27 July 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 37

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 37
Air France


France flag France

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

It first flew on Wednesday, 16 June 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 Viet Nam, Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures), Alidair and Intra Airways


Photo of Viscount c/n 37
East Midlands Airport Fire Service


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
East Midlands Airport Fire Service as G-BDIK.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Alidair and stored at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

Robbed of all useful spares and the gutted airframe donated to the East Midlands Airport Fire Service in July 1981 for training use.

Broken up for scrap in November 1983.


Operational record
Photo of Air France Viscount F-BGNT

Country of Registration France

July 1954 to January 1961

Air France

F-BGNT - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

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

Production Aircraft No. 34 - the 34th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 30th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 10th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F10/708. Sales Order No. F10/85A. Stock Order No. F02/21B.

17 December 1953
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

10 February 1954
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

16 June 1954
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

7 July 1954
Delivered to Air France.

19 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.

Capacity later increased from 48 seats to 63 seats.

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

6 January 1961
Leased to Air Viet Nam.


Photo of Air Viet Nam Viscount F-BGNT

Country of Registration France

January 1961 to January 1962

Air Viet Nam

F-BGNT - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

6 January 1961
Leased from Air France. The titles used are the local spelling of Vietnam. It had 'Hang Khong Viet Nam' titles on the starboard side.

January 1962
Returned to Air France.


Photo of Air France Viscount F-BGNT

Country of Registration France

January 1962 to December 1962

Air France

F-BGNT - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

January 1962
Returned from Air Viet Nam lease.

31 December 1962
Sold to Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).


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

Country of Registration France

December 1962 to May 1975

Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures)

F-BGNT - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

31 December 1962
Purchased from Air France.

20 September 1970
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

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

9 May 1975
Sold to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount F-BGNT

Country of Registration France

May 1975 to August 1975

Alidair

F-BGNT - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

9 May 1975
Purchased from Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures) and handed over at Beauvais Airport, Northern France.

10 May 1975
Arrived at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England and immediately entered service in the ex Air Inter livery with Alidair titles.

10 August 1975
Taken out of service at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

11 August 1975
French registration cancelled.

28 August 1975
Re-registered G-BDIK.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BDIK

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1975 to April 1976

Alidair

G-BDIK - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

28 August 1975
Re-registered from F-BGNT.

7 November 1975
Withdrawn from service and stored at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

3 April 1976
Leased to Intra Airways.


Photo of Intra Airways Viscount G-BDIK

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1976 to October 1976

Intra Airways

G-BDIK - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

3 April 1976
Leased from Alidair for use on their Jersey Airport, Channels Islands to Middelkerke Airport, Ostend, Belgium service.

30 October 1976
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BDIK

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1976 to January 1979

Alidair

G-BDIK - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 October 1976
Returned from Intra Airways lease.

Withdrawn from service and stored at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

Total time 30,526 hours and 24,443 total landings.

20 November 1977
Noted minus propellers and outer wings. It was gradually robbed of all useful spares

14 July 1981
Gutted airframe donated to the East Midlands Airport Fire Service for fire and rescue training use.


Photo of East Midlands Airport Fire Service Viscount G-BDIK

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1981 to November 1983

East Midlands Airport Fire Service

G-BDIK - c/n 37 - a V.708 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

14 July 1981
Gutted airframe donated by Alidair for training use.

24 March 1983
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from service.

November 1983
Remains finally broken up for scrap and taken away by Don Simpson of Newcastle.


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.