XL639

SERIES 250 - VARIANT 253/Cmk1.

Constructors No. 13448 - Production No. 005

Built at Belfast - First flight 28.08.59 – C of A: Not known  

Built to contract 12829, her maiden flight was from Belfast on 28 August 1959 and she was delivered to No.99 Squadron Royal Air Force Transport Command on 8 October 1959. Serialled XL639 she was named 'Atria'. During her service and like all other RAF Britannia's, XL639 wore the titles Royal Air Force Transport Command, Royal Air Force Air Support Command and finally Royal Air Force, on the upper part of her fuselage. She operated within the Britannia pool at RAF Lyneham from 12 October 1960. Withdrawn from service on 23 October 1974 she was stored at RAF Kemble. After purchase by the Guinness Peat Aviation Company on 10 February 1976, her RAF markings were painted out. She was withdrawn from service after a few months at Stansted Airport, Essex in May 1976. The Irish registration EI-BDC was applied at Stansted Airport. EI-BDC never saw active service for Guinness Peat and was sold to Airline Engineering of Luton on 10 February 1977. She was leased by Aer Turas and operated without titles from 18 June 1977. Sub-leased to Cyprus Airways on 19 June 1977 returning to Aer Turas on 5 July 1977, and back to Airline Engineering in September 1977. Cyprus Airways leased EI-BDC from 17 September 1977 returning her to Airline Engineering on 8 October 1977. She went back to Cyprus Airways in October 1977 returning on 7 November 1977. Purchased by Eurafric on 20 January 1978 she was operated by them until purchased by Redcoat Air Cargo on 4 June 1978. Painted in full livery and registered G-BRAC, she was named 'Christian'. Working with G-AOVS these two Britannias were seen regularly in the BBC Television series 'Buccaneer'. During the series the livery remained the same except for a title change to 'Redair'. At the end of June 1978, G-BRAC had made a total of 7617 landings and flew 19 016.08 hours. On a return flight from Boston to Shannon on 16 February 1980, G-BRAC was lost on take-off in severe icing conditions, near Billerica, Mass, killing six of the seven people on board.