Vickers Viscount

[David Eyre]

Hi Flightwatch,

I looked at the MAAM website but could find no further news on the Viscount since the 2000 update you provided a link to, indeed the website doesn't seem to have anything more recent than 2004 on it.

Here's a photo of the MAAM Viscount 798D (N7471) taken in May 2004:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/595995/L/

...and some more shots of the same aircraft:

http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...nct_entry=true

Regards,
David

[bean]

I hope this works

For Flightwatch.

This is the ex Aer Lingus Viscount you mentioned at Jersey on a beautiful summers day in 1966

[Flightwatch]

Thanks for the photos and info. I checked in my logbook and in fact, although I did fly it to Jersey the V707 I flew was G-APZB which had been dry leased from Channel Airways for a couple of weeks in July ’67 when our own V745D G-ATTA had rammed a GPU at LHR and was undergoing repairs – it was still in Channel Airways colours. ‘ZC had been leased for the entire summer of ’66 but was returned thereafter when we took delivery of 3 more 700Ds the next winter. I didn’t start to fly the Viscount until March ’67 and when ’ZB was leased at short notice it was only those who had flown ‘ZC the previous year who were supposed to fly it. Interestingly in BKS all pilots had to be checked out on two types depending on base, e.g. Britannia/Ambassador, Ambassador/748 or as in my case at Leeds, 748/Viscount, I checked out on the 748 at the end of ‘66.

I particularly enjoyed the photo of ‘ZC which demonstrates clearly why the early 700s were known as “Donkey C*ck” Viscounts, the air scoop under the rear fuselage was done away with quite soon in the production run.

The MAAM Viscount is looking a bit sad now, I guess it isn’t airworthy any more. In fact we also had a V798D, G-AVED originally destined for Capital but never delivered, I believe immediately before BKS it had been in Central America. However if there is one aircraft which might be preserved in flying condition I guess the MAAM example is the best candidate. I remember seeing it at Chino in the late 80s in it’s previous role as a parcels carrier.

Amazing how I can remember facts and figures from 38 years ago but can’t remember who I met yesterday!

Regards, Flightwatch.

[Helen49]

Flightwatch.....

Most interesting to read your posts on LBA, the Viscounts, 748s etc. I was at LBA in those days in ATC and, like you, can remember much of it as though it were yesterday! GASPL, the first departure from the newly constructed runway 33.

British Eagle were the first Viscount operators at LBA, using V700s on their LBA-MAN-Newquay service from runway 28(!) and I well remember the first BKS viscount operations using the Channel Viscounts..... in Channel colours. I also remember an incident when a BKS Captain with many hours on the V700 landed on runway 33 and shut down the 'inners' by mistake, leaving the aircraft stranded on the runway!

I recall BKS having 6 V700s, all with slight variations in the colour schemes! In the '70s 'Northeast' operated the Viscount 800s on IT flights to various destinations in mainland Spain and the Balearics.

Throughout the 60s and 70s, Viscounts were the backbone of LBA operations and therefore provide many fond memories!

H49

[Centaurus]

During my time as a QFI with the RAAF VIP Squadron in Canberra I flew the two Viscount 800 Series in the mid-Sixties. One was obtained from the Sperry Rand Corporation of USA, while the other was the Shah of Persia's aircraft.

I often wondered where they both finished up after the RAAF disposed of them circa 1967 after receiving two HS 748's as replacement. I would also be most interested in the history of these two aircraft prior to them being obtained for the RAAF. Their RAAF numbers were A6-435 and A6-436.

[Centaurus]

Speechless two. I cannot thank you enough for that info on the two RAAF Viscounts. Sadly, Wing Commander Warwick Addison who flew both Viscounts to Australia, died a couple of years ago in Canberra. He was one of the best CO's I have served under and a very enthusiastic pilot at that. If I recall, he flew Bostons in the Battle of the Bismark Sea.

