Vickers-Armstrongs

27 July 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.

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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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Vickers Viscount Network first get together

The gathering on 19 April 2008 was a great success

From left to right - Julian Bourn, Michael Blank, Peter Upton, Adrian Fellingham, Mark Johnson,
Brian Burrage, Ed Jones, Chris Jones, Geoff Blampied, Mark, Martin Garrett,
Rob MacSkimming, George Stringer and Alex Burton

A report by Brian Burrage

Although the weather was not ideal it was thankfully dry when members of the Vickers Viscount Network and their supporters met at MAM - Midland Air Museum, Baginton, Coventry England on Saturday 19th April 2008. We were welcomed by Martin Garrett of the Viscount 35 Association in company with Rob MacSkimming.

Viscount c/n 35 F-BGNR 'Victoria Lynne'

Martin took us to the museum’s meeting room which was nicely heated, a relief from the biting easterly wind and gave us a splendid talk on the story of Viscount c/n 35 from its acquisition to its transfer to the museum site plus a potted history since construction. All this was supported by photos and data displayed using a laptop and video projector. Martin’s fiancée Katie had kindly put the powerpoint presentation together but unfortunately couldn’t make it on the day.

Eleven Viscount fans attended, namely: -

Geoff Blampied - 'Vickers Viscount Network' Co-founder and Webmaster
Brian Burrage – 'Vickers Viscount Network' Co-founder, Historian and Image Co-ordinator
Julian Bourn – History researcher specialising in the BEA / Cambrian / BA fleets
Ed Jones – History researcher and image contributor
George Stringer – Image contributor
Alex Burton – Image contributor
Peter Upton – Image contributor
Michael Blank – Image contributor
Chris Jones
Mark Johnson
Adrian Fellingham

George and Alex, ex BMA engineers, keep their hand-in by fixing the baggage door lock

After the talk and answering numerous questions Martin took us out to the aircraft which is currently lying on support stands, and in small groups allowed us inside through the rear baggage hold door to view the condition of the cabin and cockpit.

As the aircraft is still in a dismantled condition this was a rare opportunity to see and photograph all the features normally hidden away, and in particular the way that the wings join the fuselage which seems extremely delicate considering the size involved.

The next phase in the restoration will be the re-assembly and placing of the three undercarriage units onto the specially constructed concrete pads that are already in place. This is scheduled to take place at the end of May and will then allow the aircraft to be prepared for re-painting to give it the necessary protection from the elements. A final choice of colour scheme has not yet been decided and Martin is open to suggestions at the moment and ideally some form of sponsorship to cover the costs of the material.

The Viscount is in remarkably good condition

Considering the time that this aircraft has spent outdoors and idle, it is in remarkably good condition. Martin however, emphasizes the enormity of the task ahead which even with help from other volunteers will take many years to complete.

An aircraft of this type is much harder to restore than say an F-4 Phantom, as people will expect to be able to visit the cabin and to see it in all its glory which will involve a degree of electrical serviceability. The aim of getting one of the original Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 engines running is a possibility but a long way down the list of objectives.

Martin and his colleagues are to be applauded in not only saving this aircraft from destruction but for carefully planning its future in a measured and structured way. We all wished him well in this mission and pledged our support in whatever way we can.

Julian Bourn – history researcher specialising in the BEA / Cambrian / BA Viscounts - is a BA - British Airways Boeing 777 Captain and ex F-4 Phantom pilot

Julian Bourn – history researcher specialising in the BEA, Cambrian, and BA Viscounts
is a BA - British Airways Boeing 777 Captain and ex F-4 Phantom pilot

History and photos of Viscount c/n 35 F-BGNR

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