18 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 129

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 129
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7431

It first flew on Friday, 6 July 1956 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 129
United Air Lines


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
United Air Lines as N7431.

Its fate:-
Damaged beyond repair after colliding with a snow plough at Norfolk Municipal Airport, Virginia, USA 19 January 1967. Thankfully there were no fatalities amongst the four crew and 46 passengers. The remains were subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7431

Country of Registration United States

July 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7431 - c/n 129 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

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

Production Order No. F27/745. Sales Order No. F27/68B. Stock Order No. F27/27B.

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.

6 July 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

During the test flight phase the fuel jettison system was trialled. The rear fuselage was painted with a 'whitewash' in order to determine where the fuel was going after it left the wing trailing edge nozzles.

17 July 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘350’ 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 N7431

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1967

United Air Lines

N7431 - c/n 129 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '350'.

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 January 1967
Damaged beyond economic repair after colliding with a snow plough tractor at Norfolk Municipal Airport, Virginia, USA at 13:59 local time.

The snow plough had driven across the runway as the aircraft was landing and the nose undercarriage leg was ripped off which opened up the belly and also one wing became partially detached.

Thankfully there were no fatalities amongst the 46 passengers and 4 crew on board.

Total time 26,841 hours and 24,683 total landings.

Remains broken up for scrap.


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.


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