27 April 2024
This website is regularly archived by the British Library who selectively archive websites with research values that are representative of British social history and cultural heritage.

Museum search


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


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.


Share your photos and stories


Our 'Live Magazine' is used by members and non-members to share their Viscount photos and stories with fellow enthusiasts located throughout the world in real time.

You are able to send in your photos, stories and comments by Facebook, Twitter or email and we will post them for all to enjoy.

Contact us


Join the Vickers Viscount Network
for FREE


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.



This website does not use cookies or capture your details


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

Viscount c/n 396

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 396
British European Airways Corporation (BEA)


England flag England

This V.806 series Viscount was built for
British European Airways Corporation (BEA) as G-APKF

It first flew on Thursday, 3 July 1958 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 520 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Lao Airlines and Lane Xang Airlines


Photo of Viscount c/n 396
Royal Air Lao


Laos flag Laos

Its final owner/operator was
Royal Air Lao as XW-TDN.

Its fate:-
Crashed during an attempted takeoff from Phnom Penh Airport, Cambodia in March 1975. There were four people on board and the person who attempted the takeoff was not a qualified pilot. All four were killed.


Operational record
Photo of British European Airways Corporation (BEA) Viscount G-APKF

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1958 to September 1969

British European Airways Corporation (BEA)

G-APKF - c/n 396 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

January 1956
An order for eighteen Type 806 was placed by British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

The first (C/N 255) was not delivered as it was loaned to Vickers-Armstrongs for Type 810 development work.

28 January 1958
Registered to British European Airways Corporation (BEA).

3 July 1958
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

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

11 July 1958
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.

12 July 1958
Delivered to British European Airways (BEA) named as 'R M A Michael Faraday'.

March 1959
A new BEA 'Red Square' livery was adopted and aircraft were repainted during the early 1960s when they next went in for overhaul.

Sadly, after repainting, the aircraft no longer carried a name including the nameplate on the forward cabin bulkhead.

7 January 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

3 September 1960
During the start of the takeoff run at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England on service BE190 to Linate Airport, Milan, Italy there was a fire warning for the No.3 (starboard inner) Rolls-Royce Dart engine.

The Captain elected to abandon the takeoff, fired off the extinguisher bottle for that engine and shut it down.

After returning to the terminal it was discovered that there was a fault in the Graviner firewire system caused by chafing which resulted in a false alarm.

The passengers were transferred to another aircraft and continued their journey.

7 September 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

8 December 1960
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

31 August 1962
R-R Dart RDa7 Mark 520-3 engine S/N 7173 installed in the No.3 (starboard inner) position at 8920 hours total airframe time.

20 January 1964
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

9 July 1965
Noted at Leeds / Bradford Airport, Yeadon, Yorkshire, England operating UK services on behalf of BKS Air Transport Ltd.

14 December 1965
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

31 January 1966
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a London Airport (Heathrow) weather diversion.

3 July 1968
Damaged at Heathrow Airport, London, England after BKS Air Transport Airspeed AS.57 Ambassador G-AMAD lost control during the final approach to runway 28R, and during an attempted go-around it veered across the airport and collided with this aircraft and two BEA de Havilland Tridents, one of which, G-ARPT was written off.

Sadly, all six on board the Ambassador were killed as well as eight race horses.

Repaired and returned to service. This aircraft was not repainted in the new ‘Flying Union Jack‘ livery.

24 February 1969
Withdrawn from service and ferried to Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England under the care of Marshall's.

September 1969
Sold to Lao Air Lines.

FURTHER READING: Books about BEA - British European Airways



Photo of Lao Air Lines Viscount G-APKF

Country of Registration United Kingdom

September 1969 to September 1969

Lao Air Lines

G-APKF - c/n 396 - a V.806 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

September 1969
Purchased from British European Airways (BEA).

20 September 1969
Departed on delivery from Teversham Airport, Cambridge England in full Lao Air Lines livery but retaining the UK registration.

The aircraft had been repainted by Marshalls, initially with a yellow cheatline, but before delivery two red stripes were added.

25 September 1969
UK registration cancelled as aircraft sold abroad.


Photo of Lao Air Lines Viscount XW-TDN

Country of Registration Laos

September 1969 to December 1973

Lao Air Lines

XW-TDN - c/n 396 - a V.806 series Viscount
Laos registered

25 September 1969
UK registration cancelled as aircraft sold abroad.

Registered as XW-TDN.

circa June 1972
Noted in a later livery.

7 December 1973
Transferred to Royal Air Lao due to a corporate merger.


Photo of Royal Air Lao Viscount XW-TDN

Country of Registration Laos

December 1973 to August 1974

Royal Air Lao

XW-TDN - c/n 396 - a V.806 series Viscount
Laos registered

7 December 1973
Transferred from Lao Air Lines due to a corporate merger.

1 August 1974
Leased to Lane Xang Airlines in full RAL livery.


Photo of Lane Xang Airlines Viscount XW-TDN

Country of Registration Laos

August 1974 to September 1974

Lane Xang Airlines

XW-TDN - c/n 396 - a V.806 series Viscount
Laos registered

1 August 1974
Leased from Royal Air Lao still in full Royal Air Lao livery.

1 September 1974
Returned to Royal Air Lao.


Photo of Royal Air Lao Viscount XW-TDN

Country of Registration Laos

September 1974 to March 1975

Royal Air Lao

XW-TDN - c/n 396 - a V.806 series Viscount
Laos registered

1 September 1974
Returned from Lane Xang Airlines lease.

March 1975
Crashed during an attempted takeoff from Phnom Penh Airport, Cambodia. There were four people on board and the person who attempted the takeoff was not a qualified pilot. All four were killed. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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.


Click here for more details about the Vickers Viscount Network

This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.