XL657

SERIES 250 - VARIANT 253/Cmk1.

Constructors No. 13454 - Production No. 007

Built at Belfast - First flight 23.11.59 – C of A: Not known  

  Ordered by the Royal Air Force in December 1956, and built to contract 12829 this aircraft was delivered to No. 511 Squadron Royal Air Force Transport Command, serialled XL657 named 'Rigel'. Delivery to the Royal Air Force took place on 23 December 1959, she was transferred to the Britannia pool at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire on 24 February 1961 and was operated by both 99 and 511 Squadrons Royal Air Force. Following the disbandment of the Britannia fleets due to government cut backs, XL657 was withdrawn from service on 13 August 1975 and flown to RAF St Athan for storage. The total of her flying hours with the RAF was 18 781, and XL657 had carried out 8437 landings. Purchased by Monarch Airlines of Luton on 31 December 1975 she was flown to their base at Luton Airport and following an overhaul and minor repaint, was then flown on to Kigali Airport, Rwanda on 10 March 1976 following purchase by Center Air Afrique. The registration 9U-BAD was allocated on 5 March. Barely a year later 9U-BAD was impounded for the non payment of overdue debts and withdrawn from service at Charleroi, Belgium on 25 February 1977. 9U-BAD was later broken up and scrapped.