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Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount

1948 - 2012 - Introduction

Prototype Viscount G-AHRF over Poole Harbour during an early test flight

The Vickers-Armstrongs Viscount was really born during World War II - at a time when things were going far from well and few people were thinking much about civil aviation. To some people in 1942 it may have seemed strangely unrealistic of the British Government to appoint a group of experts, known as the Brabazon Committee , to examine post-war requirements for transport aircraft. In their recommendations, however, lay the origin of an idea that was to develop into one of the most successful British civil aircraft ever built. Among the design proposals that they put forward during the next few years was for a short and medium range airliner, suitable for use on the European and other routes which embrace the heaviest traffic and involve the largest scale of business in civil aviation. It was described as 'a 24-passenger aircraft, powered by four gas turbine engines driving airscrews'. That was in 1945.

The first turboprop flight in the world was on a modified Gloster Meteor fighter

In the same year, Rolls-Royce flew the first turbo-prop engines in the world, two modified Derwent turbo-jets named 'Trent' powering a Gloster Meteor fighter, and encouraged by the results began the design of the 'Dart' engines which were to power the Viscount.

Vickers-Armstrongs was one of several aircraft manufacture's who had been following the Brabazon reports. By the end of World War II their Vilking was already looked on by Vickers as little more than an interim aircraft. It had been developed from their Wellington bomber in order to fill the immediate post-war requirements of the airlines, and although as a stop-gap it was quite adequate, its time was running out. Their design staff under the leadership of Rex Pierson and his successor George (later Sir George) Edwards set about creating an entirely new airliner for the World's medium-stage markets.

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