Vickers Viscount-Aviation's Aristocracy
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sunny Side Up :)
Age: 59
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And all are welcome aboard. We are a knowledgeable and friendly bunch !
Jamie Popplewell
International Researcher for Vickers Viscount Network - A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
A Virtual Museum dedicated the the Vickers Armstrongs VC2 - Viscount
[email protected]
Jamie Popplewell
International Researcher for Vickers Viscount Network - A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
A Virtual Museum dedicated the the Vickers Armstrongs VC2 - Viscount
[email protected]
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Eastleigh
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1st aircraft I spoke to
The first aircraft I spoke to as a ATCO cadet was a viscount from Boscombe Down callsign Evergreen nn? coming into Stansted to pick up someone sat in the tower. The filight reported passing the outer marker and I looked out the window to spot the aircraft, but could not see it. For a while nor could anyone else. Eventually it was sighted. I asked for his height and it was about 2500 feet at a point wher he should have been at 1000. I looked at my mentor who tttold me to clear the aircraft to land or overshoot at his discretion. This was done and we waited. The roof of the aircraft was clear to us as nosedown it dived for the runway and disappeared into the dip and never returned. "Where are you" I queried. "Err, I think we've burst all tyres" Mentor and I reached the crash button at the same time. The passenger asked for the phone and ordered up another flight to take him to Boscombe.
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I only flew in a Viscount once; BAF, Man to Guernsey, 1986. I proffered my PPL and asked for the jump seat. "We don't have one, but you can stand behind the co-pilot". As we lined up on 06 'the boss' turned in his seat and fixed me with a beady eye.. "if anything goes wrong, you weren't here, right?".
I remember the aeroplane being very smooth and quiet (I did sample the cabin for a while). In fact the exterior and the cabin were like a new aeroplane. The flight deck, however, was like a decommissioned WW2 bomber. Ancient panels, empty racks with disconnected cables, hand painted surfaces; the aeroplane here looked about 100 years old and VERY well used!
We returned from that holiday in an F27 (which did have a jumpseat for me, take off to landing). Half the number of Darts, seven times the noise and vibration!
A friend (retired BA captain) tells me of a 1-11 that did that at Teesside. Training flight, flapless approach, no pax, flown at full fuel to get the weight up to realistic service levels. At that weight the flapless approach speed was above the range of the U/C warning system; 2 training captains and a trainee all forgot the gear. But the 1-11 was a tough ship; they jacked it up, lowered the gear, and flew it home to EGCC for the bent underside panels to be beaten out!
I remember the aeroplane being very smooth and quiet (I did sample the cabin for a while). In fact the exterior and the cabin were like a new aeroplane. The flight deck, however, was like a decommissioned WW2 bomber. Ancient panels, empty racks with disconnected cables, hand painted surfaces; the aeroplane here looked about 100 years old and VERY well used!
We returned from that holiday in an F27 (which did have a jumpseat for me, take off to landing). Half the number of Darts, seven times the noise and vibration!
A Viscount landed wheels up at Aldergrove one night by mistake on a training flight. Apparently it was the only aircraft on the fleet that didn't have an undercarriage horn.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: UK
Age: 77
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can confirm the Teesside incident, the aircraft was out of service for less than 2 weeks! We always said that the 1-11 was hewn from the solid. The u/c warning horn went of at 180kts which was below the flapless approach speed.
IIRC the aircraft concerned was G-AVMO the example at East Fortune, so it has lasted longer than most.
IIRC the aircraft concerned was G-AVMO the example at East Fortune, so it has lasted longer than most.
Viscount flights
Flew on them 1967 Basle-Southend-Perpignan, Channel Airways G-APPC
and 1980 Tel Aviv-Eilat-Tel Aviv, Arkia 4X-AVE
That's when flying was fun
and 1980 Tel Aviv-Eilat-Tel Aviv, Arkia 4X-AVE
That's when flying was fun
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: England
Age: 76
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They made amends with the Guardsvan - the flight deck was as big as a football pitch!
For Kindle readers, here's a cracking fictional story featuring the world's last remaining airworthy Merch:
In real life the last flying Merch ('EP) was flown into the Brooklands in 1996 and is now a static display at the Museum. Occasionally they fire up engines 3 & 4. Ah . . . the noise! . . . the vibration!
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm reading George Edwards' biography. I didn't realise what a battle Edwards had to get the Dart (which back then was not meeting it spec by some margin, but showed great promise) instead of the Mamba accepted for the VC2. Mutt Summers and Jock Bryce (who I had the pleasure of meeting at a reunion at G-BOAC at EGCC a while back) made the maiden flight off the grass at Wisely!
Last edited by Shaggy Sheep Driver; 17th Jan 2012 at 21:00.
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: west of the Tamar
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I made my first ever flight in KLM Viscount PH-VIF from LHR to AMS on September 30 1958. We left from the north side of "London Airport" as it was in those days. A full English Breakfast was served on the flight and we had great views of the English countryside through the huge windows as we climbed out at a stately pace. Cruising height was FL150. We were each given a "Captain's Log" of the flight with details such as the aircraft name (Leonardo da Vinci) and Captain's name. Thorough people, the Dutch.
