25 April 2024
This website is regularly archived by the British Library who selectively archive websites with research values that are representative of British social history and cultural heritage.

Museum search


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.


Share your photos and stories


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.

Contact us


Join the Vickers Viscount Network
for FREE


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.



This website does not use cookies or capture your details


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

Viscount c/n 280

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 280
South African Air Force (SAAF)


South Africa flag South Africa

This V.781D series Viscount was built for
South African Air Force (SAAF) as 150

It first flew on Sunday, 18 May 1958 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Field Aviation (South Africa) Ltd, Air Charter Service and Filair


Photo of Viscount c/n 280
Bazair


Zaire flag Zaire

Its final owner/operator was
Bazair as 9Q-CWL.

Its fate:-
Crashed in flames near Irumu, 40 km from its departure airfield of Bunia, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo on a flight to Kisangani Airport 6 June 1997. The aircraft had taken off with the owner of the airline at the controls. It had about 40 people on board and a few drums of Jet A1. Somehow there was an in-flight cabin fire. They declared an emergency saying they were going to attempt a crash landing on a small bush strip at Nyankunde. Apparently the aircraft exploded during the final approach phase, killing everyone on board.


Operational record
Photo of South African Air Force (SAAF) Viscount 150

Country of Registration South Africa

June 1958 to August 1984

South African Air Force (SAAF)

150 - c/n 280 - a V.781D series Viscount
South Africa registered

18 May 1958
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Ferried to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England for final fitting out by Marshall's.

16 June 1958
Delivered to the South African Air Force (SAAF) as a Type 781D, named as 'Casteel' (Castle) on the starboard side only.

A large consignment of spare parts were carried on-board.

A lot of these parts were never used and after the aircraft was sold a lot of these parts ended up in the UK.

20 December 1958
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England.

21 December 1958
Departed to Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain.

30 December 1958
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out a single ILS approach and overshoot.

11 March 1959
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England using callsign 'MFSFF'.

13 March 1959
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

21 March 1959
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England using callsign 'MFSFF'.

25 March 1959
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England using callsign 'MFSFF'.

26 March 1959
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England using callsign 'MFSFF.

29 March 1959
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England using callsign 'MFSFF'.

28 August 1959
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Lisbon, Portugal using callsign 'MFSFF'.

7 September 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.

9 September 1959
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England to Orly Airport, Paris, France using callsign 'MFSFF'.

15 September 1959
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Stuttgart, West Germany using callsign 'MFSFF'.

18 September 1959
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England to Madrid, Spain using callsign 'MFSFF'.

10 December 1959
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Rome, Italy using callsign 'MFSFF'.

14 December 1959
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England to Rome, Italy using callsign 'MFSFF'.

23 September 1960
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Rome, Italy using callsign 'ZUBV50'.

10 October 1960
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England on a local air-test and then returned using callsign 'ZUBV50'.

14 October 1960
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England on a local air-test and then returned using callsign 'ZUBV50'.

18 October 1960
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England on a local air-test and then returned using callsign 'ZUBV50'.

21 October 1960
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England to an unknown destination using callsign 'ZUBV50'.

16 March 1961
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Rome, Italy using callsign 'ZUBV50'.

21 March 1961
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England to an unknown destination using callsign 'ZUBV50'.

1972
Operated by SAAF 21 Squadron.

17 August 1984
Re-registered ZS-LPR.


Photo of South African Air Force (SAAF) Viscount ZS-LPR

Country of Registration South Africa

August 1984 to November 1991

South African Air Force (SAAF)

ZS-LPR - c/n 280 - a V.781D series Viscount
South Africa registered

17 August 1984
Re-registered from 150 named as 'Casteel' (Castle) but no other titles applied.

March 1990
Noted at Casablanca Airport, Morocco.

November 1991
Sold to Field Aviation (South Africa) Ltd.

Total time 7,972 hours.


Photo of Field Aviation (South Africa) Ltd Viscount ZS-LPR

Country of Registration South Africa

November 1991 to December 1991

Field Aviation (South Africa) Ltd

ZS-LPR - c/n 280 - a V.781D series Viscount
South Africa registered

November 1991
Purchased from South African Air Force (SAAF).

Total time 7,972 hours.

December 1991
Sold to Air Charter Service (ACS).


Photo of Air Charter Service (ACS) Viscount 9Q-CWL

Country of Registration Zaire

December 1991 to January 1992

Air Charter Service (ACS)

9Q-CWL - c/n 280 - a V.781D series Viscount
Zaire registered

December 1991
Purchased from Field Aviation (South Africa) Ltd.

Note: - this registration had previously been used on SGA NAMC YS-11A c/n 2140.

circa 1992
Leased to Filair.


Photo of Filair Viscount 9Q-CWL

Country of Registration Zaire

January 1992 to January 1996

Filair

9Q-CWL - c/n 280 - a V.781D series Viscount
Zaire registered

circa 1992
Leased from Air Charter Service (ACS) in basic SAAF livery still named as 'Casteel' (Castle).

circa 1996
Returned to Air Charter Service.


Photo of Air Charter Service (ACS) Viscount 9Q-CWL

Country of Registration Zaire

January 1996 to January 1996

Air Charter Service (ACS)

9Q-CWL - c/n 280 - a V.781D series Viscount
Zaire registered

circa 1996
Returned from Filair lease.

circa 1996
Sold to Bazair.


Photo of Bazair Viscount 9Q-CWL

Country of Registration Zaire

January 1996 to June 1997

Bazair

9Q-CWL - c/n 280 - a V.781D series Viscount
Zaire registered

circa 1996
Purchased from Air Charter Service (ACS).

6 June 1997
Crashed in flames near Irumu, 40 km from its departure airfield of Bunia, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo on a flight to Kisangani Airport.

All 3 crew and 20 passengers died in the crash. It is reported below that there may have been more passengers on board than those quoted in reports.

Alain Van Severen who flew this aircraft in 1996 says 'they took off from Bunia with the owner of the airline at the controls. They had about 40 people on board and a few drums of Jet A1. Somehow there was an in-flight cabin fire. They declared an emergency saying they were going to attempt a crash landing on a small bush airstrip at Nyankunde. Apparently the aircraft exploded during the final approach phase, killing everyone on board'.


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.