25 April 2024
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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 124

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 124
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7426

It first flew on Tuesday, 29 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


Photo of Viscount c/n 124
BKS Air Transport Ltd


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
BKS Air Transport Ltd as G-ATTA.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by BKS Air Transport Ltd and stored at Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England 22 April 1970.

Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use 24 April 1970.

Broken up for scrap in November 1971.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7426

Country of Registration United States

May 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7426 - c/n 124 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

June 1954
This was the twenty second 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.

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.

Production Aircraft No. 122 - the 122nd production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 79th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 83rd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F22/745. Sales Order No. F22/68B. Stock Order No. F22/27B.

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.

9 January 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Hurn, Bournemouth,
Hampshire, England

21 February 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

31 May 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number '345' fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

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 N7426

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to April 1966

United Air Lines

N7426 - c/n 124 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '345'.

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.

19 April 1966
Sold to BKS Air Transport Ltd.


Photo of BKS Air Transport Ltd Viscount G-ATTA

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1966 to November 1971

BKS Air Transport Ltd

G-ATTA - c/n 124 - a V.745D series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

19 April 1966
Purchased from United Air Lines and registered to BKS Air Transport Ltd.

BKS relates to the surnames of three company directors: - James W Barnby, Thomas D Keegan, and Cyril Stevens.

22 April 1966
Ferried from Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

As part of the overhaul by Channel Airways it was converted to 60 seat configuration.

9 May 1966
UK Certificate of Airworthiness issued.

11 June 1966
Ferried from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England after overhaul by Channel Airways.

When it entered service it was often used on British Army of the Rhine (B.A.O.R.) trooping contract flights between the UK and West Germany.

12 March 1967
Ferried from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England after maintenance with Channel Airways.

November 1967
Transferred to British Air Services (BAS) due to a corporate merger.

'British Air Services' titles were applied to the top of the main fuselage.

Now with 'British Air Services' titles
Now with
'British Air Services' titles

20 February 1968
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.

22 April 1970
Withdrawn from service and stored at Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England.

24 April 1970
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

Total time 30,967 hours and 27,922 total landings.

9 June 1970
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired.

November 1971
Broken up for scrap.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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