25 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 52

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 52
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

This V.724 series Viscount was built for
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) as CF-TGO

It first flew on Wednesday, 20 April 1955 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 506 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
William C Wold & Associates, Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures), Alidair, Intra Airways, Dan-Air London, Air Bridge Carriers, Guernsey Airlines, Southern International Air Transport, Inter City Airlines, Janus Airways and Central Training Establishment


Photo of Viscount c/n 52
Hanningfield Metals


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
Hanningfield Metals as G-BDRC.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and donated by Hards Travel to the Central Training Establishment of the Royal Air Force Fire Service at Manston Airport, Kent, England in November 1984.

Fuselage noted minus its wings and in poor condition in March 1991. Emergency access training use had hacked out a large section on the port side of the fuselage.

Remains sold to Hanningfield Metals for metal salvage in August 1993 and broken up into sections and taken away to their yard at Templewood Industrial Estate, Stock Road, West Hanningfield, Essex for final processing.


Operational record
Photo of Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) Viscount CF-TGO

Country of Registration Canada

May 1955 to March 1964

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-TGO - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
Canada registered

November 1952
An order was placed by Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) for fifteen Type 724 aircraft at a total cost of Can$11,500,000. This was the seventh one built.

Production Aircraft No. 53 - the 53rd production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 22nd Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 25th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F07/724. Sales Order No. F07/51B. Stock Order No. F01/22B.

10 September 1954
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

1 November 1954
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

21 March 1955
TCA issued technical instruction V-05.04-1/1 to apply the word 'Viscount' to the tail section in 8.5 inch high red letters edged in white at the first opportunity.

20 April 1955
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines.

1 May 1955
Aircraft passed off by TCA inspectors as completed and ready for delivery.

It then departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '607'.

It was flown to Canada by Vickers test pilot Gabriel (Gabe) Robb 'Jock' Bryce accompanied by his wife Nancy.

She was born at Ocean Falls, British Columbia, Canada and became the first female to fly across the North Atlantic in a turboprop aircraft.

After refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland it then flew on to Keflavik Airport, Iceland (743 nautical miles) where it stopped for six hours.

2 May 1955
Departed from Keflavik Airport, Iceland to Bluie West One (BW1) Airfield, Southern Greenland (804 nautical miles), Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada (672 nautical miles), Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (810 nautical miles).

BW1 was built during WWII to assist the transfer of military aircraft from North America to Europe and was opened in January 1942.

2 June 1955
TCA issued technical instruction V-31.02-2/5 to apply the word 'Viscount' to the inside of the passenger loading door in 4 inch high red letters edged in white at the first opportunity.

The cabin seating was installed in Canada, as the seats used by TCA were of American manufacture.

The cabin was fitted out with 40 seats which was a reduction from the original 48 seat specification and provided more leg room.

This was heavily marketed and resulted in a high load factor compared to the 18 seat Douglas DC-3 that it replaced on some routes.

1 November 1955
First Viscount to operate on the Montreal to Vancouver route.

July 1956
Cabin interior changed to a two class 44 seat arrangement.

10 July 1957
TCA issued instructions that all Viscounts would be repainted in a 'White Top' livery when a suitable maintenance period became available.

31 July 1958
Scheduled to enter the Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada TCA maintenance facility for the replacement of the life expired wing lower inner spar boom at approximately 6100 landings for this component. This usually took 28 days to complete.

31 August 1960
Total time 13,847 hours and 10,714 total landings.

6 January 1963
Withdrawn from service and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

Total time 17,994 hours and 14,743 total landings.

2 March 1964
Sold to William C Wold & Associates.


Photo of William C Wold & Associates Viscount CF-TGO

Country of Registration Canada

March 1964 to April 1964

William C Wold & Associates

CF-TGO - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
Canada registered

2 March 1964
Purchased from Trans-Canada Air Lines.

William C Wold & Associates of New York claimed to be the world's largest broker of multi-engine aircraft.

2 April 1964
Sold to Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).


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

Country of Registration France

June 1964 to October 1975

Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures)

F-BMCG - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
France registered

2 April 1964
Purchased from William C Wold & Associates and delivered to Orly Airport, Paris, France.

It was delivered to Orly, Paris, France in a basic TCA livery less titles but carrying the French registration.

June 1964
French Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.

15 September 1975
French registration cancelled.

24 October 1975
Sold to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount F-BMCG

Country of Registration France

October 1975 to February 1976

Alidair

F-BMCG - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
France registered

24 October 1975
Purchased from Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures).

24 October 1975
Delivered from Orly Airport, Paris, France to East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire, England and stored.

9 February 1976
Re-registered to Alidair as G-BDRC.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1976 to March 1976

Alidair

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

9 February 1976
Re-registered from F-BMCG.

25 March 1976
Leased to Intra Airways.


Photo of Intra Airways Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1976 to October 1977

Intra Airways

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

25 March 1976
Leased from Alidair.

25 March 1976
Delivered to Jersey Airport, Channel Islands with a red tail in 65 seat configuration.

It was intended for the Jersey heraldic three gold leopards to be on the red tail but the States of Jersey refused permission for Intra to use the Island's historic coat of arms for commercial purposes. Jersey Air Ferries were allowed to use a single red leopard on G-AOYP (C/N 265) in 1983.

Intra Airways changed the nose livery from blue to white.
Intra Airways
'White nose' livery

circa September 1976
Noted with a change to the nose livery, replacing the blue with white.

Intra Airways changed the tail colour of their livery to white with a large 'i.
Intra Airways
'I tail' livery

October 1976
Intra Airways changed the tail livery from red to white with a large 'I'.