[gregers]

AAAH more memories, i remember watching G-BFZL at LBA many times (normaly from the aeroclub, pint in hand)
here is a link to pics of her in her later years.

http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...eywords=G-BFZL

strangely, i am having trouble locating pics of 346 / G-BGLC. if i come up with any i will post them, or the links here.

co-incidentaly, i have a corgi 1/144th scale model of G-BFZL on my computer desk in the 2 tone blue British Midland colours, she was the only Viscount to get painted in the later all blue colours iirc

another memory of LBA, me as a very young aircraft enthusiast (not a spotter btw) probably was about 12 yrs old standing on the electrics box near the fence at the end of the runway watching the aircraft take off towards me, one viscount took rather a long time to get unstuck, result = me heading backwards off the box landing on my bicycle almost knocking myself out and spraining my ankle and buckling the rear wheel (and a wobbley 14 mile bike ride home after) OUCH!!!

all the best

Greg

[PaperTiger]

a very young aircraft enthusiast (not a spotter btw)

Relax, you're among friends here. This isn't the mil forum

[gregers]

Hiya Papertiger,

i only differetiated between the two because there are those spotters who, to put it mildly, are not aircraft enthusiasts and are purely there to log the numbers, one such example. i went on a trip with Air Yorkshire, i was walking around the hangar enterence (with permission of course) saw a type i was unfamiliar with and so i asked one of the guys there "what type is that"? the answer "who cares? i got its number, thats all i'm interested in" hmmmm.....(the aircraft turned out to be a Gardan Horizon, i later worked on one) another occasion, was happily chatting with the pilot of a cessna 337 skymonster, he said he was off for a 30 min jolly, would any of us like to go up with him. i was the only one who said yes, the others said there was too many airfields to visit to fit it in. and they wouldn't wait for me to return if i went up so i had to turn down his offer . that was the last trip i went on with them. admittedly i did start logging numbers when i was about 16 but gave it up about three of four years later, it got in the way of really LOOKING at the aircraft.

on a lighter note,
and this is true, i saw it for myself. fly in at Badminton, spotter on a bicycle riding down the rows of aircraft with a dictaphone in one hand reading off the reggies. and yes, he WAS wearing an anorak!!!
no doubt he took his hobby seriously and doubtless it made him happy but i just had to laugh!!!

all the best.

Greg

ps, i truely and honestly have nothing against aircraft spotters whatsoever, these guys - and girls, can be a mine of useful information.

[David Eyre]

Re: Vickers Viscount

Hi Centaurus,

Further to the data supplied by Speechless Two on Viscounts A6-435 and A6-436...

cn 435 (ex A6-435)
G-BFZL was in June 1996 flypast to celebrate Heathrow's 50th birthday, in full British World colours. Here's a photo of it in those colours taken prior to the flypast: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/744076/L/
There are a number of other photos of G-BFZL with various airlines on the Airliners.Net website.

Sold to HeliJet and ferried to South Africa 27.4.97 in passenger configuration, based at Lanseria, South Africa. G-BFZL registration was not cancelled until 5.3.98. Registered to Planes R Us Pty on 6.3.98, as ZS-NNI, but never wore this rego. Still stored at Lanseria during 4.98, 5.98, still wearing G-BFZL.

Damaged 22.4.99 at Lanseria when a hangar door fell on its tail in storm
Noted hangared at Lanseria 2.12.99 in blue/white colours with no registration, and again on 7.10.01 stored outside with no registration - here's a photo:
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=227214

Painted at Lanseria in 11.02 in Trans IntAir colours 9Q-regd (also reported as 9Q-CHL). Arrived at Kinshasa, Congo 13.11.02, in new colours, but not officially cancelled from South African register
ZS-NNI (never worn) reg finally cancelled to 9Q-CGL on 10.02.03
As 9Q-CGL, on 27 April 2003 one engine was damaged after landing on a 900m gravel strip in Congo. Attempted a three-engine takeoff ferry flight, but another engine failed on takeoff, causing the plane to crash into trees. Unknown whether there were fatalities, but aircraft written-off.

cn 436 (ex A6-436) G-BGLC
A photo of this aircraft with Dan-Air:
http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=173440

To VP-WGB Air Zimbabwe 2.11.80
Reregistered as Z-WGB in Oct 1983
Withdrawn from use at Harare by 12.90, seen there in derelict condition in 6.96. There is a photo of Z-WGB partly scrapped at Harare on this website (scroll down a bit):
http://home.iprimus.com.au/rob_ricka...countstech.htm


I used to regularly see G-BFZL (when with British Midland), and occasionally G-BGLC (when with Air Bridge Carriers / Dan-Air) at East Midlands Airport in the UK, so I also have tenuous links to these two aircraft.

