Registered G-BBDG to the British Aircraft Corporation Ltd.
1974 - Feb 13
Maiden flight from Filton, Bristol to nearby RAF Fairford. Although designated as a production aircraft G-BDDG, and its French counterpart F-WTSB, never actually entered service. They were used to undertake the final phase of testing and certification before the actual production aircraft were built. Tasks included aircrew training, route proving, endurance testing and technical refinement as well as acting as a test bed for production techniques.
1974 - Aug 7
G-BBDG flies to Bahrain for hot weather testing.
1974 - Aug 27
The aircraft departs on a sales demonstration tour of the Middle East.
1974 - Sep 3
G-BBDG flies to Singapore to undergo a series of runway trials.
1974 - Oct 21
G-BBDG flies to Casablanca, Morocco for certification testing.
1975 - Feb 28
The aircraft arrives in Madrid for further certification tests.
1984 - Apr 1
G-AXDN is acquired by British Airways as a source of spares for the main production fleet. The aircraft would be kept outside until 1988 when it was moved to a purpose built hanger in order to curtail the deterioration that was being caused by its exposure to the elements.
1995
The aircraft’s nose is used to replace that of G-BOAF’s which had been damaged in an accident.
2004 - May
Having been donated to the Brooklands Museum Trust, G-BBDG is moved to the museum’s Weybridge site where restoration work is started.
Final Resting Place
G-BBDG is currently being restored by the Brooklands Museum Trust. It is open for public viewing, for more information visit the web site at www.brooklandsmuseum.com
