20 April 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 38

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 38
Air France


France flag France

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

It first flew on Monday, 5 July 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) and Aéro Club de Mulhouse


Photo of Viscount c/n 38
Auto und Technik Museum


Germany flag Germany

Its final owner/operator was
Auto und Technik Museum as F-BGNU.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Air Inter and stored at Orly Airport, Paris, France 21 January 1975.

Moved to Habsheim Airfield, Alsace, France and used by Aéro-Club de Mulhouse 26 March 1975. Noted with 'Fred Air' titles circa 1979.

Transferred to Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany circa June 1985 and placed on display mounted on poles in Air Inter livery with 'Museum Airlines' titles circa April 1986. Repainted in an Air Inter style livery with Air France titles in May 2002. Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the museum closed to the general public 16 March 2020 but has now reopened.


Operational record
Photo of Air France Viscount F-BGNU

Country of Registration France

July 1954 to January 1961

Air France

F-BGNU - c/n 38 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

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

Production Aircraft No. 35 - the 35th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 5th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 11th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F11/708. Sales Order No. F11/85A. Stock Order No. F03/21B.

25 January 1954
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

5 July 1954
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

David Carter illustration of Air France V.708 Viscount c/n 38 F-BGNU

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


28 July 1954
Delivered to Air France.

9 August 1954
Registered to Air France.

Taken at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England 9 September 1958.

1954 to circa 1959
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.

6 January 1961
Leased to Air Viet Nam.


Photo of Air Viet Nam Viscount F-BGNU

Country of Registration France

January 1961 to January 1963

Air Viet Nam

F-BGNU - c/n 38 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

6 January 1961
Leased from Air France and delivered in a basic Air France livery less titles.

Titled 'Hang Khong Viet Nam' starboard side.
Hang Khong Viet Nam

May 1961
Noted with full titles applied to a revised Air France livery.

'Hang Khong Viet Nam' titles were applied to the starboard side and 'Air Viet Nam' titles applied to the port side.

Titled 'Air Viet Nam' port side.
Air Viet Nam

January 1963
Returned to Air France.


Photo of Air France Viscount F-BGNU

Country of Registration France

January 1963 to January 1963

Air France

F-BGNU - c/n 38 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

January 1963
Returned from Air Viet Nam lease.

22 January 1963
Sold to Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).


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

Country of Registration France

January 1963 to March 1975

Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures)

F-BGNU - c/n 38 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

22 January 1963
Purchased from Air France.

2 June 1970
Noted at Middelkirke Airport, Ostend, Belgium on a training flight.

3 June 1970
Noted at Middelkirke Airport, Ostend, Belgium on a training flight.

21 January 1975
Withdrawn from service and stored at Orly Airport, Paris, France.

Total time 30,309 hours and 24,602 total landings.

26 March 1975
Donated to Aéro Club de Mulhouse at Habsheim Airfield, Alsace, France and used as a clubhouse.


Photo of Aéro Club de Mulhouse Viscount F-BGNU

Country of Registration France

March 1975 to June 1985

Aéro Club de Mulhouse

F-BGNU - c/n 38 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

26 March 1975
Donated by Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures) to Aéro-Club de Mulhouse at Habsheim Airfield, Alsace, France and used as a clubhouse.

9 April 1975
French registration cancelled.

Noted with 'Fred Air' titles.
'Fred Air' titles

It was still in Air Inter livery less titles.

circa 1979
Noted with 'Fred Air' titles, date not known.

12 June 1981
Noted with the 'Fred Air' titles removed.

circa June 1985
Transferred to Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany.

Date to be confirmed.
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of Auto und Technik Museum Viscount F-BGNU

Country of Registration France

June 1985 to

Auto und Technik Museum

F-BGNU - c/n 38 - a V.708 series Viscount
France registered

Repainted in a Air Inter style livery with 'Air France' titles.
'Air France' titles

circa June 1985
Transferred from the Aéro Club de Mulhouse at Habsheim, Alsace, France where it had been used as a clubhouse.

Date to be confirmed.
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

circa April 1986
Placed on display mounted on poles in a basic Air Inter livery with 'Museum Airlines' titles.

May 2002
Repainted in an Air Inter style livery with 'Air France' titles.

Visitors are able to walk through to view the cockpit.

Visitors are able to walk through to view the cockpit..
The cockpit.

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


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.