26 July 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


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

Viscount c/n 328

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 328
Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI)


Italy flag Italy

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

It first flew on Sunday, 18 August 1957 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 328
Alitalia


Italy flag Italy

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

Its fate:-
Crashed into Mount Somma (Vesuvius), Italy while approaching Capodichino Airport, Naples, Italy 28 March 1964.

The aircraft was en-route from Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy. The crew elected to carry out a visual approach to runway 24. The aircraft turned onto a wide downwind leg and entered cloud. On losing visual reference it crashed at a height of 2,000 ft in a 20° bank. All of the 40 passengers and 5 crew sadly died.


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

Country of Registration Italy

August 1957 to October 1957

Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI)

I-LAKE - c/n 328 - 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 August 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

24 August 1957
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out crew training flights.

30 August 1957
Delivered to Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI).

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


Photo of Alitalia Viscount I-LAKE

Country of Registration Italy

October 1957 to March 1964

Alitalia

I-LAKE - c/n 328 - a V.785D series Viscount
Italy registered

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

1 January 1958
Operated the first Alitalia Viscount service from London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England to Capodichino Airport, Naples, Italy.

February 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out Instrument Landing System (ILS) training flights.

16 October 1961
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

28 March 1964
Crashed into Mount Somma (Vesuvius) on approach to Capodichino Airport, Naples, Italy.

The aircraft was en-route from Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy. The crew elected to carry out a visual approach to runway 24 and turned onto a wide downwind leg and entered cloud. On losing visual reference it crashed at a height of 2,000 ft in a 20° bank.

All of the 40 passengers and 5 crew sadly died.


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.