20 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 111

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 111
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745 series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7413

It first flew on Monday, 13 February 1956 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


Photo of Viscount c/n 111
California Airmotive Inc


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
California Airmotive Inc as N7413.

Its fate:-
Converted by United Airlines to Type 745D standard by installing Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines. Stored at Fox Field, Lancaster, California, USA in February 1968. Broken up for scrap in 1971.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7413

Country of Registration United States

February 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7413 - c/n 111 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

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

Production Order No. F09/745. Sales Order No. F09/68B. Stock Order No. F09/27B.

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.

13 February 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

23 February 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘332’ 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 the 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.

This Viscount was delivered at the same time as N7412 (C/N 112) and followed the same route.

After stopping at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland to refuel it continued on to Keflavik Airport, Iceland (743 nautical miles) where it refuelled and stopped overnight.

24 February 1956
Departed from Keflavik Airport, Iceland to Bluie West One (BW1) Airfield, Narsarsuaq, Southern Greenland (804 nautical miles) where it was refuelled.

BW1 was built during WWII to assist the transfer of military aircraft from North America to Europe and was opened in January 1942.

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 N7413

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to February 1968

United Air Lines

N7413 - c/n 111 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘332’.

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

February 1968
Withdrawn from service.

Total time 29,769 hours and 29,985 total landings.

29 February 1968
Sold to California Airmotive Corporation.


Photo of California Airmotive Inc Viscount N7413

Country of Registration United States

February 1968 to November 1971

California Airmotive Inc

N7413 - c/n 111 - a V.745 series Viscount
United States registered

29 February 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines and stored at Fox Field, Lancaster, California, USA.

1971
Broken up for scrap after spares recovery. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

13 November 1971
Some identifiable remains still evident in the scrap compound along with Douglas DC-7B and Lockheed Constellation wings and fuselage sections.


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.


Click here for more details about the Vickers Viscount Network

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