Lambton Lion Park: Aeroplane

How many people remember a full-size aeroplane in Lambton Lion Park? It was introduced to the park in 1976 and by then was already 23 years old with a very 'colourful' history. 

Above: picture extracted from a Lambton Lion Park guide showing the aircraft in the park

The aircraft was built as part of a 26-aircraft order from British European Airways Corporation (BEA) for type V.701 aircraft. It was built by Vickers Armstrong Aircraft Ltd. at their Weybridge factory in Surrey in 1953. It was designed to accommodate 47 passengers and was equipped with four Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 505 engines. It first flew on 26 June 1953 and its Certificate of Airworthiness was issued on 8th July 1953. On 13th July it was delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R.M.A. Sir Edward Parry' and registered with call-sign G-AMOE.

Between May 1955 and December 1956, all BEA V.701 aircraft were gradually retrofitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines which were upgraded using modified Mark 505 engines and the designation V.701A was applied to all retrofitted aircraft.

On 13 March 1964, G-AMOE was bought from BEA by Channel Airways. It was then leased by Channel Airways to British Eagle International Airlines on 26th March 1964 and was re-named "City of Manchester." It was then sub-leased to Starways, not returning to Channel Airways until December 1964. On 20th January 1965, G-AMOE was sold by Channel Airways to Cambrian Airways.

Below is a selection of images of G-AMOE during her various phases of ownership. The owner / copyright has been acknowledged where known and more can be added by contacting the webmaster via the email address on the Home Page of this website.

Above: An early image of G-AMOE, location and date unknown

Above: G-AMOE, Heathrow, 1964

 Above: G-AMOE at London Heathrow, 1964 

Above: G-AMOE in flight operated by Cambrian Airways, approaching Tempelhof Airport Berlin, 2nd January 1966 

Above: G-AMOE, Newcastle Woolsington, 1966

Above: G-AMOE, Schipol, 1966

Above: G-AMOE at Cardiff Airport, 1967

Above and Below: G-AMOE. Locations unknown

Above: G-AMOE on the left at Liverpool Speke Airport with sister-aircraft G-AMOH to the right

Above: G-AMOE in flight, 1967

Above: G-AMOE, Southampton, 1967

Above: G-AMOE, Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man c.1970

On 15th July 1966, G-AMOE was involved in a collision at Liverpool's Speke Airport. G-AMOE had reported hydraulic problems; engineers worked on the problem then taxied the aircraft for a test roll. After failing to stop, it clipped the wing of Aer Lingus Viscount c/n 421 EI-AKO and continued into the terminal doors and suffered extensive damage.    

Above and below: aftermath of the collision with the terminal building and a luggage cart

 Above and Below: damage to G-AMOE resulting from the collision. 

By 1st November 1966, G-AMOE had been repaired and returned to full service with Cambrian. 

By late 1971, G-AMOE had reached the end of its flying days and on 6th January 1972 was sold to Northeast Airlines where it was broken up. The forward part of the fuselage was used as a cabin trainer for the company at Woolsington airport, which was later to become Newcastle Airport.  G-AMOE's total flying time was 28,803 hours, with 24,429 landings.

Above: in April 1974 Northeast Airlines merged into British Airways and in August 1976, the tail section of another aircraft, Viscount G-AOHJ was mated with the forward fuselage of G-AMOE. 

In April 1977 the complete 'aircraft' was sold to Lambton Pleasure Park where it was given the fictitious registration G-WHIZ, where it became a popular tourist attraction. 

In 1981, it was moved from Lambton Park to Saltwell Park in Gateshead where it was photographed on May 1st of that year by photographer Derek Heley, by whose kind permission the following photograph (below-left) is reproduced :

Below are later photographs also taken at Saltwell Park; note the "SP" logo on the nose of the plane.

The aircraft was finally broken up for scrap on 8 March 1993 and went to a yard near Heworth.

The other aircraft involved, G-AOHJ, was a series V.802 Viscount with constructor's No.159. It first flew on 7 March 1957 and went to BEA, later transferring to the merged British Airways on 31 July 1973. On 6 April 1976 G-AOHJ was withdrawn from use at Woolsington and in August of that year was broken up for scrap.