20 April 2024
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Viscount Survivors

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.

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Featured pages

Our website contains over 20,000 pages of photos and information that can all be accessed from the menu at the top of every page. Here are a few to get you started.


In the Beginning

The Turboprop World-Beater

Sir George Edwards

The Rolls-Royce Dart

c/n 1 G-AHRF V.630
The Prototype Viscount

c/n 2 VX217 V.663
The Tay powered Viscount

c/n 3 G-AMAV V.700
The V.700 series prototype

c/n 4 G-ALWE V.701
The first BEA Viscount

c/n 5 G-ALWF V.701
The oldest surviving Viscount

c/n 8 F-BGNK V.708
The first Air France Viscount

c/n 30 EI-AFV V.707
The first Aer Lingus Viscount

c/n 40 CF-TGI V.724
The first TCA Viscount

c/n 44 VH-TVA V.720
The first TAA Viscount

c/n 67 YI-ACK V.735
The first Iraqi Airways Viscount

c/n 70 CF-GXK V.737
The first Canadian DoT Viscount

c/n 71 VP-TBK V.702
The first BOAC Associated
Companies Viscount

c/n 74 G-ANRR V.732
The first Hunting-Clan Viscount

c/n 77 LN-FOF V.736
The first Fred Olsen Viscount

c/n 79 IU-683 V.723
The first Indian Air Force Viscount

c/n 88 N7402 V.744
The first Capital Airlines Viscount

c/n 97 VH-BAT V.747
The first Butler Air
Transport Viscount


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

Viscount c/n 7

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 7
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

This V.701 series Viscount was built for
British European Airways Corporation (BEA) as G-AMOG

It first flew on Wednesday, 11 February 1953 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 505 engines.

During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Cambrian Airways, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), British Airways (BA) and the RAF Museum Cosford

Photo of Viscount c/n 7
National Museum of Flight


Scotland flag Scotland

Its final owner/operator was
National Museum of Flight as G-AMOG.

Its fate:-
Donated by British Airways (BA) and displayed as part of the British Airways collection at the RAF Museum, Cosford Airfield, Shropshire, England and delivered 2 May 1976. Repainted in early BEA red stripe livery in 1980.

Donated to the National Museums of Scotland for display at the Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, Scotland and moved in August 2006.

Currently stored in a dismantled condition with the fuselage under cover pending funds to allow a full restoration.

A BOAC 'Scottish Prince' livery would be appropriate.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the museum closed to the general public 17 March 2020 but has since reopened.

The wings have now been moved outside, protected in the same way as the fuselage.

The museum is now operating normally.

Will they ever put this fine aircraft back together again!


Operational record
Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount G-AMNZ *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1952 to January 1953

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

G-AMNZ * - c/n 7 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

August 1949
Discussions concluded between Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd and British European Airways Corporation (BEA) regarding the specification for the Type 701 aircraft.

Accommodation for 47 passengers at a gross weight of 53,000 lbs was specified with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 505 engines.

3 August 1950
Order placed by British European Airways Corporation (BEA) for 20 Type 701 aircraft which was later increased to 26.

23 May 1952
Registered to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.

This was the 4th Type 701 Viscount ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

Production Aircraft No. 4 - the 4th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 4th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 4th Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F04/701. Sales Order No. F04/84A. Stock Order No. F04/10B.

5 April 1952
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

5 June 1952
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

14 January 1953
Registration to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd cancelled.

15 January 1953
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA).


Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-AMNZ *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1953 to March 1953

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AMNZ * - c/n 7 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

15 January 1953
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA), Keyline House, Ruislip, Middlesex.

30 January 1953
Engine ground running commenced.

11 February 1953
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.

18 March 1953
Re-registered to British European Airways (BEA) as G-AMOG.

G-AMNZ was then used on C/N 20.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-AMOG *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1953 to January 1963

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AMOG * - c/n 7 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

18 March 1953
Re-registered from G-AMNZ.

27 March 1953
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Robert Falcon Scott'.

It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 505 engines.

The cabin was fitted out with a 47 seat all-tourist class layout.

2 April 1953
Certificate of Airworthiness issued.

2 April 1953
Operated a proving flight from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Nicosia Airport, Cyprus via Ciampino Airport, Rome, Italy with Captains A S Johnson and William 'Bill' Baillie.

