02 December 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 137

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 137
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7439

It first flew on Saturday, 8 September 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, Paul H Holmes and Ronald J Clark


Photo of Viscount c/n 137
Mid Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM)


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Mid Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM) as N7439.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Viscount International Corporation at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA in January 1969.

Sold to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 28 December 1974, to Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc. 10 August 1979, to Bass Aviation Inc. 29 August 1979, to Paul H Holmes December 1981, and to Ronald J Clark in April 1982 who transferred it to Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA and dismantled it circa October 1994.

The fuselage was donated to the Mid Atlantic Air Museum at Carl A Spaatz Field, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA circa February 1989 to supply interior parts for the restoration of their Viscount c/n 233 N7471. Fuselage noted painted in olive drab with fictitious Luftwaffe markings presumably for a film 30 May 1998.

The fuselage was taken away on a low loader by a local metal merchant 10 September 1999 and subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7439

Country of Registration United States

September 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7439 - c/n 137 - 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 35th 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. 142 - the 142nd production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 100th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 100th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F35/745. Sales Order No. F35/68B. Stock Order No. F35/27B.

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.

21 April 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

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

13 September 1956
Delivered to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘358’ fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

circa 1958
Large registrations on the rear fuselage appeared after the use of small registrations on the rudder 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.

13 September 1960
During a takeoff from Wold–Chamberlain Airport, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA a tyre tread cap separated from a port main wheel, struck the No.2 propeller and then penetrated the fuselage skin.

The takeoff was continued and the No.2 engine was shut down and the propeller was feathered due to vibration and the aircraft circled the area to dump fuel in order to reduce the weight for landing.

A normal landing was then carried out at the departure airport.

There were no reported injuries to the 41 passengers and 4 crew on board.

Repaired 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 N7439

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7439 - c/n 137 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '358'.

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 N7439

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to December 1974

Viscount International Corporation

N7439 - c/n 137 - 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.

Total time 29,826 (also reported as 29,286) hours.

28 December 1974
Sold to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.


Photo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Viscount N7439

Country of Registration United States

December 1974 to August 1979

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

N7439 - c/n 137 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

10 August 1979
Purchased from Viscount International Corporation but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

29 August 1979
Sold to Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc. The sale was brokered by Distribute Air Inc.


Photo of Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc Viscount N7439

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to August 1979

Morgan Rourke Aircraft Sales Inc

N7439 - c/n 137 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

Purchased from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA. The sale was brokered by Distribute Air Inc.

Sold to Bass Aviation Inc.


Photo of Bass Aviation Inc Viscount N7439

Country of Registration United States

August 1979 to December 1981

Bass Aviation Inc

N7439 - c/n 137 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

29 August 1979
Purchased from Morgan Rouke Aircraft Sales Inc but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

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


Photo of Paul H Holmes Viscount N7439

Country of Registration United States

December 1981 to April 1982

Paul H Holmes

N7439 - c/n 137 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

December 1981
Purchased from Bass Aviation Inc but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

April 1982
Sold to Ronald J Clark.


Photo of Ronald J Clark Viscount N7439

Country of Registration United States

April 1982 to February 1989

Ronald J Clark

N7439 - c/n 137 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

April 1982
Purchased from Paul H Holmes but the aircraft remained stored at Sussex County Airport, Georgetown, Delaware, USA.

circa 1988
Dismantled and transferred to Tucson International, Arizona, USA.

The aircraft had been stored at Sussex County Airport for twenty five years.

circa February 1989
Fuselage and interior donated to the Mid Atlantic Air Museum at Reading Pennsylvania.


Photo of Mid Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM) Viscount N7439

Country of Registration United States

February 1989 to September 1999

Mid Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM)

N7439 - c/n 137 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

circa February 1989
Fuselage and interior donated by Ronald J Clark and transferred to Carl A Spaatz Field, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.

The fuselage rear section and tail had already been cut off behind the rear pressure bulkhead, before it was delivered to the museum.

It was still in the faded United Air Lines livery and was used to assist in the restoration of the cabin of Viscount N7471 (C/N 233).

October 1994
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

June 1995
Fuselage noted lying on the grass next to N7471 (C/N 233) and still in the faded United Air Lines livery.

30 May 1998
Fuselage noted painted in olive drab with fictitious Luftwaffe markings, presumably for a film.

10 September 1999
Fuselage taken away on a low loader by a local metal merchant and subsequently broken up for scrap.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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Information@VickersViscount.net.


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