27 July 2024
This website is regularly archived by the British Library who selectively archive websites with research values that are representative of British social history and cultural heritage.

Museum search


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.

Viscount history


Discover the history of the Viscount with film, video, contemporary reports from the pages of Flight Magazine, our newsletters, and aircraft operational records and photos from our database.


Share your photos and stories


Our 'Live Magazine' is used by members and non-members to share their Viscount photos and stories with fellow enthusiasts located throughout the world in real time.

You are able to send in your photos, stories and comments by Facebook, Twitter or email and we will post them for all to enjoy.

Contact us


Join the Vickers Viscount Network
for FREE


Featured pages

Our website contains over 20,000 pages of photos and information that can all be accessed from the menu at the top of every page. Here are a few to get you started.



This website does not use cookies or capture your details


Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 134

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 134
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7436

It first flew on Sunday, 12 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 134
Ronald J Clark


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Ronald J Clark as N7436.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA in July 1985. Broken up for scrap in 1993.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7436

Country of Registration United States

August 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7436 - c/n 134 - 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 32nd Viscount ordered by Capital Airlines.

Production Order No. F32/745. Sales Order No. F32/68B. Stock Order No. F32/27B.

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.

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

15 August 1956
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

17 August 1956
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘355’ 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 N7436

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7436 - c/n 134 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘355’.

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 N7436

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to December 1974

Viscount International Corporation

N7436 - c/n 134 - 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 30,556 hours.

28 December 1974
Sold to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.


Photo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Viscount N7436

Country of Registration United States

December 1974 to August 1979

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

N7436 - c/n 134 - 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 N7436

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to August 1979

Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc

N7436 - c/n 134 - 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 N7436

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to December 1981

Bass Aviation Inc

N7436 - c/n 134 - 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 N7436

Country of Registration United States

December 1981 to April 1982

Paul H Holmes

N7436 - c/n 134 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

December 1981
Purchased from Bass Aviation Inc.

April 1982
Sold to Ronald J Clark for use by the Go Group Inc.


Photo of Ronald J Clark Viscount N7436

Country of Registration United States

April 1982 to

Ronald J Clark

N7436 - c/n 134 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

April 1982
Purchased from Paul H Holmes for use by the Go Group Inc.

July 1985
Withdrawn from service and stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

circa 1993
Broken up for scrap. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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.


Click here for more details about the Vickers Viscount Network

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