1954 to 1962
The original ‘cutlass’ design propeller blades were gradually replaced by new symmetrical ‘needle’ blade propeller sets.

From photographic evidence, both propeller types were fitted to Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3, Mark 505 and Mark 506 engines and many aircraft flew with an ‘intermix’ of both types of propeller blades.

Port undercarriage collapsed during an emergency landing while returning to Ciampino Airport, Rome, Italy.
Port undercarriage collapsed
at Ciampino, Rome, Italy

24 October 1954
Port undercarriage collapsed during an emergency landing while returning to Ciampino Airport, Rome, Italy due to technical problems with the undercarriage shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was on a London - Rome - Athens - Istanbul service. All 36 passengers and crew on board escaped without injury.

Repaired locally.

May 1955 to December 1956
All BEA Type 701 aircraft were gradually retrofitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines which were upgraded using modified Mark 505 engines.

Aircraft are known to have flown with an ‘intermix’ of both engine marks between these dates.

When completely retro-fitted with Mark 506 engines, the V.701A designation was applied to these aircraft although this has not been seen widely used or quoted.

16 June 1955
Operated the first Viscount service from Ringway Airport, Manchester, England to Linate Airport, Milan, Italy piloted by Captain R E Preston.

1957
This Viscount makes a brief appearance in the film 'Time Without Pity'.

9 June 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport on the day that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially re-opened the airport.

3 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

March 1959
A new BEA 'Red Square' livery was adopted and aircraft were repainted during the early 1960s when they next went in for overhaul.

Sadly, after repainting, the aircraft no longer carried a name including the nameplate on the forward cabin bulkhead.

22 October 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.

11 June 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Jersey Airport, Channel Islands weather diversion.

24 January 1963
Sold to Cambrian Airways.


Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-AMOG *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1963 to April 1972

Cambrian Airways

G-AMOG * - c/n 7 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

24 January 1963
Purchased from British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

28 January 1963
Delivered to Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England as their second Viscount.

30 January 1963
First commercial Viscount service for Cambrian from Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales to Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland with a party of rugby fans.

14 February 1963
Registered to Cambrian Airways.

1 March 1963
Operated the first scheduled Viscount service from Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales to Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France via Lulsgate Airport, Bristol, England and Hurn Airport, Hampshire, England.

1 April 1963
Operated the first scheduled Cambrian Viscount service from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man.

Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'White Cabin' livery.
Cambrian Airways
'White Cabin' livery

November 1967
Cambrian Airways became a wholly owned subsidiary of British Air Services (BAS) and the name was added to the aircraft.

circa 1968
Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'White Cabin' livery.

20 February 1968
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion.

Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'British Air Services' livery.
Cambrian Airways
'British Air Services' livery

circa 1969
Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'British Air Services (BAS)' livery.

Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'Blue Tail' livery.
Cambrian Airways
'Blue Tail' livery

circa 1970
Painted in the Cambrian Airways 'Blue Tail' livery.

circa March 1971
Noted stored at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.

28 March 1972
Rolled out at Heathrow Airport, London, England in BOAC livery named as 'Scottish Prince'.

1 April 1972
Leased to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).


Photo of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Viscount G-AMOG *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1972 to July 1973

British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC)

G-AMOG * - c/n 7 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 April 1972
Leased from Cambrian Airways in full BOAC livery and delivered from Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales to Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland.

It was operated by Cambrian Airways crews and used on the feeder service from Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland, Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, Scotland and Aldergrove Airport, Belfast, Northern Ireland to Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland.

This was necessary at the time because there were no long-haul international flights approved from these three airports. Passengers then transferred to several BOAC transcontinental routes.

27 October 1972
Officially named as 'Scottish Prince'.

31 July 1973
Transferred to British Airways (BA) due to a corporate merger involving Cambrian Airways and BOAC.


Photo of British Airways (BA) Viscount G-AMOG *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1973 to April 1976

British Airways (BA)

G-AMOG * - c/n 7 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 July 1973
Transferred from Cambrian Airways due to a corporate merger while the aircraft was on lease to BOAC who were also absorbed.

The trading name of ‘British Airways’ was formally adopted at this time, however the full merger of it’s forming companies (BEA, BOAC, Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines) did not take place until 1 April 1974 when BEA formally ceased to exist and the entire Viscount fleet became part of the new British Airways Regional Division.

