25 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 177

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 177
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-VIF

It first flew on Saturday, 28 September 1957 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
S.A. de Transport Aerien (SATA)


Photo of Viscount c/n 177
Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines


Ireland flag Ireland

Its final owner/operator was
Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines as HB-ILP.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland 3 November 1969. Broken up for scrap circa June 1973.


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

Country of Registration Netherlands

October 1957 to October 1965

Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM)

PH-VIF - c/n 177 - 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 6th aircraft for KLM.

Production Aircraft No. 34 - the 34th production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 7th 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 34th 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F06/803. Sales Order No. F06/83B. Stock Order No. F28/26B.

2 February 1957
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

29 April 1957
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

28 September 1957
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

22 October 1957
Handed over to Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM) named as 'Leonardo da Vinci' with a 53 seat mixed-class cabin.

It was then noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

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

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

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

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

7 December 1959
Noted at Speke Airport, Liverpool, England due to a Ringway Airport, Manchester weather diversion.

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

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

12 January 1960
During an approach to runway 24 at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands the Captain reported a problem with the landing gear. He elected to make a low pass along the runway so that engineers on the ground could make an assessment. As everything appeared to be normal he made a landing on runway 05 without further incident.

Painted in the new KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines 'horizontal striped tail' livery.
KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines
'horizontal striped tail' livery

circa 1965
Painted in the new KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines 'horizontal striped tail' livery.

19 July 1965
Noted at Renfrew Airport, Glasgow, Scotland operating on behalf of Aer Lingus. It arrived from Dublin at 1819 hours and departed back to Dublin at 1909 hours. Also see PH-VIE (C/N 176) for another instance of this event. Does anyone know more about this? Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

30 September 1965
Ferried to Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland for the installation of a weather radar system and a repaint in Aer Lingus livery by Scottish Aviation Ltd (SAL).

7 October 1965
Dutch registration cancelled.

29 October 1965
Sold to Aer Lingus and registered to them.


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

Country of Registration Ireland

October 1965 to March 1969

Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines

EI-AOE - c/n 177 - a V.803 series Viscount
Ireland registered

29 October 1965
Purchased from Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM).

7 February 1966
Departed from Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands on delivery to Aer Lingus named as 'St Dymphna' on the port side and just 'Damhnait' on the starboard side.

22 March 1969
Leased to S.A. de Transport Aérien (SATA).

FURTHER READING: Books about Aer Lingus



Photo of S.A. de Transport Aérien (SATA) Viscount HB-ILP

Country of Registration Switzerland

March 1969 to November 1969

S.A. de Transport Aérien (SATA)

HB-ILP - c/n 177 - a V.803 series Viscount
Switzerland registered

22 March 1969
Leased from Aer Lingus in full S.A. de Transport Aérien Genéve (SATA) livery.

8 September 1969
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

3 November 1969
Returned to Aer Lingus. It was replaced by HB-ILR (C/N 291).


Photo of Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines Viscount HB-ILP

Country of Registration Switzerland

November 1969 to June 1973

Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines

HB-ILP - c/n 177 - a V.803 series Viscount
Switzerland registered

3 November 1969
Returned from S.A. de Transport Aérien (SATA) lease and stored at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland.

Late 1970
Noted minus its Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

circa June 1973
Broken up for scrap.

FURTHER READING: Books about Aer Lingus



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.