Would love to see and hear a Viscount flying again!

Regards,
David

[Mooney]

Re: Vickers Viscount

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/758812/L/

3D-PFI of Pegasus Aviation was photographed flying last year.


Cockpit;

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/535787/L/

[chevvron]

Re: Vickers Viscount

Nice to see there's at least one still around.
Aircraft in the background; Gulfstream 1?

[atb1943]

Re: Vickers Viscount

Aah Viscounts...twas a Viscount that brought me over to Germany 40-odd years ago, G-ATDU it was, wonder what happened to it....

And here are a couple of photos taken from the very interesting Polish site...

http://http://lotnictwo.net/galselec...D%20DESC&wpis=

If it doesn"t work try simply www.lotnictwo.net and click on the strange aircraft mid-left at Havacilik.

Think I recall the Turkish one on test at Blackbushe....I definitely recall the South African one, 751.

cheers
atb

[jabberwok]

Re: Vickers Viscount

Ahhh. Nostalgia.


BEA, Cambrian, British Eagle, Treffield, Channel, BMA, Manx. Last flight was in the Manx Viscount to Amsterdam when it was being withdrawn - Tony Unsworth and Bill Tillotson were the pilots. It was a staff jolly but the return flight became rather poignant.
I mourn the passing of the aircraft, despite the Darts resulting in high tone deafness!

[Hanslope]

Re: Vickers Viscount

I have just being going through a box of old papers and came across a gem.

It is a BEA Internal report on the first year of Viscount 701 operations 1953/4 marked " The contents of this document must not be communicated outside the corporation without prior permission from Chief Executive "

It has a wealth of statistical data plus staff and passenger feedback. Among the passenger comments was this:

With the number of passengers this plane takes there should be two toilet rooms a)ladies b)gents. I could not get vacancy till I reached Athens.

I was a General Apprentice in BEA Head Office in the early 70s and I remember grabbing this from a pile of stuff being chucked out. I also have a file marked secret called " Viscount replacement aircraft specification "

[Newforest]

Re: Vickers Viscount

Originally Posted by atb1943

Aah Viscounts...twas a Viscount that brought me over to Germany 40-odd years ago, G-ATDU it was, wonder what happened to it....

Sold to British Eagle, leased to Air France and scrapped at Liverpool.

[atb1943]

Re: Vickers Viscount

Many thanks, Newforest.

Then there was a flight from Frankfurt to Berlin Tempelhof in Nov 65 in G-AORD. Visited Modern Air and PanAm.

A month later we had to go and meet with Interflug, possibly East German Lufthansa in those days. G-AOHI got us overhead Berlin but we had to return to FRA due to wx. Next day G-AOHW tried but again got diverted, this time to Hannover. After some three hours 'HL was put on the job and was successful, but all our dates were shot and had to be re-arranged. And you didn't get a connection to East Berlin very easily in those days. I remember we spent the evening in the cinema at Berlin Zoo watching 'Those Magnificent Men...'. Gert Froebe didn't need dubbing of course, and his umpah umpah umpah caused much mirth.

The return flight to FRA was in 'HM.

Long live the Viscount!

cheers
atb (ex-British Eagle...)

[jabberwok]

Re: Vickers Viscount

Time has not been kind to my slide collection but here goes...

[Max Tow]

Re: Vickers Viscount

There's currently a Viscount sitting at Montevideo A/p. Not in flying condition from my brief glimpse.

[David Eyre]

Re: Vickers Viscount

Hi Max Tow,

The Viscount at Montevideo in Uruguay is supposedly preserved by a museum, but has been steadily decaying. Here's a photo taken a year ago:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/747391/L/

Regards,

David