XM520
SERIES
250 - VARIANT 253 / C mark 1
Constructors
No. 13514 - Production No. 005
Built
at Filton - First flight 09.03.60 C of A:
Not known
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XM520 was the last Britannia to be
built at Filton, and the seventh aircraft of
contract 15527. Wheeled out of the production
hangar on 8 January 1960 and delivered to No. 511
Squadron Royal Air Force Transport Command on 19
March 1960 she was named 'Arcturas'. XM520 joined
99 and 511 Squadrons' Britannia pool on 22 March
1961 at RAF Lyneham. Withdrawn from use by the
RAF, XM520 was stored at RAF St Athan, awaiting
sale or lease from 14 May 1975. At the end of her
RAF service she had 18 790.15 hours and 8446
landings logged. XM-520 was sold to Gemini Air
Transport on 16 September 1975. The title
Geminair was worn along with the new registration
9G-ACE, retaining most of the RAF colour scheme.
Redcoat Air Cargo Ltd operated 9G-ACE for one
year from May 1976 on a dry lease and management
contract until 6 May 1977. At the end of March
1981 9G-ACE had logged 25 646.37 hours and 9866
landings. She was registered 9Q-CUM, when
purchased by Lukum Air Services in September 1981.
Withdrawn from service and stored at Kinshasa,
Zaire, she was sold to Katale Aero Transport for
spares and broken up at Kinshasa in July 1986. |