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 298

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 298
United Iranian Airlines


Iran flag Iran

This V.782D series Viscount was built for
United Iranian Airlines as EP-AHB

It first flew on Saturday, 29 March 1958 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Iran National Airlines Corporation, Central African Airways Corporation (CAA), Air Rhodesia, Air Zimbabwe Rhodesia, Air Zimbabwe and Filair


Photo of Viscount c/n 298
Trans Service Airlift


Zaire flag Zaire

Its final owner/operator was
Trans Service Airlift as 9Q-CKK.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Ndjili International Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire in December 1993. Broken up for scrap in 1994.


Operational record
Photo of United Iranian Airlines Viscount EP-AHB

Country of Registration Iran

April 1958 to February 1962

United Iranian Airlines

EP-AHB - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Iran registered

19 March 1956
An order was placed by the Iranian Government for three Type782D aircraft. Two for airline use and the third for use by the Shah of Persia.

29 March 1958
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.

16 April 1958
Delivered to the Iranian Government for use by United Iranian Airlines.

30 March 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

21 April 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

14 September 1960
Extensively damaged during a heavy landing at Abadan Airport, Iran.

There were no reported injuries to the passengers and crew on board.

5 October 1960
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England at 10:38 from Frankfurt, West Germany to clear customs.

It then departed at 14:12 to Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire, England for repairs with Field Aircraft Services Ltd.

3 November 1960
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire, England to clear customs.

It then departed to Frankfurt, West Germany on its way back to Tehran, Iran.

24 February 1962
Transferred to Iran National Airlines Corporation (Iranair).


Photo of Iran National Airlines Corporation (Iranair) Viscount EP-AHB

Country of Registration Iran

February 1962 to October 1966

Iran National Airlines Corporation (Iranair)

EP-AHB - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Iran registered

24 February 1962
Transferred from United Iranian Airlines.

October 1966
Sold to Central African Airways Corporation (CAA).


Photo of Central African Airways Corporation (CAA) Viscount VP-WAT

Country of Registration Rhodesia

October 1966 to January 1968

Central African Airways Corporation (CAA)

VP-WAT - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered

October 1966
Purchased from Iran National Airlines Corporation.

March 1967
Delivered to Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Rhodesia in a basic Iran National livery less titles.

If the aircraft needed an extensive overhaul then, because of the short time period involved it is likely that it never entered service with CAA.

1 January 1968
Transferred to Air Rhodesia due to a corporate name change.


Photo of Air Malawi Viscount VP-WAT

Country of Registration Rhodesia

October 1966 to January 1968

Air Malawi

VP-WAT - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered

1964 - January 1968
Owned by Central African Airways (CAA) and often operated by them on behalf of Air Malawi, Air Rhodesia and Zambia Airways when required.

At this time the Central African Airways (CAA) Viscounts were fitted with removable nameplates that were easily installed to both sides of the rear fuselage.

An ingenious quick release system held these nameplates in place as they were regularly changed over to suit the next airline departure schedule.


Photo of Air Rhodesia Viscount VP-WAT

Country of Registration Rhodesia

October 1966 to January 1968

Air Rhodesia

VP-WAT - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered

1964 - January 1968
Owned by Central African Airways (CAA) and often operated by them on behalf of Air Malawi, Air Rhodesia and Zambia Airways when required.

At this time the Central African Airways (CAA) Viscounts were fitted with removable nameplates that were easily installed to both sides of the rear fuselage.

An ingenious quick release system held these nameplates in place as they were regularly changed over to suit the next airline departure schedule.


Photo of Zambia Airways Viscount VP-WAT

Country of Registration Rhodesia

October 1966 to January 1968

Zambia Airways

VP-WAT - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered

1964 - January 1968
Owned by Central African Airways (CAA) and often operated by them on behalf of Air Malawi, Air Rhodesia and Zambia Airways when required.

At this time the Central African Airways (CAA) Viscounts were fitted with removable nameplates that were easily installed to both sides of the rear fuselage.

An ingenious quick release system held these nameplates in place as they were regularly changed over to suit the next airline departure schedule.


Photo of Air Rhodesia Viscount VP-WAT

Country of Registration Rhodesia

January 1968 to June 1979

Air Rhodesia

VP-WAT - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Rhodesia registered

1 January 1968
Transferred from Central African Airways (CAA) due to a corporate name change.

26 March 1968
Noted at Jan Smuts International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa repainted in full Air Rhodesia livery.

18 May 1974
Noted at Jan Smuts International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa repainted in a later Air Rhodesia livery (copying the Boeing 720 aircraft acquired from Calair) and now named as 'Lundi', which was a river in Rhodesia.

19 October 1976
Total time 27,693:32 hours.

28 February 1977
Total time 28,160:40 hours.

18 July 1977
Total time 28,700:25 hours.

1979
Painted in grey anti-missile livery after a heat-seeking SAM-7 (Soviet 9K32 Strela-2) surface-to air-missile attack on Viscount VP-YND (C/N 101).

June 1979
Transferred to Air Zimbabwe Rhodesia due to a corporate name change.


Photo of Air Zimbabwe Rhodesia Viscount VP-WAT

Country of Registration Zimbabwe Rhodesia

June 1979 to February 1980

Air Zimbabwe Rhodesia

VP-WAT - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Zimbabwe Rhodesia registered

June 1979
Transferred from Air Rhodesia due to a corporate name change.

February 1980
Transferred to Air Zimbabwe due to a corporate name change.


Photo of Air Zimbabwe Viscount VP-WAT

Country of Registration Zimbabwe

February 1980 to October 1983

Air Zimbabwe

VP-WAT - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Zimbabwe registered

February 1980
Tranferred from Air Rhodesia due to a corporate name change.

October 1983
Re-registered as Z-WAT.


Photo of Air Zimbabwe Viscount Z-WAT

Country of Registration Zimbabwe

October 1983 to May 1990

Air Zimbabwe

Z-WAT - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Zimbabwe registered

October 1983
Re-registered from VP-WAT.

David Carter illustration of Air Zimbabwe Viscount Z-WAT

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


Painted in the Air Zimbabwe 'Flag' livery.
Air Zimbabwe
'Flag' livery

circa 1984
Painted in the Air Zimbabwe 'Flag' livery.

May 1990
Sold to Filair.


Photo of Filair Viscount 9Q-CKK

Country of Registration Zaire

May 1990 to January 1991

Filair

9Q-CKK - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Zaire registered

May 1990
Purchased from Air Zimbabwe.

January 1991
Sold to Trans Service Airlift.


Photo of Trans Service Airlift Viscount 9Q-CKK

Country of Registration Zaire

January 1991 to January 1994

Trans Service Airlift

9Q-CKK - c/n 298 - a V.782D series Viscount
Zaire registered

January 1991
Purchased from Filair.

28 April 1991
Seen in service at Ndjili International Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire without Trans Service Airlift titles.

January 1992
Seen in service with Trans Service Airlift titles.

December 1993
Withdrawn from service and stored at Ndjili International Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire.

1994
Broken up for scrap.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.