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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 191

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 191
Standard Oil Company


United States flag United States

This V.765D series Viscount was built for
Standard Oil Company as N306

It first flew on Thursday, 24 January 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
Stephen M Birdman, Ronald J Clark, Go Transportation Inc, Royal American Airways, Atlantic Gulf Airlines, Bank of America and Turbo Aire Holdings Inc


Photo of Viscount c/n 191
Walter L Cole


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Walter L Cole as N140RA.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by the Bank of America and stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA June 1986. Sold to Turbo Aire Holdings Inc in May 1991 and to Walter L Cole in June 1994. Still noted stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA in July 1996. Broken up for scrap circa June 1997


Operational record
Photo of Standard Oil Company Viscount N306

Country of Registration United States

February 1957 to November 1975

Standard Oil Company

N306 - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

circa 1956
This was the 1st Type 765 ordered by the Standard Oil Company.

Production Aircraft No. 174 - the 174th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 126th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 129th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F01/765. Sales Order No. F01/81B. Stock Order No. F09/32B.

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

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

24 January 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

11 February 1957
Delivered to the Standard Oil Company of California fitted with integral front airsteps and extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

September 1958
Noted at Omaha Airport, Nebraska, USA with a black radome.

21 January 1960
Noted at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England now with a grey radome instead of the black one and without the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

New Standard Oil Co. livery.
Painted in a
slightly modified livery

18 February 1967
Noted at Belpmoos Airport, Berne, Switzerland.

23 February 1967
Noted at Kastrup Airport, Copenhagen, Denmark.

March 1967
Noted at San Francisco International Airport, California, USA in a new Standard Oil Company livery.

Painted in the Standard Oil Co. 'Blue and White' livery.
Standard Oil Co.
'Blue and White' livery

Early 1970s
Painted in the Standard Oil Company 'Blue and White' livery.

5 November 1975
Sold to Stephen M Birdman.


Photo of Stephen M Birdman Viscount N306

Country of Registration United States

November 1975 to January 1976

Stephen M Birdman

N306 - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

5 November 1975
Purchased from Standard Oil Company by Stephen M Birdman of Weitzman, Weitzmann & Birdman of Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

1 January 1976
Transferred to Go Transportation Inc. Stephen and Ronald J Clark were part owners of Go Transportation Inc.


Photo of Go Transportation Inc Viscount N306

Country of Registration United States

January 1976 to January 1980

Go Transportation Inc

N306 - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

1 January 1976
Transferred from Stephen M Birdman. Stephen was part owner of Go Transportation Inc.

circa February 1976
Noted at an unknown location with 'Deep Purple' nose titles for a rock music tour.

circa mid 1976
Noted being used by 'The Eagles' for an extended and segmented music tour but without their name on the aircraft.

February / March 1977
Noted with 'America' titles on the nose and 'If lost, please return to Hartmann & Goodman, 1500 Cross roads of the world'. 'Hollyweird, USA' painted on the nose undercarriage door.

2 September 1978
Advert placed in Billboard Magazine
ENTERTAINERS AIRCRAFT FOR SALE
Viscount N306 and N24V leased exclusively by the 'world's greatest entertainers' are now offered for sale by the owner.
These prestigious four engine, Turbo Prop Aircraft are believed the lowest time Viscounts in the world. Always the finest care and maintenance. Price $750.000.00 each. Contact Ron Clark 213/841-1654. Telex 677336.

Noted with 'Bad Company' titles on the nose.

5 October 1979
Noted at Burbank Airport, California, USA.

1 January 1980
Returned to Ronald J Clark who immediately transferred the aircraft to Royal American Airways, which he owned.


Photo of Royal American Airways (RA) Viscount N306

Country of Registration United States

January 1980 to August 1981

Royal American Airways (RA)

N306 - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

1 January 1980
Transferred from Ronald J Clark as the lowest time Viscount in the world at a total time of 6,000 hours. Ronald owned this airline.

1981
Re-registered N140RA.


Photo of Royal American Airways (RA) Viscount N140RA *

Country of Registration United States

August 1981 to December 1981

Royal American Airways (RA)

N140RA * - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

9 August 1981
Noted at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA re-registered from N306 and painted in full Royal American Airways (RA) livery.

1 December 1981
Returned to Ronald J Clark who owned Royal American Airways.


Photo of Go Transportation Inc Viscount N140RA *

Country of Registration United States

December 1981 to October 1983

Go Transportation Inc

N140RA * - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

1 December 1981
Transferred from Royal American Airways (RA). Ronald J Clark was part owner of Royal American Airways (RA) and Go Transportation Inc.

28 December 1981
Noted at McCarren Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA still in full 'Royal American Airways' (RA) livery.

29 April 1982
Noted at McCarren Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA still in full 'Royal American Airways' (RA) livery. It now has 'Go Viscount' under the cockpit windows.

July 1982
Noted at Tucson International Airport with 'Carefree David' titles. They were an inclusive tour operator and used N145RA (C/N 341) at the same time.

November 1982
Noted at Lindberg Field, San Diego, California, USA still in 'Royal American Airways' (RA) livery with 'Go Viscount' under the cockpit windows, but it now has a plain white tail.

October 1983
Returned to Ronald J Clark.


Photo of Atlantic Gulf Airlines Viscount N140RA *

Country of Registration United States

October 1983 to June 1986

Atlantic Gulf Airlines

N140RA * - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

October 1983
Leased from Go Transportation Inc. Ronald J Clark was part owner of Go Transportation Inc.

June 1986
Reposessed by the Bank of America from Go Transportation Inc.


Photo of Bank of America Viscount N140RA *

Country of Registration United States

June 1986 to May 1991

Bank of America

N140RA * - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

June 1986
Repossessed from Go Transportation Inc while the aircraft was on lease to Atlantic Gulf Airlines.

At some point it was withdrawn from service and stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

May 1991
Sold to Turbo Aire Holdings Inc, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.


Photo of Turbo Aire Holdings Inc Viscount N140RA *

Country of Registration United States

May 1991 to June 1994

Turbo Aire Holdings Inc

N140RA * - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

May 1991
Purchased from the Bank of America but the aircraft remained stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

April 1993
Noted minus the outer Dart engines.

June 1994
Sold to Walter L Cole, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.


Photo of Walter L Cole Viscount N140RA *

Country of Registration United States

June 1994 to June 1997

Walter L Cole

N140RA * - c/n 191 - a V.765D series Viscount
United States registered

June 1994
Purchased from Turbo Aire Holdings Inc but the aircraft remained stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

July 1996
Noted still stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

circa June 1997
Broken up for scrap.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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