02 April 2020
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Featured pages

Our website contains over 20,000 pages of photos and information that can all be accessed from the menu at the top of every page. Here are a few to get you started.


In the Beginning

The Turboprop World-Beater

Sir George Edwards

The Rolls-Royce Dart

c/n 1 G-AHRF V.630
The Prototype Viscount

c/n 2 VX217 V.663
The Tay powered Viscount

c/n 3 G-AMAV V.700
The V.700 series prototype

c/n 4 G-ALWE V.701
The first BEA Viscount

c/n 5 G-ALWF V.701
The oldest surviving Viscount

c/n 8 F-BGNK V.708
The first Air France Viscount

c/n 30 EI-AFV V.707
The first Aer Lingus Viscount

c/n 40 CF-TGI V.724
The first TCA Viscount

c/n 44 VH-TVA V.720
The first TAA Viscount

c/n 67 YI-ACK V.735
The first Iraqi Airways Viscount

c/n 70 CF-GXK V.737
The first Canadian DoT Viscount

c/n 71 VP-TBK V.702
The first BOAC Associated
Companies Viscount

c/n 74 G-ANRR V.732
The first Hunting-Clan Viscount

c/n 77 LN-FOF V.736
The first Fred Olsen Viscount

c/n 79 IU-683 V.723
The first Indian Air Force Viscount

c/n 88 N7402 V.744
The first Capital Airlines Viscount

c/n 97 VH-BAT V.747
The first Butler Air
Transport Viscount


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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 88

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 88
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.744 series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7402

It first flew on Saturday, 14 May 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
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd, Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (LAV), Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Becco Trading Corporation

Photo of Viscount c/n 88
Ansett-ANA


Australia flag Australia

Its final owner/operator was
Ansett-ANA as G-APKJ.

Its fate:-
Damaged beyond repair after a heavy landing in poor visibility at Itami Airport, Osaka, Japan.

A steep descending turn at 1,000 feet and half a mile short of the threshold had to be made to line up with runway 32. Immediately before touchdown the plane lost height rapidly and landed heavily causing the starboard main undercarriage leg to collapse 12 June 1961.

Sold to Ansett-ANA via Becco Trading Corporation for spares recovery circa July 1961. Forward fuselage section noted at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in February 1963. Subsequently scrapped.


Operational record
Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount N7402

Country of Registration United States

August 1954 to May 1955

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

N7402 - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
United States registered

August 1954
A contract was signed by James Henry 'Slim' Carmichael, President of Capital Airlines for three V.744 lease aircraft pending the delivery of their own V.745 aircraft.

This aircraft was originally being built as a V.701 for British European Airways Corporation (BEA) but they agreed that this aircraft and C/N 89 and C/N 90 could be completed as a V.744.

Production Aircraft No. 57 - the 57th production V.700 series Viscount built,
was the 21st Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 28th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F01/744. Sales Order No. 01/64B. Stock Order No. 37/22B.

28 August 1954
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

16 October 1954
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

14 May 1955
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

At this time it was fitted with 'needle' type rounded tip propeller blades.

17 May 1955
Formerly handed over on lease to Capital Airlines pending the delivery of their fleet of V.745 and V.745D Viscounts.


Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7402

Country of Registration United States

May 1955 to January 1958

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7402 - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
United States registered

17 May 1955
Formerly handed over on lease to Capital Airlines during a ceremony at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England. There were 400 guests at the ceremony which included Lieutenant General Sir Ronald Weeks, Chairman of Vickers, the US Ambassador to Great Britain, Mr James Henry 'Slim' Carmichael, President of Capital Airlines and his wife and of course George Robert Edwards, Vickers Managing Director.

15 June 1955
Departed on delivery on lease to Capital Airlines from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd with fleet number ‘321’ pending the delivery of their fleet of V.745 and V.745D Viscounts.

Although powered by Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines, this aircraft was now fitted with the square tipped propeller more associated with the Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines.

This was the first Viscount to be operated from the USA, preceded by Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) as the first North American operator with routes into the USA.

