23 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.

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

Viscount c/n 415

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 415
ANSETT-ANA


Australia flag Australia

This V.832 series Viscount was built for
ANSETT-ANA as VH-RMH

It first flew on Thursday, 19 March 1959 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT), Pelandok Airways and Air Viet Nam


Photo of Viscount c/n 415
Mandala Airlines


Indonesia flag Indonesia

Its final owner/operator was
Mandala Airlines as PK-RVN.

Its fate:-
Ran off the runway, causing the starboard main undercarriage leg and the nose undercarriage leg to collapse while landing at Achmad Yani Airport, Semarang, Indonesia 1 May 1981. None of the 4 crew and 40 passengers on board were injured. Written off as the damage was beyond economic repair and subsequently broken up for scrap.


Operational record
Photo of ANSETT-ANA Viscount VH-RMH

Country of Registration Australia

April 1959 to July 1970

ANSETT-ANA

VH-RMH - c/n 415 - a V.832 series Viscount
Australia registered

23 July 1958
An order for four Type 832 aircraft was placed by ANSETT-ANA. ANA stands for Australian National Airways.

19 March 1959
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

26 March 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out a single ILS approach and overshoot.

31 March 1959
Handed over to ANSETT-ANA at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England.

It was fitted with integral front 'airsteps' and had a rear lounge which was not occupied during the takeoff or landing phases.

It was originally configured with 52 seats which was later changed to 63 seats. At this time the rear lounge was removed.

1 April 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out a single ILS approach and overshoot.

1 April 1959
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.

It later departed on delivery via Rome, Italy - Beirut, Lebanon - Bahrain, Persian Gulf - Karachi, Pakistan - Delhi, India - Calcutta, India - Bangkok, Thailand - Saigon, Vietnam - Zamboanga, Philippines - Biak, Indonesia - Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.

The ferry crew consisted of Captains Rod Pyke, Jack McAllister and Raymond Grocott with First Officer / Navigator Hank Hasselo and Engineer Ralph Cooper.

5 April 1959
Arrived at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

12 November 1960
Total time 4,328:10 hours.

18 June 1961
Total time 5,816:09 hours.

3 March 1963
Total time 9,867:26 hours.

12 June 1964
The Beatles travelled on this aircraft from Sydney to Adelaide during their music tour of Australia.

27 August 1967
Total time 10,267:29 hours.

6 May 1968
Total time 11,765:02 hours.

July 1970
Sold to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount VH-RMH

Country of Registration Australia

July 1970 to October 1970

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

VH-RMH - c/n 415 - a V.832 series Viscount
Australia registered

July 1970
Purchased from ANSETT-ANA.

Initially painted up in Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) livery without titles but with the Australian registration still applied for test flights.

July 1970
Australian registration cancelled.

27 September 1970
Departed from Melbourne on delivery to Taipei, Taiwan.

1 October 1970
Arrived at Taipei, Taiwan. The journey from Melbourne took 21 hours and 40 minutes.

5 October 1970
Registered as B-2023.


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2023

Country of Registration Taiwan

October 1970 to January 1972

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2023 - c/n 415 - a V.832 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

5 October 1970
Re-registered from VH-RMH.

Registered address: - No.36 Kuan Chien Road, Taipei, Taiwan.

25 October 1970
Test flight from Taipei, Taiwan which lasted for 3 hours and 30 minutes before entering service with FAT.

January 1972
Leased to Pelandok Airways.


Photo of Pelandok Airways Viscount 9M-AQE

Country of Registration Malaya - Malaysia

January 1972 to January 1973

Pelandok Airways

9M-AQE - c/n 415 - a V.832 series Viscount
Malaya - Malaysia registered

January 1972
Leased from Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) and named as 'Sdn Berhad'.

14 August 1972
Total time 18,599:44 hours and 22,646 total landings.

13 September 1972
The aircraft suffered a lightning strike which resulted in the need for an extensive inspection of the aircraft and also the Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

January 1973
Returned to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2023

Country of Registration Taiwan

January 1973 to March 1974

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2023 - c/n 415 - a V.832 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

January 1973
Returned from Pelandok Airways lease.

12 September 1973
Total time 29,819:04 hours.

March 1974
Leased to Air Viet Nam.


Photo of Air Viet Nam Viscount B-2023

Country of Registration Taiwan

March 1974 to March 1975

Air Viet Nam

B-2023 - c/n 415 - a V.832 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

March 1974
Leased from Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).

March 1975
Returned to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2023

Country of Registration Taiwan

March 1975 to April 1976

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2023 - c/n 415 - a V.832 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

March 1975
Returned from Air Viet Nam lease.

21 March 1975
Total time 31,835:04 hours and 26,570 total landings.

17 April 1975
Total time 31,960:24 hours and 26,736 total landings.

April 1976
Leased to Mandala Airlines. The registration B-2023 was not cancelled until 9 September 1977.


Photo of Mandala Airlines Viscount PK-RVN *

Country of Registration Indonesia

April 1976 to May 1981

Mandala Airlines

PK-RVN * - c/n 415 - a V.832 series Viscount
Indonesia registered

April 1976
Leased from Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) in full Mandala livery with a red 'M' in a blue circle on the tail and red main titles.

This livery differs from the livery applied to the other PK-RVN (C/N 446) by Field Aircraft Services Ltd at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England in November 1975 and not delivered. It became G-BCZR with British Midland Airways.

30 April 1976
Total time 33,750:31 and 29,393 total landings.

24 January 1977
Total time 35,014:05 and 31,281 total landings.

June 1978
Noted with a dark blue tail and gold cheatline livery.

May 1980
Noted in a dark blue and white livery and now named as 'Pesopati'.

24 December 1980
Total time 37,534:35 and 32,769 total landings.

2 January 1981
A local test flight was carried out from Jakarta.

5 January 1981
Departed from Jakarta to Taipei, Taiwan for maintenance with FAT.

6 January 1981
Arrived at Taipei, Taiwan for maintenance with FAT and returned later to Jakarta.

The journey time from Jakarta took 9 hours and 46 minutes.

Total time 37,545:07 and 32,774 total landings.

1 May 1981
Ran off the runway, causing the starboard main undercarriage leg and the nose undercarriage leg to collapse while landing at Achmad Yani Airport, Semarang, Indonesia.

None of the 4 crew and 40 passengers on board were injured.

It was written off as the damage was beyond economic repair.

Total time 39,353:03 hours and 34,335 total landings.

Subsequently broken up for scrap, after the removal of the valuable Rolls-Royce Dart engines and other useful parts.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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