Vickers Vanguard Vickers Type 953

The Type 953, announced on 23 July 1957, combined the 951's engines with the 952's strengthened structure, letting it carry payloads of up to 13,000 kg and markedly improving BEA's operating costs. The airline converted part of its initial order and received fourteen, mostly operated as 135-seaters in a single class, although some were configured in the 127-seat mixed cabin like the 951s.

The BEA fleet passed to British Airways on 1 April 1974 and the type's last passenger flight with the new company was made on 16 June that year. By then the Vanguard had already found its second life: nine Type 953s were converted into V953C Merchantman freighters from 1969.