01 May 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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Letter from HRH Prince Philip

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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 360

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 360
Continental Airlines


United States flag United States

This V.812 series Viscount was built for
Continental Airlines as N248V

It first flew on Wednesday, 20 August 1958 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.

Photo of Viscount c/n 360
Channel Airways


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
Channel Airways as G-AVJZ.

Its fate:-
Crashed at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England during a Certificate ofAairworthiness (CofA) test flight 3 May 1967.

Shortly before reaching V1 (takeoff decision speed) the No.4 (starboard outer) engine was feathered to simulate a failure but the propeller stayed in the fine pitch position resulting in a massive increase in drag. The aircraft initially climbed to a height of approximately 40 feet but the pilot was unable to control the yaw to starboard and a loss in altitude resulting in the starboard main wheels and wing tip coming back into contact with the runway and grass. The aircraft then veered across the grass until it crashed into a storage compound owned by Aviation Traders Limited on the north side of the airfield resulting in a fire which set alight drums of paint, oil and other imflammable substances that were stored there.

Those on board survived with only minor injuries but two stock checkers, Chris Mundy and Jack Pilgrim, working in the compound were sadly killed. Senior storekeeper 'Mac' McGrevy was seriously injured resulting in months off work.

Remains taken away for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of Continental Airlines Viscount N248V

Country of Registration United States

September 1958 to April 1967

Continental Airlines

N248V - c/n 360 - 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'.

Production Aircraft No. 71 - the 71st production 800 series Viscount built,
was the 21st 800 series Viscount fuselage assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England,
and the 71st 800 series Viscount assembled at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Production Order No. F08/812. Sales Order No. F08/94B. Stock Order No. F10/35B.

29 September 1957
Fuselage assembly commenced at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

21 January 1958
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Weybridge, Surrey, England.

20 August 1958
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.

Appeared at the SBAC air show at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England.
Appeared at the SBAC air show at Farnborough

31 August 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

1 to 7 September 1958
Appeared at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors (SBAC) air show at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, England including flying displays flown by Vickers test pilot Brian Trubshaw.

During one of the flypasts it flew in formation with a Supermarine Scimitar F.1 on the starboard side.

13 September 1958
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

16 September 1958
Delivered to Continental Airlines fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

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.

9 April 1959
After landing at Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas, USA in heavy rain the aircraft was not aligned with the runway centreline despite an instrument landing system (ILS) approach and veered off the runway to the left.

The aircraft continued running parallel to the runway until it struck some landing lights. It came to rest stuck in mud 3,380 feet from the runway approach threshold.

The No.1 propeller and Rolls-Royce Dart engine suffered from shockload damage along with the port flaps and wing structure.

There were no reported injuries to the 39 passengers or 3 crew on board.

Repaired and returned to service.

Painted in the Continental Airlines 'Golden Tail' livery.
Continental Airlines
'Golden Tail' livery

circa 1962
Painted in the Continental Airlines 'Golden Tail' livery.

15 April 1967
Sold to Channel Airways.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AVJZ

Country of Registration United Kingdom

April 1967 to May 1967

Channel Airways

G-AVJZ - c/n 360 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

15 April 1967
Purchased from Continental Airlines and delivered to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England still marked as N248V.

17 April 1967
Registered G-AVJZ for Channel Airways.

April 1967
Painted in full Channel Airways livery.

The integral front 'airsteps' were not removed from this aircraft (or C/N 359 and 363), unlike others in the fleet from Continental.

Fire brigade bringing the fire under control.
Fire brigade bringing the fire under control

3 May 1967
Crashed at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England at 14:54 GMT during a Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) test flight crewed by Captains C E Lamberton (P1) and D R Mann together with First Officer B D Willis as an observer who was seated in the cabin during the takeoff.

Shortly before reaching V1 (takeoff decision speed) the No.4 (starboard outer) engine was feathered to simulate a failure but the propeller stayed in the fine pitch position resulting in a massive increase in drag. The pre-flight briefing had proposed that the engine be feathered after the V2 (takeoff safety speed) had been reached.

The aircraft initially climbed to a height of approximately 40 feet but the pilot was unable to control the yaw to starboard and a loss in altitude resulting in the starboard main wheels and wing tip coming back into contact with the runway and grass respectively. The aircraft then veered across the grass until it crashed into a storage compound owned by Aviation Traders Limited on the north side of the airfield resulting in a fire which set alight drums of paint, oil and other imflammable substances that were stored there.

Remains taken away for scrap.
Remains taken away for scrap

Refer to UK Board of Trade Accident Report C.A.P. 316 issued in January 1969 for further details.

Those on board survived with only minor injuries but two stock checkers, Chris Mundy and Jack Pilgrim, working in the compound were sadly killed. Senior storekeeper 'Mac' McGrevy was seriously injured resulting in months off work.

Remains taken away for scrap.

Total time 25,856 hours and 29,049 total landings.

The battered stainless steel aircraft identification plate was salvaged and now forms part of the Brian Burrage collection.
The aircraft identification plate

The battered stainless steel aircraft identification plate was salvaged and now forms part of the Brian R Burrage collection.


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.