16 April 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.

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.


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

Viscount c/n 326

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 326
Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI)


Italy flag Italy

This V.785D series Viscount was built for
Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI) as I-LIFT

It first flew on Thursday, 11 April 1957 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 326
Alitalia


Italy flag Italy

Its final owner/operator was
Alitalia as I-LIFT.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Ciampino Airport, Rome, Italy in September 1969. Broken up for scrap after spares recovery in July 1971.


Operational record
Photo of Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI) Viscount I-LIFT

Country of Registration Italy

April 1957 to October 1957

Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI)

I-LIFT - c/n 326 - a V.785D series Viscount
Italy registered

May 1956
An order for ten V.785D was placed by Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI).

Only the first six were delivered to them before the merger with Alitalia, with the remaining four delivered afterwards.

11 April 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

17 April 1957
Delivered to Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI).

1 October 1957
Transferred to Alitalia due to a corporate merger.


Photo of Alitalia Viscount I-LIFT

Country of Registration Italy

October 1957 to July 1971

Alitalia

I-LIFT - c/n 326 - a V.785D series Viscount
Italy registered

1 October 1957
Transferred from Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI) due to a corporate merger.

14 November 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

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

6 September 1969
Withdrawn from service and stored at Ciampino Airport, Rome, Italy.

July 1971
Broken up for scrap after parts recovery which were then sold to Aerolineas TAO to support their Viscounts.


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.