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.

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

Viscount c/n 425

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 425
British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (Aviation) Ltd


England flag England

This V.833 series Viscount was built for
British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (Aviation) Ltd as G-APTC

It first flew on Tuesday, 9 June 1959 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 530 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA) and British United Airways (BUA)


Photo of Viscount c/n 425
Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines Ltd


Israel flag Israel

Its final owner/operator was
Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines Ltd as 4X-AVC.

Its fate:-
Damaged beyond economic repair after landing and running off the taxiway during a night training flight at Lod Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel on the 26 October 1969.

Apparently the brakes failed and the pilot lost control and the nose undercarriage leg went into a ditch and then collapsed resulting in the propellers striking the ground and shockload damage to the Rolls-Royce Dart engines. There were no casualties amongst the three crew on board.

It was then robbed of all useful spares and dumped with all markings painted out. Last noted in July 1982 and subsequently scrapped. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (Aviation) Ltd Viscount G-APTC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

March 1959 to May 1959

British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (Aviation) Ltd

G-APTC - c/n 425 - a V.833 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

2 March 1959
Registered to British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (Aviation) Ltd.

30 May 1959
Registration to British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (Aviation) Ltd cancelled.

31 May 1959
Leased to Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA).


Photo of Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA) Viscount G-APTC

Country of Registration United Kingdom

May 1959 to July 1960

Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA)

G-APTC - c/n 425 - a V.833 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

31 May 1959
Leased from British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (Aviation) Ltd.

31 May 1959
Registered to Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA).

9 June 1959
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England in full HCA livery as a Type 833.

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

David Carter illustration of Hunting-Clan Air Transport Viscount G-APTC

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


29 June 1959
Departed from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England on delivery to Hunting-Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA) at Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire, England in full livery.

It was flown by HCA Chief Flying Instructor Brian Alexander Powell and took 35 minutes.

July 1959
Noted at Salisbury International Airport, Kentucky, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

6 November 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.

31 December 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.

6 February 1960
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out multiple ILS approaches and overshoots.

26 February 1960
Crew training flights completed at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England.

David Carter illustration of Hunting-Clan Air Transport Viscount G-APTC

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


31 May 1960
Purchased from British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (Aviation) Ltd while still on lease.

David Carter illustration of Hunting-Clan Air Transport Viscount G-APTC

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


1 July 1960
Transferred to British United Airways (BUA) due to a corporate merger.


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

July 1960 to October 1969

British United Airways (BUA)

G-APTC - c/n 425 - a V.833 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 July 1960
Transferred from Hunting Clan Air Transport Ltd (HCA) due to a corporate merger.

Painted in the BUA 'sandstone and blue' livery.
British United Airways
'Sandstone and blue' livery

6 October 1966
Rolled out at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in the new BUA 'sandstone and blue' livery.

6 October 1969
Arrived at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England from Le Touqet, France on its last service for BUA.

14 October 1969
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England on a local test flight. It was in a plain white and grey livery

16 October 1969
Departed from Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England to Rome, Italy on its delivery journey to Israel for Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines Ltd.


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

Country of Registration Israel

October 1969 to December 1982

Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines Ltd

4X-AVC - c/n 425 - a V.833 series Viscount
Israel registered

16 October 1969
Purchased from British United Airways (BUA).

Prior to delivery, the aircraft was modifed by Field Aircraft Services Ltd to incorporate an anti-terrorist bullet proof cockpit bulkhead and door.

This affected the performance of the air conditioning system which resulted in a very hot working environment for the flight crew and less cooling for the avionics.

Departed to Rome, Italy on delivery to Israel.

26 October 1969
Damaged beyond economic repair after landing and running off the taxiway during a night training flight at Lod Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Apparently the brakes failed and the pilot lost control and the nose undercarriage leg went into a ditch and then collapsed.

This resulted in the propellers striking the ground and shockload damage to the Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

There were no casualties amongst the three crew on board.

Total time 21,019 hours and 11,556 total landings.

It was then robbed of all useful spares and dumped with all markings obliterated out with white paint.

July 1982
Last noted in existence.

Subsequently broken up for scrap. We do not know the exact date. 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.


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