02 December 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 285

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 285
Capital Airlines (USA)


United States flag United States

This V.745D series Viscount was built for
Capital Airlines (USA) as N7474

It first flew on Wednesday, 21 August 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


Photo of Viscount c/n 285
Heslin Associates Inc


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Heslin Associates Inc as N7464.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service at Trenton Airport, New Jersey, USA in August 1968. Subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7474

Country of Registration United States

January 1957 to August 1957

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7474 - c/n 285 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

circa March 1957
The purchase by Capital Airlines with fleet number '392' was not completed.

21 August 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England in a bare metal condition with the US registration applied.

circa January 1958
Re-registered N7464 for a revised sale to Capital Airlines.


Photo of Capital Airlines (USA) Viscount N7464 *

Country of Registration United States

February 1958 to June 1961

Capital Airlines (USA)

N7464 * - c/n 285 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

circa January 1958
Re-registered from N7474.

6 February 1958
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England now in full Capital Airlines livery.

20 February 1958
Delivered to Capital Airlines with fleet number ‘382’ fitted with integral front 'airsteps' and weather radar.

circa 1958
Large registrations on the rear fuselage appeared after the use of small registrations on the tail were banned by the newly formed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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 N7464 *

Country of Registration United States

June 1961 to August 1968

United Air Lines

N7464 * - c/n 285 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

1 June 1961
Transferred from Capital Airlines due to a corporate merger retaining fleet number ‘382’.

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.

29 August 1968
Sold to Heslin Associates Inc.


Photo of Heslin Associates Inc Viscount N7464 *

Country of Registration United States

August 1968 to December 1968

Heslin Associates Inc

N7464 * - c/n 285 - a V.745D series Viscount
United States registered

29 August 1968
Purchased from United Air Lines and ferried to Trenton Airport, New Jersey, USA for storage.

It was then robbed of all useful parts and some of these were sold to the US Steel Corporation to support their Viscounts.

Total time 24,758 hours and 23,649 total landings.

Late 1968
Broken up for scrap.


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.