27 July 2024
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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 174

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 174
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-VIC

It first flew on Friday, 19 July 1957 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Air Ulster


Photo of Viscount c/n 174
Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines


Ireland flag Ireland

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

Its fate:-
Operated the very last Aer Lingus Viscount service, which was from Abbotsinch Airport, Glasgow, Scotland to Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland 31/10/70. It was then withdrawn from service.

Broken up for scrap in May 1971.


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

Country of Registration Netherlands

August 1957 to January 1967

Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM)

PH-VIC - c/n 174 - 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 3rd aircraft for KLM.

Production Aircraft No. 26 - the 26th production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 4th 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 26th 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F03/803. Sales Order No. F03/83B. Stock Order No. F25/26B.

18 December 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

5 March 1957
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

19 July 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

7 August 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training and ILS approaches.

29 August 1957
Delivered to Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM) named as 'J C Ellehammer' 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.

13 September 1957
The aircraft was officially named as 'J C Ellehammer' during a ceremony as Kastrup Airport, Copenhagen, Denmark.

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

10 April 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.

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

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

25 September 1966
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

20 October 1966
Dutch registration cancelled.

2 January 1967
Sold to Aer Lingus.


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

Country of Registration Ireland

January 1967 to July 1969

Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines

EI-APD - c/n 174 - a V.803 series Viscount
Ireland registered

2 January 1967
Purchased from Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM) and named as 'St Finbar'. It was originally allocated registration EI-AOK in the sequence but for some reason it was not taken up.

11 August 1968
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion.

11 July 1969
Leased to Air Ulster.

The aircraft was noted painted up with Air Ulster titles in May 1969 but was probably still operating for Aer Lingus.

FURTHER READING: Books about Aer Lingus



Photo of Air Ulster Viscount EI-APD

Country of Registration Ireland

July 1969 to November 1969

Air Ulster

EI-APD - c/n 174 - a V.803 series Viscount
Ireland registered

11 July 1969
Leased from Aer Lingus in a modified Aer Lingus livery with Air Ulster titles.

It was used on a feeder service from Aldergrove Airport, Belfast, Northern Ireland to Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland to connect with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) trans-Atlantic services. A temporary 'On charter to BOAC' sticker was applied to the top fuselage in front of the port rear door.

It also operated services to Abbotsinch Airport, Glasgow, Scotland and Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland as well as general ad-hoc charters throughout Europe.

16 September 1969
Noted at Mulhouse Airport, Basel, Alsace Region, France operating a charter flight, possibly in connection with an international football match.

Also noted at Squires Gate Airport, Blackpool, Lancashire, England.

18 November 1969
Returned to Aer Lingus.


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

Country of Registration Ireland

November 1969 to May 1971

Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines

EI-APD - c/n 174 - a V.803 series Viscount
Ireland registered

18 November 1969
Returned from Air Ulster lease.

31 October 1970
Operated the very last Aer Lingus Viscount service, which was from Abbotsinch Airport, Glasgow, Scotland to Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland, flown by Captain Tom Fenning, arriving at 20:35 local time.

It was then withdrawn from service.

May 1971
Broken up for scrap.

FURTHER READING: Books about Aer Lingus



Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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