A6-436. Vickers Viscount 816. c/n 436.

Was also registered as: EP-MRS; N40NB; VH-EQQ; 502; 3D-ACN; G-BGLC; VP-WGB; Z-WGC.

This aircraft was built at the Vickers-Armstrong Hurn, Bournemouth factory

This was the last Viscount to be built at the Hurn plant

Although this aircraft was built for a Trans-Australia Airlines order it was not taken up

It had been allocated the Australian registration 'VH-TVS'

First flown - September 01, 1959

Powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines

Sold by Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Pty Ltd to the Iranian Government - January 1961

Converted to 'V-839' configuration - January 1961

The conversion included the fitment of extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks and integral front 'airsteps'

Test flown after conversion at Hurn Airport - January 06, 1961

It was observed at London (Gatwick) on the delivery flight to Iran - May 13, 1961

It arrived at Tehran Airport, Iran on ompletion of the delivery flight - May 15, 1961

The Iranian Government purchased the aircraft for VIP use by the Shah of Persia

Entered onto the Iranian Aircraft Register as EP-MRS - ?

Leased to Iran National Airlines - March 1963

Sold to Royal Australian Air Force - September 29, 1964

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A6-436

Departed Wisley Airfield, Surry on the ferry flight to Australia - October 01, 1964

It arrived at Canberra (RAAF Fairbairn) on completion of the ferry flight - October 10, 1964

Known flight crew: Wing Commander Addison (Commanding Officer, 34 Squadron)

It was operated by Number 34 Squadron on V.I.P. duties

The aircraft was configured to seat 32 passengers with three flight crew

Withdrawn from service and stored - March 1969

Advertised for sale having flown less than 5,000 hours - August 1969

Sold via P. Hookway to the Alda Corporation - December 1969

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N40NB - ?

The aircraft was not delivered

Sold to Jesp Investments Pty Ltd, Sydney

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EQQ - September 09 , 1970

Registered to Brins Finance Corporation, Sydney

Leased to Jetairlines Australia as the registered operator

The aircraft did not enter service with Jet Airlines of Australia due to Australian Government intervention

Sold to Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales - September 25, 1970

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 03, 1970

Sold to Sultan of Oman's Air Force as '502' - June 1971

It was observed at Hurn Airport undergoing maintenance with Airwork Ltd - October 10, 1972

The aircraft was clearly titled 'Air Force of the Sultanate of Oman'

It was observed at East Midlands (Castle Donington) after retirement from Oman Air Force - February 1978

It was observed stored at Manchester (Ringway) - February 14, 1978

Sold to Royal Swazi National Airways - July 1978

Departed Manchester in the standard Royal Swazi livery on the ferry flight to Swaziland - July 1978

Entered onto the Swaziland Aircraft Register as 3D-ACN - ?

It was named 'Ludvonvolo'

Sold to Air Bridge Carriers - March 19, 1979

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-BGLC (CofR G-BGLC/R1) - March 19, 1979

Registered to Air Bridge Carriers Ltd, London Heathrow Airport

Leased to Dan-Air London as the registered operator - April 01, 1979

Returned to lessor at the end of the lease - October 20, 1980

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - October 30, 1980

Sold to Air Zimbabwe - November 02, 1980

Entered onto the Zimbabwe Aircraft Register as VP-WGB - November 02, 1980

Registered to Air Zimbabwe, Harare

Departed Manchester (Ringway) on the ferry flight to Zimbabwe in basic Dan-Air livery - November 02, 1980

It was reregistered Z-WGB - October 1983

Withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Harare Airport - November 1990

Last sighted in a very derelict condition - June 1996

Dismantled and moved by road to Chegutu, Zimbawe, 70 km southwest from Harare - March 1997

Aircraft to be used as a bar/restaurant together with Viscount Z-WGC

It was observed at Chegutu mounted on steel frames in the basic Air Zimbabwe livery - March 1997

Observed as the 'Flying Pot Restaurant' in red and white livery with a beer logo on the nose and fuselage - October 1999

Noted on Google Earth still at Chegutu but possibly no longer being used as a bar/restaurant - August 25, 2011

It was observed in poor condition and reportedly soon to be scrapped with sister aircraft Z-WGC - February 02, 2014

A6-436. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-113.)

A6-436. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-114.)

A6-436. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Wagga Wagga Airport, November 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-058.)

A6-436. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 02, 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-057.)

A6-436. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Canberra Airport, April 25, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-059.)

A6-436. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 21, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-433.)

N40NB. Alda Corporation - in the basic 'R.A.A.F.' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-205.)

N40NB. Alda Corporation - in the basic 'R.A.A.F.' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1970.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0129-335.)

VH-EQQ. Gates Aviation Turbine - in the basic 'R.A.A.F.' livery at Denver Airport, November 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-399.)

VH-EQQ. Gates Aviation Turbine - in the basic 'R.A.A.F.' livery at an unknown airport, circa 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-131.)

3D-ACN. Royal Swazi - 'Ludvonvolo' in the standard livery at Johannesburg Jan Smuts Airport, August 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-191.)

3D-ACN. Royal Swazi - 'Ludvonvolo' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-422.)

G-BGLC. Dan-Air London - in the standard livery at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, May 1979.

(N. Roozen Copyright Image 0129-075.)

G-BGLC. Dan-Air London - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, June 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-472.)

G-BGLC. Dan-Air London - in the standard livery at Paris Charles de Gualle Airport, September 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-321.)

VP-WGB. Air Zimbabwe - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, March 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-190.)