25 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 331

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 331
Iraqi Airways


Iraq flag Iraq

This V.773 series Viscount was built for
Iraqi Airways as YI-ACU

It first flew on Wednesday, 30 October 1957 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 506 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 331
Iraqi Airways


Iraq flag Iraq

Its final owner/operator was
Iraqi Airways as YI-ACU.

Its fate:-
Damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident at Cairo International Airport, Egypt 19 March 1965. Subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Iraqi Airways Viscount YI-ACU

Country of Registration Iraq

November 1957 to March 1965

Iraqi Airways

YI-ACU - c/n 331 - a V.773 series Viscount
Iraq registered

30 October 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

18 November 1957
Delivered to Iraqi Airways named as ‘Ibn Turaik’ with a Kingdom of Iraq national flag on the tail.

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

1958
Noted with an Arab Federation national flag on the tail.

1959
Noted with a Republic of Iraq national flag on the tail.

12 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

1963
Noted with a later Republic of Iraq national flag on the tail.

19 March 1965
During an approach into Cairo International Airport, Egypt, difficulty was experienced in locking the landing gear down. The landing gear was cycled a couple of times and a 'down and locked' indication (three greens) was finally obtained. The aircraft landed normally and taxied to the end of the runway. A 180-degree turn on a down slope was made during which the braking and steering systems failed. For some reason the flight crew did not utilise the emergency braking system and the aircraft ran at speed into a row of lamp standards, damaging it beyond economic repair.

The accident was caused by a burst hydraulic pipe from the main reservoir resulting in a loss of braking and nose wheel steering. Additionally, the flight crew failed to utilise the emergency braking system.

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

Total time 13,955 and 7,200 total landings.

circa 1965
Broken up for scrap. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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.