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 106

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 106
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745 series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7408

It first flew on Tuesday, 20 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, Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales and Air Capital Aircraft Sales Inc


Photo of Viscount c/n 106
Bobby K Green


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Bobby K Green as N7408.

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

Stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

Broken up for scrap circa May 1995.

The actual date is not known.

Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7408

Country of Registration United States

December 1955 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7408 - c/n 106 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

June 1954
This was the fourth of thirty Type 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. 86 - the 86th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 50th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 52nd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F04/745. Sales Order No. F04/68B. Stock Order No. F04/27B.

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.

23 May 1955
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

21 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.

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

23 December 1955
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘327’ 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 N7408

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7408 - c/n 106 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘327’. This was the first Capital Viscount to be repainted in the United Air Lines livery which was carried out at their Washington National Airport, District of Columbia maintenance facility. 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.

March 1966
Noted at Philadelphia Airport, Pennsylvania, USA still fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines.

Was it converted to RDa6 Mark 510 before or after its accident? Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

13 October 1966
Substantially damaged in an accident at Muskegon County Airport, Michigan, USA. The Viscount overran the runway in rain and low cloud causing the undercarriage to collapse.

There were only minor injuries amongst the 3 crew and 8 passengers on board.

The NTSB cited a misjudged and poorly planned approach as causal factors.

Repaired and returned to service.

11 January 1969
Sold to the Viscount International Corporation.


Photo of Viscount International Corporation Viscount N7408

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to December 1974

Viscount International Corporation

N7408 - c/n 106 - 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.

Total time 31,451 hours.

28 December 1974
Sold to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.


Photo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Viscount N7408

Country of Registration United States

December 1974 to August 1979

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

N7408 - c/n 106 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

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

9 January 1975
Registered to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

10 August 1979
Sold to Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales.


Photo of Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc Viscount N7408

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to March 1981

Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc

N7408 - c/n 106 - 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.

March 1981
Sold to Air Capital Aircraft Sales of Wichita, Kansas, USA.


Photo of Air Capital Aircraft Sales Inc Viscount N7408

Country of Registration United States

March 1981 to January 1988

Air Capital Aircraft Sales Inc

N7408 - c/n 106 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

March 1981
Purchased from Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

9 April 1981
Registered to Air Capital Aircraft Sales of Wichita, Kansas, USA.

circa January 1988
Sold to Bobby K Green. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of Bobby K Green Viscount N7408

Country of Registration United States

January 1988 to May 1995

Bobby K Green

N7408 - c/n 106 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

circa January 1988
Purchased from Air Capital Aircraft Sales Inc but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

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

circa May 1995
Broken up for scrap.

The actual date is not known.
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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