJB in 1960 and withdrawn from use in November 1961 at Buenos Aires. Sold in January 1962 to British Eagle International Airlines, re-registered G-ANCF. Named New Frontier and later renamed Resolution. Converted in July 1964 to type 308F freighter. Sold on 6 December 1968 to Monarch Airlines. Leased on 9 February 1976 to African Cargo Airways, re-registered 5Y-AZP. Sub-leased on 14 June 1976 to Invicta. Purchased by Invicta on 14 January 1977 and re-registered G-ANCF. Withdrawn from service on 30 October 1980. In 1984 she became part of the Bristol Aero Collection at Kemble. The collection was forced to sell her due to loss of accommodation at Kemble in December 2005. In January 2007, it was agreed to move her to Speke Airport and restore her there. She is now displayed in British Eagle colours.
G-AOVF
Bristol 312 Britannia, c/n 13237
First flight on 18 December 1957. Delivered on 2 January 1958 to British Overseas Airways Corporation as G-AOVF. Sold on 4 March 1964 to British Eagle International Airlines and named Friendship. Converted in 1968 to type 312F freighter. Reposessed on 27 November 1968 by BOAC. Sold on 22 January 1970 to Monarch Airlines. Leased on 21 April 1970 to Donaldson International Airways
, named Nike
. Purchased by Donaldson on 24 April 1972. Sold on 31 October 1972 to IAS Cargo Airlines
, named African Queen. Leased on 1 November 1972 to African Safari Airways
, returned to IAS on 19 December. Leased between April 1976 and September 1977 to Invicta the returned to IAS. Purchased on 2 November 1978 by Invicta. Leased on 3 August 1979 to Redcoat Air Cargo
. Leased on 6 January 1981 to IAC Cargo Airlines, re-registered 9Q-CAZ. Off lease on 4 June 1981, re-registered G-AOVF and withdrawn from service. Sold on 21 February 1983 to Merchant Air. Donated in May 1984 for preservation at Cosford.
G-AOVS
Bristol 312 Britannia, c/n 13430.
First flight on 5 September 1958. Delivered on 29 October 1958 to British Overseas Airways Corportation as G-AOVS. Leased on 4 July 1965 to Lloyd International Airways. Sub-leased on 17 August 1965 to British Eagle International Airlines. Purchased by them on 16 November. converted in June 1966 to type 312F freighter. Sold in January 1973 to IAS Cargo Airlines. Sold on 28 December 1973 to Aviex Holding Ltd, then sold on 14 October 1975 to Westwings Aviation Services Ltd and leased to IAS Cargo Airlines that same day. Sold on 21 March 1977 to Redcoat Air Cargo, named Christian in May 1977. Withdrawn from service in October 1979 at Luton and scrapped.
G-AOVT
Bristol 312 Britannia, c/n 13427
First flight on 17 December 1958. Delivered on 1 January 1959 to British Overseas Airways Corporation. Leased by British European Airways
in April and May 1961. Leased on 13 September 1963 to British Eagle International Airlines. Named Enterprise and later renamed Ajax
. Purchased by Monarch on 18 August 1968. Leased on 13 December 1974 to Invicta. Off lease on 10 March 1975, returned to Monarch and withdrawn from service. Arrived at Duxford
for preservation on 29 June 1975.
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
based at Manston Airport in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It operated non-scheduled passenger and freight services between 1965
1965 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1965:-January:* January 2 - Denis Healey, the United Kingdoms Secretary of Defence, cancels the nation's fighter and military transport programmes and orders the purchase of the US-built F-4 Phantom and C-130 Hercules in their place.* January 26 -...
and 1982
1982 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1982:-January:* January 8 - The Airbus A300 is certified, becoming the first wide-body airliner with cockpit accommodations for only two to be certified....
.
1960s
Invicta International Airlines was founded in November 1964 by Hugh KennardHugh Kennard
Wing Commander Hugh Charles Kennard, DFC was a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II and later an entrepreneur in civil aviation.-Personal life:...
following a takeover by Air Holdings of Air Ferry
Air ferry
An air ferry is a ferry service in which cars and passengers are transported by aircraft.-British services:The air ferry service was inaugurated by retired Royal Air Force officer Air Commodore Griffith J. Powell, who founded an airline company called Silver City in 1948. They used Bristol 170...
. A provisional base was established at Ramsgate Airport
Ramsgate Airport
Ramsgate Airport was a civil airfield at Ramsgate, Kent, United Kingdom which opened in July 1935. It was briefly taken over by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War, becoming RAF Ramsgate. The airfield was then closed and obstructed to prevent its use...
.
Two Vickers Viking
Vickers VC.1 Viking
The Vickers VC.1 Viking was a British twin-engine short-range airliner derived from the Vickers Wellington bomber and built by Vickers Armstrongs Limited at Brooklands near Weybridge in Surrey. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Viking was an important airliner with British airlines...
aircraft were purchased from Autair International Airways on 12 February 1965, G-AHPL and G-AHOY. Two Douglas DC-4
Douglas DC-4
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
aircraft were purchased from British Eagle International Airlines
British Eagle
British Eagle International Airlines was a major British independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline that operated from 1948 to 1968....
, G-ASPM on 18 February and G-ASPN on 20 February. Crew training took place from 3 March and the first revenue earning flight took place on 20 March when one of the Vikings flew a charter flight to Basle, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. On 30 March, one of the DC-4s operated the first revenue earning freight, carrying 8 tons (8,100 kg) of lamb carcasses to Metz Airport
Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport
Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport or Aéroport de Metz-Nancy-Lorraine is an airport serving the Lorraine région of France. It is located in Goin, 16.5 km southeast of Metz, and north of Nancy .It opened to the public on October 28, 1991 and replaced Nancy-Essey and Metz-Frescaty airports...
for the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
.
Air Ferry ceased using the Viking in January 1966, and the purchase of three of these was negotiated. G-AIVD, G-AIVF and G-AOCH were acquired. G-AIVD never flew for Invicta, having been purchased as a spares source. In April, DC-4s G-APID, G-ASEN and G-ASZT were leased, all three joining the fleet by 7 April. Following the accident to G-APID on 20 June, DC-4 G-ARWK was dry-leased from Lloyd International Airways
Lloyd International Airways
Lloyd International Airways Ltd was a private, British independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline formed in 1961 to operate worldwide charter flights. It commenced operations with a single Douglas DC-4 piston airliner from Cambridge Marshall Airport. Lloyd International...
between 29 June and 31 August.
In 1967, DC-4 G-APID was sold, leaving Invicta on 28 February and joining Spantax
Spantax
Spantax S.A. was a Spanish airline that operated from 1959 to 1988. Its head office was located in Madrid.-Formative years:Spanish Air Taxi Líneas Aéreas S.A. was founded on 6 October 1959 by ex-Iberia pilot Rodolfo Bay Wright and ex-Iberia flight attendant Marta Estades Sáez...
