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.

Viscount history


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

Viscount c/n 377

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 377
Alitalia


Italy flag Italy

This V.785D series Viscount was built for
Alitalia as I-LIRS

It first flew on Tuesday, 11 March 1958 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 377
Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA)


Ecuador flag Ecuador

Its final owner/operator was
Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA) as HC-ARS.

Its fate:-
Crashed 660 feet below the peak of the 20,700 ft Chimborazo Volcano while operating a scheduled domestic service from Aeropuerto Mariscal Sucre, Quito to Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Azuay Province, Ecuador 15 August 1976. Despite an intensive search the wreckage could not be found. The wreckage was eventually found 18 February 2003, nearly 27 years later!


Operational record
Photo of Alitalia Viscount I-LIRS

Country of Registration Italy

March 1958 to December 1969

Alitalia

I-LIRS - c/n 377 - a V.785D series Viscount
Italy registered

May 1956
An order for ten Type 785D was placed by Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI).

Only six were delivered to LAI before the merger with Alitalia.

11 March 1958
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

24 March 1958
Delivered to Alitalia.

May 1960
During a regular service flight the No.3 Rolls-Royce Dart engine suffered a contained High Pressure Turbine Disc failure.

The propeller automatically moved to the 'feathered' position when the engine torque pressure dropped to zero.

Painted in the Alitalia ‘Flag Tail‘ livery.
Alitalia
‘Flag Tail‘ livery

circa 1962
Painted in the Alitalia ‘Flag Tail‘ livery.

1 December 1969
Sold to Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA).


Photo of Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA) Viscount HC-ARS

Country of Registration Ecuador

December 1969 to August 1976

Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos (SAETA)

HC-ARS - c/n 377 - a V.785D series Viscount
Ecuador registered

1 December 1969
Purchased from Alitalia.

17 December 1969
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England arriving from Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy at 16:04 local time.

It was on its way to Ecuador, still in full Alitalia livery.

13 November 1971
Noted at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England undergoing maintenance with Field Aircraft Services Ltd.

The actual date it arrived is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

29 January 1972
Noted at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England undergoing maintenance with Field Aircraft Services Ltd.

The actual date it departed is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

15 August 1976
Disappeared while operating a scheduled domestic service from Aeropuerto Mariscal Sucre, Quito to Mariscal Lamar International Airport, Azuay Province, Ecuador.

A technical problem delayed the takeoff by about 90 minutes and when they eventually left the flight crew reported passing the Ambato and Riobamba VOR beacons .

After about 30 minutes into the flight all radio contact was lost.

Despite an intensive search led by SAETA Captain Patricio Mosquera the wreckage could not be found.

The 4 crew including Captain Burbano and Captain Alemán and 55 passengers were presumed to have died in the crash.

18 February 2003
The wreckage was eventually found by climbers, 660 feet below the peak of the 20,700 ft Chimborazo Volcano nearly 27 years later after the sudden thawing of snow near the summit of the volcano!

The wreckage was confirmed at the site when newspapers were found with the date of the crash.


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.