15 March 2025
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Viscount Survivors

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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by David Carter


Discover the history of the Viscount with film, video, contemporary reports from the pages of Flight Magazine, our newsletters, and aircraft operational records and photos from our database.


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Featured pages

Our website contains over 20,000 pages of photos and information that can all be accessed from the menu at the top of every page. Here are a few to get you started.


In the Beginning

The Turboprop World-Beater

Sir George Edwards

The Rolls-Royce Dart

c/n 1 G-AHRF V.630
The Prototype Viscount

c/n 2 VX217 V.663
The Tay powered Viscount

c/n 3 G-AMAV V.700
The V.700 series prototype

c/n 4 G-ALWE V.701
The first BEA Viscount

c/n 5 G-ALWF V.701
The oldest surviving Viscount

c/n 8 F-BGNK V.708
The first Air France Viscount

c/n 30 EI-AFV V.707
The first Aer Lingus Viscount

c/n 40 CF-TGI V.724
The first TCA Viscount

c/n 44 VH-TVA V.720
The first TAA Viscount

c/n 67 YI-ACK V.735
The first Iraqi Airways Viscount

c/n 70 CF-GXK V.737
The first Canadian DoT Viscount

c/n 71 VP-TBK V.702
The first BOAC Associated
Companies Viscount

c/n 74 G-ANRR V.732
The first Hunting-Clan Viscount

c/n 77 LN-FOF V.736
The first Fred Olsen Viscount

c/n 79 IU-683 V.723
The first Indian Air Force Viscount

c/n 88 N7402 V.744
The first Capital Airlines Viscount

c/n 97 VH-BAT V.747
The first Butler Air
Transport Viscount


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

Viscount c/n 353

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 353
Continental Airlines


United States flag United States

This V.812 series Viscount was built for
Continental Airlines as N240V

It first flew on Friday, 14 February 1958 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.

During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation, Tenneco Inc, Alidair, Cyprus Airways, Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) and Mandala Airlines

Photo of Viscount c/n 353
Bouraq Indonesia Airlines


Indonesia flag Indonesia

Its final owner/operator was
Bouraq Indonesia Airlines as PK-IVS.

Its fate:-
Crashed into marshland at Cape Karawang, 26 kms north east of Jakarta, Java, Indonesia 26 August 1980. The cause of this accident was the in-flight fracture of a spigot in the elevator tab circuit. This part had exceeded the 12,000 flight hours retirement life by 21,000 hours resulting in a total life of 33,000 hrs.


Operational record
Photo of Continental Airlines Viscount N240V

Country of Registration United States

May 1958 to August 1960

Continental Airlines

N240V - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered

December 1955
Continental Airlines placed an order for fifteen Type 812 aircraft, which were to be marketed by Continental as the 'Viscount II'.

Sales Order No. F01/94B.

On the production line it was noted fitted with an experimental rudder for flight trials possibly as part of a US certification process. The rudder included the complete fin cap which acted like a horn balance.

This type of rudder was also fitted to G-AOYF (C/N 255) and G-AOYV (C/N 316) when owned by Vickers but as both these aircraft suffered from rudder failures during flight trials it is not known if this aircraft ever flew in this configuration. It reverted back to the standard rudder before delivery. No customer aircraft were delivered with this type of rudder.

circa October 1956
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd received a creativity award from Daniels & Fisher in Denver, Colorado, USA.

This was the first year that these awards were given out to celebrate outstanding contributions to art, science and industry.

The award was received by Mr T Gammon who was the deputy Managing Director at the Weybridge works.

14 February 1958
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed back at Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England to continue its test flying programme and finally went to Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for finishing.

10 May 1958
Departed from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England on delivery.

It was fitted with integral front 'airsteps' and now had the standard type of rudder. The plush first class cabin, designed by Charles Butler & Associates was laid out in two plus two configuration with a capacity for 52 passengers, who enjoyed a sumptious meal en-route. A lounge area at the rear allowed for four people to sit on two curved side couches when the aircraft was cruising. A small window was added on each side.

After delivery it was named by Continental President Bob Six’s wife, actress Ethel Merman as 'Los Angeles' at Los Angeles International Airport, California, USA and the number '240' was subsequently applied to the nosewheel doors.

11 July 1958
During a scheduled service in the cruise phase near North Platte, Nebraska, USA the No.2 Rolls-Royce Dart engine suffered an uncontained HP Turbine Disc failure resulting in an auto-feather of the propeller.

An emergency landing an an unknown location was made without further incident.

The cause of the engine malfunction was the failure of the auxilliary gearbox (AGB) drive breather layshaft which caused the HP Turbine Disc to burst and penetrate the nacelle cowlings, fortunately without further contact with the fuselage.