. It suffered a collapsed nosewheel in March 1967 and was subsequently withdrawn from use. By December 1976, G-APID was in use as the "Aerolandia" snack bar at Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Viking G-AHOW was withdrawn from use after Easter, being scrapped later in the year. It was still in existence in September, parked in a corner of the car park at Manston where people were able to view the interior on payment of a small fee. DC-4 G-ASZT was returned to Autair on 29 September.
On 1 February 1968, Vickers Viscount
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
G-AOCC was delivered to Manston, followed by G-AOCB on 26 March. Viking G-AIVF was officially withdrawn from use on 3 February, and scrapped in September. Viking G-AOCH was also officially withdrawn from use on this date. The aircraft was scrapped by the end of the year.
It was announced on 3 January 1969 that Invicta was to merge with British Midland
British midland
British midland may refer to:*British Midland Airways Limited, also referred to as bmi and formerly as British Midland*The English Midlands, the central region of Great Britain...
, effective 18 March. British Midland was to operate passenger flights using a fleet of 12 Viscounts. Invicta was to operate a cargo service under the name "British Midland - Invicta Cargo" using a fleet of three DC-4s. By April, Kennard had decided that the merger was not working, and in June he formed Invicta Airways (1969) Ltd. The aircraft were the three DC-4s, G-ASPM, G-ASPN and G-ASEN. The Viscounts having gone to British Midland as part of the merger.
A former employee of Invicta, Cornelius Donovan, sued them for £1,500 damages claiming that Invicta had wanted him to fly aircraft in "illegal and dangerous" circumstances. Donovan had been employed in 1965 and the aircraft in question were Vikings G-AHPL and G-AHOY. Invicta counter-sued for £2,151 in lost flights and charters, denying Donovan's allegations. The case was found in favour of Invicta.
1970s
By 1970, the DC-4 was ageing and other aircraft types available had much greater capacity. Plans were made to replace the DC-4s. During July and August, dockworkers across the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
were on strike, leading to increased air freight business. On 10 October, Vickers Vanguard
Vickers Vanguard
The Vickers Type 950 Vanguard was a British short/medium-range turboprop airliner introduced in 1959 by Vickers-Armstrongs, a development of their successful Viscount design with considerably more internal room. The Vanguard was introduced just before the first of the large jet-powered airliners,...
G-AXNT was leased from Air Holdings.
DC-4 G-ASEN was sold to Wenela on 3 February 1971, arriving at Johannesburg on 4 February. On 1 March, Vanguard G-AXOO was acquired, followed by G-AXOP on 8 May. This aircraft was leased from Air Holdings.
Vanguard G-AZRE was leased from Air Holdings on 27 March 1972. DC-4 G-ASPN was sold to Africair on 18 April, and delivered to Johannesburg. On 2 May, Vanguard G-AXOY was leased from Air Holdings. On 5 September, DC-4 G-ASPM was sold to Africair. She was the last DC-4 on the United Kingdom civil register at the time.
Early in 1973, Invicta's financial situation was critical. Suppliers refused them credit for goods and services. On 15 January, Air Holdings repossessed their five Vanguards, which were all flown to Lydd Airport for storage. In February 1973, European Ferries Group acquired a 76% shareholding in Invicta and reached an agreement with Air Holdings to purchase the Vanguards on a deferred term basis. The aircraft were returned to Manston, but the Certificate of Airworthiness for Vanguard G-AXOO expired on 28 February and was not renewed. She was used as a spares souce until she was scrapped later in the year. On 10 April, Vanguard G-AXOP was lost
Invicta International Airlines Flight 435
On 10 April 1973 Invicta International Airways Flight 435 was a Vickers Vanguard 952, flying from Bristol Lulsgate to Basle-Mulhouse that ploughed into a snowy, forested hillside near Hochwald, Switzerland. It somersaulted and broke up, killing 108 with 37 survivors...
at Solothurn
Solothurn
The city of Solothurn is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.-Pre-roman settlement:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Vanguard G-AYFN was leased as a replacement for G-AXOO on 16 April, and purchased on 16 October. Vanguards CF-TKA, CF-TKM and CF-TKS were purchased in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and broken up there to provide a spares source, the part being shipped to the United Kingdom. On 3 November, Boeing 720B
Boeing 720
The Boeing 720 is a four-engine narrow-body short- to medium-range passenger jet airliner. Developed by Boeing in the late 1950s from the Boeing 707, the 720 has a shorter fuselage and less range...
G-BCBA was delivered to Manston. Middle East Airlines
Middle East Airlines
Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L. , more commonly known as Middle East Airlines , is the national flag-carrier airline of Lebanon, with its head office in Beirut, near Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport...
not having taken up an option on the aircraft, which was leased by European Ferries.
On 10 May 1974, Boeing 720 G-BCBA was purchased by European Ferries. During the year, the aircraft was sent to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for extra seats and windows to be fitted. The process took two months. On 5 June Vanguard G-BAFK was leased from Air Holdings.On 13 December, Bristol Britannia
Bristol Britannia
The Bristol Type 175 Britannia was a British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the British Empire...
G-AOVT was leased from Monarch Airlines
Monarch Airlines
Monarch Airlines, often shortened to and trading as Monarch, is a British charter and scheduled airline based at London Luton Airport in Luton. It is one of the United Kingdom's largest charter airlines, operating to Europe, the United States, the Caribbean, India and Africa, serving mainly leisure...
.
Britannia G-AOVT came off lease on 10 March 1975, and was retired by Monarch. It was preserved at the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum Duxford
Imperial War Museum Duxford is a branch of the Imperial War Museum near the village of Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England. Britain's largest aviation museum, Duxford houses the museum's large exhibits, including nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and minor naval vessels in seven...
, Duxford
Duxford
Duxford is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, some ten miles south of Cambridge.-History:The village formed on the banks of the River Cam, a little below its emergence from the hills of north Essex...
. In May, European Ferries announced that they had decided to withdraw from the aviation business by the end of October. Vanguard G-AYRN was sold to Europe Air Service and delivered to Perpignan on 29 August. This was followed by the sale of Vanguards G-AXNT, G-AXOY and G-AZRE. G-AXOY made the last passenger flight of a Vanguard in the United Kingdom on 26 October 1975, a one hour pleasure flight from Luton. The goodwill and assets of Invicta were purchased in December 1975 by Universal Air Transport Sales Ltd, whose chairman was Hugh Kennard. An agreement was made with IAS Cargo Airlines
IAS Cargo Airlines
International Aviation Services Limited, trading as IAS Cargo Airlines from 1975, is a defunct wholly privately owned, independentindependent from government-owned corporations British airline that was based at London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom...
for Invicta to lease two Britannias.
On 1 January 1976, Britannia G-AOVS was leased from IAS, followed by G-AOVF on 22 January. The lease was on an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) basis, with the aircraft operating under IAS callsigns and flight numbers. On 13 June, G-AOVS came off lease and was returned to IAS. On 14 June 1976, Britannia 5Y-AZP was wet-leased from Monarch.
On 7 January 1977, Vanguard 5Y-AZP was purchased by Invicta, and re-registered G-AOVF three days later. Vanguard G-AOVF was returned to IAS at the end of September. Britannia G-ANCF operated all Invicta's flights until November 1978. On 2 November, G-AOVF was purchased by Invicta form IAS.
