02 December 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 8

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 8
Air France


France flag France

This V.708 series Viscount was built for
Air France as F-BGNK

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


Photo of Viscount c/n 8
Air France


France flag France

Its final owner/operator was
Air France as F-BGNK.

Its fate:-
Crashed during a crew training flight at Milly-la-Foret, Dannemois, France 12 December 1956. All 5 crew members were sadly killed.


Operational record
Photo of Air France Viscount F-BGNK

Country of Registration France

May 1953 to December 1956

Air France

F-BGNK - c/n 8 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

March 1951
An order was placed by Air France for twelve Type 708 aircraft. This was the first one built.

Production Aircraft No. 5 - the 5th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 7th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 5th Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F01/708. Sales Order No. F01/85A. Stock Order No. F05/10B.

17 July 1952
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

15 September 1952
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

24 February 1953
Engine ground running commenced.

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

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

18 May 1953
Delivered to Air France fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 505 engines.

June 1953
Put on static display at the Paris Salon, which was held at Le Bourget Airport for the first time, replacing Orly Airport. Viscount F-BGNL (C/N 10) took part in the flying display while still airtesting with Vickers.

4 August 1953
Registered to Air France.

1954 to c1959
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.

circa 1955
Larger Air France titles applied.

12 December 1956
Crashed during a crew training flight at Milly-la-Foret, Dannemois, France.

The aircraft departed Orly Airport, Paris, France at 08:49 for a crew training flight to Reims Airport, France. The aircraft climbed to an altitude of about 3000 feet, just above the cloud layer and continued VFR to Reims. At 08:58 clearance was requested and given to climb to 5000 feet in order to remain VFR above the cloud layer. A little later an eyewitnesses saw the aircraft crash at a steep angle of descent. All 5 crew members were killed.

PROBABLE CAUSE: A loss of control in flight, the initial cause of which it has not been possible to establish.

Total time 4,869 hours and 3,346 total landings.


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.