27 April 2024
This website is regularly archived by the British Library who selectively archive websites with research values that are representative of British social history and cultural heritage.

Museum search


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


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.


Share your photos and stories


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.

Contact us


Join the Vickers Viscount Network
for FREE


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.



This website does not use cookies or capture your details


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

Viscount c/n 187

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 187
BOAC Associated Companies Ltd


England flag England

This V.760D series Viscount was built for
BOAC Associated Companies Ltd as VR-HFJ

It first flew on Thursday, 14 February 1957 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Hong Kong Airways and Malayan Airways


Photo of Viscount c/n 187
Aden Airways


Aden flag Aden

Its final owner/operator was
Aden Airways as VR-AAV.

Its fate:-
Destroyed when a time-bomb exploded at RAF Khormaksar, Aden 30 June 1967. See the history section for more details.


Operational record
Photo of BOAC Associated Companies Ltd Viscount VR-HFJ

Country of Registration Hong Kong

February 1957 to February 1957

BOAC Associated Companies Ltd

VR-HFJ - c/n 187 - a V.760D series Viscount
Hong Kong registered

circa June 1955
This was the 2nd Type 760 ordered by BOAC Associated Companies Ltd for use by Hong Kong Airways.

Production Aircraft No. 177 - the 177th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 129th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 132nd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F02/760. Sales Order No. F02/70B. Stock Order No. F42/27B.

12 September 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

25 October 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

14 February 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England. It was fitted with extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

28 February 1957
Delivered to BOAC Associated Companies Ltd and immediately leased to Hong Kong Airways.


Photo of Hong Kong Airways Viscount VR-HFJ

Country of Registration Hong Kong

February 1957 to August 1959

Hong Kong Airways

VR-HFJ - c/n 187 - a V.760D series Viscount
Hong Kong registered

28 February 1957
Leased from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd in a modified BOAC livery.

It was noted at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England prior to delivery to Hong Kong.

3 May 1957
Ferried from Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong to Manila International Airport, Philippines flown by Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell.

The flight lasted for 2 hours and 45 minutes

4 May 1957
Commenced crew training of Hong Kong Airways pilots from Manila International Airport, Philippines under the instruction of Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell.

9 May 1957
Departed from Manila International Airport, Philippines to Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong flown by Hunting-Clan Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell.

The flight lasted for 2 hours and 40 minutes

31 March 1958
Total time 1,773 hours and 616 total landings.

circa June 1958
Noted with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks temporarily removed.

4 April 1959
Damaged after overshooting the runway on landing at Songshan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan and ended up in a paddy field.

There were no reported injuries to the 37 passengers or 4 crew on board.

1 August 1959
Transferred to Malayan Airways.


Photo of Malayan Airways Viscount VR-SEE

Country of Registration Singapore

August 1959 to September 1963

Malayan Airways

VR-SEE - c/n 187 - a V.760D series Viscount
Singapore registered

David Carter illustration of Malayan Airways Viscount VR-SEE

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


1 August 1959
Leased from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd and transferred from Hong Kong Airways.

Extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks removed.

September 1959
Reportedly re-registered 9M-AMS but there is considerable doubt about this aircraft ever being re-registered, based on the sightings below. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

July 1962
Noted still operating as VR-SEE from Singapore to Brunei.

September 1962
Noted still operating as VR-SEE from Singapore to Brunei.

September 1963
Transferred to Aden Airways.


Photo of Malayan Airways Viscount 9M-AMS

Country of Registration Malaya - Malaysia

September 1963 to September 1963

Malayan Airways

9M-AMS - c/n 187 - a V.760D series Viscount
Malaya - Malaysia registered

circa 1 September 1963
Re-registered from VR-SEE and repainted in full Aden Airways livery.

circa 4 September 1963
Leased to Aden Airways and delivered to RAF Khormaksar, Aden in full livery.


Photo of Aden Airways Viscount 9M-AMS

Country of Registration Malaya - Malaysia

September 1963 to October 1963

Aden Airways

9M-AMS - c/n 187 - a V.760D series Viscount
Malaya - Malaysia registered

circa 4 September 1963
Leased from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd and transferred from Malayan Airways. It was delivered to Aden as 9M-AMS in full Aden Airways livery.

circa October 1963
Re-registered VR-AAV.


Photo of Aden Airways Viscount VR-AAV

Country of Registration Aden

October 1963 to June 1967

Aden Airways

VR-AAV - c/n 187 - a V.760D series Viscount
Aden registered

circa October 1963
Re-registered from 9M-AMS.

Maintenance was carried out by Central African Airways (CAA) and the fleet was regularly ferried to their facility at Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Rhodesia.

circa June 1964
Noted at Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Rhodesia having a weather radar system installed by Central African Airways (CAA).

10 December 1966
Noted at Luqa Airport, Malta heading to the UK for maintenance with Field Aircraft Services at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

31 January 1967
Noted at Luqa Airport, Malta heading back to Aden after maintenance with Field Aircraft Services Ltd at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

30 June 1967
Destroyed when a time-bomb exploded at 15:30 hours at RAF Khormaksar, Aden.

The Viscount had been hurredly pushed out of the hangar and parked away from buildings after an engine change as it was suspected that a bomb had been placed on board while the aircraft was hangared.

This turned out to be true as the plane exploded and was virtually destroyed in the ensuing fire which quickly engulfed the aircraft.

A thick, black pall of smoke could be seen for miles around. Only the tail section remained intact.

The bomb had been placed in the aircraft by National Liberation Front guerrillas.

An Aden Airways Douglas DC-3 was parked nearby, but only suffered minor damage.

Prime Minister Harold Wilson's decision to pull out of Aden early, in November 1967, was undoubtedly influenced by this attack.

The National Liberation Front immediately seized power.


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.


Click here for more details about the Vickers Viscount Network

This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.