In January 1979, both Britannias were repainted. During the summer, the Broadstairs
Broadstairs
Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the Thanet district of east Kent, England, about south-east of London. It is part of the civil parish of Broadstairs and St Peter's, which includes St. Peter's and had a population in 2001 of about 24,000. Situated between Margate and...
Water Gala was held, which included an airshow. Invicta was invited to take part, with the result that G-AOVF made a low flypast on three engines and the port side covered in oil. Photographs show that the starboard side was presented to the crowd.
1980s
Early in 1980, Invicta was sold to KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n businessman Horatio De Gama Rose. Kennard left the company and established a business at Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
renovating classic cars. Britannia G-ANCF was withdrawn from use on 30 October 1980, leaving just G-AOVF flying. In December, it was agreed that G-AOVF would be leased out to IAC Cargo Airlines of Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
. The aircraft was repainted between 30 December 1980 and 2 January 1981, reregistered 9Q-CAZ.
Britannia G-AOVF returned off lease on 16 June 1981. De Gama Rose was in talks with Redcoat Air Cargo
Redcoat Air Cargo
Redcoat Air Cargo was a British cargo airline between 1977 and 1982 with headquarters at Horley in Sussex and an operating base at Luton Airport.-History:...
about selling Invicta to them. This came to nothing as Redcoat collapsed in December 1981. On 8 April 1982, De Gama Rose declared that Invicta was insolvent, and the receivers were called in. The remaining Britannia, G-AOVF, was undergoing a maintenance check when Invicta collapsed. It was intended to complete the check and return her to flying condition, but she was eventually stripped of parts. On 28 August, the aircraft became the property of the Official Receiver. The assets of Invicta were sold to Seabourne Aviation. G-AOVF was later made fit for a ferry flight to Southend
London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport or Southend Airport is a regional airport in the district of Rochford within Essex, England.During the 1960s, Southend was the third-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It remained London's third-busiest airport in terms of passengers handled until the end of the 1970s,...
, where she was noted in February 1983. In 1984, she was flown to Cosford where she is preserved at the Aerospace Museum. G-ANCF was dismantled in 1984. She was subsequently stored at Kemble and in 2007 agreement was made to restore her at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport serving the city of Liverpool and the North West of England. Formerly known as Speke Airport, RAF Speke, and Liverpool Airport the airport is located within the City of Liverpool adjacent to the estuary of the River Mersey some southeast...
.
Accidents and incidents
- 15 April 1965, Viking G-AHOY tipped on its nose at Manston damaging its propellors and then its tailwheel and the surrounding structure when it fell back. It was later found necessary to change an engine.
- 2 August 1965, Viking G-AHPL tipped onto its nose during a rejected take-off at Manston. Repairs took a month to complete.
- 20 June 1966, DC-4 G-APID suffered the collapse of its nosewheel when taxiing for take-off from Manston.
- 10 April 1973 - Invicta International Airlines Flight 435Invicta International Airlines Flight 435On 10 April 1973 Invicta International Airways Flight 435 was a Vickers Vanguard 952, flying from Bristol Lulsgate to Basle-Mulhouse that ploughed into a snowy, forested hillside near Hochwald, Switzerland. It somersaulted and broke up, killing 108 with 37 survivors...
, a Vickers VanguardVickers VanguardThe Vickers Type 950 Vanguard was a British short/medium-range turboprop airliner introduced in 1959 by Vickers-Armstrongs, a development of their successful Viscount design with considerably more internal room. The Vanguard was introduced just before the first of the large jet-powered airliners,...
952 from BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
LulsgateLulsgateLulsgate is a location in North Somerset. The term could be used to refer to any of the following:* Bristol International Airport, which was formerly known as Lulsgate Airport* the Lulsgate plateau, on which the airport stands...
to Basle-Mulhouse, ploughed into a snowy, forested hillside near HochwaldHochwaldHochwald may refer to:* Hochwald, Switzerland, district of Dorneck in the canton of Solothurn* Hochwald , Saxony, southeastern Germany* Hochwald, a peak in the Hunsrück in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
, SolothurnSolothurnThe city of Solothurn is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.-Pre-roman settlement:...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It somersaultSomersaultA somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip, moving the feet over the head. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground...
ed and broke up, killing 108 with 40 survivors. Many of the passengers were women from the Somerset, England villages of AxbridgeAxbridgeAxbridge is a town in Somerset, England, situated in the Sedgemoor district on the River Axe, near the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. The town population according to the 2001 census was 2,024.-History:...
, CheddarCheddarCheddar is a large village and civil parish in the Sedgemoor district of the English county of Somerset. It is situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, north-west of Wells. The civil parish includes the hamlets of Nyland and Bradley Cross...
, WinscombeWinscombeWinscombe is a village in North Somerset, England, close to the settlements of Axbridge and Cheddar, on the western edge of the Mendip Hills, south-east of Weston-super-Mare and south-west of Bristol...
and CongresburyCongresburyCongresbury is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated in the Unitary authority of North Somerset, and in 2001 had a population of 3,400. It lies on the A370, roughly equidistant between Junction 21 of the M5 and Bristol Airport, approximately south of Bristol city centre,...
. - 3 May 1975, During a flight from Luton Airport to Exeter AirportExeter International AirportExeter International Airport is an airport located at Clyst Honiton in the District of East Devon close to the city of Exeter and within the county of Devon, South West England....
, the control column of Vanguard G-BAFK became detached from the instrument panel. The co-pilot made a safe landing. - 5 April 1980, the starboard undercarriage of Vanguard G-AOVF failed to retract on take-off from Ponta Delgada Airport, Portugal. A safe landing was made at Manston, where it was discovered that there was a 2 feet (609.6 mm) crack in the bogie beam.
Fleet details
| Year | Viking Vickers VC.1 Viking The Vickers VC.1 Viking was a British twin-engine short-range airliner derived from the Vickers Wellington bomber and built by Vickers Armstrongs Limited at Brooklands near Weybridge in Surrey. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Viking was an important airliner with British airlines... |
DC-4 Douglas DC-4 The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role... |
Viscount Vickers Viscount The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world... |
Vanguard Vickers Vanguard The Vickers Type 950 Vanguard was a British short/medium-range turboprop airliner introduced in 1959 by Vickers-Armstrongs, a development of their successful Viscount design with considerably more internal room. The Vanguard was introduced just before the first of the large jet-powered airliners,... |
Boeing 720B Boeing 720 The Boeing 720 is a four-engine narrow-body short- to medium-range passenger jet airliner. Developed by Boeing in the late 1950s from the Boeing 707, the 720 has a shorter fuselage and less range... |
Britannia Bristol Britannia The Bristol Type 175 Britannia was a British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the British Empire... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1966 | 4 | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| 1967 | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | |
| 1968 | 2 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 1969 | - | 3 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 1970 | - | 3 | - | 1 | - | - |
| 1971 | - | 3 | - | 3 | - | - |
| 1972 | - | 2 | - | 5 | - | - |
| 1973 | - | - | - | 6 | 1 | - |
| 1974 | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | - | - | - | - | - | 3 |
| 1977 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| 1978 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| 1979 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| 1980 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| 1981 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
Vickers Viking
G-AHOWVickers 498 Viking 1A. c/n 124.
