XL640
SERIES 250 - VARIANT 253 /
C mark 1
Constructors No. 13449 -
Production No. 006
Built at Belfast - First
flight 18.10.59 C of A: Not known
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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 Withdrawn from service she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and registered 9Q-CHU she was later withdrawn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.
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