23 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 125

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 125
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7427

It first flew on Tuesday, 5 June 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 125
Associated Products of America


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Associated Products of America as N7427.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Cape May County Airport, Wildwood, New Jersey, USA 16 June 1974. Noted with 'N J Airways' titles 19 March 1978 but never flew again. Broken up for scrap late 1983. Registration cancelled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in April 1986.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7427

Country of Registration United States

June 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7427 - c/n 125 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

June 1954
This was the twenty third 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. 123 - the 123rd production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 84th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 84th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F23/745. Sales Order No. F23/68B. Stock Order No. F23/27B.

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.

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

22 March 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

5 June 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

12 June 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘346’ 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 N7427

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to April 1968

United Air Lines

N7427 - c/n 125 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘346’.

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.

1 April 1968
Sold to Associated Products of America Inc.


Photo of Associated Products of America Viscount N7427

Country of Registration United States

April 1968 to January 1983

Associated Products of America

N7427 - c/n 125 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 April 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines.

16 June 1974
Noted stored at Cape May County Airport, Wildwood, New Jersey, USA.

23 May 1976
Noted with 'N J Airways' titles but it never flew again.

Late 1983
Broken up for scrap.

Total time 29,044 hours and 27,188 total landings.

April 1986
Registration cancelled by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).


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.