Vintage Aircraft & Flying Assoc. Vimy [1]

In May 1967 the Vintage Aircraft and Flying Association decided to build a Vimy replica to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Alcock and Brown's trans- Atlantic flight.

When told of the project Rolls-Royce began a world wide search for engines. Eventually they were successful and recovered three Eagle engines from Dutch canal barges two of which they stripped down and rebuilt; putting the first on bench test in August 1968.

The aircraft was completed on Friday 30 May 1969 at Weybridge with the original Rolls-Royce Eagle VIIIs. The following days were filled with final inspections and checks and on Tuesday 3 June at 6.40pm the aircraft took off on its first flight. It first flew at Wisley, un-marked, registered G-AWAU c/n VAFA.02 and pained as H651.

The aircraft went through an intensive flight test programme before receiving a Special Category Certificate of Airworthiness on 5 June. The next day the aircraft crossed the Channel to appear at the Paris Air Show. On 9 June it returned to the United Kingdom and two days later, after being repainted in service markings, flew to Ringway Airport, Manchester to become the centre of an Alcock and Brown exhibition.

It was badly damaged by fire at Ringway on 18 July 1969 while on display. It was repaired and donated to the RAF Museum where it went on display at Hendon as F8614.