20 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 175

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 175
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-VID

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


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Aer Lingus and Progressive Airways


Photo of Viscount c/n 175
Airwork Services Ltd


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
Airwork Services Ltd as 506.

Its fate:-
Ferried to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England from Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland and Sultanate of Oman Air Force markings applied to the Progressive Airways livery by Airwork Ltd 13 March 1973. A proposed sale to Sultanate of Oman Air Force was not completed and the aircraft was put into open storage. Noted in derelict condition and marked up as 'Europa One' in 1974. Fuselage less tail, tailplanes, outer wings and engines noted lying on its belly circa June 1975. Accidentally burnt out during a fire fighting demonstration 12 October 1975.


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

Country of Registration Netherlands

October 1957 to February 1967

Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM)

PH-VID - c/n 175 - 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 4th aircraft for KLM.

Production Aircraft No. 30 - the 30th production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 5th 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 30th 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F04/803. Sales Order No. F04/83B. Stock Order No. F26/26B.

12 January 1957
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

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

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

September 1957
Exhibited at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors (SBAC) air show at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England in full KLM livery.

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

19 October 1957
Handed over to Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM) named as 'Otto Lilienthal' 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.

23 October 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out ILS approaches.

9 June 1958
After taking off from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England on a service to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands the aircraft was climbing near Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire, England when the flight crew suddenly spotted a USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II flying in their direction at the same flight level. The flight crew took immediate evasive action to port and a collision was avoided.

25 November 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.

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

11 July 1958
The flight crew mistakenly landed at Torrejon, Spain which is a Spanish Air Force base instead of Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain.

The airports are only a few miles apart.

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

24 November 1966
Dutch registration cancelled.

1 February 1967
Sold to Aer Lingus.


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

Country of Registration Ireland

February 1967 to March 1971

Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines

EI-AOL - c/n 175 - a V.803 series Viscount
Ireland registered

1 February 1967
Purchased from Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM) and named as 'St Fintan' / 'St Fionntan'.

30 April 1970
Withdrawn from service and stored at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland.

October 1970
Proposed sale to Northern Ireland Airways not taken up.

March 1971
Sold to Progressive Airways.

FURTHER READING: Books about Aer Lingus



Photo of Progressive Airways Viscount G-AYTW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1971 to April 1971

Progressive Airways

G-AYTW - c/n 175 - a V.803 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

March 1971
Purchased from Aer Lingus and painted in full Progressive Airways livery.

10 March 1971
Registered to Progressive Airways but not delivered.

April 1971
Progressive Airways ceased trading and the aircraft was repossessed by Aer Lingus whilst still at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland.

The airline was officially wound up in the courts 4 May 1971.


Photo of Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines Viscount G-AYTW

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1971 to March 1973

Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines

G-AYTW - c/n 175 - a V.803 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

April 1971
Repossessed from Progressive Airways and stored at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland in Progressive Airways livery.

April 1971
A proposed sale to Northern Ireland Airways was not completed.

April 1971
A proposed sale to Air Viet Nam was not completed.

9 March 1973
Sold to Airwork Services Ltd.

FURTHER READING: Books about Aer Lingus



Photo of Airwork Services Ltd Viscount 506

Country of Registration Oman

March 1973 to October 1975

Airwork Services Ltd

506 - c/n 175 - a V.803 series Viscount
Oman registered

9 March 1973
Purchased from Aer Lingus.

13 March 1973
Ferried to Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, England from Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland and Sultan of Oman Air Force serial number applied to the basic Progressive Airways livery by Airwork Ltd.

The proposed sale to Sultan of Oman Air Force was not completed and the aircraft was put into open storage.

1974
Noted in a derelict condition and marked up as 'Europa One'.

circa June 1975
Fuselage less tail, tailplanes, outer wings and engines noted lying on its belly.

12 October 1975
Accidentally burnt out during a fire fighting demonstration.


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.