First flight 4 October 1946. To British European Airways
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
on 11 October 1946 as G-AHOW, named Vanessa. To Ministry of Civil Aviation
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
on 2 February 1948. Later sold to James Stewart Travel and then passed to G S Sale. Sold on 4 August 1950 to Trans World Charter. Sold on 3 December 1951 to Crewsair, named African Trader. Sold in December 1952 to Eagle Aviation. On 11 January 1953 she was leased to Airwork
Airwork Services
During the post-war period Airwork also further expanded its business into civil aviation. This expansion was financed by its wealthy shareholders, including Lord Cowdray, Whitehall Securities, the Blue Star shipping line, Furness Withy and Thomas Loel Evelyn Bulkeley Guinness.Airwork's other air...
. Re-registered with military serial XD636 on 10 March, used for trooping duties. Sold on 5 November 1954 to Trek Airways
Trek Airways
Trek Airways was an airline based in South Africa that operated from August 1953 until April 1994.-Company history:Founded in 1953, Trek Airways was the only South African airline apart from SAA to fly international services. At the beginning, flights were operated from Europe to South Africa with...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Re-registered ZS-DKI and named Louis Trichardt. On 2 April 1955, the aircraft lost some fabric from a wing. An emergency landing was made at an airstrip near Messina
Musina
Musina or Messina is the northernmost town in the Limpopo province of South Africa near the Limpopo River border to Zimbabwe. It has a population of between 20,000 and 40,000. Iron ore, coal, magnetite, graphite, asbestos, diamonds, semi-precious stones and copper are mined in the...
. Sold on 31 July 1958 to African Air Safaris, re-registered G-AHOW and named Skukuza
Skukuza
Skukuza is the main camp in the Kruger National Park. The name, adapted from Sikhukhuza , was a nickname for James Stevenson-Hamilton. It could be translated as 'a new broom', as Stevenson-Hamilton swept the area clean of poachers and outlaws....
. On 26 November 1959, the airline changed its named to Air Safaris Ltd
Air Safaris
Air Safaris was a British scheduled and charter airline from 1959 to 1962.- History :Air Safaris Limited was formed on 26 November 1959 with four-engined Handley Page Hermes and twin-engined Vickers Vicking airliners to operate scheduled and charter flights based at London Gatwick Airport...
. Leased on 4 May 1962 to Eros Airline (UK) Ltd. Sold on 6 April 1964 to Air Ferry Ltd
Air Ferry Limited
Air Ferry Limited was a private, independent British airline operating charter, scheduled and all-cargo flights from 1963 to 1968.-History:Wg Cdr Hugh Kennard, the Air Kruise founder and a former Silver City Airways director, and Leroy Tours founder Lewis Leroy formed Air Ferry Ltd in 1961 as a...
. Sold on 28 October 1966 to Invicta. Withdrawn from service in September 1967 at Manston. Officially withdrawn from use on 3 February 1969. Scrapped later that year.
G-AHOY
Vickers 614 Viking Mark 1, c/n 128.
First flight on 26 October 1946, then to Ministry of Supply
Ministry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
. To British European Airways on 5 November 1946 as G-AHOY, named Vanity. To Ministry of Civil Aviation on 21 July 1947 and stored. Sold on 17 January 1949 to Hunting Air Travel. Sold on 26 February 1958 to Pegasus Airlines, which ceased trading on 25 October 1961. Leased on 10 May 1963 to Autair. On 6 April 1964 she suffered substantial damage in a ground loop at Stansted
London Stansted Airport
-Cargo:-Statistics:-Infrastructure:-Terminal and satellite buildings:Stansted is the newest passenger airport of all the main London airports. The terminal is an oblong glass building, and is separated in to three areas: Check-in concourse, arrivals and departures...
. Sold on 12 February 1965 to Invicta. Certificate of Airworthiness expired on 15 March 1968. Officially withdrawn from use on 3 February 1969.
G-AHPL
Vickers 610 Viking Mark 1B, c/n 149.
First flight on 9 April 1947. To British European Airways on 14 April 1947 as G-AHPL, named Verdant. extensively damaged on 28 August 1949 in a wheels-up landing at Le Bourget
Paris – Le Bourget Airport
Paris – Le Bourget Airport is an airport located in Le Bourget, Bonneuil-en-France, and Dugny, north-northeast of Paris, France. It is now used only for general aviation as well as air shows...
. Renamed Lord Anson in 1951. Sold on 10 April 1953 to Eagle Aviation, then on 28 April to Central African Airways Corporation
Central African Airways
Central African Airways was formed in 1946 from the wartime Southern Rhodesian Air Services , which was in turn formed from the pre-war Rhodesia And Nyasaland Airways and Southern Rhodesia Air Force communications squadron...
. Re-registered VP-YKK and named Lundi. Sold on 22 December 1958 to Pegasus Airlines, which ceased trading on 25 October 1961. Leased on 14 March 1963 to Autair. Sold on 12 February 1965 to Invicta. Withdrawn from service in May 1967. Certificate of Airworthiness expired on 15 March 1968.
G-AIVF
Vickers 610 Viking Mark 1b. c/n 219.
First flight on 16 May 1947. To British European Airways on 30 May as G-AIVF, named Vibrant. Renamed Sir James Somerville
James Somerville
Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Fownes Somerville GCB, GBE, DSO was one of the most famous British Admirals of World War II.-Early career:...
on 3 February 1953. Sold on 28 March 1956 to Deutsche Flugdienst and re-registered D-AGIL. Re-registered D-BARI on 2 April 1958. Sold on 15 April 1958 to Balair
Balair
Balair was a Swiss airline that became BalairCTA when it merged with CTA/Compagnie de Transport Aerien in 1993. Balair had its headquarters in Basel.-Company history:...
and re-registered HB-AAN. During 1958 she was leased to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. On 3 September 1960, the starboard undercarriage failed to retract on take-off from Southend
London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport or Southend Airport is a regional airport in the district of Rochford within Essex, England.During the 1960s, Southend was the third-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It remained London's third-busiest airport in terms of passengers handled until the end of the 1970s,...
. The aircraft was substantially damaged in the subsequent emergency landing at Basle. Sold on 12 April 1963 to Air Ferry and re-registered G-AIVF. Sold on 23 March 1966 to Invicta. Withdrawn from service in May 1968. Officially withdrawn from use on 3 February 1969 and scrapped in September that year.
G-AOCH
Vickers 610 Viking Mark 1B, c/n 150.
First flight on 19 August 1947. To Ministry of Supply on 5 September 1947 as VL231 in Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
markings. To Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
on 3 December 1947 as A 82-1. Used as a transport aircraft at the Long Range Weapons Establishment, Woomera
Woomera Test Range
The RAAF Woomera Test Range is a weapons testing range operated by the Royal Australian Air Force Aerospace Operational Support Group...
