25 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.

Viscount history

Letter from HRH Prince Philip

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records and photos

Viscount illustrations
by David Carter


Discover the history of the Viscount with film, video, contemporary reports from the pages of Flight Magazine, our newsletters, and aircraft operational records and photos from our database.


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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 35

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 35
Air France


France flag France

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

It first flew on Thursday, 6 May 1954 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 505 engines.

During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures), Air Service Training (Perth) Ltd, Skysport Engineering and the Viscount 35 Association

Photo of Viscount c/n 35
Midland Air Museum (MAM)


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
Midland Air Museum (MAM) as F-BGNR.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Air Inter in 1973 and delivered to Air Service Training (Perth) Ltd from Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France to Scone Airport, Perth, Scotland 8 October 1973.

Used as a ground instructional airframe.

Sold to Skysport Engineering in December 1996 and delivered by road to Thorncote Green, near Hatch, Bedfordshire, England 12 January 1998 where it was stored dismantled.

Sold to the Viscount 35 Association 12 January 2007.

Moved by road to the Midland Air Museum (MAM), Baginton Airport, Coventry, Warwickshire, England 5 September 2007.

Ownership transferred to the Midland Air Museum (MAM) 10 July 2008. Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the museum closed to the general public until further notice 19 March 2020. Re-opened 17 May 2021.


Operational record
Photo of Air France Viscount F-BGNR

Country of Registration France

June 1954 to February 1962

Air France

F-BGNR - c/n 35 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

March 1951
An order was placed by Air France for twelve Type 700 aircraft. This was the eighth one built.

Production Aircraft No. 32 - the 32nd production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 28th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 8th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F08/708. Sales Order No. F08/85A. Stock Order No. F28/10B.

12 October 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

November - December 1953
Fuselage transported by road from Weybridge, Surrey, England to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

11 December 1953
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

6 May 1954
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

29 June 1954
Delivered to Air France.

7 July 1954
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 Type 708 aircraft flew with an ‘intermix’ of both types of propeller blades.

Larger Air France titles applied.
Larger Air France
titles applied

5 June 1955
Noted with larger Air France titles applied.

Capacity later increased from 48 seats to 63 seats.

29 January 1958
Returned to Weybridge, Surrey, England for spar checks and modifications.

2 April 1958
Returned to Air France.

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

12 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

circa February 1961
Registration OY-AFN allocated to Danish Air Charter (DAC) but the sale was not completed.

20 February 1962
Sold to Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).


Photo of Danish Air Charter (DAC) Viscount OY-AFN

Country of Registration Denmark

February 1961 to February 1961

Danish Air Charter (DAC)

OY-AFN - c/n 35 - a V.708 series Viscount
Denmark registered

circa February 1961
The purchase from Air France was not completed. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

Registration OY-AFN was subsequently issued to de Havilland Heron 2D (C/N 14125) in 1964.


Photo of Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures) Viscount F-BGNR

Country of Registration France

February 1962 to October 1973

Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures)

F-BGNR - c/n 35 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

20 February 1962
Purchased from Air France.

F-BGNR now with a Radar Nose.
Radar fitted

circa 1964
Weather radar installed with a revised nose.

15 December 1970
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

6 October 1973
Sold to Air Service Training (Perth) Ltd.

5 November 1973
French registration cancelled.


Photo of Air Service Training (Perth) Ltd Viscount F-BGNR

Country of Registration France

October 1973 to December 1996

Air Service Training (Perth) Ltd

F-BGNR - c/n 35 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

6 October 1973
Purchased from Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).

8 October 1973
Delivered from Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France to Scone Airport, Perth, Scotland in a basic Air Inter livery less titles but still has the tail logo.

Total time 28,915 hours and 24,249 total landings.

Used as a ground instructional airframe.

12 July 1974
Noted with 'Air Service Training' titles now applied to the basic Air Inter livery and also a winged badge applied to the plain white tail.

Sold to Skysport Engineering in December 1996.
Prepared for sale to
Skysport Engineering

May 1995
Preparation started for sale to Skysport Engineering.

December 1996
Sold to Skysport Engineering.


