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 213

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 213
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7458

It first flew on Friday, 28 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, National Aircraft Sales, Grekenheimer Productions Inc, National Aero Association, Aero Sierra de Durango SA, Aircraft Engine Maintenance Corporation, Island Aviation Inc, Go Transportation and James Stanley Leasing Company


Photo of Viscount c/n 213
Wings of History Air Museum


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Wings of History Air Museum as N7458.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by James Stanley Leasing Company Inc and stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA in March 1981. Broken up for scrap in August 1993 except for the forward fuselage section, which was transferred to the Wings of History Air Museum for open display. The museum had initially displayed the aircraft section as ex Ray Charles N220RC (C/N 201) which was incorrect (see the history section for full details). Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the museum closed to the general public until further notice in March 2020.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

January 1957 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7458 - c/n 213 - 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 53rd 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. 167 - the 167th production V.700 series Viscount built,
was the 122nd Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 122nd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F53/745. Sales Order No. F53/68B. Stock Order No. F66/27B.

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.

25 July 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

24 September 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

31 December 1956
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

6 January 1957
Departed on delivery to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘376’ fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

circa 1958
Large registrations on the rear fuselage appeared after the use of small registrations on the rudder 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 N7458

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to January 1969

United Air Lines

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '376'.

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.

January 1969
Sold to National Aircraft Sales Inc.


Photo of National Aircraft Sales Inc Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

January 1969 to April 1970

National Aircraft Sales Inc

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

January 1969
Purchased from United Air Lines.

9 February 1970
Noted at Heathrow Airport, London, England.

April 1970
Sold to Grekenheimer Productions Inc.


Photo of Grekenheimer Productions Inc Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

April 1970 to January 1971

Grekenheimer Productions Inc

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

April 1970
Purchased from National Aircraft Sales Inc.

January 1971
Sold to National Aero Association.


Photo of National Aero Association Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

January 1971 to January 1973

National Aero Association

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

January 1971
Purchased from Grekenheimer Productions Inc.

12 September 1972
Noted at Los Angeles International Airport, California, USA in service with 'Golden West' titles.

1 January 1973
Leased to Aero Sierra de Durango S.A.


Photo of Aero Sierra de Durango S.A. Viscount XA-COT

Country of Registration Mexico

January 1973 to January 1978

Aero Sierra de Durango S.A.

XA-COT - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
Mexico registered

1 January 1973
Leased from National Aero Association.

This aircraft was based at Guadalupe Victoria Airport in the City of Durango, State of Durango, Mexico.

circa 1973
Reportedly re-registered XA-CIN. Details please to vickersviscount.net

1978
Returned to National Aero Association.


Photo of Aero Sierra de Durango S.A. Viscount XA-CIN

Country of Registration Mexico

June 1973 to June 1973

Aero Sierra de Durango S.A.

XA-CIN - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
Mexico registered

Reportedly re-registered from XA-COT. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of National Aero Association Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

January 1978 to February 1981

National Aero Association

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1978
Returned from Aero Sierra de Durango S.A. lease.

Re-registered N7458 but stored at Terry County Airport, Brownfield, Texas, USA still marked as XA-COT.

February 1981
Sold to Aircraft Engine Maintenance Corporation.


Photo of Aircraft Engine Maintenance Corporation Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

February 1981 to October 1981

Aircraft Engine Maintenance Corporation

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

February 1981
Purchased from National Aero Association and ferried to Brown Field Municipal Airport, Otay Mesa, San Diego, California, USA.

14 February 1981
Advertised for sale.

26 March 1981
Registered to Aircraft Engine Maintenance Corporation, San Diego, California, USA.

8 May 1981
Noted stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA with faded Aero Sierra de Durango S.A. titles.

September 1981
Noted still stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA but now carrying the US registration N7458.

October 1981
Sold to Island Aviation Inc of Tamuning, Guam.


Photo of Island Aviation Inc Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

October 1981 to November 1981

Island Aviation Inc

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

October 1981
Purchased from Aircraft Engine Maintenance Corporation but the aircraft remained stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

November 1981
Sold to Go Transportation Inc.


Photo of Go Transportation Inc Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

November 1981 to August 1988

Go Transportation Inc

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

November 1981
Purchased from Island Aviation Inc but the aircraft remained stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

20 May 1982
Noted in a bare metal condition with the old Mexican registration XA-COT still visible etched on the nosewheel door.

August 1988
Sold to the James Stanley Leasing Company Inc.


Photo of James Stanley Leasing Company Inc Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

August 1988 to August 1993

James Stanley Leasing Company Inc

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

August 1988
Purchased from Go Transportation Inc but the aircraft remained stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

March 1989
Registration cancelled as permanently withdrawn from use.

March 1993
Broken up for scrap but the forward fuselage section was retained complete.

circa August 1993
Forward fuselage section transferred to the Wings of History Air Museum.


Photo of Wings of History Air Museum Viscount N7458

Country of Registration United States

August 1993 to

Wings of History Air Museum

N7458 - c/n 213 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

The cockpit is very complete.
The cockpit is
very complete

circa August 1993
Forward fuselage section transferred from James Stanley Leasing Company Inc.

This museum is adjacent to South County Airport, 12777 Murphy Avenue, San Martin, California, USA.

Paperwork delivered with the nose section to Wings of History Air Museum included an FAA title transfer relating to the ex Ray Charles Viscount N220RC (C/N 201). This paperwork was mixed up at the time of delivery as Viscount C/N 201 was being broken up for scrap at Tucson International Airport at the same time. Inside the cockpit section of N7458, which is still complete, and fixed to a bulkhead is a faded document in Spanish referring to XA-COT, verifying that it is C/N 213. Also, on the centre instrument panel is the figure '376' which relates to the original Capital Airlines fleet number which also confirms that this cockpit section is from C/N 213.

March 2020
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the museum closed to the general public until further notice.


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.