27 April 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 200

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 200
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7444

It first flew on Sunday, 7 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 200
California Airmotive Inc


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
California Airmotive Inc as N7444.

Its fate:-
Purchased from United Air Lines by California Airmotive Inc and ferried to Burbank Airport, California, USA 5 March 1968. It was then robbed of all useful spares including the valuable Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines. Remains subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7444

Country of Registration United States

October 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7444 - c/n 200 - 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 40th 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. 148 - the 148th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 106th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 106th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F40/745. Sales Order No. F40/68B. Stock Order No. F53/27B.

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.

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

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

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

13 October 1956
Delivered to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘363’ 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.

25 Januay 1958
During an approach to land at Allegheny County International Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA the crew were advised by the tower controller that due to snow clearance on an intersecting runway there were ridges building up on the active runway. The landing pilot held the nose undercarriage leg off for as long as possible during the landing but it still struck the ridge, resulting in the partial collapse of the nose undercarriage leg with substantial secondary damage.

There were no reported injuries to the 27 passengers and 4 crew on board.

Repaired and returned to service.

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).

Painted in the Capital Airlines final livery.
Capital Airlines
final livery

1960
A new livery designed by Lippincott & Margulies of New York City was applied to this aircraft during a major maintenance schedule. No other Viscount in the fleet received this livery.

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 N7444

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to March 1968

United Air Lines

N7444 - c/n 200 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '363'.

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

The last Capital Viscount N7443 (C/N 199) was repainted in United Air Lines livery in March 1962.

5 March 1968
Sold to California Airmotive Inc.


Photo of California Airmotive Inc Viscount N7444

Country of Registration United States

March 1968 to

California Airmotive Inc

N7444 - c/n 200 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

5 March 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines and ferried to Burbank Airport, California, USA for storage and removal of all useful spares including the valuable Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines.

Remains 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.