19 April 2024
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Viscount Survivors


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

Viscount c/n 363

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 363
Continental Airlines


United States flag United States

This V.812 series Viscount was built for
Continental Airlines as N251V

It first flew on Monday, 13 October 1958 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Channel Airways, Air Ferry Ltd and Rousseau Aviation.


Photo of Viscount c/n 363
Channel Airways


England flag England

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

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service due to wing main spar cracking and stored at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England 30 May 1970. Broken up for scrap late August / early September 1972.


Operational record
Photo of Continental Airlines Viscount N251V

Country of Registration United States

November 1958 to February 1967

Continental Airlines

N251V - c/n 363 - 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. F11/94B.

13 October 1958
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

5 November 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.

24 March 1966
While landing at Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, USA at 06:52 on a scheduled flight the aircraft suffered substantial damage when the undercarriage collapsed after a hard landing caused by the pilot levelling off too late.

There were no reported injuries to the 9 passengers and 4 crew on board.

Repaired locally and returned to service.

13 December 1966
Sold to Channel Airways but immediately leased back for a short period.

12 February 1967
Delivered to Channel Airways still marked as N251V.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AVHE

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1967 to January 1968

Channel Airways

G-AVHE - c/n 363 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

13 February 1967
Departed on delivery to Channel Airways at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England still marked as N251V.

20 February 1967
Re-registered G-AVHE.

Registration G-AVGY had been allotted to Channel Airways but was not taken up and was subsequently re-issued to a Cessna 182K.

14 March 1967
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.

The integral front 'airsteps' were not removed from this aircraft (or C/N 359 and 360), unlike others in the fleet from Continental Airlines.

17 March 1967
Entered service from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Zestienhoven Airport, Rotterdam, Netherlands after an abortive flight for technical reasons the previous day.

11 January 1968
Lease to Air Ferry Ltd.


Photo of Air Ferry Ltd Viscount G-AVHE

Country of Registration United Kingdom

January 1968 to October 1968

Air Ferry Ltd

G-AVHE - c/n 363 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

11 January 1968
Leased from Channel Airways and ferried from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Manston Airport, Kent, England by Captain Peter Lockwood.

It was still in the Channel Airways livery less titles.

January 1968
Entered the Air Ferry maintenance facility at Manston Airport, Kent, England for an overhaul and repainting in their livery.

Before entering service it was configured with an 83 seat cabin and used on general charter work, Inclusive Tour (IT) flights and B.O.A.R. (British Army of the Rhine) trooping contracts between the UK and West Germany.

8 March 1968
Entered service on a charter flight from Manston Airport, Kent, England to Alicante Airport, Spain flown by Captain Peter Lockwood.

10 March 1968
Returned from Alicante Airport, Spain to Manston Airport, Kent, England.

14 March 1968
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) renewed.

19 March 1968
Ferried from Manston Airport, Kent, England to Middelkirke Airport, Ostend, Belgium, where crew training flights were carried out.

21 March 1968
Ferried from Manston Airport, Kent, England to Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France.

Over the next three days it operated two charter flights to Cointrin Airport, Geneva, Switzerland and four to Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.

27 October 1968
After completing a final service Air Ferry ceased operating due to changes within the parent company of Air Holdings.

This aircraft flew 985:39 hours during its operation with Air Ferry and carried 25,442 passengers.

31 October 1968
Returned to Channel Airways at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England flown by Captain Adams.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AVHE

Country of Registration United Kingdom

October 1968 to May 1970

Channel Airways

G-AVHE - c/n 363 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 October 1968
Returned from Air Ferry Ltd lease to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England from Manston Airport, Kent, England and initially stored.

31 March 1969
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) renewed.

1 April 1969
Re-entered service after maintenance and repainting in full Channel Airways livery.

14 April 1969
Noted operating a charter flight to Lohausen Airport, Düsseldorf, West Germany.

May 1969
'Scottish Flyer' titles applied for a service from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Dyce Airport, Aberdeen and Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland.

21 February 1970
It returned to Southend on completion of the 'Scottish Flyer' services and the Channel Airways titles were then restored.

18 March 1970
Noted at Middelkirke Airport, Ostend, Belgium on a training flight.

31 March 1970
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) renewed.

13 May 1970
Leased to Rousseau Aviation.


Photo of Rousseau Aviation Viscount G-AVHE

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1970 to May 1970

Rousseau Aviation

G-AVHE - c/n 363 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

13 May 1970
Leased from Channel Airways and delivered from Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England to Dinard Airport, Pluertuit, France with Rousseau Aviation logos applied to the fuselage.

19 May 1970
Returned to Channel Airways.


Photo of Channel Airways Viscount G-AVHE

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1970 to October 1972

Channel Airways

G-AVHE - c/n 363 - a V.812 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

19 May 1970
Returned from Rousseau Aviation lease at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England from Dinard Airport, Pluertuit, France.

20 May 1970
Re-entered service with Channel Airways.

30 May 1970
Final service from Riem Airport, Munich, West Germany to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England and withdrawn from service due to Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) expiry.

A subsequent inspection found cracking in the wing main spars.

Total time 28,142 hours and 31,061 total landings.

29 February 1972
Channel Airways ceased all operations due to financial problems.

April 1972
Noted with all four propellers removed.

Late August / early September 1972
Broken up for scrap at the same time as G-ATVE (C/N 366).

In certain publications it had been incorrectly reported that the forward fuselage section from this aircraft went to the nearby Historic Aircraft Museum but a photo of the cockpit interior has recently appeared (Nov 2022) showing the registration G-ATVE painted on each pilot's control yoke.

Also, subtle differences in the lower red cheatline below the cabin windows and the way it droops down differently at the front confirms that it is definitely from G-ATVE (C/N 366).

14 February 1973
Registration cancelled by the UK CAA based on the permanent withdrawal of the aircraft from service and subsequent destruction.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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