XM490

SERIES 250 - VARIANT 253/Cmk1.

Constructors No. 13435 - Production No. 012

Built at Belfast - First flight 16.05.60 – C of A: Not known

Built to contract 14293 and delivered to Royal Air Force Transport Command at RAF Lyneham on 8 June 1960, allocated to No. 511 Squadron, she was serialled XM490 and named 'Alderbaran'. This aircraft was transferred to the Britannia pool on 7 November 1960. Withdrawn from RAF service in August 1975, XM490 was ferried to RAF St Athan on 13 August 1975 for storage with a total of 18 673 hours and 8637 landings to her credit. Purchased by Euroworld on 29 October 1975, she was flown to Luton Airport the next day before flying on to Stansted Airport the following day. Allocated the registration G-BDLZ when purchased on 17 November 1975 by U.M. Patel and M.I. Raj G-BDLZ was operated in their company name of Air Faisal. The livery was applied 'around the old' RAF livery and she was named 'Al Mubarak'. She was operated together with G-BEMZ (ex-XL660) between Bombay and Dubai. Leased to Air Works, India in December 1976, G-BDLZ was returned to Air Faisal in early September, 1977. Both of Air Faisal's Britannias were immobilized due in early August 1978 and by the end of August 1978, G-BDLZ had flown a total of 22 306.48 hours and carried out 9437 landings. G-BDLZ was withdrawn from use at Luton in May 1979 and broken up during September 1979.