25 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 131

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 131
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7433

It first flew on Sunday, 22 July 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
Alitalia


Photo of Viscount c/n 131
Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA)


Uruguay flag Uruguay

Its final owner/operator was
Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA) as CX-BHB.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA) and stripped of spares at Carrasco Airport, Montevideo, Uruguay in January 1975. Subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7433

Country of Registration United States

July 1956 to December 1960

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7433 - c/n 131 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

June 1954
This was the twentyninth 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. 134 - the 134th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 92nd Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 93rd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F29/745. Sales Order No. F29/68B. Stock Order No. F29/27B.

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.

14 March 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

28 April 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

26 July 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘352’ 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.

1 December 1960
Repossessed by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd due to the financial debt owed.


Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount N7433

Country of Registration United States

May 1960 to December 1960

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

N7433 - c/n 131 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 December 1960
Repossessed from Capital Airlines due to the financial debt owed and registered to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.

16 December 1960
Sold to Alitalia along with I-LIRC (C/N 114).


Photo of Alitalia Viscount I-LINS

Country of Registration Italy

December 1960 to October 1967

Alitalia

I-LINS - c/n 131 - a V.745D series Viscount
Italy registered

16 December 1960
Purchased from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd along with I-LIRC (C/N 114).

October 1967
Sold to Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA).


Photo of Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA) Viscount CX-BHBF

Country of Registration Uruguay

October 1967 to October 1967

Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA)

CX-BHBF - c/n 131 - a V.745D series Viscount
Uruguay registered

Painted at Marshalls at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England.
Painted at Marshalls,
Teversham, Cambridge, England

October 1967
Purchased from Alitalia and ferried to Marshalls at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for maintenance and repainting.

9 October 1967
Delivered from Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England with temporary ferry registration CX-BHBF applied.

October 1967
Re-registered CX-BHB.


Photo of Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA) Viscount CX-BHB

Country of Registration Uruguay

October 1967 to January 1975

Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA)

CX-BHB - c/n 131 - a V.745D series Viscount
Uruguay registered

October 1967
Re-registered from temporary ferry registration CX-BHBF.

January 1975
Withdrawn from service and robbed of all useful spares at Carrasco Airport, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Total time 35,588 hours.

Broken up for scrap.

More details about PLUNA here: -www.pluna.uy/flota-historica/


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.