XL658

SERIES 250 - VARIANT 253/Cmk1.

Constructors No. 13455 - Production No. 008

Built at Belfast - First flight 03.12.59 – C of A: Not known  

Built to contract 12829, and delivered to RAF Transport Command on 4 February 1960. She was allocated to No. 511 Squadron, serialled XL658, and named 'Adhara'. She was used within the Britannia pool at RAF Lyneham. Withdrawn from use by the RAF, XL658 was stored at RAF Kemble in January 1975 until purchased by Airline Engineering of Luton on 26 May 1976. Registered EI-BBY on 18 June 1976 and delivered to the Intercontinental Meat Company, in the markings of Interconair at Hurn Airport, on 10 August 1976, named 'Deirdre'. Her career was short lived. Whilst approaching Shannon Airport on 30 September 1977, en-route to collect livestock, EI-BBY crash-landed and caught fire. Everyone aboard escaped without injury and a month later in October 1977, EI-BBY was broken up and scrapped following a career which totalled 20 205.49 flying hours and 8547 landings.