Vickers Viscount Network
July 2010 Newsletter
Dear Member
Welcome to the fourth/fifth Vickers Viscount Network Newsletter for 2010 - They say
there is no such thing as a free lunch, not that this is a free lunch but just reassuring
readers that these newsletters are supplied free and that there is no actual subscription
required to receive them. Have a read of the Join the Vickers Viscount Network page under
'About Us' on the website. Please bear in mind though that the administrators are doing
this project on a voluntary basis in their spare time.
Viscount enthusiasts get together 31 July Duxford, England
There are still places available but due to the popularity of this event numbers attending has had to be limited to
70. To avoid disappointment please send an e-mail request for places, together with your name and how many people
will be in your party, to
Duxford2010@vickersviscount.net .
Requests to attend will now be on a 'first come - first served' basis. This instruction does not affect people who
have already applied.
Click here for details of the event . Please re-visit this page regularly to check for any
'Duxford's Viscount Day' updates.
Viscount c/n 35 F-BGNR
The tail feathers have all been painted and connecting bolts etc. prepared ready for mating with the fuselage. The
fuselage/wing fairings have all been de-riveted and prepared ready for the wing re-connection. The museum hopes to
be able to crane the fuselage and join the wings and tail sections later in 2010. - Have a look at F-BGNR's photo
page where you will see the progress made so far.
Thank you Mike, please keep us informed on this aircraft`s progress. It too may be worth a group visit at some
later stage. The Vickers Viscount Network visited the aircraft in 2008 and evidently great progress has since been
made.
Viscount c/n 350 G-AZNA
If you are planning on visiting Belgium then give a visit to G-AZNA some consideration. Sometimes increased
attention spurs those who 'administer' aircraft relics into closer attention to preservation.
Viscount c/n 40 CF-TGI/N22SN
Remember Jack's visit to the Museum in 2008 when he made an impassioned appeal to James to take great care of the
aircraft's future.
Viscount c/n 368 D-ANAM
Again, give some thought to paying her a visit if you are in the area.
Viscount c/n 279 CF-THS
Out of that struggle was born the front wheel dolly. The dolly is presently on display beneath Viscount c/n 279
CF-THS at the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg, Canada.
N J Airways
Has anyone heard of N J Airways or know why this aircraft bore this title? If you know the answer or have an idea
we would be pleased to hear from you. Send your reply to
membership@vickersviscount.net .
BEA - British European Airways flight simulator
A recent reference to simulators has sparked off a series of e-mails concerning the BEA - British European Airways
Viscount simulator at Heston, England. Does anyone have a photograph of it which we can put on the website? Someone
recently handed two simulator technical manuals to the archives at Brooklands. Sadly though the simulator was
scrapped many years ago.
TCA - Trans-Canada Airlines flight simulator
Jack Stephens adds.... "Thanks for the TCA - Trans-Canada Airlines simulator story, which is rather special to me
as it reminds me of when a few of us junior mechanics crowded into the Simulator and were taken for a 'spin'".
We are collecting such stories to be added to the Museum when time permits. Any more interesting stories? The next
story is about New Zealand National Airways Corporation.
A Right Royal Place
For the Royal visit of the Queen and Prince Philip the aircraft had been fitted out with prefabricated furnishings.
Plastic panels for the walls in off-white, the ceiling covered in a doeskin type of fabric and carpeting of a rich
gold colour. After the visit the fittings were stored for future use.
Largely forgotten and presumed disposed of, the 'Royal Suite' is currently stored at Ferrymead awaiting repairs
following which it will be installed on Viscount c/n 283 ZK-BRF. Although never used on this aircraft what better
place to put it could there possibly be?
'Dart' powered Austin Maestro van!
We have a plea looking for anyone who may recall seeing, what must have been in the early 1990s, a guy from the
Midlands who 'kitted out' an Austin Maestro van with a virtually complete Viscount Instrument Panel! Apparently it
was featured in the local press as he drove down to Rochford, Southend, Essex, England to show staff at either BAF
- British Air Ferries or BWA - British World Airlines, as he had obtained some instruments from them. Better still,
has anyone seen photographs of this vehicle's interior? Can any of our BAF or BWA people add to this comment?
S & M Models
Thanks Peter.
Letter from BEA - British European Airways to the first Viscount passengers
"My uncle gave me this letter many years ago, and just wondering if you would know more information about one of
the very first flights and if the letter is actually worth anything to anyone? I think it was from London to Paris."
Brian Burrage, Vickers Viscount Network co-founder and Historian, replied;-
"Thanks very much for attaching a very interesting letter from your Uncle. The flight mentioned was one of a series
carried out using the prototype Viscount G-AHRF from London Airport to Paris Le Bourget and return between 29 July
and 13/14 August 1950.
This letter therefore forms a very important part of the commercial development of the Viscount from the very
beginning.
Do you think that your Uncle was the passenger on this flight? The hand written data shows it was written for the
Paris to London sector in August 1950. It is amazing what turns up after all this time."
More Viscount pictures
Roland Harrison notes another site which has a great selection of Viscount photographs.
Certainly worth a visit or two. Thanks Roland.
Go to www.bsl-mlh-planes.net .
Viscount Art
What is it?
The photo of TCA - Trans-Canada Airlines first Viscount c/n 40 CF-TGI was taken at Weybridge, Surrey, England May
1954 while being prepared for pressurisation tests.
CAA - Central African Airways Slipper Tanks
They were Inner and Outer, Port and Starboard, all very similar in size and shape, and to
keep the tooling costs down I was instructed to have them made with a lot of common jigs etc.
In the course of this I got the number of tools and jigs down from about sixty to under
forty, and saved 17% in expensive Duralumin in the bargain.
As I said above, I was under instruction, but on writing to Vickers to tell them of the
saving, Harry Harvey credited me with the idea. Giving me the Kudos left a lasting
impression on me.'
Thank you Kelvin.
Where on Earth are you?
Many interesting e-mails come in from around the world. Often these are just signed off with
only a name but it may not be readily apparent as to where the sender is based. We would
like to know; not to be nosey but to get an idea where the membership is spread and what
areas are active. Sign your e-mail off in the normal way and then just add your location
i.e. Christchurch, New Zealand. We would love to make contact with more of our American
and Australian based readers.
Editorial and Production Team
Peter Layne - Chief Editor , Wellington, New Zealand.Ed Jones - Editor , Manchester, England.Dave Robinson - Production , Nottinghamshire, England.