. Damaged on 17 December 1947 when she tipped on her nose. To 34 Squadron, RAAF
No. 34 Squadron RAAF
No. 34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. It is currently based at Canberra International Airport in the Australian capital Canberra, where it operates two Boeing 737 Business Jets and three Bombardier Challenger 604s.-History:...
in May 1948. Returned to the RAF on 29 October 1951, allocated to the Empire Test Pilots' School
Empire Test Pilots' School
The Empire Test Pilots' School is a British training school for test pilots and flight test engineers of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England. It was established in 1943, the first of its type...
on 28 December. Damaged on 15 August 1952 when she tipped on her nose after landing at RAF Chilbolton
RAF Chilbolton
RAF Station Chilbolton is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately south-southeast of Andover; about southwest of London...
. Sold on 13 May 1955 to Field Aircraft Services and re-registered G-AOCH. Sold on 6 June 1956 to Dragon Airways. Sold on 13 February 1957 to LTU
LTU International
LTU Lufttransport-Unternehmen GmbH was an airline based in Düsseldorf, Germany, now fully owned by Air Berlin. The initials stand for the German phrase LuftTransport-Unternehmen . It operated scheduled services on medium and long-haul routes, as well as charter services...
and re-registered D-AMOR. Re-registered D-BABY on 15 March 1958. Substantially damaged on 19 October 1961 when the port undercarriage collapsed on landing at Rhein-Main Air Base
Rhein-Main Air Base
Rhein-Main Air Base was a U.S. Air Force / NATO military airbase near the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It occupied the south side of Frankfurt International Airport. Its airport codes are discontinued....
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. Sold on 14 August 1963 to Air Ferry and re-registered G-AOCH. Sold on 23 March 1966 to Invicta. Certificate of Airwothiness expired on 7 July 1968. Officially withdrawn from use on 3 February 1969 and scrapped later that year.
Douglas DC-4
G-APIDDouglas C-54A-15-DC
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, c/n 10408.
Delivered on 20 September 1944 to the United States Army Air Force as 42-72303. Sold in 1947 to California Eastern Airways and re-registered NC54305. Leased in 1952 to Avensa
Avensa
Avensa was a Venezuelan airline headquartered in Caracas. It is in the process of financial restructuring, after it went into bankruptcy due to poor management in 2002...
, re-registered YV-V-EVB. Re-registered NC54305 on return to California Eastern Airways. Leased to Transocean Airlines
Transocean Airlines
Transocean Air Lines was an Oakland, California based airline that operated from 1946 until 1960.-History:The men and women of Transocean Air Lines helped make modern air transport possible for today's world. At its height the Transocean organization included ten companies, making it the first...
from 3 July to 2 September 1957. Sold on 24 November 1957 to Independent Air Travel and re-registered G-APID. On 21 December 1957, the aircraft infringed Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n airspace and was forced to land at Valona Air Base by the Albanian Air Force
Albanian Air Force
The Albanian Air Force is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. Currently it operates under the Albanian Joint Forces Command and it is regrouped in the Albanian Air Brigade...
. Independent Air Travel became Blue Air in April 1959 but was declared bankrupt in October. Sold in November 1959 to Continental Air Services, which became Continental Air Transport in December. Noted in Air Condor colours in November 1960 but not delivered as the airline went bankrupt. Sold to Trans World Leasing. Leased to World Wide, British United Airways
British United Airways
British United Airways was a private, independentindependent from government-owned corporations British airline formed as a result of the merger of Airwork Services and Hunting-Clan Air Transport in July 1960, making it the largest wholly private airline based in the United Kingdom at the time...
, Starways
Starways
Starways was a British airline from 1948 to 1963.-History:The airline was formed in 1948 to undertake freight and passenger charters from Liverpool Airport...
and then Lloyd International Airways
Lloyd International Airways
Lloyd International Airways Ltd was a private, British independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline formed in 1961 to operate worldwide charter flights. It commenced operations with a single Douglas DC-4 piston airliner from Cambridge Marshall Airport. Lloyd International...
, returning to Trans World in March 1962. On 18 October 1962 the aircraft made a wheels-up landing at Speke Airport. Leased to Trans Meridian
Transmeridian Air Cargo
Transmeridian Air Cargo was a British cargo airline that operated from 1962 until 1979 when it merged with IAS Cargo Airlines to form Heavylift Cargo Airlines.-Company history:...
between July 1963 and January 1965. Leased to Dan-Air
Dan-Air
Dan-Air was a leading private, independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline based in the United Kingdom....
between 10 March 1965 and 15 February 1966. Sold on 25 April 1966 to Dunkersloom Ltd. To Invicta on 6 April 1966. Sold to Spantax
Spantax
Spantax S.A. was a Spanish airline that operated from 1959 to 1988. Its head office was located in Madrid.-Formative years:Spanish Air Taxi Líneas Aéreas S.A. was founded on 6 October 1959 by ex-Iberia pilot Rodolfo Bay Wright and ex-Iberia flight attendant Marta Estades Sáez...
on 14 August 1967. Withdrawn from use by April 1968. By December 1976 it was in use as the "Aerolandia Snack Bar" at Sevilla. In late 1978 the aircraft was damaged in a gale, and was later broken up.
G-ARWK
Douglas C-54G-1-DO, c/n 35936
Delivered on 12 June 1945 to the United States Army Air Force as 45-483. Sold in 1954 to United States Steel Corporation
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
and re-registered N904. Leased in December 1956 by Trans American Airways for use during an airlift due to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Sold on 16 June 1958 to Charlotte Aircraft Leasing and leased the same day to Seaboard & Western
Seaboard World Airlines
Seaboard World Airlines was an international all-cargo airline based in the United States. Its headquarters were on the grounds of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.- History :...
. Returned to Charlotte on 15 September 1958 then leased to Resort Airlines. Leased on 15 October 1958 to Riddle Airlines
Riddle Airlines
Riddle Airlines was founded by John Paul Riddle in 1945 in Miami, Florida as a charter and freight airline. In 1965, it became Airlift International. Riddle was headquartered in the Miami, Florida area....
. Sold in January 1962 to Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
. Sold on 3 May 1962 to Lloyd International and re-registered G-ARWK. Sold on 31 December 1965 to IPEC Aviation but not imported to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Leased on 29 June 1966 to Invicta. Off lease on 31 August 1966, to Autair. Sold on 13 November 1967 to All-Air and re-registered D-ADAD. All-air merged on 31 March 1969 with Transportflug, aircraft subsequently named Inn. Sold in August 1969 to Aeroflete, re-registered EC-BSK. Withdrawn from use in 197e. Sold in 1975 to AMAZ, re-registered 9Q-COC. Withdrawn from use in April 1981 at N'Dolo Airport
N'Dolo Airport
N'Dolo Airport , also known as Ndolo Airport, is a secondary airport in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the commune of Barumbu near the city center....
, Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
and later scrapped.
