26 April 2024
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Viscount Survivors

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

Letter from HRH Prince Philip

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Aircraft operational
records and photos

Viscount illustrations
by David Carter


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.


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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.

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information@VickersViscount.net



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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.


In the Beginning

The Turboprop World-Beater

Sir George Edwards

The Rolls-Royce Dart

c/n 1 G-AHRF V.630
The Prototype Viscount

c/n 2 VX217 V.663
The Tay powered Viscount

c/n 3 G-AMAV V.700
The V.700 series prototype

c/n 4 G-ALWE V.701
The first BEA Viscount

c/n 5 G-ALWF V.701
The oldest surviving Viscount

c/n 8 F-BGNK V.708
The first Air France Viscount

c/n 30 EI-AFV V.707
The first Aer Lingus Viscount

c/n 40 CF-TGI V.724
The first TCA Viscount

c/n 44 VH-TVA V.720
The first TAA Viscount

c/n 67 YI-ACK V.735
The first Iraqi Airways Viscount

c/n 70 CF-GXK V.737
The first Canadian DoT Viscount

c/n 71 VP-TBK V.702
The first BOAC Associated
Companies Viscount

c/n 74 G-ANRR V.732
The first Hunting-Clan Viscount

c/n 77 LN-FOF V.736
The first Fred Olsen Viscount

c/n 79 IU-683 V.723
The first Indian Air Force Viscount

c/n 88 N7402 V.744
The first Capital Airlines Viscount

c/n 97 VH-BAT V.747
The first Butler Air
Transport Viscount


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

Viscount c/n 164

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 164
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

This V.802 series Viscount was built for
British European Airways Corporation (BEA) as G-AOHO

It first flew on Friday, 26 April 1957 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.

During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
British Airways (BA)

Photo of Viscount c/n 164
Hotel de France


Jersey flag Jersey

Its final owner/operator was
Hotel de France as G-AOHO.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Jersey Airport, Channel Islands in March 1976.

Rear fuselage section sold to the Hotel de France, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands circa 1976 togther with the forward fuselage section of Viscount G-AOHK (C/N 160).

These sections were eventually broken up for scrap circa June 1983.


Operational record
Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-AOHO

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1957 to July 1973

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-AOHO - c/n 164 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

February 1953
An order was placed for the first 800 series Viscount which was specifically designed for British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

This was the 15th Type 802 ordered by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

Production Aircraft No. 15 - the 15th production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 15th 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 15th 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F15/802. Sales Order No. F15/63B. Stock Order No. F15/26B.

22 October 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, England.

December 1956
Fuselage transported by road from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England to Weybridge, Surrey, England.

29 December 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

26 April 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

2 May 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

4 May 1957
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Samuel Wallis'.

February 1958
Carried an 18 man British team to Moscow to discuss the technical aspects of a proposed direct London, England to Moscow, USSR air service. The principal items on the agenda related to engineering arrangements, traffic control and navigational aids available on the sector between Copenhagen and Moscow. Carried in its hold was a specially made Dagenite battery starting unit, taken to avoid possible embarrassment arising from the severe weather conditions expected in Moscow. This service did not start until 14 May 1959.

David Carter illustration of BEA Viscount G-AOHO

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


Painted in the BEA ‘Red Square‘ livery.
BEA
‘Red Square‘ livery

March 1959
A new BEA 'Red Square' livery was adopted and aircraft were repainted during the early 1960s when they next went in for overhaul.

Sadly, after repainting, the aircraft no longer carried a name including the nameplate on the forward cabin bulkhead.

Suffered a landing accident at Tegel Airport, Berlin, West Germany.
Suffered an accident at
Tegel, Berlin, West Germany

7 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

15 December 1959
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

17 March 1963
Nose undercarriage leg collapsed after landing short at Tegel Airfield, Berlin, West Germany.

The flight had originated from Langenhagen Airport, Hannover, West Germany and was scheduled to land at Templehof Airport, Berlin, West Germany but after two aborted landings due to poor visibility the captain elected to divert to the military airfield at Tegel.

At the time of the accident the runway approach lighting was being modified which involved displacing the runway 26L threshold by some 900 feet. This meant that the first section of the runway was marked with different lights.

The Captain had not been advised of these changes and touched down 200 feet short of the actual useable runway resulting in the collapse of the nose undercarriage leg, curled propellers and shockloaded Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

There were no reported injuries to the 33 passengers and 4 crew on board.

Repaired locally and returned to service.

Painted in the BEA ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery.
BEA
‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery

circa 1968
A new BEA ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery was adopted and most aircraft were repainted when they went in for major overhaul, which took some of them into the early 70s before this was accomplished.

Painted in the BEA ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery with 'Gibair' titles.
BEA
‘Gibair‘ livery

Summer 1973
Noted operating BEA services with small Gibair titles and logo on the rear fuselage on the London to Gibraltar route which was an early form of code sharing.

31 July 1973
Transferred to British Airways (BA) due to a corporate merger.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of British Airways (BA) Viscount G-AOHO

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1973 to March 1976

British Airways (BA)

G-AOHO - c/n 164 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 July 1973
Transferred from British European Airways (BEA) due to a corporate merger.

March 1976
Withdrawn from service and stored at Jersey Airport, Channel Islands.

It was then robbed of all useful parts, especially the Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

circa 1976
Rear fuselage section sold to Hotel de France, Jersey, Channel Islands.

FURTHER READING: Books about British Airways (BA)



Photo of Hotel de France Viscount G-AOHO

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1976 to June 1983

Hotel de France

G-AOHO - c/n 164 - a V.802 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

circa 1976
Rear fuselage section purchased from British Airways (BA) together with the forward fuselage section of Viscount G-AOHK (C/N 160).

Joined to the forward fuselage section of Viscount G-AOHK.
Joined to the forward fuselage section of Viscount G-AOHK

May 1977
Rear fuselage section transferred to the Hotel de France, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands and joined to the forward fuselage section of Viscount G-AOHK (C/N 160).

circa June 1983
Composite fuselage removed due to its poor condition and scrapped.
The actual date is not known. 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.