XL640

SERIES 250 - VARIANT 253/Cmk1.

Constructors No. 13449 - Production No. 006

Built at Belfast - First flight 18.10.59 – C of A: Not known  

Built to contract 12829 her first flight was from Belfast on 8 October 1959 and delivered to No. 511 Squadron Royal Air Force Transport Command on 30 October 1959. Serialled XL640 and named 'Antares', this aircraft, along with all twenty series 253 Britannias was designated a C.mk l whilst in RAF service. She operated within the Britannia pool at RAF Lyneham from 16 January 1961. Withdrawn from service she was stored at RAF Kemble from 3 September 1975 with 17 359 hours and 7669 landings to her credit by the end of September 1975. She was purchased by Monarch Airlines of Luton on 13 January 1976 and stored at Coventry. She was later ferried to Luton Airport in September 1976 after purchase by Aer Turas fell through. Painted in the markings of Eurafric carrying a Rhino on the tail logo, she was known by the chaps at Airline Engineering as 'Rhino One'. Never operated by Eurafric, she exited the paintshop on 2 March 1977 registered EI-BCI for Aer Turas on 4 April 1977 and was leased by them from 31 March 1978. She returned to Eurafric on 10 April 1978. She was leased again by Aer Turas, from 25 May 1978 until 6 September 1978 when she returned once again to Eurafric. After a long spell at Luton Airport, Redcoat Air Cargo leased EI-BCI, repainted her in their livery (not very different from Eurafric's), registered G-BHAU and called her 'Amy'. She was accepted by them on 13 August 1979. In service with Redcoat Air Cargo Ltd by the end of March 1981 G-BHAU's flying hours had increased to 20 563.05 and her landings 8469. Purchased by Swordvale Aviation Limited on 2 December 1981 she was operated by Redcoat between Forli, Italy and Nigeria carrying cattle. Purchased by Katale Aero Transport in April 1982 and registered 9Q-CHU she was later withdrawn from service and stored at Kinshasa, Zaire and broken up for scrap in 1986.