G-ASEN
Douglas C-54A-15-DC, c/n 10412
Delivered on 24 September 1944 to the United States Army Air Force as 42-72307. Returned to Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
on 13 June 1946 for conversion to DC-4 standards. To Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
on 8 February 1947, re-registered NC88936 and named Clipper Meteor. Sold in 1950 to Canadian Pacific Air Lines, re-registered CF-CPD. Later sold to Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
and re-registered VR-HFF. Sold on 22 January 1963 to Starways. Sold in January 1964 to Aviation Overhauls. Leased in May 1964 to Icelandair
Icelandair
Icelandair ehf is the flag carrier airline of Iceland, based on the grounds of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík. It is part of the Icelandair Group and currently operates scheduled services to 31 cities in 13 countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean out of its hub at Keflavík International Airport...
and re-registered TF-FIM, re-registered G-ASEN when returned to Aviation Overhauls. Leased on 5 November 1964 to ACE Freighters
ACE Freighters
ACE Freighters was a British cargo airline from 1964 to 1966.- History :The airline started operations in March 1964 with on Lockheed Constellation. It carried out world wide ad-hoc charters from London Gatwick Airport...
and operated on behalf of Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
. Sold on 7 April 1966 to Invicta. Sold on 4 February 1971 to Wenela and re-registered ZS-IJT. Scrapped in 1972 at Bulawayo Airport, Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
.
G-ASPM
Douglas C-54B-1-DC, c/n 10543
Delivered on 27 January 1945 to United States Army Air Force as 42-72438. Sold in March 1946 to Transocean Airlines, re-registered NC66644. Re-registered N66644 in 1949. Sold in June 1952 to Saudi Arabian Airlines and re-registered HZ-AAI. Sold on 16 February 1964 to British Eagle International Airlines and re-registered G-ASPM. Sold on 18 February 1965 to Invicta. Sold on 5 September 1972 to Africair, re-registered ZS-IRK. Sold later that year to Wenela and withdrawn from use until 1974. Re-registered A2-AAD in 1975. Sold in 1976 to Société Générale d'Alimentation, re-registered 9Q-CWQ. Reported stored at Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
in 2004.
G-ASPN
Douglas C-54A-10-DC, c/n 10337.
Originally destined to be 42-72232 for the United States Army Air Force but not taken up. Transferred on 1 July 1944 to the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as R5D-1 Bu39175. Sold in 1948 to Transocean Airlines, re-registered NC49288. Leased in September 1948 to Pakair, re-registered AP-ADL. Returned to Transocean late in 1949 and re-registered NC49288, named Taloa Tokyo. Sold in June 1952 to Saudi Arabian Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah. It operates domestic and international scheduled flights to over 90 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America...
and re-registered HZ-AAG. Sold on 6 February 1964 to British Eagle International Airlines and re-registered G-ASPN. Sold on 20 February 1965 to Invicta. Damaged in a gale at Manston on 26 January 1971. Sold on 18 April 1972 to Africair Ltd and re-registered ZS-IRE. Sold in June 1972 to Wenela and re-registered A2-ZGU. Impounded at Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
. To Société Générale d'Alimentation as 9Q-CBP, later re-registered 9Q-CWP. In 1991, the aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure at N'djili Airport, Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo and was withdrawn from use by July of that year.
G-ASZT
Originally intended for delivery to the United States Army Air Force as 42-72535 but transferred to the United States Navy on 26 March 1945 as Bu91997, designated R5D-3. Sold in 1958 to Americada Corporation, re-registered N40434A. Sold later that year to Golden State Airlines. Leased on 1 July 1959 to Slick Airways
Slick Airways
Slick Airways was founded in 1946. It later acquired California Eastern in 1948, then sold out to Airlift International in 1968....
, returned to Golden State in June 1960. Sold on 9 April 1962 to Seefahrt-u-Transportinteressen GmbH and re-registered D-AMAX. Sold on 22 April 1963 to Flugzeug Handels. Sold in June 1963 to Malta Metropolitan and re-registered VP-MAA. Sold in January 1965 to Autair and re-registered G-ASZT. Sold in August 1965 to Rhodesian Air Services
Rhodesian Air Services
Rhodesian Air Services was an airline based in Southern Rhodesia in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-History:Rhodesian Air Services was formed by Jack Malloch in 1959 with one C-47 to operate a service between Salisbury, , in then Southern Rhodesia, and Vilanculas - the closest Landing Strip on the...
and re-registered VP-YYR. To Air Trans Africa
Air Trans Africa
Air Trans Africa was formed by Jack Malloch in 1964 after his first company, Rhodesian Air Services failed in 1962. It operated a Super Constellation, a Douglas C-54 and a DH114 Heron aircraft before Southern Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence...
in January 1966 and re-registered 9J-RBL. Sold to Autair on 9 March 1966, then leased to Invicta on 1 April 1966. Returned to Autair on 29 September 1967. Sold on 15 May 1968 to Aero Service Africa and re-registered TN-ABC. Sold on 23 October 1968 to Lina Congo. Sold in September 1974 to SOACO and re-registered TR-LTJ. Sold in 1980 to INCO International and then sold to Air Affaires Gabon
Air Affaires Gabon
Nouvelle Air Affaires Gabon is an airline based in Libreville, Gabon. It operates corporate and freight charter services. Its main base is Libreville International Airport...
in July that year.
Vickers Viscount
G-AOCBVickers 755D Viscount, c/n 92.
First flight on 24 May 1956. Intended for delivery to Airwork as G-AOCB but this was not taken up by them. Sold on 5 June 1956 to Cubana de Aviación
Cubana de Aviación
Cubana de Aviación S.A., commonly known as Cubana, is Cuba's largest airline and flag carrier. The airline was founded on 8 October 1929, and has its corporate headquarters in Havana. Its main base is at José Martí International Airport...
, re-registered CU-T604. Sold in April 1961 to Eagle Airways (Bermuda) Ltd, re-registered VR-BBL. Sold on 19 September 1962 to Cunard Eagle Airways, re-registered G-AOCB and named City of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Cunard Eagle was renamed British Eagle in September 1963. Aircraft later named City of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. Sold on 26 March 1968 to Invicta. To British Midland Airways on 13 January 1969 due to merger. Withdrawn from use in October 1969 at East Midlands Airport, scrapped in May 1970.
G-AOCC
Vickers 755D Viscount, c/n 93.
First flight on 16 June 1956. Intended for delivery to Airwork as G-AOICC but this was not taken up by them. Sold on 20 June 1956 to Cubana de Aviación, re-registered CU-T605. Sold in April 1961 to Eagle Airways (Bermuda) Ltd, re-registered VR-BBM. Sold on 3 September 1962 to Cunard Eagle Airways, re-registered G-AOCC and named City of Belfast. Cunard Eagle was renamed British Eagle in September 1963. Aircraft later named City of Edinburgh. Sold on 1 February 1968 to Invicta, named Sylt
Sylt
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...
. To British Midland Airways on 13 January 1969 due to merger. Withdrawn from use in April 1969 at East Midlands Airport, scrapped in August 1969.
Vickers Vanguard
G-AXNTVickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 737.
