18 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 173

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 173
Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM)


Netherlands flag Netherlands

This V.803 series Viscount was built for
Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM) as PH-VIB

It first flew on Monday, 24 June 1957 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 173
Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines


Ireland flag Ireland

Its final owner/operator was
Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines as EI-AOJ.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Aer Lingus and stored at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland in November 1970. Broken up for scrap in January 1973.


Operational record
Photo of Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM) Viscount PH-VIB

Country of Registration Netherlands

July 1957 to October 1966

Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM)

PH-VIB - c/n 173 - a V.803 series Viscount
Netherlands registered

June 1955
An order for nine Type 803 was placed by Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM).

This was the 2nd aircraft for KLM.

Production Aircraft No. 22 - the 22nd production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 3rd 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 22nd 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F02/803. Sales Order No. F02/83B. Stock Order No. F24/26B.

19 November 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

6 February 1957
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

24 June 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

26 July 1957
Delivered to Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM) named as 'Louis Bleriot' via London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England with a 53 seat mixed-class cabin.

The original livery had ‘The Flying Dutchman’ titles on the port side and ‘De Vliegende Hollander’ titles on the starboard side.

The cabin seating was later increased to 59/64 all-tourist class configuration.

Painted in the new KLM 'diagonal striped tail' livery.
KLM
'diagonal striped tail' livery

26 December 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

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

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

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

circa 1960
Painted in the new KLM 'diagonal striped tail' livery with ‘KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines’ titles.

6 November 1963
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

circa 1965
Painted in the new KLM 'horizontal striped tail' livery.

September 1966
Sold to Aer Lingus.


Photo of Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines Viscount EI-AOJ

Country of Registration Ireland

October 1966 to January 1973

Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines

EI-AOJ - c/n 173 - a V.803 series Viscount
Ireland registered

September 1966
Purchased from Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM).

27 September 1966
Registered to Aer Lingus and named as 'St Flannan'.

5 October 1966
Dutch registration cancelled.

11 January 1969
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion.

31 October 1970
Withdrawn from service and stored at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland.

A proposed sale or lease to Air Vietnam was not completed.

January 1973
Broken up for scrap.

22 January 1973
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.

Total time 23,290 hours.

FURTHER READING: Books about Aer Lingus



Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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