XL637

SERIES 250 - VARIANT 253/Cmk1.

Constructors No. 13399 - Production No. 003

Built at Belfast - First flight 12.05.59 – C of A: Not known  

Built to contract 12829, and delivered to Royal Air Force Transport Command on 26 June 1959, she was serialled XL637 and named 'Vega'. She was taken on charge by No. 99 Squadron from 28 June 1959 and operated within the Britannia pool at RAF Lyneham from 9 September 1960. Once withdrawn from RAF service, XL637 was flown to RAF Kemble for storage on 30 December 1975. By the end of December 1975, she had flown 18 673.45 hours and made 8243 landings. She was purchased by Captain J de Bry on 8 March 1976, and on 7 May 1976 XL637 was re-positioned at Southend for conversion to a variant 253F for civilian use by Aviation Traders Limited for operation by Young Air Cargo. Purchased by Young Air Cargo and operated as OO-YCH until leased to Liberia World Airways in August 1977 she was allocated the registration EL-LWH. OO-YCH was returned to Young Air Cargo in September 1977 and flown to Manston, Kent. Withdrawn from service on 2 December 1978. Purchased by Domaine de Katale on 27 April 1979, she was registered 9Q-CKG and flown to Ostend, Belgium. After flying to Goma, Kivu in Zaire, 9Q-CKG was re-registered 9Q-CBT and stored. Reportedly withdrawn from use and broken up which was confirmed in early 1992.