Built as part of contract 15527, delivered to the Royal Air Force Transport Command at RAF Lyneham on 17 September 1960, serialled XM496 and named 'Regulus'. She was taken on RAFTC charge from 19 September 1960 and used within the Britannia pool from her acceptance. XM496 was withdrawn from RAF use on 27 October 1975 and stored at RAF Kemble with 18 413.45 hours and 8122 landings to her credit.

Purchased by Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd on 30 July 1984 and ferried to Luton for overhaul, sold to the Cuban Airline, AeroCaribbean, in August 1984. She was painted in their full livery, and registered CU-T120. CU-T120 operated her last flight on 21 March 1990 (thereby ending all Cuban Britannia operations). While flying between Peru and Havana, No. 4 engine was shut down, an emergency declared, and a landing at Guayaquil, Ecuador made. The following day a three-engined ferry was organised and on arrival at Havana, Cuba she was grounded due to lack of spares.

This aircraft was to become the Phoenix of the Britannia fleet as she was to become the last airworthy Britannia. Following sale to Transair Cargo the aircraft was flown via the UK as 9Q-CJH ‘Jack’ and operated with trans Service Airlift ltd. Reregistered as EL-WXA to Transair Cargo in August 1997 the aircraft was ........

....... subsequently flown to Kemble where the aircraft has been repainted in Royal Air Force Transport Command livery under the care of the Bristol Britannia XM496 Preservation Society with the aircraft's interior is being refurbished to RAFTC configuration.

An absolutely superb picture taken by Tim Skeet from a Jet Provost whilst overflying one of the RAF's last 3 Canberra overhead 'Regulus' at Kemble just days before the Canberras were sold to a private buyer. In fact just a week ago the Photo Recce Squadron was disbanded and after doing a final fly past at Marham during the flag laying up ceremony, all three flew direct to touch down at Kemble where they are currently in storage. Note that the airfield people cleared up the runway of cones etc. especially for this picture.  Tim Skeet has very kindly authorised the use of the photo "as you see fit" with the strict provision it is in solely support of Regulus and the Kemble activities and always carries a reference to him owning the copyright. It is not to be considered a part of anyone's collection or distributed outside of the Society.

Much appreciated Tim - with many thanks from all at XM496.com

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