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 145

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 145
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd


England flag England

This V.747 series Viscount was built for
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd as G-ANYH

It first flew on Monday, 27 August 1956 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 506 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd (BAT), ANSETT-ANA, Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) and MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA)


Photo of Viscount c/n 145
Essendon Airport Fire Department


Australia flag Australia

Its final owner/operator was
Essendon Airport Fire Department as VH-RMP.

Its fate:-
Operated the ANSETT-ANA service AN125 from Devonport Airport, Tasmania via Wynyard Airport, Tasmania to Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 4 September 1967. This was effectively the last flight for this aircraft as a major crack was found in a wing spar during a routine maintenance check and the aircraft was withdrawn from service and stored.

Noted minus outer wings but otherwise intact November 1967.

A proposed lease to MMA - MacRobertson Miller Airlines did not materialise due to the cost of renewing the wing spars May 1968.

Gutted remains noted lying on its belly after removal of all useful spares. The aircraft was in bare metal condition apart from a white top to the fuselage March 1969.

Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use 12 March 1969.

Remains donated to the Essendon Airport Fire Department 14 May 1969 for non-destructive fire training use.

Broken up for scrap in February 1971.


Operational record
Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount G-ANYH

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1955 to September 1956

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

G-ANYH - c/n 145 - a V.747 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

18 June 1954
Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd placed an order for two Type 747.

15 January 1955
Registered to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.

27 August 1956
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.

29 August 1956
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England during the test flight phase.

2 September 1956
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training circuits.

4 September 1956
Certificate of Airworthiness issued.

It was then noted again at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training circuits.

5 September 1956
Departed from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England on delivery to Australia for Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd named as 'R.M.A. Warrawee II'.

Captain Young was in command.

5 September 1956
Noted at Luqa Airport, Malta during its long journey to Australia.

13 September 1956
UK registration cancelled as aircraft sold abroad.

14 September 1956
Arrived at Kingsford Smith Airport, Mascot, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

It was delivered in a 40 seat configuration which was later increased to 47 seats.

19 September 1956
Registered to Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd as VH-BUT.


Photo of Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd Viscount VH-BUT

Country of Registration Australia

September 1956 to December 1957

Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd

VH-BUT - c/n 145 - a V.747 series Viscount
Australia registered

19 September 1956
Re-registered from G-ANYH for Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd.

9 December 1957
Leased to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) in full Butler Air Transport (BAT) livery.


Photo of Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) Viscount VH-BUT

Country of Registration Australia

December 1957 to January 1958

Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)

VH-BUT - c/n 145 - a V.747 series Viscount
Australia registered

9 December 1957
Leased from Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd (BAT) in full BAT livery.

January 1958
Returned to Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd (BAT).


Photo of Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd Viscount VH-BUT

Country of Registration Australia

January 1958 to April 1958

Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd

VH-BUT - c/n 145 - a V.747 series Viscount
Australia registered

January 1958
Returned from Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) lease and offered for sale together with VH-BAT (c/n 97) but not sold.

10 March 1958
Total time 3,947 hours and 3,515 total landings.

April 1958
Leased back to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) still in full Butler Air Transport livery.

September 1958
Ownership transferred to Ansett Transport Industries due to a corporate merger for operation by ANSETT - ANA but the aircraft remained on lease to TAA.


Photo of Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) Viscount VH-BUT

Country of Registration Australia

April 1958 to October 1958

Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)

VH-BUT - c/n 145 - a V.747 series Viscount
Australia registered

April 1958
Leased from Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd in full BAT livery.

September 1958
Ownership transferred to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd from Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd due to a corporate merger for operation by ANSETT-ANA.

October 1958
Returned to ANSETT-ANA as their parent company ATI - Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd had taken over Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd.


Photo of ANSETT-ANA Viscount VH-BUT

Country of Registration Australia

October 1958 to August 1962

ANSETT-ANA

VH-BUT - c/n 145 - a V.747 series Viscount
Australia registered

October 1958
Returned from Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) lease.

1958/1959
Repainted in full ANSETT-ANA livery. ANA stands for Australian National Airways.

The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

6 August 1962
Re-registered to ANSETT-ANA as VH-RMP.


Photo of ANSETT-ANA Viscount VH-RMP

Country of Registration Australia

August 1962 to May 1969

ANSETT-ANA

VH-RMP - c/n 145 - a V.747 series Viscount
Australia registered

6 August 1962
Re-registered from VH-BUT. The seating had now increased to 48.

Noted with weather radar now fitted in the nose.
Weather radar now fitted

January 1963
Noted with weather radar now fitted in the nose.

4 September 1967
Operated ANA service AN125 from Devonport Airport, Tasmania via Wynyard Airport, Tasmania to Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

This was effectively the last flight for this aircraft as a major crack was found in a wing spar during a routine maintenance check and the aircraft was withdrawn from service and stored.

Total time 24,161 hours and 20,439 total landings.

November 1967
Noted minus outer wings but otherwise intact.

May 1968
A proposed lease to MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA) did not materialise due to the cost of renewing the wing spars.

The aircraft was in bare metal condition apart from a white top to the fuselage.
All useful spares removed

March 1969
Gutted remains noted lying on its belly after removal of all useful spares. The aircraft was in bare metal condition apart from a white top to the fuselage.

12 March 1969
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

14 May 1969
Remains donated to the Essendon Airport Fire Department.


Photo of Essendon Airport Fire Department Viscount VH-RMP

Country of Registration Australia

May 1969 to February 1971

Essendon Airport Fire Department

VH-RMP - c/n 145 - a V.747 series Viscount
Australia registered

14 May 1969
Remains donated by ANSETT-ANA for non-destructive fire and rescue training use.

February 1971
Broken up for scrap.


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.