27 July 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 133

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 133
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7435

It first flew on Friday, 10 August 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, Viscount International Corporation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales, Bass Aviation Inc and Paul H Holmes


Photo of Viscount c/n 133
Ronald J Clark


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Ronald J Clark as N7435.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA in July 1985 and immediately broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7435

Country of Registration United States

August 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7435 - c/n 133 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

December 1954
An order for an additional 20 Type 745D aircraft was placed by Capital Airlines.

This was the 31st Viscount ordered 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. 137 - the 137th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 95th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 96th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F31/745. Sales Order No. F31/68B. Stock Order No. F31/27B.

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.

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

14 May 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

10 August 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

18 August 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘354’ 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.

24 January 1961
During an approach to Pittsburgh Airport, Pennsylvania, USA flown by First Officer Jerry Girard under Captain William Barnhart in marginal weather conditions including snow showers the starboard main undercarriage was ripped off after contact with a slight hill on final approach to runway 33.

The aircraft crash landed on the runway resulting in damage to the starboard propellers and shockloading of the starboard Rolls-Royce Dart engines. All the occupants escaped without injury.

Repaired locally and returned to service.

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 N7435

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7435 - c/n 133 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘354’.

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.

11 January 1969
Sold to the Viscount International Corporation.


Photo of Viscount International Corporation Viscount N7435

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to December 1974

Viscount International Corporation

N7435 - c/n 133 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

11 January 1969
Purchased from United Air Lines and ferried to Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA for storage in ex United livery less titles.

Total time 30,487 hours.

28 December 1974
Sold to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.


Photo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Viscount N7435

Country of Registration United States

December 1974 to August 1979

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

N7435 - c/n 133 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

28 December 1974
Purchased from Viscount International Corporation but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

9 January 1975
Registered to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

10 August 1979
Sold to Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales.


Photo of Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc Viscount N7435

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to August 1979

Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc

N7435 - c/n 133 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

10 August 1979
Purchased from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University brokered through Distribute Air Inc but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

29 August 1979
Sold to Bass Aviation Inc.


Photo of Bass Aviation Inc Viscount N7435

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to December 1981

Bass Aviation Inc

N7435 - c/n 133 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

29 August 1979
Purchased from Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales.

18 July 1980
Noted in open storage at Mobile Airport, Alabama, USA.

December 1981
Sold to Paul H Holmes of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA.


Photo of Paul H Holmes Viscount N7435

Country of Registration United States

December 1981 to December 1981

Paul H Holmes

N7435 - c/n 133 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

December 1981
Purchased from Bass Aviation Inc.

December 1981
Sold to Ronald J Clark for use by the Go Group Inc.


Photo of Ronald J Clark Viscount N7435

Country of Registration United States

December 1981 to July 1985

Ronald J Clark

N7435 - c/n 133 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

December 1981
Purchased from Paul H Holmes for use by the Go Group Inc.

July 1985
Withdrawn from service at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA and immediately broken up for scrap

Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.


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.