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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 185

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 185
United States Steel Corporation


United States flag United States

This V.764D series Viscount was built for
United States Steel Corporation as N907

It first flew on Friday, 30 November 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, Westernair of Albuquerque, Grupo Cydsa and Distribute Air Inc


Photo of Viscount c/n 185
Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN)


Ecuador flag Ecuador

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

Its fate:-
Crashed in the Cajas mountains on approach to Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Azuay Province, Ecuador 4 September 1977 while being flown under visual flight rules (VFR) conditions from Simon Bolivar Airport, Guayaquil, Ecuador. The weather at the time was only suitable for instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) or instrument flight rules (IFR). Sadly all 4 crew and 29 passengers died in the accident.


Operational record
Photo of United States Steel Corporation Viscount N907

Country of Registration United States

December 1956 to December 1969

United States Steel Corporation

N907 - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

circa 1955
This was the 3rd Type 764 ordered by the United States Steel Corporation.

Production Aircraft No. 160 - the 160th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 109th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 117th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F03/764. Sales Order No. F03/78B. Stock Order No. F73/27B.

circa 1956
Registered to United States Steel Corporation.

1 June 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

17 July 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

30 November 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

28 December 1956
Delivered to the United States Steel Corporation.

It was fitted with a weather radar black radome, extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks, a 450 gallon fuselage belly tank, integral front airsteps and a VIP interior.

This aircraft and N906 (C/N 184) had an Auxilliary Power Unit (APU) fitted in the rear lower fuselage with an exhaust under the port tailplane.

Painted in the United States Steel Corporation ‘red cockpit top‘ livery.
United States Steel Corporation
‘red cockpit top‘ livery

1 November 1959
Arrived at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England. It had originated from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

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

24 April 1966
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

27 April 1966
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

17 May 1966
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out a single ILS approach and overshoot.

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


Photo of Nicholas A Arndt Viscount N907

Country of Registration United States

December 1969 to March 1970

Nicholas A Arndt

N907 - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

12 December 1969
Purchased from the United States Steel Corporation.

16 March 1970
Sold to the Gates Aviation Corporation.


Photo of Gates Aviation Corporation Viscount N907

Country of Registration United States

March 1970 to May 1971

Gates Aviation Corporation

N907 - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

16 March 1970
Purchased from Nicholas A Arndt / Percell Jones.

28 May 1971
Sold to Westernair of Albuquerque.


Photo of Westernair of Albuquerque Viscount N907

Country of Registration United States

May 1971 to November 1971

Westernair of Albuquerque

N907 - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

28 May 1971
Purchased from Gates Aviation Corporation.

November 1971
Sold to Grupo Cydsa.


Photo of Grupo Cydsa Viscount XB-WOW

Country of Registration Mexico

November 1971 to February 1975

Grupo Cydsa

XB-WOW - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
Mexico registered

November 1971
Purchased from Westernair of Albuquerque. The full company name is Grupo Cyd S.A.

Fitted out in a 14 seat executive interior with 10 passengers in the main area with very comfortable armchairs, and 4 additional spaces at the rear of the cabin, 3 of them on a sofa, and 1 at a desk. Additionally there were 2 seats for the flight attendants. The aircraft was given the nickname 'El Tololoche' by the crews after a musical instrument from the Northern region of Mexico similar to a Contrabass.

Based at Aeropuerto del Norte, Monterrey, Mexico, it was the largest aircraft there at the time. It was mainly operated to Mexico City and Minatitlan three or four times a week carrying corporate employees, and was frequently flown by Captain Mario Ferriz.

Heavy maintenance was carried out at Houston Airport, Texas, USA.

Viscount N7452 (C/N 208) had also been purchased and stored at Aeropuerto del Norte, Monterrey, Mexico to supply spares to support XB-WOW.

2 April 1974
Noted at San Antonio Airport, Texas, USA.

February 1975
Sold back to Westernair of Albuquerque together with the remains of Viscount N7452 (C/N 208).


Photo of Westernair of Albuquerque Viscount XB-WOW

Country of Registration Mexico

February 1975 to December 1975

Westernair of Albuquerque

XB-WOW - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
Mexico registered

February 1975
Purchased from Grupo Cydsa together with the remains of Viscount N7452 (C/N 208).

December 1975
Registered to Westernair of Albuquerque as N907G.


Photo of Westernair of Albuquerque Viscount N907G

Country of Registration United States

December 1975 to May 1976

Westernair of Albuquerque

N907G - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

December 1975
Registered to Westernair of Albuquerque as N907G.

26 March 1976
Ferried to Salt Lake City Airport, Utah, USA flown by Pete Ettinger of Westernair together with Colonel Malo and Colonel Ortega of Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN), Ecuador who intended to purchase the aircraft.

Converted from the 14 seat executive configuration to a standard high-density passenger interior using seats purchased from Continental Airlines.

9 April 1976
Ferried to Albuquerque Airport, New Mexicio, USA.

May 1976
Title transferred to Distribute Air Inc who were part of the same parent group of companies.


Photo of Distribute Air Inc Viscount N907G

Country of Registration United States

May 1976 to May 1976

Distribute Air Inc

N907G - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
United States registered

May 1976
Title transferred from Westernair of Albuquerque as they belonged to the same parent group of campanies.

May 1976
Sold to Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN).


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

Country of Registration Ecuador

May 1976 to September 1977

Servicios Aereos Nacionales (SAN)

HC-BCL - c/n 185 - a V.764D series Viscount
Ecuador registered

May 1976
Purchased from Distribute Air Inc and collected from Albuquerque Airport, New Mexico by Captain Malo and Colonel Ortega from Quito, Ecuador.

The aircraft was loaded with Viscount spares, a spare Rolls-Royce Dart engine, and numerous personal items purchased in the USA.

4 September 1977
Crashed in the Cajas mountains on approach to Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Azuay Province, Ecuador while being flown by Captain Malo under visual flight rules (VFR) conditions from Simón Bolívar International Airport, Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The weather at the time was only suitable for instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) or instrument flight rules (IFR).

Sadly, all 4 crew and 29 passengers died in the accident.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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