27 July 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 107

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 107
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745 series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7409

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, Air Capital Aircraft Sales Inc and Bobby K Green


Photo of Viscount c/n 107
Robert Kivett


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Robert Kivett as N7409.

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

Withdrawn from service and stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

Subsequently scrapped circa 1996.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7409

Country of Registration United States

December 1955 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7409 - c/n 107 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

June 1954
This was the fifth 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. 87 - the 87th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 53rd Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 53rd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F05/745. Sales Order No. F05/68B. Stock Order No. F05/27B.

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.

7 June 1955
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

19 August 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.

29 December 1955
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

31 December 1955
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘328’ 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 N7409

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7409 - c/n 107 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘328’.

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.


Photo of Viscount International Corporation Viscount N7409

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to December 1974

Viscount International Corporation

N7409 - c/n 107 - 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 31,646 hours.

28 December 1974
Sold to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.


Photo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Viscount N7409

Country of Registration United States

December 1974 to August 1979

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

N7409 - c/n 107 - 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.

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 N7409

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to March 1981

Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc

N7409 - c/n 107 - 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.

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


Photo of Air Capital Aircraft Sales Inc Viscount N7409

Country of Registration United States

March 1981 to January 1988

Air Capital Aircraft Sales Inc

N7409 - c/n 107 - 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.

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

January 1988
Sold to Bobby K Green (exact date unknown).


Photo of Bobby K Green Viscount N7409

Country of Registration United States

January 1988 to April 1988

Bobby K Green

N7409 - c/n 107 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

January 1988
Purchased from Air Capital Aircraft Sales but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware (exact date unknown).

April 1988
Sold to Robert Kivett (exact date unknown).

Further details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of Robert Kivett Viscount N7409

Country of Registration United States

April 1988 to

Robert Kivett

N7409 - c/n 107 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

April 1988
Purchased from Bobby K Green but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

circa 1996
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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This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.