Travel back in time with the Viscount
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Italy
I-LIRG - Francesco De Pinedo Aeronautical Technical Institute - July 1971 to current
Francesco de Pinedo was a famous Italian aviator.
Originally an officer with the Regia Marina (Navy) he then transferred to the Regia Aeronautica (Air Force) and was an advocate of the seaplane and is best known for his long-range flying boat flights in the 1920s.
Photo source - Francesco de Pinedo archive
Aircraft Summary
Capital Airlines (USA)
This aircraft c/n 284, a V.745D, was built for Capital Airlines (USA) as N7473 and first flew on Friday, 31 May 1957 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
During its life it was also owned and/or operated by Northeast Airlines Inc, Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd and Alitalia
Its final owner/operator was Francesco De Pinedo Aeronautical Technical Institute as I-LIRG.Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service at Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy in January 1970 and donated by Alitalia for use as an instructional airframe in Southern Rome, Italy after some parts were sold to Aerolineas TAO including the port outer wing. An unserviceable replacement outer wing was found and fitted. Noted circa October 2015 in poor internal and external condition and covered in grafitti. Still visible on Google Earth in April 2017. Volunteers at the Technical Institute are planning to restore it after a period of fund-raising in 2018. Noted still in existence 10 May 2019 but no sign of any external restoration work.