03 May 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.

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

Viscount c/n 36

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 36
Air France


France flag France

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

It first flew on Sunday, 30 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
Starways Ltd, Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures), Alidair, Dan-Air London, British Midland Airways (BMA), Guernsey Airlines, Inter City Airlines and Hards Travel/Janus Airways


Photo of Viscount c/n 36
MMM Aero Services (3MAS)


Zaire flag Zaire

Its final owner/operator was
MMM Aero Services (3MAS) as 9Q-CAH.

Its fate:-
Purchased from Janus Airways and stored at Middelkerke Airport, Ostend, Belgium in November 1984 after failing to start operations in Africa .

Aircraft destroyed after being blown up using dynamite in March 1989. Remains broken up for scrap soon afterwards. Does anyone know the date it was scrapped? Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of Air France Viscount F-BGNS

Country of Registration France

June 1954 to February 1961

Air France

F-BGNS - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

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

Production Aircraft No. 33 - the 33rd production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 29th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 9th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F09/708. Sales Order No. F09/85A. Stock Order No. F01/21B.

20 November 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

January 1954
Fuselage transported by road from Weybridge, Surrey, England to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

15 January 1954
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

30 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.

circa 1955
Larger Air France titles applied.

Capacity later increased from 48 seats to 63 seats.

29 January 1958
To Weybridge Airfield, Surrey, England for spar checks and modifications.

15 April 1958
Returned to Air France.

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

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

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

25 January 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

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

3 February 1961
Sold to Starways Ltd.


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

Country of Registration Denmark

February 1961 to February 1961

Danish Air Charter (DAC)

OY-AFO - c/n 36 - 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-AFO was subsequently issued to de Havilland Heron 2D (C/N 14147) in 1964.


Photo of Starways Ltd Viscount F-BGNS

Country of Registration France

February 1961 to March 1961

Starways Ltd

F-BGNS - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

3 February 1961
Purchased from Air France.

3 March 1961
French registration cancelled.

22 March 1961
Registered to Starways Ltd as G-ARIR.


Photo of Starways Ltd Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1961 to November 1963

Starways Ltd

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

22 March 1961
Registered to Starways Ltd. from F-BGNS.

Starways was formed at Blackpool in 1948 and moved to Liverpool in 1950 where it remained for the next 13 years until it was absorbed into British Eagle. It opened new horizons for a generation of Merseysiders. Starways will always be remembered as Liverpool’s own airline bringing new routes to other British cities, and taking thousands of scousers to previously undreamt of destinations.

3 May 1961
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.

19 November 1963
Sold to Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).


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

Country of Registration France

November 1963 to June 1975

Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures)

F-BLHI - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

19 November 1963
Purchased from Starways Ltd.

David Carter illustration of Air Inter Viscount F-BLHI

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


F-BLHI now with a Radar Nose.
Radar fitted

circa 1964
Weather radar fitted with a revised nose.

6 February 1966
During a service from Lyon to Paris the aircraft was cruising at 14,000 feet with the autopilot engaged and the Dart engine speeds set at 13,800 RPM when an engine overspeed situation occurred.

The aircraft lurched and the No.1 Dart engine speed rose rapidly to 16,500 RPM just as the Co-pilot closed the throttle and the fuel HP Cock and initiated the propeller feathering process.

Unfortunately before this took effect the No.1 propeller disintegrated and a section of the propeller hub penetrated the fuselage, resulting in a loss of cabin pressure.

The Captain took immediate action to reduce the altitude and made an emergency landing at an unspecified loation.

Luckily, there were no reported injuries to the 60 passengers and 4 crew on board.

The cause of the incident was due to the failure of the Reduction Gearbox Annulus Gearwheel which allowed the release of the Propeller.

Repaired and returned to service.

9 May 1975
French registration cancelled.

4 June 1975
Sold to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount F-BLHI

Country of Registration France

June 1975 to November 1975

Alidair

F-BLHI - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

David Carter illustration of Air Inter Viscount F-BLHI

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


4 June 1975
Purchased from Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures) and delivered from Orly Airport, Paris, France to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England and stored outside.

