27 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 67

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 67
Iraqi Airways


Iraq flag Iraq

This V.735 series Viscount was built for
Iraqi Airways as YI-ACK

It first flew on Friday, 23 September 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
Alidair, Guernsey Airlines, Air UK and Inter City Airlines


Photo of Viscount c/n 67
East Midlands Airport Fire Service


England flag England

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

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Inter City Airlines at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England 9 April 1982 and gradually robbed of all useful parts.

Remains donated to the East Midlands Airport Fire Service 27 October 1983 for training purposes.

The lower nose section was burnt away during a non-destructive fire training exercise when the wind suddenly changed direction in February 1985.

It was noted totally burnt out in May 1986. The remains were finally cleared away in early 1988.


Operational record
Photo of Iraqi Airways Viscount YI-ACK

Country of Registration Iraq

October 1955 to February 1978

Iraqi Airways

YI-ACK - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
Iraq registered

circa 1954
This was the 1st Type 735 ordered by Iraqi Airways.

Production Aircraft No. 74 - the 74th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 31st Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 42nd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F01/735. Sales Order No. F01/54B. Stock Order No. F26/22B.

11 November 1954
Fuselage assembly commenced Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

20 December 1954
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

23 September 1955
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

13 October 1955
Delivered to Iraqi Airways named as 'Ibn Fernas'.

It had a Kingdom of Iraq national flag on the tail.

Inaugural Dinner Menu.
Inaugural Dinner Menu

23 May 1957
For the inaugural flight of the Baghdad to Athens service (IA035/001), Iraqi Airways created this special 'Viscount' menu to be served on YI-ACK. The menu was clearly designed by someone who liked the Viscount because it features 'Consomme V.735' and a 'Sauce Viscount' to accompany the main course of Lamb.

INAUGURAL DINNER

Consomme V.735

Hor D’Oeuvre Astari
Crumbed Lamb Cutlets - Sauce Viscount

Parsley Potatoes
Glazed Green Beans

Marzipan Gateaux
Choice of Cheeses with Crackers
Fresh Fruit Basket
Coffee

Before your dinner • Champagne Cocktails

Dry Martini - Sweet Martini
Caviar from Iran

With your Dinner • A choice of wines from Austria.

The service then continued on to Vienna and London.

June 1957
Returned to Vickers-Armstrongs at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England for flap modifications.

April 1958
Returned to Vickers-Armstrongs at Weybridge, Surrey, England for a cabin pressure test.

1958
Noted with an Arab Federation national flag on the tail.

1959
Noted with a Republic of Iraq national flag on the tail.

7 February 1962
Made an emergency landing on its belly at an unknown location after the undercarriage failed to lower. This was caused by the failure of the up-lock pushrod.

This resulted in damage to the lower fuselage, curling of the propellers and shockload damage to the Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

There were no reported injuries to the passengers and crew on board.

Repaired, including replacement Rotol propellers and Rolls-Royce Dart engines and returned to service.

1963
Noted with a later Republic of Iraq national flag on the tail.

3 May 1963
First noted at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England operating a service to Baghdad, Iraq.

October 1964
Noted at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England undergoing maintenance with Marshall's

15 February 1978
Sold to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount YI-ACK

Country of Registration Iraq

February 1978 to March 1978

Alidair

YI-ACK - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
Iraq registered

15 February 1978
Purchased from Iraqi Airways.

15 February 1978
Departed from Baghdad Airport, Iraq on delivery via Yesilkoy Airport, Istanbul, Turkey (4 hours 55 minutes), Zagreb Airport, Yugoslavia (3 hours 45 minutes), Schwechat Airport, Vienna, Austria (2 hours 20 minutes) and Beauvais Airport, France (4 hours 50 minutes). The aircraft was prohibited from flying on a more direct route over German airspace due to an inoperative transponder.

The ferry Captain was John Morris who usually flew the Dart powered Handley Page Herald, but he also had a Viscount type rating.

17 February 1978
Arrived at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England with a total ferry flight time of 19 hours 5 minutes.

2 March 1978
Noted outside the Alidair hangar being stripped back to bare metal ready for an overhaul and repaint.

14 March 1978
Re-registered G-BFMW.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1978 to October 1979

Alidair

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

14 March 1978
Re-registered from YI-ACK.

1 April 1978
Noted parked outside still in bare metal and awaiting a hangar slot to carry out the overhaul and repaint.

6 June 1978
Rolled out in full Alidair Scotland livery after a major overhaul.

14 June 1978
Noted on air tests at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

17 June 1978
Delivered to Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, Scotland to commence services.

April 1979
Noted with the 'Scotland' title changed from outline to bold type.

25 August 1979
Noted at Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, England operating a service for Southern International Air Transport to Genoa Airport, Italy.

27 October 1979
Leased to Guernsey Airlines.


Photo of Guernsey Airlines Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1979 to December 1979

Guernsey Airlines

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

27 October 1979
Leased from Alidair in full Alidair Scotland livery.

30 December 1979
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1979 to April 1980

Alidair

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 December 1979
Returned from Guernsey Airlines lease.

1 April 1980
Leased again to Guernsey Airlines.


Photo of Guernsey Airlines Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1980 to April 1980

Guernsey Airlines

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 April 1980
Leased from Alidair in full Alidair Scotland livery.

30 April 1980
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1980 to September 1980

Alidair

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 April 1980
Returned from Guernsey Airlines lease.

3 September 1980
Leased to Air UK.


Photo of Air UK Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1980 to September 1980

Air UK

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

3 September 1980
Leased from Alidair in full Alidair Scotland livery.

7 September 1980
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1980 to March 1981

Alidair

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

7 September 1980
Returned from Air UK lease.

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


Photo of Inter City Airlines Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1981 to October 1983

Inter City Airlines

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 March 1981
Transferred from Alidair due to a corporate name change but retained the Alidair Scotland titles.

5 April 1981
Inaugurated a service from Staverton Airport, Gloucestershire, England to Jersey Airport, Channel Islands.

Gradually robbed of all useful parts.
Gradually robbed of
all useful parts

9 April 1982
Withdrawn from service at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

15 June 1982
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired.

Gradually robbed of all useful parts.

29 July 1983
Inter City Airlines ceased operations.

27 October 1983
Remains donated to the East Midlands Airport Fire Service.


Photo of East Midlands Airport Fire Service Viscount G-BFMW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1983 to March 1988

East Midlands Airport Fire Service

G-BFMW - c/n 67 - a V.735 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

27 October 1983
Remains donated by Inter City Airlines for fire training use at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

5 December 1983
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from service.

Noted as a burnt out hulk lying on the ground.

February 1985
The lower nose section was burnt away during a non-destructive fire training exercise when the wind suddenly changed direction.

circa May 1986
Noted as a burnt out hulk lying on the ground.

circa March 1988
The remains were finally taken away.

The fire training continued using Vickers Vanguard G-APEG.


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.