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 75

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 75
Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA)


England flag England

This V.732 series Viscount was built for
Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA) as G-ANRS

It first flew on Tuesday, 7 June 1955 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 506 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Middle East Airlines (MEA), BOAC Associated Companies Ltd, British European Airways (BEA), Northern Aircraft Operating Company Ltd, Misrair - Egyptian Airlines, United Arab Airlines (UAA), British Eagle International Airlines Ltd, Air France, Cambrian Airways, British Airways (BA), and Wales Aircraft Museum.


Photo of Viscount c/n 75
Cardiff Airport Fire Service


Wales flag Wales

Its final owner/operator was
Cardiff Airport Fire Service as G-ANRS.

Its fate:-
Registration cancelled by Cambrian Airways 10 July 1969 as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

Engines, outer wings and tail removed in preparation to become a cabin trainer circa June 1970.

Fuselage mounted on a plinth at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales to be used as a cabin trainer, painted up in Cambrian Airways 'Orange' livery with the fictitious registration 'G-WHIZ' circa June 1972.

Transferred to British Airways (BA) and painted in British Airways (BA) livery in November 1974.

Transferred to Wales Aircraft Museum in September 1976. Transferred to the Cardiff Airport Fire Service for emergency training purposes circa January 1992. Remains broken up for scrap in February 1996.


Operational record
Photo of Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA) Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1955 to October 1955

Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA)

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa 1954
This was the second Type 732 ordered by Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA).

Production Aircraft No. 59 - the 59th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 34th Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 30th Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F02/732. Sales Order No. F02/52B. Stock Order No. F24/22B.

17 October 1954
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

30 December 1954
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

2 March 1955
Registered to Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA).

7 June 1955
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.

8 June 1955
Departed from Wisley at 09:30 on a test flight flown by Vickers test pilot ……. Alan and HCA Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell who had previously worked for Vickers as a test pilot. The flight lasted for 3 hours and 10 minutes.

A second test flight departed at 15:30 flown by the same crew and lasted for 2 hours and 30 minutes.

14 June 1955
Certificate of Airworthiness issued.

It then departed from Wisley at 15:00 flown by Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell who had previously worked for Vickers as a test pilot.

The flight lasted for 3 hours and 30 minutes as Brian was allowing several HCA pilots on board to take over the controls.

It eventually landed at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England at 18:30 on delivery to HCA.

Another training flight took off at 21:00 with Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell training several HCA pilots (1 hr 30 min).

29 June 1955
Departed from Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England with Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell training several HCA pilots (1 hr 10 min).

3 July 1955
Departed from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England at 22:05 on a route proving flight to Côte D'Azur Airport, Nice, France flown by Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell (2 hr 40 min).

4 July 1955
Departed from Côte D'Azur Airport, Nice, France at 01:00 on a route proving flight to Luqa Airport, Malta flown by Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell (2 hr 25 min).

4 July 1955
Departed from Luqa Airport, Malta at 05:40 on a route proving flight to Côte D'Azur Airport, Nice, France flown by Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell.

The flight lasted for 2 hour 45 minutes.

4 July 1955
Departed from Côte D'Azur Airport, Nice, France at 09:00 on a route proving flight to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England flown by Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell (3 hr).

7 October 1955
Registration cancelled as aircraft exported.

7 October 1955
Leased to Middle East Airlines (MEA).


Photo of Middle East Airlines (MEA) Viscount OD-ACH

Country of Registration Lebanon

October 1955 to November 1955

Middle East Airlines (MEA)

OD-ACH - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
Lebanon registered

7 October 1955
Leased from Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA).

The company name at that time was: - Associated British Airlines (Middle East) Limited.

The lease was arranged by BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.

14 November 1955
Returned to BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.


Photo of BOAC Associated Companies Ltd Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration Lebanon

November 1955 to November 1955

BOAC Associated Companies Ltd

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
Lebanon registered

14 November 1955
Returned from Middle East Airlines (MEA) sub-lease.

19 November 1955
Sub-leased to British European Airways (BEA).


Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1955 to March 1956

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

19 November 1955
Sub-leased from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.

The aircraft was still owned by Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd.

26 November 1955
Entered service in full BEA livery named as 'R M A George Bass'.

31 March 1956
Returned to BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.

FURTHER READING: Books about British European Airways (BEA)



Photo of BOAC Associated Companies Ltd Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1956 to April 1956

BOAC Associated Companies Ltd

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 March 1956
Returned from British European Airways sub-lease.

The aircraft was still owned by Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd.

12 April 1956
Leased again to Middle East Airlines (MEA).


Photo of Middle East Airlines (MEA) Viscount OD-ACH

Country of Registration Lebanon

April 1956 to September 1957

Middle East Airlines (MEA)

OD-ACH - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
Lebanon registered

12 April 1956
Sub-leased from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.

The aircraft was still owned by Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd.

30 September 1957
Returned to BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.


Photo of BOAC Associated Companies Ltd Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1957 to October 1957

BOAC Associated Companies Ltd

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 September 1957
Returned from Middle East Airlines (MEA) sub-lease.

