27 July 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

See and hear a Viscount

Newsletters

Flight Magazine Reports

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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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 183

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 183
United States Steel Corporation


United States flag United States

This V.764D series Viscount was built for
United States Steel Corporation as N905

It first flew on Tuesday, 2 October 1956 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.

During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Nicholas A Arndt, Gates Aviation Corporation, Combs Aircraft Inc, Union Insurance Agency of Illinois, Omni Investment Corporation, Omni International Corporation, Aviation Equipment Corporation, Holiday Air of America, Walter S Skwarck, John Wesley College and Harry Hodge

Photo of Viscount c/n 183
Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN)


Ecuador flag Ecuador

Its final owner/operator was
Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN) as HC-BEM.

Its fate:-
Crashed after striking high ground on approach to Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Cuenca, Azuay Province, Ecuador. Sadly all 4 crew and 20 passengers were killed.


Operational record
Photo of United States Steel Corporation Viscount N905

Country of Registration United States

December 1956 to December 1969

United States Steel Corporation

N905 - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

circa 1955
This was the 1st Type 764 ordered by the United States Steel Corporation.

Production Order No. F01/764. Sales Order No. F01/78B. Stock Order No. F71/27B.

2 October 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Painted in the new United States Steel Corporation blue, white and orange livery.

4 December 1956
Delivered to the United States Steel Corporation.

It was fitted with a 450 gallon fuselage belly tank, integral front 'airsteps' and a five section luxury interior including a lounge at the rear which could convert into two beds.

N906 (C/N 184) and N907 (C/N 185) differed, as they both had an Auxilliary Power Unit (APU) fitted in the rear lower fuselage.

They also had a weather radar black radome and extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks installed during the construction phase.

March 1959
Noted back at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England after the installation of a weather radar system and extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

June 1963
Noted at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England.

circa 1966
Repainted in a later 'red cockpit top' livery with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks removed.

12 December 1969
Sold to Nicholas A Arndt / Percell Jones.


Photo of Nicholas A Arndt Viscount N905

Country of Registration United States

December 1969 to March 1970

Nicholas A Arndt

N905 - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

12 December 1969
Purchased from United States Steel Corporation.

16 March 1970
Sold to Gates Aviation Corporation.


Photo of Gates Aviation Corporation Viscount N905

Country of Registration United States

March 1970 to April 1970

Gates Aviation Corporation

N905 - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

16 March 1970
Purchased from Nicholas A Arndt.

16 April 1970
Sold to Combs Aircraft Inc.


Photo of Combs Aircraft Inc Viscount N905G

Country of Registration United States

April 1970 to July 1970

Combs Aircraft Inc

N905G - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

16 April 1970
Purchased from Gates Aviation Corporation.

1 July 1970
Sold to Union Insurance Agency of Illinois.


Photo of Union Insurance Agency of Illinois Viscount N905G

Country of Registration United States

July 1970 to February 1971

Union Insurance Agency of Illinois

N905G - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

1 July 1970
Purchased from Combs Aircraft Inc.

10 February 1971
Sold to Omni Investment Corporation.


Photo of Omni International Corporation Viscount N905G

Country of Registration United States

February 1971 to March 1971

Omni International Corporation

N905G - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

10 February 1971
Purchased from Omni Investment Corporation.

22 March 1971
Sold to Aviation Equipment Corporation.


Photo of Aviation Equipment Corporation Viscount N905G

Country of Registration United States

March 1971 to April 1971

Aviation Equipment Corporation

N905G - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

22 March 1971
Purchased from Omni International Corporation.

19 April 1971
Sold to Holiday Air of America / Holiday Leasing and Investment.


Photo of Holiday Air of America Viscount N905G

Country of Registration United States

April 1971 to May 1973

Holiday Air of America

N905G - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

19 April 1971
Purchased from Aviation Equipment Corporation.

18 May 1972
Seen at Minneapolis - Saint Paul Airport, Minnesota, USA still in service with Holiday Air of America.

1972
Leased to Go Group (Ron Clark Enterprises Inc).

27 May 1973
Sold to Walter S Skwarck.


Photo of Walter S Skwarck Viscount N905G

Country of Registration United States

May 1973 to November 1975

Walter S Skwarck

N905G - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

27 May 1973
Purchased from Holiday Air of America.

28 May 1973
Noted at Wold–Chamberlain Airport, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA still in full Holiday Air livery.

September 1975
Noted at Wold–Chamberlain Airport, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA still in full Holiday Air livery.

4 November 1975
Sold to the John Wesley College.


Photo of John Wesley College Viscount N905G

Country of Registration United States

November 1975 to May 1976

John Wesley College

N905G - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

4 November 1975
Purchased from Walter S Skwarck.

May 1976
Repossessed by Harry Hodge.


Photo of Harry Hodge Viscount N905G

Country of Registration United States

May 1976 to October 1977

Harry Hodge

N905G - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

May 1976
Repossessed from the John Wesley College.

October 1977
Sold to Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN).


Photo of Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN) Viscount HC-BEM

Country of Registration Ecuador

October 1977 to December 1977

Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN)

HC-BEM - c/n 183 - a V.764D series Viscount
Ecuador registered

October 1977
Purchased from Harry Hodge.

December 1977
Named as 'Huancavilca' during a ceremony at Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Cuenca, Azuay Province, Ecuador.

29 December 1977
Crashed into high ground on approach to Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Cuenca, Azuay Province, Ecuador.

The aircraft was scheduled to operate an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) service from Simón Bolívar International Airport, Guayaquil, Ecuador but for some reason the Captain elected to fly VFR (Visual Flight Rules) after passing Puna, Ecuador. The weather deteriorated during the approach to land.

Sadly all 4 crew and 20 passengers were killed.


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.