During the next few years I enjoyed several other Viscount flights out to East Africa and back, by Sudan Airways and Airwork. The Viscount was used for long-haul as well in those days, especially by charter operators, although of course it had to make a refuelling stop every 1000nm or so. It was a very comfortable and quiet aircraft to fly in, without the teeth-rattling vibration of the big piston airliners of the day. With only about 60 pax on a typical flight and those huge picture windows, every flight was a pleasure.
During the next few years I enjoyed several other Viscount flights out to East Africa and back, by Sudan Airways and Airwork. The Viscount was used for long-haul as well in those days, especially by charter operators, although of course it had to make a refuelling stop every 1000nm or so. It was a very comfortable and quiet aircraft to fly in, without the teeth-rattling vibration of the big piston airliners of the day. With only about 60 pax on a typical flight and those huge picture windows, every flight was a pleasure.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Frankfurt/Main
Age: 80
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quick update on events in Frankfurt. On Monday Jan 9, the first complement of wannabee technicians were let loose on the 737, parked at the time on the LH apron opposite Hangar 6. The Viscount was towed about the place, and eventually ended up in the hangar for a while.
Yesterday, the 737 was parked on the west apron in the dedicated Tech Training bay, the Viscount, looking quite forlorn, behind the wall opposite Hangar 6, inbetween two A340s. Is she being readied for collection I wonder
I notice too, that the 737 also carries a rather ugly LHTLTT on the rear fuselage, about where the reg (and flag) used to be.
brgds
Alan
Yesterday, the 737 was parked on the west apron in the dedicated Tech Training bay, the Viscount, looking quite forlorn, behind the wall opposite Hangar 6, inbetween two A340s. Is she being readied for collection I wonder
I notice too, that the 737 also carries a rather ugly LHTLTT on the rear fuselage, about where the reg (and flag) used to be.
brgds
Alan
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: bristol
Age: 65
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
used to fly IOM to LPL regularly on their viscounts, and subsequently on Manx.
enjoyed all my flights, short flights but always better than the alternative a 4 hour bumpy sea crossing
enjoyed all my flights, short flights but always better than the alternative a 4 hour bumpy sea crossing
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Frankfurt/Main
Age: 80
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's one I just unearthed of 'OYH at Aberdeen in September 1981. IIRC I was about to clamber into Bond's then newest S-76 (BMAL) for a trip up the coast to a rig in the Firth of Forth - Bidford Dolphin I believe it was.
Not one of my favourite colour schemes...
She was re-registered G-BNAA on return from a stint in Canada and saw service with Euroair and British Air Ferries.
Not one of my favourite colour schemes...
She was re-registered G-BNAA on return from a stint in Canada and saw service with Euroair and British Air Ferries.
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: U.K.
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just come back from hols in Tenerife where I found G-AOYO in a contractors yard in Tenerife North airport. She is basically intact but looking very sad. I took six pics, but have accidentally erased four! I need advice on how to publish these on line, I have tried FAQs and can't make sense of them. I flew YO ( nickname YoYo) many times mainly flying oil workers to and from Sumburgh. She was named "Viscount Montgomery" by BAF.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North UK
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Croqueteer
We'd love to see and publish your 2 remaining photos of EC-DXU ex.G-AOYO here:-
Vickers Viscount Network - A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
Click on the contact us link :-)
We'd love to see and publish your 2 remaining photos of EC-DXU ex.G-AOYO here:-
Vickers Viscount Network - A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
Click on the contact us link :-)
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Penrith
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bert Orris
Kind regards, Christopher Brewer-Grant
Although I'd watched Viscounts passing overhead Buckinghamshire on their way to/from Heathrow, my first close look was when my parents took us to 'London Airport' on a Greenline excursion one day in about 1956.
We sat on the viewing terrace watching an apparently endless stream of Viscounts arriving on 28R; as one touched down, another would be seen on short final. This seemed to go on for hours.
Next time I saw one close up was when I started my ATCO Cadet course at Hurn in late 1971; we were in a classroom which faced away from the airfield in either late '71 or early '72 when we heard a loud noise outside followed by a crash alarm. It wasn't until we went to drive home that evening that we saw the cause; a Condor airlines Viscount (with crudely painted out LH markings) had carried out an extremely short landing on runway 08 by touching down before the beginning of the runway and depositing its undercarriage at the start of the paved surface.
We sat on the viewing terrace watching an apparently endless stream of Viscounts arriving on 28R; as one touched down, another would be seen on short final. This seemed to go on for hours.
Next time I saw one close up was when I started my ATCO Cadet course at Hurn in late 1971; we were in a classroom which faced away from the airfield in either late '71 or early '72 when we heard a loud noise outside followed by a crash alarm. It wasn't until we went to drive home that evening that we saw the cause; a Condor airlines Viscount (with crudely painted out LH markings) had carried out an extremely short landing on runway 08 by touching down before the beginning of the runway and depositing its undercarriage at the start of the paved surface.
