25 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 419

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 419
Airwork Ltd


England flag England

This V.831 series Viscount was built for
Airwork Ltd as ST-AAN

It first flew on Saturday, 30 May 1959 at Hurn Airport, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Sudan Airways, Air Charter Ltd, British United Airways (BUA), Aviaco, British Midland Airways (BMA), Alidair, Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines and Go Transportation Inc


Photo of Viscount c/n 419
Tucson Airport Authority


United States flag United States

Its final owner/operator was
Tucson Airport Authority as 4X-AVG.

Its fate:-
Purchased by Go Transportation Inc for spares recovery and stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Remains donated to the Tucson Airport Authority in September 1992 for emergency training use. Noted in poor condition in 1996. Broken up for scrap circa 1998 with the forward fuselage section subsequently noted in a nearby aircraft scrap yard. The current status of this section is unknown.


Operational record
Photo of Airwork Ltd Viscount ST-AAN

Country of Registration Sudan

May 1959 to June 1959

Airwork Ltd

ST-AAN - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
Sudan registered

30 May 1959
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England as a Type 831.

5 June 1959
Delivered from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England to Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England, arriving at 18:15 local time.

It was immediately leased to Sudan Airways in their livery.


Photo of Sudan Airways Viscount ST-AAN

Country of Registration Sudan

June 1959 to December 1962

Sudan Airways

ST-AAN - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
Sudan registered

5 June 1959
Leased from Airwork Ltd.

8 June 1959
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England at 12:36 local time as SD111 on its first service to Sudan, via Rome, Italy and Cairo, Egypt.

It had 'Blue Nile Viscount' titles on the tail.

David Carter illustration of Sudan Airways Viscount ST-AAN

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


13 June 1959
Noted back at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England, now fitted with extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

24 April 1960
Noted back at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England but without the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

1 July 1960
Airwork Ltd merged with Air Charter Ltd into British United Airways (BUA).

29 April 1961
Noted back at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks now refitted.

17 June 1961
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England with the extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks still fitted.

It then performed three services to Jersey, Channel Islands on behalf of British United Airways (BUA).

19 June 1961
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England on its return to the Sudan.

1 August 1962
Noted back at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England for maintenance with BUA including a Rolls-Royce Dart engine replacement.

26 September 1962
Noted back at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England for maintenance with BUA including another Rolls-Royce Dart engine replacement.

8 December 1962
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England and handed back to British United Airways (BUA).


Photo of British United Airways (BUA) Viscount G-ASED

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1962 to April 1965

British United Airways (BUA)

G-ASED - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

8 December 1962
Returned from Airwork lease to Sudan Airways at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England.

Airwork Ltd had merged with Air Charter Ltd into British United Airways (BUA) 1 July 1960.

British United Airways (BUA) flew troops for the British Army of the Rhine (B.A.O.R.) between the UK and West Germany.

26 April 1965
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England on a series of training flights now painted up in Aviaco livery but still carrying the UK registration.

27 April 1965
UK registration cancelled as aircraft exported.

27 April 1965
Leased to Aviaco.


Photo of Aviaco Viscount EC-WZK

Country of Registration Spain

April 1965 to May 1965

Aviaco

EC-WZK - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
Spain registered

27 April 1965
Leased from British United Airways (BUA). This temporary registration was only used for the delivery to Spain.

28 April 1965
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England on delivery to Madrid, Spain.

May 1965
Re-registered EC-AZK.


Photo of Aviaco Viscount EC-AZK

Country of Registration Spain

May 1965 to November 1965

Aviaco

EC-AZK - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
Spain registered

May 1965
Re-registered from EC-WZK.

29 May 1965
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England on the first service to this airport using flight number 'AO1160'.

4 November 1965
Returned to British United Airways (BUA).


Photo of British United Airways (BUA) Viscount G-ASED

Country of Registration United Kingdom

November 1965 to February 1967

British United Airways (BUA)

G-ASED - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

4 November 1965
Returned from Aviaco lease and re-registered.

This aircraft was not repainted in the 'Sandstone and blue' livery.

13 February 1967
Sold to British Midland Airways (BMA).


Photo of British Midland Airways (BMA) Viscount G-ASED

Country of Registration United Kingdom

February 1967 to May 1972

British Midland Airways (BMA)

G-ASED - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

13 February 1967
Purchased from British United Airways (BUA).

Painted in a later version of the British Midland Airways (BMA) livery.
British Midland Airways (BMA)
'Second Viscount' livery

circa 1969
Painted in a later version of the British Midland Airways (BMA) livery.

7 September 1971
The nose undercarriage leg collapsed on the ramp at Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland as the aircraft was taxying out for departure resulting in curled inner propellers and shock-loaded Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

The passengers and crew were evacuated from the aircraft with overwing emergency windows also removed.

Further details please to information@vickersviscount.net

Repaired and returned to service.

19 May 1972
Sold to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount G-ASED

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1972 to March 1974

Alidair

G-ASED - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

19 May 1972
Purchased from British Midland Airways (BMA).

7 March 1974
Sold to Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines.


Photo of Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines Ltd Viscount 4X-AVG

Country of Registration Israel

March 1974 to May 1982

Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines Ltd

4X-AVG - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
Israel registered

7 March 1974
Purchased from Alidair.

15 March 1978
Total time 34,907:41 hours.

25 May 1978
Total time 35,251:33 hours.

1 April 1979
Total time 36,481:09 hours.

12 November 1979
Total time 37,459:08 hours.

17 May 1982
Sold to Go Transportation Inc.

David Carter illustration of Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines Viscount 4X-AVG

Viscount illustrations by David Carter



Photo of Go Transportation Inc Viscount 4X-AVG

Country of Registration Israel

May 1982 to January 1992

Go Transportation Inc

4X-AVG - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
Israel registered

17 May 1982
Purchased from Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines.

David Carter illustration of Go Transportation Inc Viscount 4X-AVG

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


It departed from Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel to Kerkira Airport, Corfu, Greece together with 4X-AVE (C/N 403).

18 May 1982
Departed from Kerkira Airport, Corfu, Greece to Stuttgart Airport, West Germany, Collinstown Airport, Dublin, Ireland and Keflavik Airport, Iceland and onwards to Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA together with Viscount 4X-AVE (C/N 403).

It was then gradually robbed of all useful parts.

11 October 1983
Noted with all four Rolls-Royce Dart engines removed.

Purchased for parts recovery and stored at Tucson International Airport, Tucson,  Arizona, USA.
Purchased for parts recovery and stored

September 1992
Remains donated to the Tucson Airport Authority for emergency training use.


Photo of Tucson Airport Authority Viscount 4X-AVG

Country of Registration Israel

January 1992 to

Tucson Airport Authority

4X-AVG - c/n 419 - a V.831 series Viscount
Israel registered

September 1992
Remains donated by Go Transportation Inc for emergency training use.

David Carter illustration of Tucson Airport Authority Viscount 4X-AVG

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


1996
Noted in poor condition.

circa 1998
Broken up for scrap with the forward fuselage section subsequently noted in a nearby Tucson aircraft scrap yard.

The current status of this section is unknown.


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.