20 June 1955
Arrived at Washington National Airport, District of Columbia, USA.

circa 1956
During a flight from Washington National Airport, District of Columbia to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland, Ohio Captain Ernie Barnes and First Officer Jerry Girard were advised by Cleveland Center that there was a USAF Lockheed T-33A jet trainer in the area and that the pilot had declared an emergency having suffered an engine failure. At the time the Viscount was descending to 12,000 feet on approach to Cleveland.

The ATC Center then advised the Capital crew that the jet trainer's radio had now failed. They were then cleared to descend to 4,000 feet which Captain Barnes declined to do until they were sure that they were clear of the jet trainer.

Shortly after this the Capital crew spotted the T-33A which was circling at a higher altitude. They started their descent to 6,000 feet as the T-33A continued to circle above them.

They then saw that both T-33A crew members had ejected and that the T-33A had started to turn and head in their direction.

Captain Barnes turned the Viscount and opened up the engines in order to escape from the T-33A which then crashed in open land 40 miles from Cleveland.

They then made a routine landing at Cleveland but were unimpressed with the USAF crew for putting their Viscount and occupants in mortal danger.

31 January 1958
Returned to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.


Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount G-APKJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1958 to February 1958

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

G-APKJ - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 January 1958
Re-registered at the end of the Capital Airlines lease period.

13 February 1958
Returned from Capital Airlines lease to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England via Shannon Airport, County Clare, Ireland.

circa February 1958
Re-registered as YV-C-ANJ for a proposed sale to Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (LAV).


Photo of Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (LAV) Viscount YV-C-ANJ

Country of Registration Venezuela

February 1958 to April 1960

Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (LAV)

YV-C-ANJ - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
Venezuela registered

circa February 1958
The purchase from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd as YV-C-ANJ was not completed.

12 April 1958
Loaned to Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd still registered as G-APKJ.


Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd Viscount G-APKJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1960 to April 1960

Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd

G-APKJ - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

12 April 1960
Loaned from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.

13 April 1960
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

April 1960
Flew for 18 hours and 20 minutes in trials to test and calibrate the 'Airborne' Radar installation aboard the new Chilean Navy Destroyer 'Almirante Williams' at a flying cost of £150 per hour. Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd was invoiced for £2,750 by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd for the use of the aircraft.

The 'Almirante Williams' was completed by Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd at the Vickers shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness, England on the 26th March 1960.

26 April 1960
Returned to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.


Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount G-APKJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1960 to June 1960

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

G-APKJ - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

26 April 1960
Returned from Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd loan.

30 June 1960
Leased to All Nippon Airways (ANA).


Photo of All Nippon Airways (ANA) Viscount G-APKJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

June 1960 to July 1961

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

G-APKJ - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

30 June 1960
Leased from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.

The aircraft was delivered in full All Nippon Airways livery with Japanese lettering but retaining its British registration. The letters ‘KJ’ were prominently displayed on either side of the nose instead of the normal last two registration digits for Japanese registered aircraft.

12 June 1961
Damaged beyond repair after a heavy landing in poor visibility at Itami Airport, Osaka, Japan. A steep descending turn at 1,000 feet and half a mile short of the threshold had to be made to line up with runway 32. Immediately before touchdown the plane lost height rapidly and landed heavily causing the starboard main undercarriage leg to collapse.

There were no injuries amongst the 5 crew and 44 passengers.

Total time 9,353 hours and 6,693 total landings.

circa July 1961
Remains sold by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd to Becco Trading Corporation. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of Becco Trading Corporation Viscount G-APKJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1961 to July 1961

Becco Trading Corporation

G-APKJ - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa July 1961
Remains purchased from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd after the landing accident in Japan. The exact date is unknown.

circa July 1961
Remains sold to Ansett-ANA for spares recovery. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of Ansett-ANA Viscount G-APKJ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1961 to December 1963

Ansett-ANA

G-APKJ - c/n 88 - a V.744 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa July 1961
Purchased from Becco Trading Corporation.

The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

It was to be used for spares recovery to support their own Viscount fleet.

February 1963
The forward fuselage section was noted dumped in the long grass at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and was subsequently scrapped.

It is not yet known how much of the aircraft was shipped from Japan to Australia.

Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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.