26 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.

Viscount history


Discover the history of the Viscount with film, video, contemporary reports from the pages of Flight Magazine, our newsletters, and aircraft operational records and photos from our database.


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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 222

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 222
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

This V.757 series Viscount was built for
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) as CF-THE

It first flew on Sunday, 24 February 1957 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 506 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Air Canada


Photo of Viscount c/n 222
Ray Wiklund


Canada flag Canada

Its final owner/operator was
Ray Wiklund as CF-THE.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Air Canada and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada in June 1969.

Remains sold to Ray Wiklund for metal salvage in September 1971. Broken up for scrap circa November 1971. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) Viscount CF-THE

Country of Registration Canada

March 1957 to June 1964

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-THE - c/n 222 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

April 1955
An order was placed by Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) for a second batch of three Type 757 aircraft as a follow on from the previous Type 724 and Type 757 orders.

This was the eighth one built.

The total order for Type 757 aircraft reached thirty six in May 1957.

Production Order No. F08/757. Sales Order No. F08/76B. Stock Order No. F01/32B.

24 February 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines.

2 March 1957
Aircraft passed off by TCA inspectors as completed and ready for delivery.

5 March 1957
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '623'.

After refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland it then flew on to Keflavik Airport, Iceland (743 nautical miles) where it was again refuelled and they stopped overnight.

6 March 1957
Departed from Keflavik Airport, Iceland to Bluie West One (BW1) Airfield, Narsarsuaq, Southern Greenland (804 nautical miles), Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (1482 nautical miles). They must have had a very strong tailwind to miss out Goose Bay!

BW1 was built during WWII to assist the transfer of military aircraft from North America to Europe and was opened in January 1942.

The cabin seating was installed in Canada, as the seats used by TCA were of American manufacture.

The cabin was fitted out with 44 seats which was a reduction from the original 48 seat specification and provided more leg room.

This was heavily marketed and resulted in a high load factor compared to the 18 seat Douglas DC-3 that it replaced on some routes.

10 March 1957
Entered service after acceptance checks.

10 July 1957
TCA issued instructions that all Viscounts would be repainted in a 'White Top' livery when a suitable maintenance period became available.

6 January 1958
Rear lower fuselage damaged after a tail down landing during a training flight at Malton Airport, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

31 August 1960
Total time 9,365 hours and 7,772 total landings.

1 June 1964
Transferred to Air Canada due to a corporate name change.


Photo of Air Canada Viscount CF-THE

Country of Registration Canada

June 1964 to September 1971

Air Canada

CF-THE - c/n 222 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

1 June 1964
Transferred from Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) due to a corporate name change retaining fleet number '623'.

It took several years to repaint the fleet in Air Canada livery.

22 February 1965
Port wing, fuselage and undercarriage extensively damaged after being struck by a snow plough at Victoria Airport, Sydney, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

July 1967
Centre wing spar changed. Total time 23,750 hours and 22,903 total landings.

16 June 1969
Withdrawn from service and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

Total time 28,175:24 hours and 27,675 total landings.

It was then robbed of all useful parts.

September 1971
Remains sold to Ray Wiklund of Charleswood, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for metal salvage.


Photo of Ray Wiklund Viscount CF-THE

Country of Registration Canada

September 1971 to November 1971

Ray Wiklund

CF-THE - c/n 222 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

September 1971
Remains purchased from Air Canada for metal salvage.

circa November 1971
Broken up for scrap at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada. The actual 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.