| Built
as part of contract 15527, delivered to the Royal
Air Force Transport Command at RAF Lyneham on 17
September 1960, serialled XM496 and named 'Regulus'.
She was taken on RAFTC charge from 19 September
1960 and used within the Britannia pool from her
acceptance. XM496 was withdrawn from RAF use on
27 October 1975 and stored at RAF Kemble with 18
413.45 hours and 8122 landings to her credit. |
 |
| Purchased
by Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd on 30 July
1984 and ferried to Luton for overhaul, sold to
the Cuban Airline, AeroCaribbean, in August 1984.
She was painted in their full livery, and
registered CU-T120. CU-T120 operated her last
flight on 21 March 1990 (thereby ending all Cuban
Britannia operations). While flying between Peru
and Havana, No. 4 engine was shut down, an
emergency declared, and a landing at Guayaquil,
Ecuador made. The following day a three-engined
ferry was organised and on arrival at Havana,
Cuba she was grounded due to lack of spares. |
 |
| This
aircraft was to become the Phoenix of the
Britannia fleet as she was to become the last
airworthy Britannia. Following sale to Transair
Cargo the aircraft was flown via the UK as 9Q-CJH
‘Jack’ and operated with trans Service
Airlift ltd. Reregistered as EL-WXA to Transair
Cargo in August 1997 the aircraft was ........ |
 |
| .......
subsequently flown to Kemble where the aircraft
has been repainted in Royal Air Force Transport
Command livery under the care of the Bristol
Britannia XM496 Preservation Society with the
aircraft's interior is being refurbished to RAFTC
configuration. |
 |
An absolutely superb picture (below)
taken by Tim Skeet from a Jet Provost whilst
overflying one of the RAF's last 3 Canberra
aircraft overhead 'Regulus' at Kemble just days before the
Canberras were sold to a private buyer. In fact
just a week ago the Photo Recce Squadron was
disbanded and after doing a final fly past at
Marham during the flag laying up ceremony, all
three flew direct to touch down at Kemble where
they are currently in storage. Note that the
airfield people cleared up the runway of cones
etc. especially for this picture. Tim Skeet
has very kindly authorised the use of the photo
"as you see fit" with the strict
provision it is in solely support of Regulus and
the Kemble activities and always carries a
reference to him owning the copyright. It is not
to be considered a part of anyone's collection or
distributed outside of the Society.
Much appreciated Tim - with many
thanks from all at XM496.com
|
|
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|
Regulus was washed by Serco from Brize Norton and we have now
managed to get the starboard flash and number attached. She
looks splendid in her 'in service' livery and she is a credit to
all who continually spend their time and efforts keeping this
aircraft in a superb 'static' display condition. |
