27 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 139

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 139
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7441

It first flew on Monday, 17 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 and Jack Conroy-Turbo Three Inc


Photo of Viscount c/n 139
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as N7441.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Santa Barbara Airport, California, USA in September 1973. Broken up for scrap in October 1975.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7441

Country of Registration United States

September 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7441 - c/n 139 - 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 37th Viscount ordered by Capital Airlines.

Production Order No. F37/745. Sales Order No. F37/68B. Stock Order No. F37/27B.

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.

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

23 September 1956
Delivered to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘360’ and 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 started to be 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 N7441

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7441 - c/n 139 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '360'. The title ‘Viscount Mainliner’ was applied to the rear fuselage.

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 N7441

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to September 1973

Viscount International Corporation

N7441 - c/n 139 - 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 29,478 hours.

20 September 1973
Sold to Conroy Aircraft inc.


Photo of Conroy Aircraft Inc Viscount N7441

Country of Registration United States

September 1973 to December 1974

Conroy Aircraft Inc

N7441 - c/n 139 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

11 January 1969
Purchased from the Viscount International Corporation and ferried to Santa Barbara Airport, California, USA.

The Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines were removed and two of them were installed in Douglas C-117 N156WC. It became known as the Super-Turbo-Three.

25 July 1974
Remains noted in derelict condition.

28 December 1974
Derelict remains sold to the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for training purposes but the aircraft remained stored at Santa Barbara Airport, California, USA.


Photo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Viscount N7441

Country of Registration United States

December 1974 to October 1975

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

N7441 - c/n 139 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

28 December 1974
Derelict remains purchased from Conroy Aircraft Inc for spares recovery but the aircraft remained stored at Santa Barbara Airport, California, USA.

9 January 1975
Registered to the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

October 1975
Remains sold back to Conroy Aircraft Inc which was one of several companies owned by Jack Conroy.


Photo of Conroy Aircraft Inc Viscount N7441

Country of Registration United States

October 1975 to October 1975

Conroy Aircraft Inc

N7441 - c/n 139 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

October 1975
Remains purchased back from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and 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.