Vickers-Armstrongs

28 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.

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.

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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

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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

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Viscount Film
29 July 1990

Viscount history illustrated with contemporary film and video

Commemorative flight to Le Bourget on G-AOYN

A film by Andy Lambert

The world's first turbine powered scheduled commercial flight
was commemorated 40 years later by G-AOYN

G-AHRF at Le Bourget

The world's first turbine powered scheduled commercial flight

On the 29 July 1950 the prototype Viscount G-AHRF operated the world's first turbine powered scheduled commercial flight. It was operated by BEA - British European Airways as BE392X2 and departed at 12:48 from Northolt, London, England to Le Bourget, Paris, France.

The flight took 70 minutes, and was flown by Captains Richard Rymer and W J Wakelin. On board were 14 fare paying passengers who had booked thinking they would be travelling in a Vickers Viking, and 10 guests including George Edwards, Sir Frank Whittle and Peter Masefield. An altitude of 18,000 feet was reached with a cruising speed of 273 MPH.

Film of the first flight taken on the 29 July 1950

G-AOYN at Le Bourget

Commemorative flight from Northolt to Le Bourget

Forty years after the event on 29 July 1990, and knowing that Viscounts would not be flying for much longer, 'The Friends of Viscount Stephen Piercey' and BAF - British Air Ferries set out to re-fly the route.

The passengers departed from the control tower at Brooklands on board a vintage bus that took them to Northolt to join BAF - British Air Ferries and G-AOYN. Before setting course for Paris they flew over Brooklands. At Le Bourget the aircraft was parked in the same spot as the original Viscount had been in 1950. The passengers then toured the world famous Musée de l'air et de l'espace. This was followed by lunch before flying home.

BAF - British Air Ferries V.806 series Viscount G-AOYN

V.806 series Viscount G-AOYN had been returned to BAF - British Air Ferries from a Capital Airlines lease in August 1989 and was named 'Viscount Rotterdam'.

In October 1989 it was painted in full BAF - British Air Ferries livery but with unusual titling and an outlined unicorn on the tail, and re-entered service. Circa April 1990 the titling was repainted and the outlined unicorn on the tail made solid.

G-AOYN operated the Commemorative flight from Northolt to Le Bourget on the 29 July 1990. On the 19 November 1991 it was noted at Rochford, Southend, Essex, England operating another aviation enthusiast's charter.

On the 1 April 1993 G-AOYN was transferred to BWA - British World Airlines due to a corporate name change.

History and photos of Viscount c/n 1 G-AHRF
History and photos of Viscount c/n 263 G-AOYN

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