16 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

Click on a photo to see a larger version

Below are the 32 photos we have on file for Viscount c/n 67 together with either the actual date that the photo was taken or an estimate of that date based on clues such as the livery worn or other background information.

1

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
January 1955

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England circa January 1955 in the Erecting Shop.

The fuselage is still on its trolley after pressure testing outside.

All the blanking plates have now been removed and it is in the process of being jacked up so that the trolley can be removed.

Vickers Photo Ref MP2023.

Photo source - BAE Systems Heritage Photographic Archive

2

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
February 1955

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England 28 February 1955 on the production line in the Erecting Shop.

Vickers Photo Ref MP2167.

Photo source - BAE Systems Heritage Photographic Archive

3

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
May 1955

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England 9 May 1955 on the production line.

Vickers Photo Ref MP2437.

Photo source - BAE Systems Heritage Photographic Archive

4

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
September 1955

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken departing from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England in September 1955 for a test flight.

Note the Kingdom of Iraq flag on the tail.

Photo source - R A Woodcock via Steve Burland

5

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
May 1957

For the inaugural flight of the Baghdad to Athens service (IA035/001) on Thursday 23 May 1957, 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 of Iran

With your Dinner • Choice wines of Austria

Photo source - Dickon Weir-Hughes collection

6

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
October 1957

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken at Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire, England circa October 1957 where it was receiving maintenance with Field Aircraft Services Ltd (FAS).

Note the later livery and additional Arabic titles.

Photo source - Peter Gates collection

7

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
April 1958

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken at Brooklands Airfield, Surrey, England in April 1958.

It is being prepared for a test flight after cabin pressure tests.

Vickers Photo Ref MP8273.

Photo source - BAE Systems Heritage Photographic Archive

8

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
June 1958

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England circa June 1958 undergoing maintenance with Marshall's.

Photo source - Bernie King collection

9

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
June 1960

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken at London Airport (Heathow), Middlesex in June 1960 in the southern maintenance area where it is being serviced by Field Aircraft Services Ltd (FAS).

Note the post revolution flag on the tail.

Also note Channel Airways Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.21E G-AIFO in the background with its rudder removed.

Photo source - Des Pike collection

10

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
June 1963

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken arriving at Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France 13 June 1963.

Note the Arab Legion flag on the tail introduced this year.

The outboard Rolls-Royce Dart engines have already been shut down.

Photo source - Robin A Walker

11

Iraqi Airways
YI-ACK
October 1964

Delivered new to Iraqi Airways named 'Ibn Fernas'. Taken at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England in October 1964 undergoing engine ground running with Marshall's.

Only one engine is run up to maximum power at one time and is limited to five minutes at this setting.

This time limit also applies to the aircraft in service.

Note that the No.4 nacelle has the rear access panel removed.

Photo source - Tony Ward collection

12

Alidair
YI-ACK
February 1978

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in February 1978.

Photo source - Brian R Burrage collection (gallery 3)

13

Alidair
YI-ACK
February 1978

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England 18 February 1978.

Photo source - Carl Ford

14

Alidair
YI-ACK
February 1978

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England 22 February 1978.

Photo source - Trevor S Hall

15

Alidair
YI-ACK
February 1978

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in February 1978.

Photo source - EX/ZX (flickr)

16

Alidair
YI-ACK
March 1978

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken outside the Alidair maintenance hangar at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England 2 March 1978 during the process of removing all the paint prior to a major overhaul and repaint.

After allowing the chemical stripper to pickle the paint it is then removed using a steam cleaner which can be seen under the rear fuselage.

Photo source - Paul A Tomlin

17

Alidair
G-BFMW
April 1978

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England 1 April 1978.

It is parked awaiting its turn in the Alidair hangar for an overhaul and repaint.

Photo source - Peter Fothergill

18

Alidair
G-BFMW
June 1978

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands in June 1978 with Alidair Scotland titles.

Note the change in roof top aerials.

Photo source - Gerrit Bouma collection

19

Alidair
G-BFMW
September 1978

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at Abbotsinch Airport, Glasgow, Scotland in September 1978 with Alidair Scotland titles.

Photo source - Martin Stephen

20

Alidair
G-BFMW
April 1979

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at Ringway Airport, Manchester, England in April 1979.

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

Photo source - Peter Fothergill

21

Alidair
G-BFMW
June 1979

Purchased from Iraqi Airways. Taken at Shannon Airport, County Clare, Ireland circa June 1979 with an Invicta Airways cargo Bristol Britannia in the background.

Photo source - Malcolm Nason

22

Guernsey Airlines
G-BFMW
April 1980

Leased from Alidair. Taken at Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands in April 1980.

This was only a short-term lease so it remained in full Alidair livery.

Photo source - Mike Stedman

23

Alidair
G-BFMW
June 1980

Returned from Guernsey Airlines lease. Taken departing from East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in June 1980.

Photo source - Mick Bajcar

24

Alidair
G-BFMW
September 1980

Returned from Air UK lease. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in September 1980.

Note the East Midlands Airport Bedford CA mobile steps van and Ground Power Unit (GPU) and also an ex BEA cargo Vickers Vanguard in the background.

Photo source - Andrew Fraize collection

25

Inter City Airlines
G-BFMW
August 1981

Transferred from Alidair due to a corporate name change. Taken at Jersey Airport, Channel Islands 29 August 1981 on a service from Staverton, Gloucestershire, England.

Photo source - Yrjo Makela

26

Inter City Airlines
G-BFMW
January 1982

Transferred from Alidair due to a corporate name change. Taken arriving at an unknown location in January 1982.

The outboard Rolls-Royce Dart engines have already been shut down.

Photo source - Richard Stanton collection

27

Inter City Airlines
G-BFMW
May 1982

Transferred from Alidair due to a corporate name change. Taken stored at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England 27 May 1982.

The aircraft was recently withdrawn from service and is now gradually being robbed of all useful spares.

At the moment she still retains her Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines, which by this time were virtually obsolete with only a few external parts common to other later Dart variants.

Photo source - Eduard Marmet

28

East Midlands Airport Fire Service
G-BFMW
November 1983

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

It is now parked in a remote area with tails of active aircraft just visible over the brow of the hill.

Photo source - David Lindsay

29

East Midlands Airport Fire Service
G-BFMW
April 1984

Remains donated by Inter City Airlines for fire training use. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England 30 April 1984.

Photo source - Kerry Taylor

30

East Midlands Airport Fire Service
G-BFMW
June 1985

Remains donated by Inter City Airlines for fire training use. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England circa June 1985.

This is really a photo of an Air Atlantique Douglas DC-3 but it gives a view of the fire damaged Viscount.

It was damaged during a non-destructive training exercise in February 1985 when the wind suddenly changed direction and set the front of the aircraft on fire.

Photo source - Jerry Richards

31

East Midlands Airport Fire Service
G-BFMW
July 1985

Remains donated by Inter City Airlines for fire training use. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England 24 July 1985.

It was completely burnt out in 1986.

Photo source - Frank Jäger

32

East Midlands Airport Fire Service
G-BFMW
May 1986

Remains donated by Inter City Airlines for fire training use. Taken at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in May 1986 after its total destruction.

The hulk was finally cleared away sometime in early 1988 and replaced with Vickers Vanguard G-APEG.

Photo source - Steve Hall

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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.