18 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 453

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 453
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)


China flag China

This V.843 series Viscount was built for
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) as 406

It first flew on Thursday, 8 August 1963 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd, Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Chinese Air Force


Photo of Viscount c/n 453
China Aviation Museum (中国航空博物馆)


China flag China

Its final owner/operator was
China Aviation Museum (中国航空博物馆) as 50258.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by the Chinese Air Force and placed on display at the China Aviation Museum (中国航空博物馆), Datangshan, near Beijing, China in 1990.


Operational record
Photo of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd Viscount G-ASDS

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1961 to September 1963

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

G-ASDS - c/n 453 - a V.843 series Viscount
United Kingdom registered

1 December 1961
After protracted negotiations, an order was placed by The Ministry of Foreign Trade through the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (Machimpex), on behalf of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The contract was for the supply of six Type 843 aircraft and spares at a total value of £4,500,000.

This was the third of six aircraft.

4 December 1961
US Government representatives (on behalf of President John F Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk) voiced their objections to this sale through the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom) at a meeting in Paris, France but were out-voted 7 to 4 by the participating countries.

As a result, the US Government would not allow any equipment manufactured in the USA or from companies from affiliated countries to be fitted to these aircraft.

This resulted in long delays in completing these aircraft compared to those without the equipment and spares restrictions.

8 November 1962
Due to the political nature of this order the aircraft was initially registered to Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.

8 August 1963
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

The test flights added up to 21 hours.

27 August 1963
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.

31 August 1963
Acceptance flight carried out with CAAC representatives on board which lasted for 55 minutes.

At some point the aircraft was transferred to Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England prior to delivery.

September 1963
Departed from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England on delivery to CAAC with a British flight crew.

The aircraft was painted white with a polished metal lower half of the fuselage.

It was fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

The delivery flights totalled up to 41 hours and 45 minutes which included a local demonstration flight on arrival.

On the delivery sector from Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong to Canton (now Guangzhou), China it used the callsign '84303'.


Photo of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Viscount 406

Country of Registration China

September 1963 to July 1974

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)

406 - c/n 453 - a V.843 series Viscount
China registered

19 September 1963
Transferred from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd after delivery and registered as 406.

19 September 1963
UK registration cancelled as aircraft exported.

circa July 1974
Re-registered as B-406.
The actual date is not known.
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Viscount B-406

Country of Registration China

July 1974 to April 1983

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)

B-406 - c/n 453 - a V.843 series Viscount
China registered

circa July 1974
Re-registered from 406.
The actual date is not known.
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

30 July 1982
During a flight carrying foreign military missions there was a hijack attempt.

The crew managed to overpower the hijacker and the plane, piloted by Captain Lan Dingshou and First Officer Zhang Jinghai landed safely at Nanjing, China.

The crew subsequently received hero awards.

April 1983
Transferred to the Chinese Air Force as 50258.


Photo of Chinese Air Force Viscount 50258

Country of Registration China

April 1983 to April 1990

Chinese Air Force

50258 - c/n 453 - a V.843 series Viscount
China registered

April 1983
Transferred from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) as 50258.

May 1988
Withdrawn from service and stored at Beijing Airport, China.

circa April 1990
Transferred to the China Aviation Museum ("中国航空博物馆), Datangshan near Beijing, China.
The actual date is not known.
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of China Aviation Museum (中国航空博物馆) Viscount 50258

Country of Registration China

April 1990 to

China Aviation Museum (中国航空博物馆)

50258 - c/n 453 - a V.843 series Viscount
China registered

China
Noted still in existence
December 2012

circa April 1990
Transferred from the Chinese Air Force for display at the China Aviation Museum ("中国航空博物馆), Datangshan, near Beijing, China.
The actual date is not known.
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

May 1990
Noted being reassembled.


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.