12 October 2024
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Viscount Survivors


59 of the 444 Viscounts built survive as complete airframes or major components. Some are in very good condition and are looked after by museums while others are just wrecks. They can be found in 24 countries.

Viscount history


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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 2

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 2
Ministry of Supply


England flag England

This V.663 series Viscount was built for
Ministry of Supply as VX217

It first flew on Wednesday, 15 March 1950 at Wisley, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Tay engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
International Alloys Limited


Photo of Viscount c/n 2
Ministry of Supply


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
Ministry of Supply as VX217.

Its fate:-
Damaged beyond repair by fire due to a hydraulic failure in a wheel bay at Seighford Airfield, Staffordshire, England. The main wing spar was burnt through 31 December 1958.

Robbed of all useful parts and remains sold to International Alloys Ltd for metal salvage 8 July 1959.

Broken up for scrap in 1960 with a total time of 110 hours 15 minutes flying time.


Operational record
Photo of Ministry of Supply Viscount G-AHRG

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1946 to June 1949

Ministry of Supply

G-AHRG - c/n 2 - a V.663 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

17 April 1946
Specification Brabazon 11B 8/46 issued by the Ministry of Supply for two Armstrong Siddeley Mamba powered prototypes.

23 May 1946
Registered to the Ministry of Supply, Thames House, Millbank, London SW 1.

23 May 1946
This registration was intended for the second Vickers VC.2 Viceroy but the aircraft was not completed to this specification.

The civil registration was not applied to the aircraft.

Construction continued at Foxwarren, near Cobham, Surrey, England under revised Spec E.4/49 and transferred to Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for final assembly.

It was fitted with two Rolls-Royce RB.44 Tay RTa1 Turbojets to undertake control trials in support of the Vickers Valiant test programme.

The Tay engine was developed from the Nene and produced 6,250 lbs of static thrust.

The aircraft was better suited to the research work required as the Nene powered Vickers Viking was unpressurised.

8 June 1949
Civil registration finally cancelled as the aircraft was allocated a military serial number for trials use.


Photo of Ministry of Supply Viscount VX217

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1949 to July 1959

Ministry of Supply

VX217 - c/n 2 - a V.663 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

8 June 1949
Civil registration cancelled.

13 July 1949
The Ministry of Supply issued a Secret Document outlining the requirements that Vickers need to comply with in order to carry out the flight trials work in accordance with aircraft specification 8/46.

A military serial number was allocated in order to carry out flight trials for the development work relating to the Vickers Valiant.

15 March 1950
First flight from the 6,600 foot grass runway at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England piloted by Gabriel (Gabe) Robb 'Jock' Bryce.

A tarmac 6,688 foot runway at Wisley wasn't built until 1952.

1 May 1950
Departed from Wisley Airport, Surrey, England on a test flight flown by Vickers test pilots Gabriel (Gabe) Robb 'Jock' Bryce and Brian Alexander Powell. The flight lasted for 55 minutes.

1950
Delivered to the Ministry of Supply for high altitude trials and operated from Seighford Airfield, Staffordshire, England.

Exhibited at the 1950 SBAC show at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England including flying demonstrations.
SBAC show at
Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England

September 1950
Exhibited at the Society of British Aircraft Contructors (SBAC) air show at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England including flying demonstrations by Vickers test pilot Brian Trubshaw.

Leased to Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd and operated from Defford Airfield, Worcestershire, England on electrically powered flying control trials.

Leased to Louis Newmark Ltd for trials.

Leased to Decca Navigator Company.

1957
Returned to the Ministry of Supply at Seighford Airfield, Staffordshire, England.

31 December 1958
Damaged beyond repair by fire due to a hydraulic failure in a wheel bay at Seighford Airfield, Staffordshire, England.

The aircraft was declared as written off as the wing main spar was burnt through.

Total time of 110 hours 15 minutes.

8 July 1959
After the removal of all useful parts the remains were sold to International Alloys Ltd for metal salvage.


Photo of International Alloys Ltd Viscount VX217

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1959 to December 1960

International Alloys Ltd

VX217 - c/n 2 - a V.663 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

8 July 1959
Remains purchased from the Minitry of Supply for metal salvage.

1960
Remains finally scrapped.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

The Vickers Viscount Network is always interested to hear from anyone who has information or photographs to help complete the story of the Viscount. If you can help please contact us at
Information@VickersViscount.net.


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This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.