19 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

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

Letter from HRH Prince Philip

See and hear a Viscount

Newsletters

Flight Magazine Reports

Aircraft operational
records and photos

Viscount illustrations
by David Carter


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

Live Magazine


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

information@VickersViscount.net



Join the Vickers Viscount Network
for FREE

Membership details


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.


In the Beginning

The Turboprop World-Beater

Sir George Edwards

The Rolls-Royce Dart

c/n 1 G-AHRF V.630
The Prototype Viscount

c/n 2 VX217 V.663
The Tay powered Viscount

c/n 3 G-AMAV V.700
The V.700 series prototype

c/n 4 G-ALWE V.701
The first BEA Viscount

c/n 5 G-ALWF V.701
The oldest surviving Viscount

c/n 8 F-BGNK V.708
The first Air France Viscount

c/n 30 EI-AFV V.707
The first Aer Lingus Viscount

c/n 40 CF-TGI V.724
The first TCA Viscount

c/n 44 VH-TVA V.720
The first TAA Viscount

c/n 67 YI-ACK V.735
The first Iraqi Airways Viscount

c/n 70 CF-GXK V.737
The first Canadian DoT Viscount

c/n 71 VP-TBK V.702
The first BOAC Associated
Companies Viscount

c/n 74 G-ANRR V.732
The first Hunting-Clan Viscount

c/n 77 LN-FOF V.736
The first Fred Olsen Viscount

c/n 79 IU-683 V.723
The first Indian Air Force Viscount

c/n 88 N7402 V.744
The first Capital Airlines Viscount

c/n 97 VH-BAT V.747
The first Butler Air
Transport Viscount


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 441

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 441
Austrian Airlines (AUA)


Austria flag Austria

This V.837 series Viscount was built for
Austrian Airlines (AUA) as OE-LAL

It first flew on Monday, 2 May 1960 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.

During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Shackleton Aviation Ltd, Lineas Aereas la Urraca (LAU) and Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC), Aerovias del Cesar / Aerocesar Colombia and Parque de la Vida

Photo of Viscount c/n 441
Bucaramanga Municipal Cleaning Company


Colombia flag Colombia

Its final owner/operator was
Bucaramanga Municipal Cleaning Company as HK-1267.

Its fate:-
Damaged beyond economic repair whilst owned by Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) at Palonegro Airport, Bucaramanga, Colombia 14 December 1977 and robbed of all useful parts.

Title of the remains were transferred to Aerovias del Cesar (Aerocesar Colombia) due to a corporate name change circa January 1980 but the aircraft remained stored in a derelict condition.

Broken up into sections in November 2014 as the airport authority needed to expand the ramp area adjacent to where this aircraft was parked. Forward fuselage section noted lying on its port side with the nose undercarriage leg extended circa November 2015. The remains were donated to the Parque de la Vida (Park of Life) in the Hermoso district of Bucaramanga, Colombia 1 November 2017. Remains transferred to a yard belonging to the Bucaramanga Municipal Cleaning Company, Bucaramanga, Colombia in February 2018. This move was in response to a lot of complaints from local inhabitants about the lack of security in looking after this exhibit in its current state and also when assembled. The local Mayor made arrangements for it to be moved to a more secure area, presumably on a temporary basis. Hopefully a new permanent location will be found so that the reassembly of this aircraft can take place.Still visible on Google Earth in September 2018. Later Google Earth views do not clearly show if the Viscount is still there.


Operational record
Photo of Austrian Airlines (AUA) Viscount OE-LAL

Country of Registration Austria

May 1960 to October 1971

Austrian Airlines (AUA)

OE-LAL - c/n 441 - a V.837 series Viscount
Austria registered

2 May 1960
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England as a Type 837.

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

David Carter illustration of Austrian Airlines Viscount OE-LAL

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


Appeared in the film 'The Day of the Jackal'.
Movie still from the
'The Day of the Jackal'

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

14 May 1960
Departed from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England to London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England on delivery to Austrian Airlines (AUA) but not yet named.

It was fitted with integral front 'airsteps' and extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

11 July 1960
Named as 'W. A. Mozart' during a ceremony at Salzburg Airport, Austria.

The name was painted on the forward cabin door.

circa 1963
The name was repositioned on the lower forward fuselage after the introduction of a revised livery.

22 August 1968
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England due to a Heathrow Airport weather diversion. The passengers were transferred to London by coach.

circa September 1971
Noted being used in the making of the film "The Day of the Jackal" directed by Fred Zinnemann. The film was eventually relased by Universal Pictures in 1973

2 October 1971
Sold to Shackleton Aviation Ltd.


Photo of Shackleton Aviation Ltd Viscount OE-LAL

Country of Registration Austria

October 1971 to November 1971

Shackleton Aviation Ltd

OE-LAL - c/n 441 - a V.837 series Viscount
Austria registered

2 October 1971
Purchased from Austrian Airlines (AUA) and ferried to Baginton Airport, Coventry, Warwickshire, England in ex AUA livery less titles.

