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 126

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 126
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7428

It first flew on Tuesday, 12 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, Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, Cimarron Industries Ltd, Westernair of Albuquerque, Aero Jet Services Inc, Airworld of Houston Texas, Brazosport Bank of Texas and D L & J R Haralson


Photo of Viscount c/n 126
Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN)


Ecuador flag Ecuador

Its final owner/operator was
Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN) as N7428.

Its fate:-
Damaged beyond economic repair after it landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport, Guayaquil, Ecuador with the lower part of the port main undercarriage missing in October 1975 and withdrawn from service. It was subsequently robbed of all useful parts to support HC-ATV (C/N 458). Remains later broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

June 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

June 1954
This was the twenty fourth 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. 124 - the 124th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 86th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 85th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F24/745. Sales Order No. F24/68B. Stock Order No. F24/27B.

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.

8 February 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

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

20 June 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘347’ 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 generally 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 N7428

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to December 1968

United Air Lines

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘347’.

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.

3 December 1968
Sold to Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association.


Photo of Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

December 1968 to April 1972

Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

3 December 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines. They also purchased N7438 (C/N 136) which they robbed of spares to support this aircraft.

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery.

April 1972
Sold to Cimarron Industries Ltd.


Photo of Cimarron Industries Ltd Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

April 1972 to May 1972

Cimarron Industries Ltd

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

April 1972
Purchased from Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association.

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery.

4 May 1972
Sold to Westernair of Albuquerque.


Photo of Westernair of Albuquerque Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

May 1972 to March 1973

Westernair of Albuquerque

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

4 May 1972
Purchased from Cimarron Industries Ltd.

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery.

15 March 1973
Sold to Aero Jet Services Inc.


Photo of Aero Jet Services Inc Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

March 1973 to March 1974

Aero Jet Services Inc

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

15 March 1973
Purchased from Westernair of Albuquerque.

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery.

March 1974
Leased to Airworld of Houston, Texas, USA and their titles were applied.


Photo of Airworld of Houston Texas Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

March 1974 to August 1974

Airworld of Houston Texas

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

March 1974
Leased from Aero Jet Services Inc.

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery with their titles applied.

28 August 1974
Repossessed from Aero Jet Services Inc by Brazosport Bank of Texas while still on lease to Airworld.


Photo of Brazosport Bank of Texas Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

August 1974 to March 1975

Brazosport Bank of Texas

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

28 August 1974
Repossessed from Aero Jet Services Inc while the aircraft was still on lease to Airworld of Houston Texas.

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery with Airworld of Houston, Texas titles.

24 March 1975
Sold to D L & J R Haralson.


Photo of D L & J R Haralson Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

March 1975 to April 1975

D L & J R Haralson

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

24 March 1975
Purchased from Brazosport Bank of Texas.

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery with Airworld of Houston Texas titles.

4 April 1975
Leased to Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN).

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery with Airworld of Houston Texas titles. 'SAN' was added to the forward fuselage.


Photo of Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN) Viscount N7428

Country of Registration United States

April 1975 to December 1975

Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN)

N7428 - c/n 126 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

4 April 1975
Leased from D L & J R Haralson.

It remained in the basic United Air Lines livery with 'Airworld of Houston Texas' titles. 'SAN' was added to the forward fuselage.

29 September 1975
Purchased from D L & J R Haralson while still on lease.

October 1975
After departing from its base at Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Azuay Province, Ecuador the port main undercarriage leg lower section became detached.

Fuel was burnt off by circling and they made a spectacular landing at Simón Bolívar International Airport, Guayaquil, Ecuador.

A local television station (Canal 2) had arrived and filmed the event and broadcast it live!

Due to the extensive damage it was withdrawn from service and robbed of all useful parts to support HC-ATV (C/N 458).

Remains subsequently broken up for scrap.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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