The full integration of pilots and remaining aircraft from the previous fleets did not occur until 1 April 1976. Some Viscounts had small ‘British Airways’ titles applied to the forward lower fuselage from mid 1973 and for the former BEA Type 802 fleet the ‘BEA’ part of the main upper fuselage titling was painted over, leaving only 'Scottish Airways' or 'Channel Islands'. After September 1973 the main titling on the upper fuselage was painted over with ‘British Airways’ and the former operating division or company (Channel, Scottish, Cambrian or Northeast) was applied to most aircraft as a small title to the lower fuselage adjacent to the propellers.

Also during September 1973 the first aircraft to be painted in the new British Airways (BA) corporate livery appeared that also included the 'Cambrian' or 'Northeast' small title to the lower fuselage adjacent to the propellers for ex Cambrian and Northeast aircraft. These were retained past the mid 1970s.

There followed a period of several months where 22 of the 33 Viscounts transferred to British Airways were gradually painted in the new British Airways livery. The remaining 11 Type 802 aircraft retained the basic BEA livery with ‘British Airways’ main titling and ‘Channel’ or ‘Scottish’ sub-titling until retired in 1975/76.

1 April 1974
Cambrian Airways officially became part of British Airways Regional Division.

31 March 1976
Performed a ceremonial flypast in formation with Viscount G-AMON (C/N 27) at Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland after a final passenger service.

It was then ferried to Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales for storage along with Viscount G-AMON.

The shuttle services continued until March 1977 operated by two leased British Midland Airways (BMA) Type 814 Viscounts. These were G-BAPE (C/N 341) and G-BAPG (C/N 344).

27 April 1976
Loaned to the RAF Museum at Cosford Airfield, Shropshire, England.

FURTHER READING: Books about British Airways (BA)



Photo of RAF Museum Cosford Viscount G-AMOG *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1976 to May 2006

RAF Museum Cosford

G-AMOG * - c/n 7 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

27 April 1976
Loaned by British Airways (BA) in full BA livery. It was initially maintained by British Airways apprentices.

2 May 1976
Ferried from Rhoose, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales to Cosford Airfield, Shropshire, England and displayed as part of the British Airways collection.

Total time 30,045 hours and 27,340 total landings.

17 May 1976
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

14 June 1977
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired.

1980
Repainted in the British European Airways Corporation (BEA) 'red stripe' livery named as 'R M A Robert Falcon Scott'.

1 May 2006
After a joint review by the museum's Board of Trustees and British Airways (BA) the aircraft was donated to the National Museums of Scotland for display at the National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, East Lothian, Scotland.

A statement from the RAF Museum said the review has arisen due to 'future conservation and funding requirements, which have been highlighted as a result of recent exhibition developments at Cosford.'


Photo of National Museum of Flight Viscount G-AMOG *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 2006 to

National Museum of Flight

G-AMOG * - c/n 7 - a V.701 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 May 2006
Donated by British Airways (BA).

2 June 2006
Noted with all four Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines removed.

July 2006
Noted with the tail now removed.

17 August 2006
Moved to the National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, Scotland.

25 September 2006
Noted stored outside the museum's conservation workshops. The museum is waiting to receive the necessary fittings in order to move the aircraft into one of the hangars. It is likely to remain conserved in that hangar for sometime before covered space can be found to put it on public display.

Placed inside the restoration hangar at the Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, Scotland.
Inside the restoration hangar

July 2008
Noted now stored in a dismantled condition inside the museum's restoration hangar pending funds to build a display area and allow a full restoration. A BOAC 'Scottish Prince' livery would be appropriate. At least it is now safe from the harsh winter weather.

April 2013
Noted still stored in a dismantled condition inside the museum's restoration hangar.

6 February 2015
Fuselage noted stored outside, wrapped in light blue plastic. This was necessary as the hangar it was in is being refurbished.

January 2016
Fuselage still noted stored outside. Will they ever put this fine aircraft back together again!

17 March 2020
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the museum closed to the general public until further notice.

17 May 2021
The museum re-opened initially with pre-booked entries but is now operating normally.

October 2022
The wings have now been moved outside, protected in the same way as the fuselage.

Will they ever put it together! It is now 16 years since it arrived!


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.