26 April 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 380

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 380
Alitalia


Italy flag Italy

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

It first flew on Friday, 9 May 1958 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 380
Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO)


Colombia flag Colombia

Its final owner/operator was
Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO) as HK-1058.

Its fate:-
Crashed into high ground near Cerro El Retiro during the initial descent into Camilo Daza Airport, Cúcuta, Colombia 8 June 1974 due to the structural failure of a tailplane spar boom. All 6 crew and 38 passengers were sadly killed on flight 514 which had originated from Gomez Niño Airport, Bucaramanga.


Operational record
Photo of Alitalia Viscount I-LIZO

Country of Registration Italy

May 1958 to November 1968

Alitalia

I-LIZO - c/n 380 - 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.

9 May 1958
First flight at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

15 May 1958
Delivered to Alitalia at Ciampino Airport, Rome, Italy.

13 November 1968
Sold to Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO).


Photo of Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO) Viscount HK-1058-X

Country of Registration Colombia

November 1968 to November 1968

Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO)

HK-1058-X - c/n 380 - a V.785D series Viscount
Colombia registered

13 November 1968
Purchased from Alitalia and delivered in full Alitalia livery with temporary registration HK-1058-X.

November 1968
Re-registered HK-1058.


Photo of Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO) Viscount HK-1058

Country of Registration Colombia

November 1968 to June 1974

Aerolineas Taxi Aéreo Opita (TAO)

HK-1058 - c/n 380 - a V.785D series Viscount
Colombia registered

2nd version of the Aerolineas TAO Viscount livery.

November 1968
Re-registered from temporary delivery registration HK-1058-X and named as 'Espumas'.

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

The actual date it arrived or departed are not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

May 1973
Port wing damaged when it hit trees during a landing at Neiva Airport, Colombia.

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

Repaired using a replacement port outer wing from ex Alitalia I-LIRG (C/N 284) and returned to service.

5 October 1973
The undercarriage collapsed after running off the runway during a landing run at Eldorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia.

Repaired and returned to service.

8 June 1974
Crashed into high ground near Cerro El Retiro during the initial descent into Camilo Daza Airport, Cúcuta, Colombia at 14:30 local time after a structural failure at approx 7000 feet.

The weather at the time was good with visual meteorological conditions (VMC) applying.

The mainly shattered remains fell into a gully. The outer wing sections were the largest items to be recovered relatively intact.

This was later found to be due to a structural failure of the port tailplane spar boom due to metal fatigue.

All 6 crew and 38 passengers were sadly killed on flight 514 which had originated from Gomez Niño Airport, Bucaramanga.

The findings of this accident resulted in the permanent grounding of the other two Aerolineas TAO Viscounts in January 1975 and an inspection of the tailplane spar booms on all the Viscounts worldwide.


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.