Flight on board Vickers Viscount 806, G-APEY from BWA - British World Airlines in Lydd 1996

Flight on board the BWA British World Airlines Vickers Viscount 806, G-APEY, in Lydd Airport in June 30th 1996.

Viscount c/n 382
Operational Record!

This V.806 series Viscount was built for
British European Airways Corporation (BEA) as G-APEY

It first flew on Monday, 7 July 1958 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 520 engines.

During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
BKS Air Transport Ltd, Northeast Airlines (UK), Cambrian Airways, British Airways (BA), British Air Ferries (BAF), Oasis Oil Company, Air Algerie, Sirte Oil Company, Virgin Atlantic Airways, British World Airlines (BWA), Heli-Jet Aviation Ltd, SAFT Gabon, Interflight, Air Zimbabwe and Air Ogooue

Its final owner/operator was
Global Airways (Swaziland) as 9Q-CON.

This was the last airworthy Viscount in the UK in 1997.

Noted still active in Africa in 2005 and noted in storage at Ndjili International Airport, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2 March 2008. Put up for sale in 2008 for an unknown price.

Operational record:
July 1958 to April 1968
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)
G-APEY - c/n 382 - a V.806 series Viscount

15 August 1957
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
Purchased from British Airways (BA).

7 July 1958
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for BEA) named as 'R M A William Murdoch'.

20 July 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

29 October 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) w

29 January 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

16 February 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

17 February 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

A new BEA ‘Red Square‘ livery was adopted.
March 1959
A new BEA 'Red Square' livery was adopted and aircraft were repainted during the early 1960s when they next went in for overhaul.

Sadly, after repainting, the aircraft no longer carried a name including the nameplate on the forward cabin bulkhead.

15 October 1961
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

15 April 1963
Total time 9,449:53 hours.

1964
Converted to V.806X standard by Marshall's at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England.

This involved replacing the Dart RDa7 Mark 520 engines with RDa6 Mark 510 engines and installing a V.802 style cabin.

The RDa7 Mark 520 engines were returned to Rolls-Royce where some of them were converted to Mark 526 standard for use on the BEA Armstrong Whitworth 650 Argosy.

26 November 1965
Due to strong and gusting winds at Jersey Airport, Channel Island the Captain elected to land the aircraft more firmly than normal.
During the landing run the nose undercarriage leg collapsed resulting in curled propellers and shock-load damage to the Rolls-Royce Dart engines.
There were no reported injuries to the 5 crew and 75 passengers on board.
Repaired locally and returned to service.

21 September 1966
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion.

9 December 1967
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion.

2 April 1968
Sold to BKS Air Transport Ltd. - Purchased from British European Airways Corporation (BEA).
BKS relates to the surnames of three company directors: - James W Barnby, Thomas D Keegan, and Cyril Stevens.

1 November 1970
Transferred from BKS Air Transport Ltd to Northeast Airlines (UK) due to a corporate name change.

April 1972
Leased to Cambrian Airways.

April 1972
Leased from Northeast Airlines (UK) in full Northeast livery.

8 June 1972
Total time 25,348:10 hours and 22,017 total landings.

30 September 1972
Returned from Cambrian Airways lease.

18 May 1973
Total time 26,466:00 hours.


1 April 1974
Transferred to British Airways (BA) due to a corporate merger.
Painted in the British Airways (BA) 'British' livery.
British Airways (BA)

16 April 1975
Noted at Leeds-Bradford Airport, Yeadon, England fitted with black and white striped 'high-viz propellers.

January 1981
Noted with British Airways (BA) 'British' titles.

10 April 1981
Sold to British Air Ferries (BAF).

28 June 1981
Leased from British Air Ferries (BAF).

August 1981
Returned to British Air Ferries (BAF).

August 1981
Returned from Oasis Oil Company lease.

5 October 1981
Leased to Air Algerie.