15 October 1957
Returned to Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA).


Photo of Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA) Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1957 to December 1957

Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA)

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

15 October 1957
Returned from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd lease.

23 December 1957
Sold to the Northern Aircraft Operating Company Ltd.


Photo of Northern Aircraft Operating Company Ltd Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1957 to August 1959

Northern Aircraft Operating Company Ltd

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

23 December 1957
Purchased from Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA).

2 March 1958
Noted at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England carrying out crew training flights under the contract guidance of Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell.

14 November 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training flights under the contract guidance of Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell.

23 January 1959
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training flights.

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

12 May 1959
Last day noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training flights. These flights were frequently carried out between January and May!

31 August 1959
Sold to Misrair - Egyptian Airlines.


Photo of Misrair - Egyptian Airlines Viscount SU-AKY

Country of Registration Egypt

August 1959 to August 1960

Misrair - Egyptian Airlines

SU-AKY - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
Egypt registered

31 August 1959
Purchased from the Northern Aircraft Operating Company Ltd.

4 September 1959
UK registration cancelled.

August 1960
Transferred to United Arab Airlines (UAA) due to a company name change.


Photo of United Arab Airlines (UAA) Viscount SU-AKY

Country of Registration Egypt

August 1960 to March 1965

United Arab Airlines (UAA)

SU-AKY - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
Egypt registered

August 1960
Transferred from Misrair - Egyptian Airlines due to a operator name change when Misrair merged with Syrian Arab Airlines.

15 March 1965
Sold to British Eagle International Airlines Ltd.


Photo of British Eagle International Airlines Ltd Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1965 to August 1968

British Eagle International Airlines Ltd

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

15 March 1965
Purchased from United Arab Airlines (UAA).

Noted in modified United Arab Airlines livery less titles with UK registration. 'KY' still on nose wheel door.

Named as 'City of Newcastle'.

19 April 1966
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.

16 August 1966
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.

12 August 1968
Leased to Air France.


Photo of Air France Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1968 to August 1968

Air France

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

12 August 1968
Leased from British Eagle International Airlines Ltd in full British Eagle livery.

15 August 1968
Returned to British Eagle International Airlines.


Photo of British Eagle International Airlines Ltd Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1968 to July 1969

British Eagle International Airlines Ltd

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

15 August 1968
Returned from Air France lease.

7 November 1968
British Eagle International Airlines ceased all operations.

5 May 1969
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired.

10 July 1969
Sold to Cambrian Airways.


Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1969 to June 1972

Cambrian Airways

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

10 July 1969
Purchased from British Eagle International Airlines Ltd for spares and ferried on a special permit to Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.

It was never officially registered to them.

10 July 1969
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

September 1969
Noted with all four propellers removed.

circa November 1969
Noted with all four Rolls-Royce Dart engines removed.

circa June 1970
Noted with the outer wings and tail removed in preparation to become a cabin trainer.

circa June 1972
Fuselage and stub wings mounted on a plinth to be used as a cabin trainer painted up in the Cambrian Airways orange livery with the fictitious registration G-WHIZ.


Photo of Cambrian Airways Viscount G-WHIZ *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1972 to August 1974

Cambrian Airways

G-WHIZ * - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa June 1972
Fuselage and stub wings mounted on a plinth at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales to be used as a cabin trainer painted up in the Cambrian Airways orange livery with the fictitious registration G-WHIZ.

August 1974
Transferred to British Airways (BA).


Photo of British Airways (BA) Viscount G-WHIZ *

Country of Registration United Kingdom

August 1974 to September 1976

British Airways (BA)

G-WHIZ * - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

August 1974
Fuselage transferred from Cambrian Airways and continued to be used as a cabin services trainer at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.

15 August 1974
Noted painted in British Airways (BA) livery with the fictitious registration G-WHIZ re-applied.

September 1976
Fuselage transferred to the Wales Aircraft Museum.

FURTHER READING: Books about British Airways (BA)



Photo of Wales Aircraft Museum Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1976 to January 1993

Wales Aircraft Museum

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

September 1976
Fuselage transferred from British Airways (BA) for use as a gift shop, still in a basic BA livery.

Fuselage transferred from British Airways (BA) for use as a gift shop.
Painted white, red and grey

September 1978
Noted repainted in a plain grey livery with a green tail.

April 1982
Noted repainted in a green, orange and white livery with ''Wales Aircraft Museum' titles only applied to the starboard side.

August 1982
Noted repainted in a white, red and grey livery.

Noted painted in Dan-Air London livery with false registration G-ARBY.
Painted in a
Dan-Air London livery

19 March 1988
Noted painted in Dan-Air London livery with false registration G-ARBY, with Dan-Air London titles applied to the port side and Wales Aircraft Museum titles to the starboard side.

circa January 1992
Fuselage transferred to the Airport Fire Service for emergency training purposes as the museum had moved to a smaller compound with limited space.


Photo of Cardiff Airport Fire Service Viscount G-ANRS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1993 to February 1996

Cardiff Airport Fire Service

G-ANRS - c/n 75 - a V.732 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa January 1992
Fuselage transferred for emergency training purposes.

February 1996
Remains broken up for scrap.


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.