В авиакомпании BEA данный Viking 610 G-AHPL получил название «Verdant». Свои Viking компания заменила в 1954 году, на тот момент они перевезли 3 млн пассажиров.

Viking IB G-AIXR was one of the later additions to the fleet of Airwork, which acquired some earlier Viking Is for its first post-war airline operations.

Vickers ultimately sidestepped the Geosteel concept intended for the Warwick Continental and opted instead for the much more conventional VC1, which became the Viking, as seen here. It was initially fitted with fabric-clad wings and tail, but later production aircraft had metal wings and empennages. Some 168 were built.

Largest exhibit at N&S is Vickers Valetta C2 VX580 which was built at Weybridge and was first flown on February 1, 1950. It worked hard throughout its RAF career serving in turn with: Handling Squadron during 1950; Malta Communications Squadron from 1953; 114 Squadron at Kabrit from 1954; Aden Communications Flight 1955; Middle East Communications Squadron, Nicosia, 1955; Metropolitan Communications Squadron, Northolt, 1961-68. During this period it had a series of spells in storage, plus refits and repairs. Presented to the Norfolk Air Scouts, it was flown from Coltishall to Norwich Airport on December 12, 1968. (Illustrated there in October 1977.)

Established in 1974, the Norfolk & Suffolk (N&S) Aviation Museum can be found at Flixton, Suffolk, near Bungay. It is located but a short distance from the former Bungay (Flixton) aerodrome which was home to the B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group. Following steady expansion, the museum moved to its present location in 1990. Part of the extensive site includes a Nissen-hut devoted to the life and times of the 446th. A large ‘half-round’ display hangar (centre) has been established and there is a large aircraft park. (The Valetta, right, was undergoing a repaint; the dark colour on the under surfaces being a primer coat.)

22 июня 1945г.: первый полет в Уизли, графство Сюррей, прототипа Vickers VC1 Viking (G-AGOK), в конструкции которого использовали хвостовое оперение самолета Warwick V и крыло от Wellington

The Vickers-Armstrong V.C.1 Viking Transport Monoplane (two 1,675 h.p. Bristol Hercules 130 engines).

Vickers Viking 1A G-AGRN, photographed by the author from a Wellington rear turret in 1946. This aircraft later went to the RAF as VW216.

The Vickers-Armstrong V.C.1 Viking Transport Monoplane (two 1,675 h.p. Bristol Hercules 130 engines).

The first Viking ever to carry French civil marks, F-BFDN ex- G-AJBW, appeared at Blackbushe during the month.

Also at Heathrow, Overseas Aviation's G-ALHP, in August 1961. Among the aircraft behind are BEA 'Pionair'-class Douglas Dakota G-AHCX and an Air Safaris Vickers Viking.

Hunting’s Viking 1, G-AHPJ, joined G-AJFS (c/n 147) at Luqa, the two continuing together for the rest of the outbound flight to Nairobi, although they only flew together for the inaugural service. The Hunting machine had the distinction of being the first Viking to be delivered to an independent UK operator, back in May 1947.

The two Vikings at Wadi Haifa on the outward journey. The airport is about eight miles (14km) east of the town and only accessible by means of a dusty track. Wadi Haifa was of particular interest to John, as his childhood hero, Sir Alan Cobham, had stopped there during his pioneering survey flight to Cape Town in South Africa for Imperial Airways in 1925.

Hunting stewardess Joan Jeffries seeks refuge from the blazing sun in the thatched hut used for customs at Juba on the return journey. On the apron outside is Airwork’s G-AJFS, which departed for Khartoum shortly before John boarded G-AHPJ to follow in its wake.

The Airwork Viking taking on fuel from a bowser at one of the more remote stops on the outward journey. Viking G-AJFS had made its first flight in August 1947 and was delivered new to Airwork the following month.

On the outbound journey from Blackbushe to Nairobi, the stewardess aboard Viking 1B G-AJFS (c/n 237) was Ema Ferguson, whom John photographed beside the aircraft as it was being refuelled at one of the route’s early stops, possibly Malta, before pushing on to the next waypoint on the inaugural return Safari Service on June 14-20, 1952.

Airwork Viking IB G-AIXR, in which the Author flew from and to Malta. It served Airwork from new in April 1947 until April 1959 when it joined Tradair and later Channel Airways. It was scrapped in 1963 at Southend.

