24 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 104

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 104
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745 series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7406

It first flew on Saturday, 19 November 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
United Air Lines, Cavalier Aircraft Corporation, D B Lindsay and Da Vu Aviation Inc


Photo of Viscount c/n 104
Alfred Homann


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Alfred Homann as N764C.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Da Vu Aviation Inc and stored at Bradenton Airport, Pinellas County, Sarasota, Florida, USA circa 1973.

Purchased by Albert Homann who moved the fuselage to a vacant lot at St Petersburg Beach, Pinellas County, Florida, USA and started to convert it into a houseboat but this was never completed.

The fuselage was no longer noted at this location. circa 1980.

An ex United fuselage was noted beside a house in Beulah Road, Pensacola, Florida, USA in 1985. Is this the same fuselage? Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7406

Country of Registration United States

November 1955 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7406 - c/n 104 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

June 1954
This was the second of thirty V.745 ordered by Capital Airlines.

The first nine aircraft (C/N 103 to 111) were built as Type 745 aircraft with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines.

All subsequent aircraft in the order were built as Type 745D with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines.

Production Aircraft No. 82 - the 82nd production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 48th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 49th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F02/745. Sales Order No. F02/68B. Stock Order No. F02/27B.

December 1954
An additional order for 20 Type 745D aircraft was placed by Capital Airlines.

Altogether, the total order was worth $67,000,000 US. This was the highest ever US Dollar export order for the UK at the time.

22 April 1955
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

3 July 1955
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

24 August 1955
A drawing showing the cabin seating arrangement was approved and issued.by Capital Airlines and showed 11 rows of 2 + 2 seats with two toilets at the front, one on each side and a large galley at the rear.

19 November 1955
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

25 November 1955
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘325’ fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

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

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

circa 1958
Large registrations on the rear fuselage appeared after the use of small registrations on the tail were banned by the newly formed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Also by this time weather radar had been fitted resulting in a change to the nose cone.

May 1960
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd filed a foreclosure suit on the entire Viscount fleet of Capital Airlines as the overdue payments now totalled $34,000,000.

4 April 1961
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially gave permission for United Air Lines to acquire Capital Airlines.

1 June 1961
Transferred to United Air Lines due to a corporate merger.


Photo of United Air Lines Viscount N7406

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to August 1968

United Air Lines

N7406 - c/n 104 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘325’.

David Carter illustration of United Air Lines Viscount N7406

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


After repainting in United Air Lines livery during a suitable maintenance period the title ‘Viscount Mainliner’ was applied to the rear fuselage.

The last Capital Viscount N7443 (C/N 199) was repainted in United Air Lines livery in March 1962.

9 September 1967
Noted in service at Allegheny County Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA now fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines. The exact date of conversion is unknown. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

7 August 1968
Sold to the Cavalier Aircraft Corporation.


Photo of Cavalier Aircraft Corporation Viscount N7406

Country of Registration United States

August 1968 to December 1969

Cavalier Aircraft Corporation

N7406 - c/n 104 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

7 August 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines.

19 September 1968
Delivered to the Cavalier Aircraft Corporation.

December 1969
Re-registered as N764C.


Photo of Cavalier Aircraft Corporation Viscount N764C

Country of Registration United States

December 1969 to November 1971

Cavalier Aircraft Corporation

N764C - c/n 104 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

December 1969
Re-registered from N7406.

November 1971
Sold to D B Lindsay.


Photo of D B Lindsay Viscount N764C

Country of Registration United States

November 1971 to February 1972

D B Lindsay

N764C - c/n 104 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

November 1971
Purchased from Cavalier Aircraft Corporation.

Reportedly re-registered N764E but records of this may be unreliable as it was photographed in 1974 still marked up as N764C.

Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

February 1972
Sold to Da Vu Aviation Inc of Sarasota, Florida, USA.


Photo of Da Vu Aviation Inc Viscount N764C

Country of Registration United States

February 1972 to December 1973

Da Vu Aviation Inc

N764C - c/n 104 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

February 1972
Purchased from D B Lindsay.

circa 1973
Withdrawn from service and stored at Bradenton Airport, Pinellas County, Sarasota, Florida, USA.

circa December 1973
Sold to Alfred Homann of St Petersburg Beach, Pinellas County, Florida, USA.


Photo of Alfred Homann Viscount N764C

Country of Registration United States

December 1973 to December 1980

Alfred Homann

N764C - c/n 104 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

circa December 1973
Purchased from Da Vu Aviation Inc and dismantled by removing the wings and tail and gutting out the interior.

3 January 1974
Fuselage noted on an articulated K & W Boat Transport Inc Mack truck for its transfer across the Sarasota 'Skyway' and Corey Causeway to a vacant lot on Blind Pass Road owned by Dean McClain which was close to St Petersburg Beach, Florida, USA.

The trip was not without its incidents as the police issued two citations, one for the length of the load and the other for an out-of-date vehicle inspection.

Albert began converting the fuselage into a pontoon houseboat which he nicknamed as the 'ploat', i.e. half plane / half boat.

10 September 1979

The St Petersburg Times published an article and a picture of the fuselage on the trailer supported on each side with oil drums. Sadly the project was never completed and when it had to be moved again several years later Albert decided to scrap the 6 ton hulk. It was intended to be named 'Bright Future' but this turned out to be quite the opposite. Alfred's wife Betty never really shared the enthusiasm of the project and the planned first trip to the Caribbean.

circa 1980
The fuselage was no longer noted at this location. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

circa 1985
An ex United fuselage was noted beside a house in Beulah Road, Pensacola, Florida, USA. Is this the same fuselage? 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.