Last edited by chevvron; 9th Jan 2023 at 10:19.
Although I'd watched Viscounts passing overhead Buckinghamshire on their way to/from Heathrow, my first close look was when my parents took us to 'London Airport' on a Greenline excursion one day in about 1956.
We sat on the viewing terrace watching an apparently endless stream of Viscounts arriving on 28R; as one touched down, another would be seen on short final. This seemed to go on for hours.
Next time I saw one close up was when I started my ATCO Cadet course at Hurn in late 1971; we were in a classroom which faced away from the airfield in either late '71 or early '72 when we heard a loud noise outside followed by a crash alarm. It wasn't until we went to drive home that evening that we saw the cause; a Condor airlines Viscount (with crudely painted out LH markings) had carried out an extremely short landing on runway 06 by touching down before the beginning of the runway and depositing its undercarriage at the start of the paved surface.
We sat on the viewing terrace watching an apparently endless stream of Viscounts arriving on 28R; as one touched down, another would be seen on short final. This seemed to go on for hours.
Next time I saw one close up was when I started my ATCO Cadet course at Hurn in late 1971; we were in a classroom which faced away from the airfield in either late '71 or early '72 when we heard a loud noise outside followed by a crash alarm. It wasn't until we went to drive home that evening that we saw the cause; a Condor airlines Viscount (with crudely painted out LH markings) had carried out an extremely short landing on runway 06 by touching down before the beginning of the runway and depositing its undercarriage at the start of the paved surface.
Aviation photographs of Registration: D-ANEF : ABPic
My (divorced) father took me, a 12 year-old, on a holiday to Ireland in 1954; we flew in an Aer Lingus Viscount. It was my first flight of any kind, and he had to stop me from sprinting across the apron to board. The sights and sounds of that flight have stayed fresh in my memory ever since.
For Dad, an ex-RAF pilot, it must have been a very strange experience; he said nothing at the time. It was the first time he had been airborne (apart from a DC3 repatriation flight from Germany) since October 1943 when his Lancaster III exploded at 6000 ft after a night-fighter attack over Southern Germany, which took him to Stalag Luft III.
My lifelong love of flying and all things aviation stems from that magical flight.
For Dad, an ex-RAF pilot, it must have been a very strange experience; he said nothing at the time. It was the first time he had been airborne (apart from a DC3 repatriation flight from Germany) since October 1943 when his Lancaster III exploded at 6000 ft after a night-fighter attack over Southern Germany, which took him to Stalag Luft III.
My lifelong love of flying and all things aviation stems from that magical flight.
My first flight in a Viscount was later in 1972. In September I passed my operational training at Glasgow at about 4 pm on the monday and was handed an Air Travel Warrant and told to report to the ATCO Manager at Sumburgh that wednesday.
When I boarded, I was 'asked to report to the flight deck' where I found there were only 2 seats ie no jump seat. The captain told me to stand behind his seat for every takeoff and landing, the flight being multi sector Glasgow - Inverness - Wick - Kirkwall - Sumburgh.
After departing Wick, we stayed at about 1000ft amsl until we approached the ring of islands forming Scapa Flow, where we descended to 'XXXft' (I'm not telling) for a superb view of the sunken ships in the anchorage.
We landed on the 'short' runway at Sumburgh, about 900m (now extended to 1500m), and as we did a 180 at the end of the runway, I looked down to see seals in the water below us looking up at us.
There was an 'offset' approach to runway 33 at Sumburgh with a line of sodium lights as a 'lead in' to indicate to the crew the correct path to follow to avoiding the high ground forming Sumburgh Head.
When I boarded, I was 'asked to report to the flight deck' where I found there were only 2 seats ie no jump seat. The captain told me to stand behind his seat for every takeoff and landing, the flight being multi sector Glasgow - Inverness - Wick - Kirkwall - Sumburgh.
After departing Wick, we stayed at about 1000ft amsl until we approached the ring of islands forming Scapa Flow, where we descended to 'XXXft' (I'm not telling) for a superb view of the sunken ships in the anchorage.
We landed on the 'short' runway at Sumburgh, about 900m (now extended to 1500m), and as we did a 180 at the end of the runway, I looked down to see seals in the water below us looking up at us.
There was an 'offset' approach to runway 33 at Sumburgh with a line of sodium lights as a 'lead in' to indicate to the crew the correct path to follow to avoiding the high ground forming Sumburgh Head.
Last edited by chevvron; 9th Jan 2023 at 15:52.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dorset UK
Age: 70
Posts: 1,756
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I saw the Viscount disappear behind Airwork's buildings from my viewpoint, and not re-appear, then saw the smoke rising. The BAC fire crew were first on the scene with Derek Saunders going into the aircraft to get the 2 pilots out, both uninjured.
One pair of mainwheels, complete with axle and brake units, bounced and landed in the field on the other side of the road.
