23 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 215

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 215
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7460

It first flew on Thursday, 3 January 1957 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 Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA)


Photo of Viscount c/n 215
Essex Wire Corporation Inc


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Essex Wire Corporation Inc as N7460.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Fort Wayne Airport, Indiana, USA in October 1967. Broken up for scrap circa October 1972.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7460

Country of Registration United States

January 1957 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7460 - c/n 215 - 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 55th Viscount ordered by Capital Airlines.

Production Order No. F55/745. Sales Order No. F55/68B. Stock Order No. F68/27B.

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.

3 January1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

9 January 1957
Delivered to Capital Airlines with fleet number '378' fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

1 April 1957
Landed at Mobile Airport, Alabama, USA during rain and strong winds with the No.1 and No.2 Rolls-Royce Dart engines shut down and the propellers feathered.

The aircraft veered to the right but control was maintained by the pilot and it taxied to the terminal area.

There were no reported injuries to the 43 passengers and 3 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 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 N7460

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to March 1968

United Air Lines

N7460 - c/n 215 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number '378'.

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.

November 1965
Noted with the registration YS-15C and TACA titles applied to the basic United Air Lines livery with the 'Viscount Mainliner' title being retained. This aircraft was reportedly not delivered to Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA) due to financial problems. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

December 1965
Returned to service with United Air Lines after the sale to Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA) was not completed.

6 October 1967
Withdrawn from service and ferried to Fort Wayne Airport, Indiana, USA which is where the Essex Wire Corp headquarters are situated.

Total time 26,265 hours and 23,984 total landings

14 March 1968
Sold to the Essex Wire Corporation Inc.


Photo of Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA) Viscount YS-15C

Country of Registration El Salvador

November 1965 to November 1965

Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA)

YS-15C - c/n 215 - a V.745D series Viscount
El Salvador registered

15 November 1965
Noted at at Moisant Field, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA outside the TACA maintenance hangar with Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA) titles applied to a basic United Air Lines livery with the 'Viscount Mainliner' logo retained. This aircraft was not delivered due to financial problems.

Documentary proof is required to confirm that this is the correct construction number for this registration. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net.


Photo of United Air Lines Viscount N7460

Country of Registration United States

November 1965 to March 1968

United Air Lines

N7460 - c/n 215 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

30 November 1965
Returned to service after the sale to Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA) was cancelled.

14 March 1968
Sold to the Essex Wire Corporation Inc.


Photo of Essex Wire Corporation Inc Viscount N7460

Country of Registration United States

March 1968 to January 1970

Essex Wire Corporation Inc

N7460 - c/n 215 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

14 March 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines but the aircraft remained stored at Fort Wayne Airport, Indiana, USA.

The Essex Wire Corp headquarters are situated at Fort Wayne.

It was robbed of all useful spares to support their active Viscount N1298 (C/N 226) including the Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines.

circa January 1970
Title transferred to Essex International Inc due to a change in corporate name.


Photo of Essex International Inc Viscount N7460

Country of Registration United States

January 1970 to July 1972

Essex International Inc

N7460 - c/n 215 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

circa January 1970
Title transferred from the Essex Wire Corporation Inc due to a change in corporate name.

circa October 1972
Broken up for scrap.

The actual date unknown. 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.