Снятые с эксплуатации в BEA самолеты Viking были проданы небольшим британским авиаперевозчикам. Например, изображенный здесь G-AHOY принадлежал "Hunting", "Eagle", "Pegasus", "Autair" (на снимке), "Claydon Aviation" и "Invicta".

Наиболее активно Viking эксплуатировала авиакомпания "British European Airways", заменившая им свои Douglas DC-3.

Vickers Viking G-AGRU in BEA livery.

"British West Indian Airways" эксплуатировала восемь Viking Mk 1, имевших крыло с работающей обшивкой. Данный самолет позже эксплуатировался британской "Eagle Aviation".

A Vickers-Armstrongs Viking IB Airliner of Central African Airways.

Eagle Airways’ Vickers Viking G-AJCD at Luqa in March 1961. Initially operated by BEA and named Vizor, later re-named Lord Barnham, this Viking was purchased by Eagle in October 1954. It was later used for trooping flights, as XF633 and then XG350.

The Vickers Viking made up a large part of the Hunting-Clan fleet, the airline acquiring a total of 13, although one was for spares use only. This example, G-AGRW, originally flew with BEA as Vagabond, and is seen here at Heathrow on November 12, 1954.

Vickers Viking G-AHPG made its first flight on November 28, 1946, and joined British European Airways (BEA) in March 1947. Given the BEA fleet name Velocity, the aircraft was actually sold almost immediately to Central African Airways, with which it operated as VP-YHJ, named Sabi. After a spell with South African airline Suidair as ZS-DDO, it was returned to Central African in 1950 before being sold to Hurn-based Independent Air Travel, with which it is seen here back as G-AHPG. By 1960 it was operating with Air Sud Kasai.

Первый Mk IB достался "Indian National Airways", всего же компания приобрела шесть таких машин, а еще девять купила "Air India". Компании позже вошли в состав "Indian Airlines Corporation".

Beirut’s strategic location as a key transit point in the Middle East made it no stranger to regular exotic visitors, including this Ilyushin Il-14 from the Soviet Union. Rather more workaday is the Kuwait Oil Co Ltd Vickers Viking beside it, G-AGRU (c/n 112), still extant today and on display at Brooklands Museum, near Weybridge in Surrey.

With the Mediterranean sparkling in the background, passengers board Misrair Viking SU-AGN (c/n 196) for a flight to Cairo. The aircraft had originally seen service with Danish airline DDL (which became part of SAS) before being sold to Misrair in September 1949. Sadly, it crashed at Menzalah Lake in Egypt on March 7, 1958.

The adjacent Changes of Ownership include Viking I, G-AHOS "Sirius", resplendent in the green livery of Orion Airways

The Vickers Type 623 Viking seen at Luqa on October 4, 1961 in the livery of Tradair was originally an RAF Viking C.2 of the Queen's Flight. Tradair received three of the Flight's Vikings in 1958. One of them was subsequently registered G-APOP, seen here. In December 1962 it was bought by Channel Airways Ltd. In April 1965 'OP was finally withdrawn from service to languish at Southend.

These two Vikings, CR-IAC (ex-G-AHPP) and CR-AID (ex-G-AIVB) were at Blackbushe recently, where they have been overhauled by Eagle Aviation Ltd., for Transportes Aereos Da India Portuguesa.

Another photograph of Vickers Viking IB ZS-DPA, with both engines running, taxying out at Luqa in March 1961.

“Tell the passengers another ten minutes!” Hand-swinging the port propeller of Vickers Viking ZS-DPA at Luqa in March 1961; the starter trolley was unserviceable. This Viking IB was initially delivered as OY-DLO, became SU-AGM and then joined the fleet of PROTEA.

With its natural metal finish flashing in the North African sun, Hunting’s G-AHPJ was captured by John’s camera from the cabin of G-AJFS while flying over the Libyan Desert on the El Adem - Wadi Haifa sector. The Hunting Viking was enjoying a second lease of life, having been completely rebuilt after a crash at Croydon in 1947.

A Vickers-Armstrongs Viking I Airliner (two Bristol Hercules engines) as supplied to the Argentine Government.

Destined for the Argentine air force, T90 is one of a number of ex-B.E.A. Viking IBs, originally cocooned at London Airport.

