20 September 2017
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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, LAV - Linea Aeropostal Venezolana, Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd, ANA - All Nippon Airways 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 gear to collapsed 12 June 1961.

Remains sold to ANSETT-ANA via Becco Trading Corporation for spares and subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
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

1954
This was the 1st V.744 and the 1st Viscount ordered by Capital Airlines.

Originally to be built as a V.701 for BEA – British European Airways Corporation. With agreement of BEA the aircraft was built as a V.744 for Capital Airlines.

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 paddle type propeller blades.

17 May 1955
Handed over to Capital Airlines during a ceremony at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England in front of 400 guests.

15 June 1955
Delivered to Capital Airlines on lease from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd with fleet number ‘321’ pending the delivery of a large order of V.745 Viscounts.

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

circa 1956
During a flight from Washington, DC to 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 from N7402 for return from Capital Airlines lease.

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 LAV – Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (exact date unknown).


Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount YV-C-ANJ

Country of Registration Venezuela

February 1958 to April 1960

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

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

circa February 1958
Re-registered from G-APKJ for proposed sale to LAV – Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (exact date unknown). The sale was not completed and the aircraft was placed in storage.

12 April 1960
Loaned to Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd as G-APKJ.


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

Country of Registration Venezuela

February 1958 to February 1958

Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (LAV)

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

circa February 1958
Purchase from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd not taken up.

Date not confirmed. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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 ANA - All Nippon Airways.


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 and delivered in full ANA - All Nippon Airways livery but retaining its British registration. The letters ‘KJ’ were prominently displayed on either side of the nose instead of the normal last two 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 gear to collapsed.

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 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. 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 July 1961

ANSETT-ANA

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

circa July 1961
Remains purchased from Becco Trading Corporation. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

Used for spares recovery and then the gutted fuselage was 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.