First flight on 19 April 1961. Delivered on 2 May 1961 to Trans-Canada Air Lines
Trans-Canada Air Lines
Trans-Canada Air Lines was a Canadian airline and operated as the country's flag carrier. Its corporate headquarters were in Montreal, Quebec...
as CF-TKN. Airline changed name to Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
on 1 June 1964. Sold on 28 August 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AXNT. Overhauled by British European Airways
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
in November/December 1969. Leased to Lebanese Air Transport
Lebanese Air Transport
Lebanese Air Transport s.a.l. is a Ground Handling Provider company based in Beirut, Lebanon and is part of Abella Group.Lebanese Air Transport , was launched on August 18, 1958 on the strength of Presidential Decree # 20168 which reads as follows:...
on 5 May 1970, off lease on 8 September. Leased to Invicta on 10 October 1970. Purchased by Invicta on 1 March 1971. Sold on 28 October 1975 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXOO. Used as a spares source at Perpignan
G-AXOO
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 733.
First flight on 19 April 1961. Delivered on 5 May 1961 to Trans-Canada Air Lines as CF-TKJ. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 1 June 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AXOO. Delivered to Stansted Airport on 17 December, then to Cambridge Airport
Cambridge Airport
Cambridge Airport is a small regional airport in South Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the eastern outskirts of Cambridge, south of Newmarket Road and west of the village of Teversham, from the centre of Cambridge and approximately from London.Opened in 1938, when it replaced the old...
the next day for storage. Leased in February 1970 to Angkasa Civil Air Transport, re-registered PK-ICC. Off lease in May 1970. Sold to Invicta on 1 March 1971. Certificate of Airworthiness expired on 28 February 1973. Scrapped at Manston in 1977.
G-AXOP
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 745.
First flight on 1 May 1962. Delivered on 7 July 1962 to Trans-Canada Air Lines as CF-TKV. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 5 May 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AXOP and stored at Stansted Airport. Leased on 8 May 1971 to Invicta. Off lease on 1 March 1973 and purchased by Invicta on 5 March. Crashed on 10 April 1973
Invicta International Airlines Flight 435
On 10 April 1973 Invicta International Airways Flight 435 was a Vickers Vanguard 952, flying from Bristol Lulsgate to Basle-Mulhouse that ploughed into a snowy, forested hillside near Hochwald, Switzerland. It somersaulted and broke up, killing 108 with 37 survivors...
at Hochwald
Hochwald
Hochwald may refer to:* Hochwald, Switzerland, district of Dorneck in the canton of Solothurn* Hochwald , Saxony, southeastern Germany* Hochwald, a peak in the Hunsrück in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with the loss of 108 lives.
G-AXOY
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 727.
First flight on 24 October 1960. Delivered on 7 December 1960 to Trans-Canada Air Lines as CF-TKD. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 12 August 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AXOY and stored at Stansted Airport. Leased on 2 June 1970 to Air Viking, re-registered TF-AVA. Off lease on 2 December. Leased on 13 February 1971 to Thor Air Cargo, re-registered TF-JEJ. Off lease on 13 June. Leased on 2 May 1972 to Invicta, re-registered G-AXOY. Intended lease to Silver City Airways from 31 March 1973 was not proceeded with and Invicta bought the aircraft on 1 March. Sold on 5 November 1976 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXOH. Used as a spares source at Perpignan.
G-AYFN
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 725.
First flight on 25 July 1960. Delivered on 7 December 1960 to Trans-Canada Air Lines as CF-TKB. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 12 August 1969 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AYFN and stored at Cambridge Airport. Leased on 29 March 1971 to Thor Air Cargo, re-registered TF-JES. Off lease on 16 June 1971 then returned to store. Re-registered under Class B markings G-41-172 on 16 May 1972 for test flights at Stansted Airport. Leased on 21 July 1972 to Airtrader, re-registered SE-FTK. Off lease on 8 March 1973. Leased on 14 April 1973 to Invicta and purchased on 16 October 1973. Sold on 29 August 1975 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXAJ. Withdrawn from use on 17 July 1979 at Perpignan and later scrapped.
G-AZRE
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n 729.
First flight on 19 November 1960. Delivered on 7 January 1961 to Trans Canada Air Lines as CF-TKF. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 18 March 1972 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-AZRE. Leased to Invicta on 27 March 1972 and purchased by them on 1 March 1973. Sold on 11 September 1976 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXOF. Used as a spares source at Perpignan.
G-BAFK
Vickers V952 Vanguard, c/n739.
First flight on 30 May 1961. Delivered on 7 January 1961 to Trans Canada Air Lines as CF-TKP. Airline changed name to Air Canada on 1 June 1964. Sold on 9 December 1969 to Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
and stored at Cambridge Airport. Sold on 30 August 1972 to Air Holdings, re-registered G-BAFK. Leased to Templewood Aviation and sub-leased on 23 November 1972 to Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Merpati Nusantara Airlines is a commuter airline based in Central Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. It is a major domestic airline operating scheduled services to more than 25 destinations in Indonesia, as well as scheduled international services to East Timor and Malaysia. Its main base is...
, re-registered PK-MVR. Off lease on 28 February 1973. Sold on 5 June 1974 to Invicta, re-registered G-BAFK. Sold on 21 October 1975 to Europe Aero Service, re-registered F-BXOG. Withdrawn from use on 21 December 1975 at Perpignan.
Boeing 720B
G-BCBABoeing 720-023, c/n 18014
First flight on 24 June 1960. Delivered on 24 July 1960 to American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
as N7528A Flagship Connecticut. Returned to Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
on 31 July 1961 for conversion to Boeing 720-023B. On 1 July 1964 she was substantially damaged when the undercarriage collapsed on landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Withdrawn from service in August 1971. Stored at Tulsa
Tulsa International Airport
Tulsa International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five miles northeast of downtown Tulsa, a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. It was originally named Tulsa Municipal Airport, when the city acquired it in 1929...
and then to Beirut
Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport
Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport is located 9 km from the city centre in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon and is the only operational commercial airport in the country. It is the hub for Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines...
as it was proposed to sell her to Middle Eastern Airlines but they did not take up their option. Leased on 3 November 1971 to European Ferries, re-registered G-BCBA. Operated by Invicta. Purchased on 10 May 1974 by European Ferries. Leased in October 1975 to Tempair and stored at Luton. Sub-leased on 6 February 1976 to Air Niugini
Air Niugini
Air Niugini Limited is the national airline of Papua New Guinea, based in Air Niugini House on the property of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby. It operates a domestic network from Port Moresby and Lae, as well as international services in Asia, Oceania, and Australia. Its main base is...
, re-registered P2-ANG. Off lease on 2 February 1977 and stored at Luton. Leased on 26 March 1977 to Monarch Airlines
Monarch Airlines
Monarch Airlines, often shortened to and trading as Monarch, is a British charter and scheduled airline based at London Luton Airport in Luton. It is one of the United Kingdom's largest charter airlines, operating to Europe, the United States, the Caribbean, India and Africa, serving mainly leisure...
and sold to them on 1 September. Leased from 31 January 1978 until May to Cyprus Airways
Cyprus Airways
Cyprus Airways is the national airline of Cyprus, a public limited company with its head offices located in the capital of the island, Nicosia. It operates scheduled services to 41 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf. It flies from both airports of the island, Larnaca and Paphos,...