There were no reported injuries to the 22 passengers and 4 crew on board.

Repaired and returned to service.

August 1960
Sold to the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.


Photo of Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation Viscount N501T

Country of Registration United States

August 1960 to April 1966

Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation

N501T - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered

August 1960
Purchased from Continental Airlines.

11 April 1966
Transferred to Tenneco Inc due to a corporate name change.


Photo of Tenneco Inc Viscount N501T

Country of Registration United States

April 1966 to March 1973

Tenneco Inc

N501T - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered

11 April 1966
Transferred from Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation due to a corporate name change.

March 1973
Re-registered N501TL


Photo of Tenneco Inc Viscount N501TL

Country of Registration United States

March 1973 to October 1975

Tenneco Inc

N501TL - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered

March 1973
Re-registered from N501T.

7 October 1975
Sold to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount N501TL

Country of Registration United States

October 1975 to March 1976

Alidair

N501TL - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered

7 October 1975
Purchased from Tenneco Inc.

11 October 1975
Delivered to Alidair at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England. It immediately had 'ALIDAIR' titles applied to the Tenneco livery.

17 October 1975
Entered service with Alidair titles applied to the Tenneco livery. Because it remained on the US register Alidair pilots had to have temporary Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) licences to fly this aircraft.

The aircraft performed badly compared to other aircraft in the Alidair fleet despite the Dart engines receiving a compressor wash to try and improve the power output. Ingestion of oil from a leaking Propeller or shaft seal combined with dust etc was the main cause of contamination. This was partially removed using either a chemical wash or as a last resort a turco blast using ground up walnut shells in a hopper strapped above the air intake with the engine running at about 10,000 RPM. The turco run produced orange sparks out of the exhaust! Power runs before and after were carried out to see if there was any improvement which is translated into torque pressure in the cockpit.

10 February 1976
Noted with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks removed.

6 March 1976
Noted at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England painted up in a hybrid Cyprus Airways livery.

28 March 1976
Leased to Cyprus Airways.


Photo of Cyprus Airways Ltd Viscount N501TL

Country of Registration United States

March 1976 to May 1976

Cyprus Airways Ltd

N501TL - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered

28 March 1976
Leased from Alidair in an adapted Tenneco livery with Cyprus Airways logo and titles.

Titles on the forward cabin door state 'on lease from Alidair'.

14 May 1976
Returned to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount N501TL

Country of Registration United States

May 1976 to August 1976

Alidair

N501TL - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered

14 May 1976
Returned from Cyprus Airways lease.

25 August 1976
Sold to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2037

Country of Registration Taiwan

August 1976 to October 1976

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2037 - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

25 August 1976
Purchased from Alidair.

24 September 1976
US registration cancelled.

October 1976
Leased to Mandala Airlines.


Photo of Mandala Airlines Viscount B-2037

Country of Registration Taiwan

October 1976 to January 1979

Mandala Airlines

B-2037 - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

October 1976
Leased from Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) retaining the Taiwan registration.

Named as 'Christina Martha Tiakaku Nana Ata'.

24 March 1978
Aircraft total time 18,248:24 and 14,383 total landings.

January 1979
Returned to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2037

Country of Registration Taiwan

January 1979 to March 1980

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2037 - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

January 1979
Returned from Mandala Airlines lease.

March 1980
Leased to Bouraq Indonesia Airlines.


Photo of Bouraq Indonesia Airlines Viscount PK-IVS

Country of Registration Indonesia

March 1980 to August 1980

Bouraq Indonesia Airlines

PK-IVS - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
Indonesia registered

March 1980
Leased from Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).

26 August 1980
Crashed into marshland at Cape Karawang, 26 kms north east of Jakarta, Java, Indonesia.

Total time 20,659 hours and 17,947 total landings.

It was operating on a flight from Banjarmasin Airport, South Kalimantan, Indonesia to Kemayoran Airport, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia. At 06:04 the crew issued a mayday call, stating that the aircraft was shuddering. Air traffic control vectored a Fokker F28 Fellowship to intercept the plane. At 06:28 the F28 crew reported noticing problems with the right elevator and stated that the plane was falling to the left. After separation of the right elevator, control of the Viscount was lost. It impacted the ground inverted about 25 degrees nose down relative to the ground and with its port wing low. All 6 crew and 25 passengers on board were killed.

The cause of this accident was the in-flight fracture of a spigot in the elevator tab circuit. This part had exceeded the 12,000 flight hours retirement life by 21,000 hrs resulting in a total life of 33,000 hrs. As this figure is higher than the total airframe hours flown by the aircraft it means that the part that failed must have been transferred from another aircraft at some point which was an opportunity to notice that the fatigue life had already been exceeded.


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.