26 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 105

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 105
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745 series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7407

It first flew on Thursday, 1 December 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, Viscount International Corporation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales


Photo of Viscount c/n 105
Airgo Inc


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Airgo Inc as N7407.

Its fate:-
Converted by United Air Lines to V.745D standard by installing Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines.

Reportedly damaged beyond repair during tropical storm ‘Dennis’ in August 1981.

Registration cancelled by Airgo Inc 18 August 1981 as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

Broken up for scrap after removal of all useful parts.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7407

Country of Registration United States

December 1955 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7407 - c/n 105 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

June 1954
This was the third of thirty Type 745 ordered by Capital Airlines.

Production Order No. F03/745. Sales Order No. F03/68B. Stock Order No. F03/27B.

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.

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.

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.

1 December 1955
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

7 December 1955
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘326’ fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

Although powered by Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines, this aircraft was fitted with the square tipped propeller type 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 N7407

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7407 - c/n 105 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘326’.

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.

Converted to V.745D standard by fitting Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines. The actual date is unknown. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

11 January 1969
Sold to Viscount International Corporation.

Total time 31,478 hours.


Photo of Viscount International Corporation Viscount N7407

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to December 1974

Viscount International Corporation

N7407 - c/n 105 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

11 January 1969
Purchased from United Air Lines and ferried to Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA for storage.

28 December 1974
Sold to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.


Photo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Viscount N7407

Country of Registration United States

December 1974 to August 1979

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

N7407 - c/n 105 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

28 December 1974
Purchased from Viscount International Corporation but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

10 August 1979
Sold to Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales.


Photo of Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc Viscount N7407

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to August 1980

Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc

N7407 - c/n 105 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

10 August 1979
Purchased from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

13 October 1980
Sold to Airgo Inc.


Photo of Airgo Inc Viscount N7407

Country of Registration United States

August 1980 to August 1981

Airgo Inc

N7407 - c/n 105 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

13 October 1980
Purchased from Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

24 November 1980
Noted being worked on to assess whether it could be made airworthy. This never happened and the aircraft remained stored

23 February 1981
Registered to Airgo Inc.

August 1981
Reportedly damaged beyond repair during tropical storm ‘Dennis’. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

18 August 1981
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use due to an accident (see above).

Broken up for scrap after removal of all useful parts. Date unknown. 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.