23 April 2024
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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

Flight Magazine Reports

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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information@VickersViscount.net



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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 320

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 320
American Airlease


United States flag United States

This V.835 series Viscount was built for
American Airlease as N500T

It first flew on Friday, 4 September 1959 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.

During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation, Washington Square Methodist Church, Tenneco Inc, Omni International Corporation, Loving Insurance Agency and Ray Charles Enterprises Inc

Photo of Viscount c/n 320
Go Group Unlimited Inc


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Go Group Unlimited Inc as N923RC.

Its fate:-
Whilst owned by Ray Charles Enterprises Inc it was damaged beyond repair after running off the end of the runway at Monroe County Airport, Bloomington, Indiana 19 October 1985. The forward fuselage section broke off during the over-run into a corn field and the undercarriage collapsed. There were no fatalities or a post-crash fire. The remains were sold to Go Group Unlimited Inc, Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA for spares recovery. Fuselage panels bearing the 'Ray Charles' name were cut out and saved.


Operational record
Photo of Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A. Viscount CU-T624

Country of Registration Cuba

September 1959 to

Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A.

CU-T624 - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
Cuba registered

1959
The sale to Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A. was not completed.

September 1959
Aircraft converted to a Type 835 standard with a VIP interior for sale to American Airlease for operation by the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.


Photo of American Airlease Viscount N500T

Country of Registration United States

September 1959 to October 1959

American Airlease

N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

1959
Purchased new from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.

It was originally ordered and built for Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A. as a Type 818.

4 September 1959
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England as a V.835.

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

24 September 1959
Departed on delivery to American Airlease in full Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation livery with a VIP interior.

25 September 1959
Noted at Bluie West One Airfield, Narsarsuaq, Southern Greenland during a refuelling stop on delivery to the USA.

1 October 1959
Leased to the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.


Photo of Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation Viscount N500T

Country of Registration United States

October 1959 to December 1961

Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation

N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

1 October 1959
Leased from American Airlease.

28 December 1961
Sold to Washington Square Methodist Church while still on lease.


Photo of Washington Square Methodist Church Viscount N500T

Country of Registration United States

December 1961 to February 1966

Washington Square Methodist Church

N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

28 December 1961
Purchased from American Airlease while on lease to the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.

It remained with the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation during this change of ownership.

23 February 1966
Sold to the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.


Photo of Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation Viscount N500T

Country of Registration United States

February 1966 to April 1966

Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation

N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

23 February 1966
Purchased from the Washington Square Methodist Church.

11 April 1966
Transferred to Tenneco Inc due to a corporate name change.


Photo of Tenneco Inc Viscount N500T

Country of Registration United States

April 1966 to September 1975

Tenneco Inc

N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

11 April 1966
Transferred from Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation due to a corporate name change.

3 June 1970
After landing at Alexandria International Airport, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA the nose undercarriage leg collapsed resulting in curled propellers and shockloaded Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

The collapse was due to a badly worn downlock socket and the National Transportation Safety Board were critical of the poor maintenance standards.

There were no reported injuries to the 7 passengers and 3 crew on board.

Repaired and returned to service.

11 September 1975
Sold to the Omni International Corporation.


Photo of Omni International Corporation Viscount N500T

Country of Registration United States

September 1975 to September 1975

Omni International Corporation

N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

11 September 1975
Purchased from Tenneco Inc.

12 September 1975
Sold to the Loving Insurance Agency.


Photo of Loving Insurance Agency Viscount N500T

Country of Registration United States

September 1975 to September 1975

Loving Insurance Agency

N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

12 September 1975
Purchased from Omni International Corporation.

19 September 1975
Re-registered N500TL.


Photo of Loving Insurance Agency Viscount N500TL *

Country of Registration United States

September 1975 to January 1977

Loving Insurance Agency

N500TL * - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

19 September 1975
Re-registered from N500T. N500TL was later used on C/N 201.

5 January 1977
Sold to Ray Charles Enterprises Inc.


Photo of Ray Charles Enterprises Inc Viscount N500TL *

Country of Registration United States

January 1977 to February 1977

Ray Charles Enterprises Inc

N500TL * - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

5 January 1977
Purchased from the Loving Insurance Agency.

23 February 1977
Re-registered N923RC.


Photo of Ray Charles Enterprises Inc Viscount N923RC *

Country of Registration United States

February 1977 to November 1985

Ray Charles Enterprises Inc

N923RC * - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

23 February 1977
Re-registered from N500TL.

This registration represented Ray's birthday (September 23rd) and had previously been used on Viscount C/N 201.

March 1977
Noted still carrying N500TL.

10 February 1978
Noted at Daugherty Field, Long Beach, California, USA carrying the new registration but not yet repainted in the 'Gold' livery.

Painted in the 'Gold' livery.
Ray Charles Enterprises Inc.
'Gold' livery.

December 1978
Noted at Skyharbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, USA now repainted in the 'Gold' livery.

19 October 1985
Damaged beyond repair after running off the end of the runway at Monroe County Airport, Bloomington, Indiana.

The forward fuselage section broke off during the over-run into a corn field and the undercarriage collapsed.

There were no fatalities or a post-crash fire.

circa November 1985
Remains sold to Go Group Unlimited Inc for spares recovery.


Photo of Go Group Unlimited Inc Viscount N923RC

Country of Registration United States

November 1985 to December 1985

Go Group Unlimited Inc

N923RC - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered

circa November 1985
Remains purchased from Ray Charles Enterprises Inc after its accident and moved to Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA for spares recovery.

Fuselage panels bearing the 'Ray Charles' name were cut out and saved during the subsequent scrapping process.


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.