G-AOVM
/ XX367
SERIES 310 - VARIANT 312
Constructors No. 13421 -
Production No. 048
Built at Filton - First
flight 29.04.58 C of A: 13.05.58
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Ordered by
BOAC she was flown to Marshall's of Cambridge for
fitting out on 13 May 1958 and delivered to BOAC
at London (Heathrow) Airport on 10 June 1958. G-AOVM
went into service on 26 June 1958 as BA 581/130.
On 27 February 1963 while at Richmond, G-AOVM was
taxiing onto the apron after landing when she
rolled on to soft ground approximately 15 feet
from the hard standing. G-AOVM operating as BA
RCH 3374 was delayed for six hours while waiting
for equipment to tow her out. The last service
that G-AOVM operated for BOAC was on 26 March
1964 on a flight from Salisbury to London as BA
922/086.
British Eagle International Airlines
leased this aircraft on a five year hire-purchase
agreement and she was delivered on 29 March 1964.
Later named 'Team Spirit', she was purchased by
British Eagle and converted to a 312F at Speke,
Liverpool in December 1967. G-AOVM operated
British Eagle's last flight on 7 November 1968
whilst positioning following the demise of
British Eagle International Airlines. G-AOVM was
purchased by Air Spain on 6 March 1969 and re-registered
EC-BSY, wearing full livery from 1 December 1969.
Use by the Australian airline Southern Cross
International did not take place and although the
livery was applied, it was removed prior to
leaving the hangar.
Withdrawn from service and sold to
the Ministry of Defence in November 1971 and
operated in the markings of Aircraft and Armament
Experimental Establishment (A&AEE Boscombe
Down) retained the name 'Team Spirit', serialled
XX367. Received at Boscombe Down on 3 May 1972.
By the end of March 1981 this aircraft had flown
33 100.10 hours and landed 10 203 times. XX367
celebrated her 25th Anniversary when she flew
back into Filton on 29 April 1983 under the
command of Flight Lt. David Berry and Sqdn Ldr
Ken Newman. The flight engineer was Alan Kidson.
All were members on the Air Transport Flight 'B 'Sqdn.
Also on board was Sqdn Ldr Clive Osborne.
Withdrawn from service by the MOD, XX367 was
ferried to Cranfield under the Command of
Squadron Leader David Berry for storage until
delivery to Katale Aero Transport registered as 9Q-CHY
in March 1984, named 'Hubert'. Purchased by
Business Cash Flow Aviation and retained the name
'Team Spirit'. Following a revision of BCF's
livery, 9Q-CHY was repainted to match their
Boeing 707 and a new name was applied to her nose
section - 'Mwenye Mikebwe', the grandmother of Dr
Mayani. At the end of January 1991, it was
reported that 9Q-CHY was still in operation,
following a heavy check 2 'Zairean style'
overhaul, which possibly included the fitting of
a new freight floor. This was the one and only
Britannia aircraft still operating in 1991. Now
broken up at Kinshasa.
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