One of two of Cosford’s aircraft being stored outside during refurbishment of the Aerospace Museum’s hangars is Vickers Valetta C.2 VX573. Once indoors again, the Valetta will be displayed, minus its outer wings, next to Viking 1A G-AGRU.

A Vickers-Armstrongs Viking C.Mk.I (two Bristol Hercules engines) of The King’s Flight, R.A.F.

This Valetta C.2 (VX560) has various modifications including a ventral radome and a protrusion from the tail-cone.

Vickers Valetta C.1.

Viking I VL246 of the King's Flight takes off from snow-covered Wisley in 1947. In December 1958 this aircraft was registered G-APOP and later flew with Channel Airways.

King’s Flight Viking VL247, later the Queen's aeroplane, was subsequently sold to Tradair as G-APOR.

Viking стал первым послевоенным пассажирским и грузовым авиалайнером, и на его базе для британских ВВС была разработана модификация Vickers Valetta - для перевозки личного состава и различных грузов. Прототип Valetta совершил первый полет 30 июня 1947 года. Он отличался от Viking 1В усиленным полом кабины, большими грузовыми дверями по правому борту, новым шасси, усовершенствованной топливной системой и более мощными двигателями Bristol Hercules 230. Самолет Valetta C.Mk 1 (фото) мог перевозить до 34 военнослужащих, 20 десантников или сбрасываемый груз. В мае 1949 года самолет поступил в 204-ю эскадрилью в Эль-Кабрите (Египет) и постепенно сменил в Транспортном командовании британских ВВС машины Douglas Dakota, хорошо зарекомендовав себя во время конфликта в Малайе, где самолеты этого типа сбросили более 2000 т груза для снабжения британских войск, воевавших в джунглях.

The RAF replaced the Wellington T.10 with another Vickers product, the Valetta T.3. WJ467 joined 201 Advanced Flying School at Swinderby in March 1952 and later served with 6 Air Navigation School al Lichfield. It was converted to a T.4 radar trainer 1955-57 and joined 228 Operational Conversion Unit at Iteming from mid-1957. It was destroyed in a crash near Leaning on August 6, 1958.

Valetta C.Mk 2 был схож с модификацией Mk 1, но предназначался для VIP-перевозок, имел кабину на 9-15 пассажиров и, благодаря увеличенному запасу топлива, имел большую дальность полета. Учебная модификация, Valetta T.Mk 3 (фото), поступила на вооружение британских ВВС в 1950 году для подготовки штурманов. Самолет имел ряд надфюзеляжных астрокуполов; было построено 40 таких машин. В 1966 году самолеты Valetta были сняты с эксплуатации в транспортных эскадрильях британских ВВС.

With port Rotol four-blade airscrew feathered, this unusually long-nosed (radar) Vickers Valetta (WJ465) comes in to land.

These photograph show the Valetta WJ470 in one piece.

RAF Vickers Valetta VX560 landing at Kuching on June 1, 1965.

Donated to N&S in March 1982, VX580 had one more ‘flight’ in her. With outer wings and engines removed and must of the interior fittings taken out, the Valetta was flown as underslung cargo to Flixton on May 27, 1982, care of 7 Squadron and a Chinook HC.1. Restoration has been continuing ever since.

Flight Officer Charles Phillips checks the map in the cockpit of G-AJFS during the outbound flight.

The square cabin windows of the Viking provided good views of the exotic sights below for the passengers, John particularly noting that the over-desert sectors were not as boring as one might imagine: “There is a great variety of colour and many interesting types of hill formation, while the oases of Siwa, Farafra and Dakhla can all be seen before the Nile appears at the Egyptian-Sudanese border. ”

The spartan interior of the Viking, photographed in October 1960. As it was used for both freight and passenger services, the seats would be fitted or removed as required. Sold at a public auction in a non-airworthy condition, G-AHPG ended its days as a snack bar.

Valetta WJ470. What happens when the "perfect" landing doesn't go just according to plan.

The Warwick Continental was to have used Barnes Wallis’s “Geosteel” method of woven metal covering, as seen HERE in Wallis’s patent GB580574.

A previously unpublished original Vickers three-view illustration of the Warwick Continental, which, unsurprisingly, bears more than a passing resemblance to the company’s VC1, which became the Viking. The Warwick Continental was to have used Barnes Wallis’s “Geosteel” method of woven metal covering.

The Vickers Viking I Airliner.

The Vickers-Armstrong V.C.1 Viking Transport.