One of three Vikings that were present at this restaurant for many years, G-AGRU is now part of the collection at Brooklands. Photographer not known.

On 10 January 1964 G-AGRU made it last flight into EHSB to be moved to this site. The aeroplane did popularize Mr John Bouvy's restaurant, causing him to add two more Vikings in 1968. Photo from: Euro Color Cards / The Utrecht Archives

Built as a Type 498 Viking 1A in 1946, it was initially delivered to BEA. Other users were British South America Airways, Eagle Airways and Orion Airways before its final operator Air Safaris. Written from use in August 1962 and broken up in 1963 at Hurn, UK.

Ex VP-TAX, G-AGRU. Now preserved at Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey.

Originally a V.614 Mk.1, registered 27 June 1946, F/F 29 Oct.1946. Delivered to BEA named "Vantage" 12 Nov.1946. To Aviation Traders at Southend 21 Dec.1948 and converted to V.657 Mk.1. To BWIA as VP-TAZ Feb.1950 and to CAAC as VP-YJA Sept.1951. Restored as G-AHOZ Sept.1957, to East Anglian Flying Services May 1958 and Channel Airways Nov.1962 upon corporate name change. Withdrawn from use at Southend by Jan.1963 and cannibalised for spares until eventually scrapped there April 1964. Cancelled 2 May 1964 as 'Destroyed'.

The fledgling Austrian and German charter airlines used second hand Vikings, cheap and available! The van is a Morris classic from the 50s

Seen here undergoing restoration at the Brooklands Museum, with its wings still separate. Was not easy to photograph, with its nose in broad daylight and the tail section hiding away in a dark hangar. This Viking arrived at the museum from Cosford on 27 June 1991, after having been on display there since 1979. Before that it had been in use as a restaurant near Soesterberg, The Netherlands since 1964. Seen in front of the Viking is a nice taxiable 1909 Santos-Dumont Demoiselle replica, built in 1999.

On display at Cosford before moving to the Brooklands Museum. Note that the fleet name is "Vagrant" - not one that would be chosen nowadays, I think!

'Vagrant' was built for BEA in 1946 as a type V.498 but in June 1948 was converted to a type V.657 for BWIA and re-registered as VP-TAX. She returned to England in 1955 to fly for British International Airlines and was later sold to Channel Airlines in April 1959. Her final flight was to Soesterberg in 1964 where she became a cafe for the next 15 years or so. After a short time at Cosford she is now on display in her original BEA livery at Brooklands.

This was a very strange set-up with three Vikings in a play park attached to a restaurant. This aircraft is now preserved at Brooklands. It is named after a Dutch aviation pioneer .

Aero-Transport's Viking 1 is undergoing a compass check swing after a major overhaul at Ringway by Eagle Aviation. Ex BEA G-AHPC, BWIA VP-TBC and CAA VP-YJB. Withdrawn in 1965.

Owned by the Mexican Government from August 1952 until 1956, but little used by that entity. Ex and returned to G-AGRR.