26 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.

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

Viscount c/n 327

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 327
Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI)


Italy flag Italy

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

It first flew on Saturday, 18 May 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
Alitalia


Photo of Viscount c/n 327
Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO)


Colombia flag Colombia

Its final owner/operator was
Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO) as HK-1061.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Aerolineas TAO and stored at Eldorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia in January 1975 together with HK-1057 (C/N 118) after the crash of HK-1058 (C/N 380) 8 June 1974. Broken up for scrap circa December 1979. T


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

Country of Registration Italy

May 1957 to October 1957

Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI)

I-LILI - c/n 327 - 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.

18 May 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

26 May 1957
Delivered to Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI).

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


Photo of Alitalia Viscount I-LILI

Country of Registration Italy

October 1957 to June 1969

Alitalia

I-LILI - c/n 327 - a V.785D series Viscount
Italy registered

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

circa 1962
Painted in the Alitalia ‘Flag Tail‘ livery.

circa May 1969
Withdrawn from service and stored at Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy.

June 1969
Sold to Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO).


Photo of Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO) Viscount I-LILI

Country of Registration Italy

June 1969 to June 1970

Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO)

I-LILI - c/n 327 - a V.785D series Viscount
Italy registered

June 1969
Purchased from Alitalia.

April 1970
Noted still stored at Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy awaiting delivery.

circa June 1970
Re-registered HK-1061-X.


Photo of Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO) Viscount HK-1061-X

Country of Registration Colombia

June 1970 to September 1970

Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO)

HK-1061-X - c/n 327 - a V.785D series Viscount
Colombia registered

circa June 1970
Re-registered from I-LILI with temporary ferry registration HK-1061-X for the journey to Colombia via the UK.

circa July 1970
Noted at the Field Aircraft Services Ltd facility, East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England during its journey to Colombia.

4 September 1970
Re-registered HK-1061.


Photo of Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO) Viscount HK-1061

Country of Registration Colombia

September 1970 to November 1979

Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO)

HK-1061 - c/n 327 - a V.785D series Viscount
Colombia registered

4 September 1970
Re-registered from HK-1061-X.

July 1971
To Field Aircraft Services Ltd at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England for scheduled maintenance.

8 September 1971
Noted at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland en-route to Colombia.

7 October 1971
Damaged at Neiva Airport, Colombia (no details).
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

November 1971
Rebuilt using the starboard outer wing from HK-1057 (C/N 118). This was the first time that an outer wing had been transferred from one Viscount to another.

Painted in the Aerolineas TAO 'TAO' livery.
Aerolineas TAO
'TAO' livery

circa 1971
Painted in the Aerolineas TAO 'TAO' livery.

7 June 1973
Landed with the undercarriage retracted at Eldorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia.

Repaired and returned to service.

Stored at Eldorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia.
Stored at Eldorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia

January 1975
Withdrawn from service and stored at Eldorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia together with HK-1057 (C/N 118) after the crash investigation of HK-1058 (C/N 380).

circa December 1979
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.