27 July 2024
This website is regularly archived by the British Library who selectively archive websites with research values that are representative of British social history and cultural heritage.

Museum search


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.

Viscount history


Discover the history of the Viscount with film, video, contemporary reports from the pages of Flight Magazine, our newsletters, and aircraft operational records and photos from our database.


Share your photos and stories


Our 'Live Magazine' is used by members and non-members to share their Viscount photos and stories with fellow enthusiasts located throughout the world in real time.

You are able to send in your photos, stories and comments by Facebook, Twitter or email and we will post them for all to enjoy.

Contact us


Join the Vickers Viscount Network
for FREE


Featured pages

Our website contains over 20,000 pages of photos and information that can all be accessed from the menu at the top of every page. Here are a few to get you started.



This website does not use cookies or capture your details


Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 121

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 121
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7423

It first flew on Tuesday, 8 May 1956 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
United Air Lines and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics


Photo of Viscount c/n 121
David J Gower


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
David J Gower as N7423.

Its fate:-
Registration cancelled in February 1983. No recent sightings so presumed scrapped. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7423

Country of Registration United States

May 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7423 - c/n 121 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

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

Production Order No. F19/745. Sales Order No. F19/68B. Stock Order No. F19/27B.

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.

8 May 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

11 May 1956
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

14 May 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number '342' fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

Powered by Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines fitted with the square tipped propeller type.

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.

At the time this was the biggest merger transaction in US civil aviation history.

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


Photo of United Air Lines Viscount N7423

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7423 - c/n 121 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '342'.

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.

January 1969
Donated to the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA).


Photo of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) Viscount N7423

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to October 1979

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA)

N7423 - c/n 121 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

January 1969
Donated by United Air Lines and ferried to Allegheny County International Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA for use as a ground instruction aircraft. 'PIA - Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' titles applied to the basic United livery.

Total time 30,247 hours and 28,842 total landings.

The No.3 (starboard inner) Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engine was occasionally run at a low power setting as the exhaust had been fabricated from old oil drums.

circa June 1977
Noted with the outer Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines and outer wings cut off.

October 1979
Sold to David J Gower.


Photo of David J Gower Viscount N7423

Country of Registration United States

October 1979 to February 1983

David J Gower

N7423 - c/n 121 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

October 1979
Purchased from Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA).

February 1983
Registration cancelled.

No recent sightings so presumed scrapped. 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.


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.