Vickers Viscount 1955? - 1957?

[pzu]

Hi

Just found these 2 photo's (poor quality - sorry) of what I believe was G-AVMA the Viscount 700 prototype/demonstrator in some of my Dad's bits & pieces

I think they were taken between March '55 and June '57 when he was an ATCO in Tabora, Tanganyka (as was)

From those dates, doubt if it was on trials more likely on a sales tour

Can anyone shed any light?

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n431/pzulba/tabora%20viscount/TaboraViscount1a.jpg

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n431/pzulba/tabora%20viscount/TaboraViscount2a.jpg

PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)

apologies MY TYPO - SHOULD BE G-AMAV

[cvt person]

I have a feeling that the 700 prototype was G- AMAV.

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

G-AMAV was the Viscount 700 prototype. First flew 28.8.50, last flew 1.4.58 and was scrapped sometime in 1961.

It's interesting to note that it has the revised cockpit DV windows of the later 700s and 800s. Earlier versions, including all BEA's 700s, had the 'slatted' DV windows.

[norwich]

I also think G-AMAV is correct, for more info try looking at Viscount.net

Aircraft Photos Aviation Pictures Vickers Viscount Aircraft History and Information (http://www.vickersviscount.net/Default.aspx)

From home page, hover over -- listings -- Aircraft Histories -- select G-AMAV from dropdown list -- hit go button, and a full history which will confirm your details I think ?

Keith.

[G-APDK]

According to RGC Kittle's excellent book The Vickers Viscount published by Air-Britain, G-AMAV departed Blackbush on 15 August 1955 for a three month tour of Africa (Capt C Allen) for perfomance trials with the Dart R.Da.6.510 engines.

This aircraft had earlier participated and won on handicap the 1953 England - NZ air race.

Hope this helps & happy New Year

G-APDK

[D120A]

The Flight archive is a great source of information, at:

Aviation History - Browse the History of Flight from 1909 (http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/default.aspx)

Put 'Viscount Africa 1955' into the search, and obligingly the top right hand page of the resulting list (p155 of the 10 Feb 1956 edition) has similar pictures of G-AMAV, in Ethiopia.

:ok:

[Warmtoast]

Viscount G-AMAV

On 8th October 1953 whilst on disembarkation leave ex-Rhodesian Air Training Group and before being posted to Biggin Hill I visited London Heathrow to watch the start of the London to New Zealand air race and among other aircraft competitors took this photo of Viscount G-AMAV adorned with race number 23.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/NZAirRaceViscount2.jpg