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 211

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 211
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7456

It first flew on Thursday, 6 December 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 and the Blaw Knox Corporation


Photo of Viscount c/n 211
Kearney & Trecker Corporation


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Kearney & Trecker Corporation as N1898K.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at General Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA in August 1976. Noted with all four Rolls-Royce Dart engines removed circa June 1982. Noted lying on its belly circa May 1992. Not broken up for scrap until November 2003.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7456

Country of Registration United States

December 1956 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7456 - c/n 211 - 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 51st Viscount ordered by Capital Airlines.

Production Order No. F51/745. Sales Order No. F51/68B. Stock Order No. F64/27B.

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.

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.

6 December 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

13 December 1956
Delivered to Capital Airlines with fleet number '374' 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 N7456

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to June 1968

United Air Lines

N7456 - c/n 211 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '374'.

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.

21 June 1968
Sold to the Blaw-Knox Corporation.


Photo of Blaw-Knox Corporation Viscount N7456

Country of Registration United States

June 1968 to February 1969

Blaw-Knox Corporation

N7456 - c/n 211 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

21 June 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines

It was converted for use as an executive aircraft with a luxury cabin interior and an Auxilliary Power Unit (APU) at the rear

Blaw-Knox had recently been purchased by White Consolidated Industries (WCI).

The Blaw-Knox Construction Equipment Corporation name was used for this new WCI subsidiary.

February 1969
Sold to the Kearney & Trecker Corporation.


Photo of Kearney & Trecker Corporation Viscount N7456

Country of Registration United States

February 1969 to August 1969

Kearney & Trecker Corporation

N7456 - c/n 211 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

February 1969
Purchased from the Blaw-Knox Construction Equipment Corporation.

August 1969
Re-registered N1898K.


Photo of Kearney & Trecker Corporation Viscount N1898K

Country of Registration United States

August 1969 to November 2003

Kearney & Trecker Corporation

N1898K - c/n 211 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

August 1969
Re-registered from N7456.

August 1976
Withdrawn from service and stored at General Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Total time 31,928 hours.

circa June 1982
Noted with all four Rolls-Royce Dart engines removed.

circa May 1992
Noted lying on its belly.

November 2003
Broken up for scrap.


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.