28 November 1975
Re-registered G-ARIR.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1975 to December 1975

Alidair

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

28 November 1975
Re-registered from F-BLHI.

10 December 1975
Leased to Dan-Air London.


Photo of Dan-Air London Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1975 to June 1977

Dan-Air London

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

10 December 1975
Leased from Alidair.

22 June 1977
Sub-leased to British Midland Airways (BMA).


Photo of British Midland Airways (BMA) Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1977 to July 1977

British Midland Airways (BMA)

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

22 June 1977
Sub-leased from Dan-Air London, leased from Alidair.

July 1977
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1977 to April 1978

Alidair

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

July 1977
Returned from Dan-Air London lease.

April 1978
Leased to Dan-Air London for a second time.


Photo of Dan-Air London Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1978 to November 1978

Dan-Air London

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

April 1978
Leased from Alidair for a second time.

Nose undercarriage collapsed on landing at Ferryfield Airport, Lydd, Kent, England
Nose undercarriage collapsed
at Lydd, Ferryfield Airport, Kent, England.

10 August 1978
Nose undercarriage collapsed on landing at Ferryfield Airport, Lydd, Kent, England.

17 September 1978
Returned to service after fitment of replacement nose undercarriage doors, Rolls-Royce Dart engines and Dowty propellers.

3 November 1978
Noted at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in Dan-Air livery minus titles.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1978 to November 1979

Alidair

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

November 1978
Returned from Dan-Air London lease.

22 May 1979
Ferried to Kirkwall Airport, Scotland from East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

It returned to service with 'Alidair Scotland' titles applied to the ex Dan-Air livery.

July 1979
Noted at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England now fully repainted in Alidair livery with 'Alidair Scotland' titles.

2 November 1979
Leased to Guernsey Airlines.


Photo of Guernsey Airlines Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1979 to December 1979

Guernsey Airlines

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

2 November 1979
Leased from Alidair named as 'Sarnia II' in Alidair livery with 'Guernsey Airlines' titles.

Sarnia is the old Roman name for the Island of Guernsey.

It was leased to replace Viscount G-BFYZ (C/N 69)

16 December 1979
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1979 to March 1981

Alidair

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

16 December 1979
Returned from Guernsey Airlines lease.

11 February 1980
Noted at Baginton Airport, Coventry, Warwickshire, England still carrying Guersey Airlines titles.

late February 1980
Noted at Ringway Airport, Manchester, England now with Alidair titles.

30 March 1980
Used by Guernsey Airlines to take trade and press representatives on their Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands to Ringway Airport, Manchester, England route prior to the first service by Viscount G-BDRC (C/N 52) 4 April 1980.

1 March 1981
Transferred to Inter City Airlines due to a corporate name change.


Photo of Inter City Airlines Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1981 to December 1983

Inter City Airlines

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 March 1981
Transferred from Alidair due to a corporate name change.

29 July 1983
Inter City Airlines ceased operations.

1 August 1983
Continued Shell Oil contract operations from Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, Scotland using British Air Ferries (BAF) call signs.

30 September 1983
Operated its last Shell flight from Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands to Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, Scotland and impounded by the British Airports Authority (why? Details please to
information@vickersviscount.net).

30 December 1983
Sold to Hards Travel for operation by Janus Airways.


Photo of Janus Airways Viscount G-ARIR

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1983 to November 1984

Janus Airways

G-ARIR - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 December 1983
Purchased from Inter City Airlines by Hards Travel for operation by Janus Airways.

3 March 1984
Ferried from Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, Scotland to Exeter Airport, Devon, England for maintenance with West Country Aircraft Servicing Ltd.

2 May 1984
Delivered to Janus Airways at Ferryfield Airport, Lydd, Kent, England in Inter City Airways colours with Janus titles.

22 November 1984
Sold to MMM Aero Services (3MAS).


Photo of MMM Aero Services (3MAS) Viscount 9Q-CAH

Country of Registration Zaire

November 1984 to March 1989

MMM Aero Services (3MAS)

9Q-CAH - c/n 36 - a V.708 series Viscount
Zaire registered

22 November 1984
Purchased from Hards Travel / Janus Airways. The operator name was abbreviated to 3MAS.

23 November 1984
Ferried to Middelkerke Airport, Ostend, Belgium together with Viscount G-ARGR (C/N 14) still carrying G-ARIR and stored after failing to start operations in Africa.

Details please to information@vickersviscount.net.

March 1989
Aircraft destroyed after being blown up using dynamite.

Details please to information@vickersviscount.net.

circa April 1989
Remains broken up for scrap.


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.