23 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 329

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 329
Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI)


Italy flag Italy

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

It first flew on Sunday, 23 June 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 329
Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA)


Ecuador flag Ecuador

Its final owner/operator was
Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA) as HC-AVP.

Its fate:-
Crashed into thick jungle in Pastaza Province, Ecuador on 23 April 1979. The wreckage was not found until 1984, 25 nautical miles off of its original planned track.


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

Country of Registration Italy

June 1957 to October 1957

Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI)

I-LARK - c/n 329 - 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.

23 June 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

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


Photo of Alitalia Viscount I-LARK

Country of Registration Italy

October 1957 to May 1971

Alitalia

I-LARK - c/n 329 - a V.785D series Viscount
Italy registered

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

Proposed sale to Aresa – Andes Airlines not completed.

10 February 1971
Ferried to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England for maintenance with Field Aircraft Services Ltd.

February 1971
A proposed sale to Aresa – Andes Airlines was not completed.

24 May 1971
Sold to Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA).


Photo of Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA) Viscount HC-AVP

Country of Registration Ecuador

May 1971 to April 1979

Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA)

HC-AVP - c/n 329 - a V.785D series Viscount
Ecuador registered

24 May 1971
Purchased from Alitalia.

May 1971
Delivered from East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire, England to Mariscal Sucre Airport, Quito, Ecuador via the USA.

Re-registered as HC-AVP after delivery.

Crashed into thick jungle on high ground in Pastaza Province, Ecuador.

23 April 1979
Crashed into thick jungle on high ground in Pastaza Province, Ecuador, whilst en-route from Mariscal Sucre Airport, Quito, Ecuador to Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Azuay Province, Ecuador. There were no survivors amongst the 52 passengers and 5 crew. SAETA sent up another Viscount to search for the missing plane, as at the time they were not sure what had happened to it, after the radio silence and non-arrival of the aircraft.

30 April 1979
A rescue aircraft of Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana (FAE) crashed whilst searching for the Viscount. 2 of the 7 crew sadly died in the crash.

1984
The Viscount was eventually found on high ground, 25 nautical miles off of its original planned track, but at a lower altitude than their flight plan of 18,000 feet.


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.