27 July 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


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


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


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


Join the Vickers Viscount Network
for FREE


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.



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 456

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 456
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)


China flag China

This V.843 series Viscount was built for
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) as 412

It first flew on Thursday, 2 January 1964 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 and the Chinese Air Force


Photo of Viscount c/n 456
Bouraq Indonesia Airlines


Indonesia flag Indonesia

Its final owner/operator was
Bouraq Indonesia Airlines as PK-IVU.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia in October 1994 following a landing accident at Pontianak, Indonesia. Broken up for scrap circa June 2004.


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

Country of Registration United Kingdom

December 1961 to April 1964

Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd

G-ASDV - c/n 456 - 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 sixth 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.

2 January 1964
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

27 February 1964
UK Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued.

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

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

It was fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

April 1964
Departed from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England on delivery to CAAC with a British flight crew.

On the delivery sector from Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong to Canton (now Guangzhou), China it used the callsign '84306'.


Photo of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Viscount 412

Country of Registration China

April 1964 to July 1974

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)

412 - c/n 456 - a V.843 series Viscount
China registered

16 April 1964
Transferred from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd after delivery and registered as 412.

Sadly, this was the last ever Viscount to be delivered.

16 April 1964
UK registration cancelled as aircraft exported.

circa July 1974
Re-registered as B-412.


Photo of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Viscount B-412

Country of Registration China

July 1974 to April 1983

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)

B-412 - c/n 456 - a V.843 series Viscount
China registered

circa July 1974
Re-registered from 412.

April 1983
Transferred to the Chinese Air Force as 50259.


Photo of Chinese Air Force Viscount 50259

Country of Registration China

April 1983 to November 1989

Chinese Air Force

50259 - c/n 456 - a V.843 series Viscount
China registered

April 1983
Transferred from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) as 50259.

During a military flight from Nanjing, Shanghai, China to Nan Yuan Airport, Beijing, China an armed attempt to highjack the aircraft took place resulting in several fatalities. The pilot managed to safely land the aircraft and was later awarded a medal as a hero of China. The date is unknown. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

May 1988
Withdrawn from service and stored. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

November 1989
Sold to Bouraq Indonesia Airlines.


Photo of Bouraq Indonesia Airlines Viscount PK-IVU

Country of Registration Indonesia

November 1989 to June 2004

Bouraq Indonesia Airlines

PK-IVU - c/n 456 - a V.843 series Viscount
Indonesia registered

November 1989
Purchased from the Chinese Air Force.

16 July 1993
Temporarily withdrawn from service and stored at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia.

circa April 1994
Returned to service. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

26 September 1994
During a landing at Supadio Airport, Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia the starboard wing tip hit the runway resulting in damage to the No.3 and No.4 propellers and shockloading of the Dart engines as well as damage to the outer wing section. There were no injuries to the two crew on board which was on an empty ferry flight.

circa October 1994
Replacement Dart engines and Dowty propellers were fitted and temporary repairs were carried out to the outer wing section. The aircraft was then ferried to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Indonesia for a full assessment. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

23 January 1995
Noted in open storage at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia.

March 2000
Noted in very poor condition as a result of the high humidity and heavy rainfalls.

circa June 2004
Broken up for scrap. The actual date is not known. 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.


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.