Photo of Skysport Engineering Viscount F-BGNR

Country of Registration France

December 1996 to January 2007

Skysport Engineering

F-BGNR - c/n 35 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

December 1996
Purchased from Air Service Training (Perth) Ltd.

12 January 1998
Departed by road on delivery from Scone Airport, Perth, Scotland to Thorncote Green, near Hatch, Bedfordshire, England.

December 2006
Noted still stored in a dismantled condition next to the Skysport Engineering base.

12 January 2007
Sold to Viscount 35 Association.


Photo of Viscount 35 Association Viscount F-BGNR

Country of Registration France

January 2007 to July 2008

Viscount 35 Association

F-BGNR - c/n 35 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered
At the time of purchase the dismantled airframe was very complete and surprisingly free from corrosion.
It retained a full cockpit and passenger interior

12 January 2007
Purchased from Skysport Engineering.

At the time of purchase the dismantled airframe was very complete and surprisingly free from corrosion.

It retained a full cockpit and passenger interior, and it was believed that at least two of the Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 Turboprops were capable of ground running.

Once restored the 'Viscount 35 Association' plan to hold regular open days that may include allowing the public on board while the aircraft has its engines running.

The aircraft has affectionately been named 'Victoria Lynne' by the restoration team.

The two sets of wings were placed one on top of the other.
The wings were placed on top of each other

5 September 2007
Work started to move it to the Midland Air Museum (MAM), Baginton Airport, Coventry, Warwickshire, England over a two day period.

With the move sponsored by A E Beckett & Sons Ltd, 5 September saw the two sets of wings lifted onto a trailer placing them one on top of the other.

The trailer was left in-situ at Hatch overnight ready for the journey to Coventry the following day.

Fuselage passing through a narrow S bend at Hatch village.
Passing through Hatch village

6 September 2007
It had been planned to get loaded and away from Thorncote Green, near Hatch by 10.00 in the morning but things didn’t go smoothly with the convoy finally leaving at nearly 4.00 in the afternoon.

It seemed that the fuselage just did not want to leave its long term home in rural Bedfordshire. Eventually arriving at Coventry around 6.00 in the evening the wings were finally unloaded in the dark with the only light coming from a number of flood lights.

It was gone 11.30 when the haulage contractors finally left. It had been a very long two days both physically and mentally for the team.

7 September 2007
Work started to clean the aircraft with Dave Waters, a volunteer from Duxford Aviation Society (DAS), washing the exterior of the aircraft.

Progress was made to make the cockpit more complete.
Work started on the cockpit

September 2007 - April 2008
Ownership of the Viscount changed slightly as Martin Garrett purchased Rob MacSkimming's share.

Work started to prepare the airframe for re-assembly during the summer of 2008 and progress was made to make the cockpit more complete.

10 July 2008
Sold to the Midland Air Museum (MAM).

Due to family commitments Martin Garrett transferred ownership of F-BGNR, sited at Coventry, England, to Midland Air Museum (MAM).

Martin would no longer be involved in its restoration, but does not rule out a further venture involving something a little smaller and more manageable.

The Viscount 35 Association website closed down and Martin wishes to thank everyone for their support in helping him save 'Victoria Lynne' for the benefit of future generations.


Photo of Midland Air Museum (MAM) Viscount F-BGNR

Country of Registration France

July 2008 to

Midland Air Museum (MAM)

F-BGNR - c/n 35 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

10 July 2008
Purchased from the Viscount 35 Association.

The cabin has been fitted out with a mixture of leather and fabric covered seats.
The refitted cabin

2009 - 2010
The fuselage has been repainted to restore the Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures) livery and the cockpit has been fully re-fitted with only a limited restoration. The Galley area has been re-painted and the cabin has been fitted out with a mixture of leather and fabric covered seats. The fin has been repainted and all the connecting bolts and fittings prepared ready for mating with the fuselage. The fuselage/wing fairings have all been de-riveted and prepared ready for the wing reconnection.

F-BGNR will be re-assembled and preserved rather than being fully restored.
The restored cockpit

10 September 2012
The aircraft was re-assembled and stood on its undercarriage for the first time since 1996.

19 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.


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.


Click here for more details about the Vickers Viscount Network

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