The Whispering Giant arrives at then Salisbury, Rhodesia from London

A&AEE Boscombe Down. Wonderful Aircraft with wonderful colours. Later 9Q-CHY. Broken up at Kinshasa in June 1994

This Bristol 175 Britannia was first flown at Filton on Apr. 29, 1958 and delivered BOAC as G-AOVM in June 1958. Retired in Mar. 1964. To British Eagle Int'l Airlines and converted into a 312F freighter in 1967. To Air Spain in Mar. 1969 as EC-BSY. To UK MoD in Nov. 1971 for use by the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment as XX367. Retired in 1984, to Katale Aero Transport as 9Q-CHY then to BCF. World's last operational Britannia when retired in July 1991(?) Canadian Pacific A/L flew six Britannias from YVR in 1958-1966. Was very very rare to see a Britannia at YVR after 1966!

Delivered to BOAC as G-AOVM in 1958. To British Eagle in 1964 and converted to a freighter in 1968. To Air Spain as EC-BSY in 1969 then to the Ministry of Defence as XX367 in 1971. To Katale Aero Transport as 9Q-CHY in 1984 then to Business Cash Flow Aviation in 1989. Withdrawn from use at Kinshasa in 1991 ans scrapped.

In March 1984 this beautiful aircraft was withdrawn from military use. She went into civil service in Africa and became the last operational Brittania until she finally retired in 1991 in Kinshasa, 33 years old.

Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down

British Eagle's Britannia 312 "Team Spirit" departs on an inclusive tour holiday flight in August 1964. Ex BOAC, 'OVM served BEIA from 03.64 until the company failed in late 1968. Viscount 701 G-AMOC is in the foreground.

G-AOVM was sold in Spain as EC-BCY in 1969.

The A&AEE Britannia graces Northolt's apron on a fine summer's day. She started her working life just down the road with BOAC as G-AOVM in 6.58 and ended it as 9Q-CHY in Zaire where she arrived in 1984. Here she later took the honour of being the world's last operating Brit (apart from 9Q-CJH ex-RAF XM496 now preserved at Kemble, after being flown in during October 1997) till withdrawal in 1991 and eventual scrapping at Kinshasa