27 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.

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

Viscount c/n 333

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 333
Lloyd Aereo Colombiano (LAC)


Colombia flag Colombia

This V.786D series Viscount was built for
Lloyd Aereo Colombiano (LAC) as HK-946X

It first flew on Monday, 23 December 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
Lineas Aereas De Nicaragua S.A (LANICA) and Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA)


Photo of Viscount c/n 333
BKS Air Transport Ltd


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
BKS Air Transport Ltd as G-AVIY.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England in April 1970. Broken up for scrap in June 1970.


Operational record
Photo of Lloyd Aereo Colombiano (LAC) Viscount HK-946X

Country of Registration Colombia

August 1957 to December 1957

Lloyd Aereo Colombiano (LAC)

HK-946X - c/n 333 - a V.786D series Viscount
Colombia registered

August 1957
The sale to Lloyd Aereo Colombiano (LAC) named 'Santa Maria' was terminated for financial reasons by the Kaysam Investment Corporation who had funded the purchase of three aircraft.

They were concerned that Lloyd Aereo Colombiano (LAC) would not be able to make payments as they were linked to the military Colombian Government that had just collapsed.

1 December 1957
Sold to Lineas Aereas De Nicaragua S.A. (LANICA)


Photo of Lineas Aereas De Nicaragua S.A. (LANICA) Viscount AN-AKP

Country of Registration Nicaragua

December 1957 to April 1959

Lineas Aereas De Nicaragua S.A. (LANICA)

AN-AKP - c/n 333 - a V.786D series Viscount
Nicaragua registered

1 December 1957
Purchased during final construction from the Kaysam Investment Corporation via Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd retaining the Type 786D specification.

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

8 January 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England ready for delivery to Nicaragua, now named as 'Nicarao'.

Nicarao was said to be the name of an indigenous chieftain or cacique who presided over a territory in southwestern Nicaragua during the early 16th century.

Based on research done by historians in 2002, it was discovered that his real name was Macuilmiquiztli.

Later renamed as 'Bolivar'.

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte-Andrade y Blanco, generally known as Simón Bolívar and also colloquially as El Libertador (the Liberator), was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the states of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama to independence from the Spanish Empire.

19 April 1958
Total time 418 hours and 155 total landings.

April 1959
Sold to Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA).


Photo of Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA) Viscount YS-11C

Country of Registration El Salvador

April 1959 to March 1967

Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA)

YS-11C - c/n 333 - a V.786D series Viscount
El Salvador registered

April 1959
Purchased from Lineas Aereas De Nicaragua S.A. (LANICA)

20 March 1967
Sold to BKS Air Transport Ltd.


Photo of BKS Air Transport Ltd Viscount G-AVIY

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1967 to June 1970

BKS Air Transport Ltd

G-AVIY - c/n 333 - a V.786D series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

Now in the BKS 'British Air Services' livery.
Now in the BKS
'British Air Services' livery

20 March 1967
Purchased from Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos (TACA) and entered on the UK register.

BKS relates to the surnames of three company directors: - James W Barnby, Thomas D Keegan, and Cyril Stevens.

25 March 1967
Arrived at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England from Keklavik Airport, Iceland.

27 March 1967
Arrived at Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire, England for overhaul by Field Aircraft Services Ltd.

16 May 1967
Air tested twice from Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire, England after overhaul by Field Aircraft Services Ltd.

17 May 1967
Departed from Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire, England to Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England on delivery to BKS in full livery.

18 May 1967
Entered service from Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England to Heathrow Airport, London, England.

15 June 1967
Total time 20,660:40 hours.

8 September 1967
Total time 21,263:45 hours.

18 November 1967
Total time 21,589:45 hours.

6 June 1968
Total time 22,403:35 hours.

29 November 1968
Total time 23,286:50 hours.

16 June 1969
Total time 23,815:35 hours.

24 April 1970
Withdrawn from service and stored at Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England.

The registration was cancelled the same day.

Total time 24,486:00 hours and 17,622 total landings.

25 April 1970
Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expired.

June 1970
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.