. Leased from 21 September 1979 until January 1980 to Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc is the flag carrier airline of Morocco, headquartered on the grounds of Casablanca-Anfa Airport in Casablanca...
. Leased on 20 June 1980 to Air Malta
Air Malta
Air Malta plc is the national airline of Malta, headquartered in Luqa. It operates services to 36 destinations in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. The airline's hub and base is at Malta International Airport.- History :...
. Sold on 23 October 1981 to Maof Airlines, re-registered 4X-BMA. Operated by Maof for El Al
El Al
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd , trading as El Al , is the flag carrier of Israel. It operates scheduled domestic and international services and cargo flights to Europe, North America, Africa and the Far East from its main base in Ben Gurion International Airport...
between September 1982 and October 1984, then stored at Tel Aviv. Maof ceased operations on 2 November 1984. Sold in November 1985 to Israel Aerospace Industries. Sold on 26 January 1986 to Omega Air and then sold two days later to Boeing MAC for use as a spares source for United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
KC-135Es
KC-135 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
, re-registered N341A. Scrapped at Tucson, Arizona in June 1991.
Bristol Britannia
G-ANCFBristol 305 Britannia, c/n 12922.
First flight on 19 November 1958. Originally destined for British Overseas Airways Corporation
British Overseas Airways Corporation
The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
but not taken up. Capital Airlines
Capital Airlines
Capital Airlines was an airline serving the eastern United States that merged into United Airlines in 1961. Its primary hubs were National Airport near Washington, DC, and Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh. In the 1950s it was the largest US domestic carrier after the Big Four . Its...
also did not take up an option to purchase and she was sold to Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines was an American airline based in Boston, Massachusetts. They began as Boston-Maine Airways, which was founded as a Pan Am contract carrier on July 20, 1931, by the Boston and Maine Railroad and Maine Central Railroad offering service from Boston to Bangor via Portland...
as N6597C, but this too was not taken up. To Bristol
Bristol Aeroplane Company
The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines...
as G-ANCF. Later flown under Class B markings G-18-4 and G-14-1. Converted in October 1958 to type 308. Sold on 24 August 1959 to Transcontinental SA, registered LV-PPJ, delivered on 16 December. Re-registered LV-GJB in 1960 and withdrawn from use in November 1961 at Buenos Aires. Sold in January 1962 to British Eagle International Airlines, re-registered G-ANCF. Named New Frontier and later renamed Resolution. Converted in July 1964 to type 308F freighter. Sold on 6 December 1968 to Monarch Airlines. Leased on 9 February 1976 to African Cargo Airways, re-registered 5Y-AZP. Sub-leased on 14 June 1976 to Invicta. Purchased by Invicta on 14 January 1977 and re-registered G-ANCF. Withdrawn from service on 30 October 1980. In 1984 she became part of the Bristol Aero Collection at Kemble. The collection was forced to sell her due to loss of accommodation at Kemble in December 2005. In January 2007, it was agreed to move her to Speke Airport and restore her there. She is now displayed in British Eagle colours.
G-AOVF
Bristol 312 Britannia, c/n 13237
First flight on 18 December 1957. Delivered on 2 January 1958 to British Overseas Airways Corporation as G-AOVF. Sold on 4 March 1964 to British Eagle International Airlines and named Friendship. Converted in 1968 to type 312F freighter. Reposessed on 27 November 1968 by BOAC. Sold on 22 January 1970 to Monarch Airlines. Leased on 21 April 1970 to Donaldson International Airways
Donaldson International Airways
Donaldson International Airlines was a British charter airline from 1968 to 1974.-History:Donaldson International Airways was formed in 1968 to provide provide inclusive tour and charter flights for Mercury Air Holidays of Glasgow...
, named Nike
Nike (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nike was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Kratos , Bia , and Zelus...
. Purchased by Donaldson on 24 April 1972. Sold on 31 October 1972 to IAS Cargo Airlines
IAS Cargo Airlines
International Aviation Services Limited, trading as IAS Cargo Airlines from 1975, is a defunct wholly privately owned, independentindependent from government-owned corporations British airline that was based at London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom...
, named African Queen. Leased on 1 November 1972 to African Safari Airways
African Safari Airways
Africa Safari Air was an airline based in Mombasa, Kenya-EACU. It operated charter flights and inclusive tours from Europe, mainly to Mombasa. Its main base was Moi International Airport, Mombasa.- History :...
, returned to IAS on 19 December. Leased between April 1976 and September 1977 to Invicta the returned to IAS. Purchased on 2 November 1978 by Invicta. Leased on 3 August 1979 to Redcoat Air Cargo
Redcoat Air Cargo
Redcoat Air Cargo was a British cargo airline between 1977 and 1982 with headquarters at Horley in Sussex and an operating base at Luton Airport.-History:...
. Leased on 6 January 1981 to IAC Cargo Airlines, re-registered 9Q-CAZ. Off lease on 4 June 1981, re-registered G-AOVF and withdrawn from service. Sold on 21 February 1983 to Merchant Air. Donated in May 1984 for preservation at Cosford.
G-AOVS
Bristol 312 Britannia, c/n 13430.
First flight on 5 September 1958. Delivered on 29 October 1958 to British Overseas Airways Corportation as G-AOVS. Leased on 4 July 1965 to Lloyd International Airways. Sub-leased on 17 August 1965 to British Eagle International Airlines. Purchased by them on 16 November. converted in June 1966 to type 312F freighter. Sold in January 1973 to IAS Cargo Airlines. Sold on 28 December 1973 to Aviex Holding Ltd, then sold on 14 October 1975 to Westwings Aviation Services Ltd and leased to IAS Cargo Airlines that same day. Sold on 21 March 1977 to Redcoat Air Cargo, named Christian in May 1977. Withdrawn from service in October 1979 at Luton and scrapped.
G-AOVT
Bristol 312 Britannia, c/n 13427
First flight on 17 December 1958. Delivered on 1 January 1959 to British Overseas Airways Corporation. Leased by British European Airways
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
in April and May 1961. Leased on 13 September 1963 to British Eagle International Airlines. Named Enterprise and later renamed Ajax
Ajax (mythology)
Ajax or Aias was a mythological Greek hero, the son of Telamon and Periboea and king of Salamis. He plays an important role in Homer's Iliad and in the Epic Cycle, a series of epic poems about the Trojan War. To distinguish him from Ajax, son of Oileus , he is called "Telamonian Ajax," "Greater...
. Purchased by Monarch on 18 August 1968. Leased on 13 December 1974 to Invicta. Off lease on 10 March 1975, returned to Monarch and withdrawn from service. Arrived at Duxford
Imperial War Museum Duxford
Imperial War Museum Duxford is a branch of the Imperial War Museum near the village of Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England. Britain's largest aviation museum, Duxford houses the museum's large exhibits, including nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and minor naval vessels in seven...
for preservation on 29 June 1975.