14 November 1976
Noted at Southend Airport, Rochford, England.

It was on its way from Jersey Airport, Channel Islands to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England but diverted here due to fog at its original destination.

2 December 1976
Returned to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England for spar change work.

23 January 1977
Returned to Intra Airways.

31 October 1977
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1977 to February 1978

Alidair

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 October 1977
Returned from Intra Airways lease.

November 1977
Seen at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in a basic white livery.

A proposed sale to Baylee Air Charter was not taken up.

Yellow tail stripe livery
Yellow tail stripe livery

13 November 1977
Seen at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in a dark blue and white livery with a yellow tail band and 'Alidair Scotland' titles.

21 January 1978
Seen at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland bringing a party of Scottiish rugby union supporters to an international match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

It was still in the dark blue and white livery with a yellow tail band and 'Alidair Scotland' titles.

15 November 1977
Transferred to Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, Scotland to commence Alidair services from there.

14 February 1978
Returned to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

26 February 1978
Rolled out in full Dan-Air London livery.

27 February 1978
Leased to Dan-Air London.


Photo of Dan-Air London Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1978 to January 1979

Dan-Air London

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

27 February 1978
Leased from Alidair.

It was operated using Alidair flight crews and Dan-Air cabin crews.

28 February 1978
Delivered to Dan-Air at Teeside Airport.

27 January 1979
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1979 to January 1979

Alidair

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

27 January 1979
Returned from Dan-Air London lease.

Alidair decided to keep the Dan-Air cheat line but to overpaint it in Alidair blue.

The tail was painted white with a blue horizontal stripe that included the Alidair 'a' logo. This livery was unique to this aircraft.

31 January 1979
Leased to Air Bridge Carriers.


Photo of Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC) Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1979 to February 1979

Air Bridge Carriers Ltd (ABC)

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 January 1979
Leased from Alidair.

As it was only operated for a brief period it remained in Alidair livery.

2 February 1979
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1979 to December 1979

Alidair

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

2 February 1979
Returned from Air Bridge Carriers lease.

It returned to service, still with 'Alidair Scotland' titles.

28 March 1979
Noted at Duerne Airport, Antwerp, Belgium.

December 1979
Leased to Guernsey Airlines.


Photo of Guernsey Airlines Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1979 to August 1980

Guernsey Airlines

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

December 1979
Leased from Alidair.

It replaced Viscount G-ARIR (C/N 36).

It was initially delivered in Alidair livery with the interior taken from Viscount G-BFYZ (C/N 69) which had crashed 25 October 1979.

5 April 1980
Re-entered service in full Guernsey Airlines livery named as 'Sarnia II'.

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

The first service was from Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands to Manchester, England and return.

August 1980
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1980 to September 1980

Alidair

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

August 1980
Returned from Guernsey Airlines lease.

8 September 1980
Leased to Dan-Air London still in the Guernsey Airlines livery.


Photo of Dan-Air London Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1980 to October 1980

Dan-Air London

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

8 September 1980
Leased from Alidair still in the Guernsey Airlines livery.

October 1980
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1980 to March 1981

Alidair

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

October 1980
Returned from Dan-Air London lease.

October 1980
Repainted in full Alidair livery.

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


Photo of Inter City Airlines Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1981 to March 1981

Inter City Airlines

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

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

2 March 1981
Leased back to Guernsey Airlines.


Photo of Guernsey Airlines Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1981 to August 1983

Guernsey Airlines

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

2 March 1981
Leased from Inter City Airlines still in full Guernsey Airlines livery named as 'Sarnia II'.

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

22 October 1981
Noted with a plain white tail.

31 March 1982
Noted with the Inter City Airlines logo on the white tail.

29 July 1983
Officially Inter City Airlines ceased all operations.

1 August 1983
Last service operated from Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, England to Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands and aircraft impounded as Inter City Airlines had ceased all operations.


Photo of Inter City Airlines Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1983 to January 1984

Inter City Airlines

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 August 1983
Aircraft impounded at Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands after a Guernsey Airlines service from Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, England.

Inter City Airlines had ceased all operations 29 July 1983.

4 January 1984
Sold to Hards Travel for operation by Janus Airways.


Photo of Janus Airways Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1984 to November 1984

Janus Airways

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

4 January 1984
Purchased from Inter City Airlines by Hards Travel for operation by Janus Airways named as 'Sarnia II'.

16 March 1984
Ferried to Exeter, Devon, England for maintenance and repainting with West Country Aircraft Servicing Ltd.

April 1984
Delivered to Janus Airways at Lydd, Kent, England after having been painted in their livery to match G-ARGR and G-ARIR but never entered service as severe corrosion was discovered.

November 1984
Donated to the Central Training Establishment of the Royal Air Force Fire Service.


Photo of Central Training Establishment Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1984 to August 1993

Central Training Establishment

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

November 1984
Donated by Hards Travel to the Central Training Establishment of the Royal Air Force Fire Service and ferried to Manston Airport, Kent, England.

Emergency access training use had hacked out a large section on the port side
Manston, Kent, England

March 1991
Fuselage noted minus its wings and in poor condition. Emergency access training use had hacked out a large section on the port side.

August 1993
Remains sold to Hanningfield Metals.


Photo of Hanningfield Metals Viscount G-BDRC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1993 to September 1993

Hanningfield Metals

G-BDRC - c/n 52 - a V.724 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

August 1993
Remains purchased from the Central Training Establishment for metal salvage and broken up into sections and taken to their yard at Templewood Industrial Estate, Stock Road, West Hanningfield, Essex for final processing.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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