20 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 207

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 207
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7451

It first flew on Wednesday, 14 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
United Air Lines


Photo of Viscount c/n 207
Aero Flite Inc


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Aero Flite Inc as N7451.

Its fate:-
Purchased from United Air Lines by Aero Flite Inc. 14 November 1969. Ferried to Twin Falls Airport, Idaho, USA and withdrawn from service and stored in May 1970. Purchased to support the conversion of a Boeing B-17 bomber with Dart engines and nacelles replacing the Pratt & Whitney radials, for use as a fire fighting aircraft. The B-17 was registered as N1340N but unfortunately crashed during a drop mission in August 1970. The Viscount was noted still stored 17 May 1973. Broken up for scrap (date unknown). Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7451

Country of Registration United States

November 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7451 - c/n 207 - 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 47th 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. 157 - the 157th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 115th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 114th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F47/745. Sales Order No. F47/68B. Stock Order No. F60/27B.

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.

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

22 August 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

23 November 1956
Delivered to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘370’ 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 N7451

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to November 1969

United Air Lines

N7451 - c/n 207 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '370'.

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.

26 June 1967
During a landing at Grand Rapids Airport, Michigan, USA the nose undercarriage leg collapsed and there was a small fire in the nose bay area.

The collapse was caused by the failure of the lower tension link hinge pin.

There were no reported injuries to the 30 passengers and 3 crew on board.

Repaired and returned to service.

14 November 1969
Sold to Aero Flite Inc.


Photo of Aero Flite Inc Viscount N7451

Country of Registration United States

November 1969 to December 1973

Aero Flite Inc

N7451 - c/n 207 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

14 November 1969
Purchased from United Air Lines.

May 1970
Ferried to Twin Falls Airport, Idaho, USA and stored. The Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines, Dowty Rotol propellers and nacelles were removed.

It had been purchased to support the conversion of a Boeing B-17 bomber fitted with the 1535 SHP Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines, propellers and nacelles replacing the 1200 HP Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone turbo-supercharged radial piston engines, for use as a fire fighting aircraft. The B-17 was registered as N1340N but unfortunately crashed during a drop mission in August 1970.

The project to convert a second Boeing B-17 using engines from Viscount N7452 (C/N 208) was abandoned.

17 May 1973
Noted still stored.

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

Total time 29,330 hours and 27,530 total landings.


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.