27 July 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 199

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 199
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7443

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
United Air Lines


Photo of Viscount c/n 199
California Airmotive Inc


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
California Airmotive Inc as N7443.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from use at Burbank Airport, California, USA 13 February 1968. Subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7443

Country of Registration United States

October 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7443 - c/n 199 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

December 1954
Order for an additional 20 Type 745D aircraft was placed by Capital Airlines.

This was the 39th Viscount ordered by Capital Airlines.

Altogether, the total order was worth $67,000,000 US. This was the highest ever US Dollar export order for the UK at the time.

Production Aircraft No. 146 - the 146th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 104th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 104th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F39/745. Sales Order No. F39/68B. Stock Order No. F52/27B.

24 August 1955
A drawing showing the cabin seating arrangement was approved and issued.by Capital Airlines and showed 11 rows of 2 + 2 seats with two toilets at the front, one on each side and a large galley at the rear.

9 May 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

21 June 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

5 October 1956
Delivered to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘362’ fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

circa 1958
Large registrations on the rear fuselage appeared after the use of small registrations on the tail were banned by the newly formed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Also by this time weather radar had been fitted resulting in a change to the nose cone.

May 1960
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd filed a foreclosure suit on the entire Viscount fleet of Capital Airlines as the overdue payments now totalled $34,000,000.

4 April 1961
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially gave permission for United Air Lines to acquire Capital Airlines.

At the time this was the biggest merger transaction in US civil aviation history.

1 June 1961
Transferred to United Air Lines due to a corporate merger.


Photo of United Air Lines Viscount N7443

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to February 1968

United Air Lines

N7443 - c/n 199 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '362'.

After repainting in United Air Lines livery during a suitable maintenance period the title ‘Viscount Mainliner’ was applied to the rear fuselage.

March 1962
Repainted in United Air Lines livery.

This was the last Capital Viscount to be repainted.

13 February 1968
Sold to California Airmotive Inc.


Photo of California Airmotive Inc Viscount N7443

Country of Registration United States

February 1968 to

California Airmotive Inc

N7443 - c/n 199 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

13 February 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines and ferried to Burbank Airport, California, USA for storage

Subsequently broken up for scrap. The date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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.