15 January 2025
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Viscount Survivors

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

Letter from HRH Prince Philip

See and hear a Viscount

Newsletters

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Aircraft operational
records and photos

Viscount illustrations
by David Carter


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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Our 'Live Magazine' is used by members and non-members to share their Viscount photos and stories with fellow enthusiasts located throughout the world in real time.

You are able to send in your photos, stories and comments by Facebook, Twitter or email and we will post them for all to enjoy.

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Featured pages

Our website contains over 20,000 pages of photos and information that can all be accessed from the menu at the top of every page. Here are a few to get you started.


In the Beginning

The Turboprop World-Beater

Sir George Edwards

The Rolls-Royce Dart

c/n 1 G-AHRF V.630
The Prototype Viscount

c/n 2 VX217 V.663
The Tay powered Viscount

c/n 3 G-AMAV V.700
The V.700 series prototype

c/n 4 G-ALWE V.701
The first BEA Viscount

c/n 5 G-ALWF V.701
The oldest surviving Viscount

c/n 8 F-BGNK V.708
The first Air France Viscount

c/n 30 EI-AFV V.707
The first Aer Lingus Viscount

c/n 40 CF-TGI V.724
The first TCA Viscount

c/n 44 VH-TVA V.720
The first TAA Viscount

c/n 67 YI-ACK V.735
The first Iraqi Airways Viscount

c/n 70 CF-GXK V.737
The first Canadian DoT Viscount

c/n 71 VP-TBK V.702
The first BOAC Associated
Companies Viscount

c/n 74 G-ANRR V.732
The first Hunting-Clan Viscount

c/n 77 LN-FOF V.736
The first Fred Olsen Viscount

c/n 79 IU-683 V.723
The first Indian Air Force Viscount

c/n 88 N7402 V.744
The first Capital Airlines Viscount

c/n 97 VH-BAT V.747
The first Butler Air
Transport Viscount


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

Viscount c/n 239

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 239
BOAC Associated Companies Ltd


England flag England

This V.754D series Viscount was built for
BOAC Associated Companies Ltd as OD-ACT

It first flew on Wednesday, 17 July 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
Middle East Airlines (MEA) and Kuwait Airways

Photo of Viscount c/n 239
Middle East Airlines (MEA) / Air Liban


Lebanon flag Lebanon

Its final owner/operator was
Middle East Airlines (MEA) / Air Liban as OD-ACT.

Its fate:-
Destroyed by Israeli commandos at Beirut International Airport, Lebanon 28 December 1968 in retaliation against Lebanon for an Arab terrorist attack on an El Al Boeing 707 at Athens, Greece. Eight Israeli Air Force Super Frelon helicopters landed at Beirut International Airport at night and commandos set fire to and destroyed 14 Lebanese aircraft.


Operational record
Photo of BOAC Associated Companies Ltd Viscount OD-ACT

Country of Registration Lebanon

July 1957 to July 1957

BOAC Associated Companies Ltd

OD-ACT - c/n 239 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered

circa June 1955
This was the 1st Type 754 ordered by BOAC Associated Companies Ltd for use by Middle East Airlines (MEA).

Production Aircraft No. 207 - the 207th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 160th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 162nd Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F01/754. Sales Order No. F01/97B. Stock Order No. F05/32B.

28 January 1957
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

19 March 1957
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

17 July 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

July 1957
Delivered to BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.

29 July 1957
Leased to Middle East Airlines (MEA).


Photo of Middle East Airlines (MEA) Viscount OD-ACT

Country of Registration Lebanon

July 1957 to September 1958

Middle East Airlines (MEA)

OD-ACT - c/n 239 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered

29 July 1957
Leased from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd.

The company name at that time was: - Associated British Airlines (Middle East) Limited.

September 1958
Sub-leased to Kuwait Airways.


Photo of Kuwait Airways Viscount OD-ACT

Country of Registration Lebanon

September 1958 to October 1958

Kuwait Airways

OD-ACT - c/n 239 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered

September 1958
Sub-leased from Middle East Airlines (MEA) who had leased it from BOAC Associated Companies Ltd. It remained in full MEA livery.

October 1958
Returned to Middle East Airlines (MEA).


Photo of Middle East Airlines (MEA) Viscount OD-ACT

Country of Registration Lebanon

October 1958 to April 1961

Middle East Airlines (MEA)

OD-ACT - c/n 239 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered

October 1958
Returned from Kuwait Airways sub-lease.

16 November 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England on a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

17 November 1958
Departed from Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England.

1 December 1959
Noted at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England on a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

1 April 1961
Sub-leased to Kuwait Airways for a second period. It remained in full MEA livery.

1 August 1961
Purchased from BOAC Associated Companies while the aircraft was on lease to Kuwait Airways.


Photo of Kuwait Airways Viscount OD-ACT

Country of Registration Lebanon

April 1961 to June 1964

Kuwait Airways

OD-ACT - c/n 239 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered

1 April 1961
Sub-leased from Middle East Airlines (MEA).

1 August 1961
BOAC Associated Companies Ltd sold the aircraft to Middle East Airlines (MEA) while it was on sub-lease to Kuwait Airways.

June 1964
Returned to Middle East Airlines (MEA).


Photo of Middle East Airlines (MEA) / Air Liban Viscount OD-ACT

Country of Registration Lebanon

June 1964 to December 1968

Middle East Airlines (MEA) / Air Liban

OD-ACT - c/n 239 - a V.754D series Viscount
Lebanon registered

June 1964
Returned from Kuwait Airways lease.

MEA had merged with Air Liban and became Middle East Airlines (MEA) / Air Liban in November 1963.

13 April 1967
Substantially damaged during a training landing at Beirut Airport, Lebanon. No further information.

Repaired and returned to service.

28 December 1968
Destroyed by Israeli commandos at Beirut International Airport, Lebanon in retaliation against Lebanon for a Palestinian terrorist attack on an El Al Boeing 707 at Ellinikon Airport, Athens, Greece 26 December 1968 which resulted in the death of an Israeli passenger. Eight Israeli Air Force Aerospatiale Super Frelon helicopters landed at night and commandos set fire to and destroyed 14 Lebanese aircraft including this Viscount.


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.