3 November 1971
Sold to Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC).


Photo of Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) Viscount HK-1267

Country of Registration Colombia

November 1971 to December 1971

Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC)

HK-1267 - c/n 441 - a V.837 series Viscount
Colombia registered

3 November 1971
Purchased from Shackleton Aviation Ltd.

26 November 1971
Departed on delivery to Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) in ex AUA livery less titles with the Colombian registration applied together with HK-1347 (C/N 442).

27 November 1971
Noted at Birmingham International Airport, Elmdon, West Midlands and at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland clearing customs and refuelling before travelling on to Reykjavik Airport, Iceland.

circa December 1971
Leased to Lineas Aereas la Urraca (LAU).


Photo of Lineas Aereas la Urraca (LAU) Viscount HK-1267

Country of Registration Colombia

December 1971 to September 1972

Lineas Aereas la Urraca (LAU)

HK-1267 - c/n 441 - a V.837 series Viscount
Colombia registered

circa December 1971
Leased from Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) in ex Austrian Airlines (AUA) livery less titles named as 'Quimbaya'.

29 September 1972
Returned to Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC).


Photo of Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) Viscount HK-1267

Country of Registration Colombia

September 1972 to January 1980

Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC)

HK-1267 - c/n 441 - a V.837 series Viscount
Colombia registered
Repainted in the later Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) red and blue striped livery.
Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) red and blue striped livery

29 September 1972
Returned from Lineas Aereas la Urraca (LAU) lease and painted up in a blue and yellow TAC livery.

circa 1975
Repainted in a red and blue striped TAC livery.

March 1976
Noted stored at Eldorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia with all four Rolls-Royce Dart engines removed.

Painted in the Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) 'Dark blue cheatline' livery.
Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) blue cheat line livery

circa 1977
Painted in the final Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) livery with a dark blue cheatline.

14 December 1977
Damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident at Palonegro Airport, Bucaramanga, Colombia.

The aircraft landed heavily and bounced back into the air and finally landed on the last third of the runway. The pilot realised that he could not stop in time before running off the end of the runway and carried out a violent ground loop. The nose and port undercarriage legs collapsed and the aircraft slewed to a halt with damage to the port wing and also to the No.1 and No.2 propellers and engines.

There were no injuries amongst the crew and passengers.

The aircraft was then robbed of all useful parts.

circa January 1980
Title of the remains was transferred to Aerocesar Colombia due to a corporate name change.

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


Photo of Aerovias del Cesar / Aerocesar Colombia Viscount HK-1267

Country of Registration Colombia

January 1980 to November 2017

Aerovias del Cesar / Aerocesar Colombia

HK-1267 - c/n 441 - a V.837 series Viscount
Colombia registered

circa January 1980
Title of the remains transferred from Transportes Aereas del Cesar Ltda (TAC) due to a corporate name change but the aircraft remained stored at Palonegro Airport, Bucaramanga, Colombia minus any useful parts.

3 May 2009
Derelict remains still noted in existence, but now parked on a slope near the runway.

November 2014
Fuselage section and tail cut off before the aircraft was towed to a new location as the airport authority needed to expand the ramp area adjacent to where this aircraft was parked.

circa November 2015
Noted with both wings removed and the forward fuselage half lying on its port side with the nose undercarriage leg extended.

1 November 2017
Remains donated to Parque de la Vida in Bucaramanga, Colombia.


Photo of Parque de la Vida Viscount HK-1267

Country of Registration Colombia

November 2017 to February 2018

Parque de la Vida

HK-1267 - c/n 441 - a V.837 series Viscount
Colombia registered

1 November 2017
Remains donated by the Palonegro Airport Authority, Bucaramanga, Colombia.

The Park of Life is situated off Street 45 to the west of the centre of Bucaramanga, in the district of Campo Hermoso.

The plan is to reassemble it and use it as an educational facility, particularly for children.

It doesn't look as if the engine nacelles went with it.

February 2018
Remains transferred to a yard belonging to the Bucaramanga Municipal Cleaning Company, Bucaramanga, Colombia.

This move was in response to a lot of complaints from local inhabitants about the lack of security in looking after this exhibit in its current state and also when assembled.

The local Mayor, Manuel Azuero Figueroa made arrangements for it to be moved to a more secure area, until the legal situation regarding the future of this aircraft can be resolved.


Photo of Bucaramanga Municipal Cleaning Company Viscount HK-1267

Country of Registration Colombia

February 2018 to

Bucaramanga Municipal Cleaning Company

HK-1267 - c/n 441 - a V.837 series Viscount
Colombia registered

February 2018
Remains transferred from the Parque de la Vida (Park of Life), to a yard near the El Carrasco landfill site on the outskirts of Bucaramanga, Colombia.

20 September 2018
Still visible on Google Earth.

The Co-ordinates are: - 7º04'44.33"N 73º09'05.04"W

This yard is just a temporary storage location until the Mayor of Bucaramanga, Manuel Azuero Figueroa can resolve the current legal issues regarding the future of this aircraft.

Funding for this educational project also appears to be an issue which needs to be resolved as public funds are limited for this type of project.

Hopefully a new permanent location will eventually be found so that the reassembly of this aircraft can take place.

Later Google Earth views do not clearly show if the Viscount is still there.


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.