The revolutionary Vickers Viscount first flew from Wisley in England on 16 July 1948. Powered by the Rolls-Royce Dart engine, it became the first turboprop powered airliner in the world. Regular airline service commenced with British European Airways on 18 April 1953.
Turboprop power resulted in very little vibration from the engines. This, coupled with the large panoramic windows, meant the Viscount had great passenger appeal. Produced between 1948 and 1963, the aircraft was a major sales success with 445 built during its production run.
Capital Airlines Vickers Viscount Video
Following on from last weeks video about the forgotten Douglas DC-5, this week there is a video from Capital Airlines about their Vickers Viscount. Capital introduced the Viscount to the United States and this promotional film dates from 1955, running around 25 minutes.
If you’re time poor, there is a shorter video of around six minutes on a post I wrote early last year at this link. A chunk of the below video – up to about 11:40 – is devoted to the Rolls-Royce Dart engines which were technologically advanced for the time.
Next, the video shows some of the Vickers production line, and then from around 16 minutes you go on a Capital Airlines flight. Unfortunately, the sound drops out several times in this part – 16:24 to 17:28, 17:50 to 18:00 and then 18:42 to 19:56.
From 20:30 the video heads over to Europe, showing London, an Air France Vickers Viscount in Paris, and an Aer Lingus one in Dublin. Finally it finishes with a Capital Airlines pilot explaining some of the features of the aircraft.
Overall Thoughts
The Vickers Viscount had a long career, with its last passenger flights taking place in the UK in April 1996. It remains the most commercially successful British built aircraft and saw service throughout the world.
Having a seat on one of these would have been some experience, with the 48 by 66 centimetre (19 x 26 inches) windows providing an excellent outside view. By comparison, the Boeing 787 windows are 28 by 47 centimetres and they’re the largest around today.
Have you been on board a Vickers Viscount? Perhaps you remember the distinctive sound of the Rolls-Royce Dart? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image via Aussieairliners.org
Flew a United Viscount round trip Newark-Detroit in 1967. On the return, I was offered an alcoholic drink. Just out of college, I knew beer but not booze. My parents drank Manhattans so I asked for that. I was given one miniature but didn’t drink it. When I got back, my then girl friend asked when I planned to drink it and I replied that maybe we’d share it if or when we’d been together a while. We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, so maybe it’s time?
Yes, I think Capital was bought by United, so that would have originally been a Capital Airlines aircraft. Great that you got to try it back then! I’ve noticed that airlines rarely check people’s ID on board. Great story there, I think after 50 years it’s definitely time to have it! Thanks for the comment.
The first plane I ever flew on was a BEA Vickers Viscount from Belfast to Edinburgh in 1970. I was 14. Unforgettable.
I’m totally jealous – I would have loved to have flown on board a Viscount!
AC’s VCV between YYZ and YOW in the days of my yute! The scream of those Darts was awesome.
They definitely had a sound all their own, didn’t they? You could always tell a Rolls-Royce Dart in the sky! Thanks for the comment!
For oldtimers! Loved the whistle of those engines. Both Ansett Australia and TAA flew those for years in the peak of flying comfort. My first flight was on a Lockheed Electra, an advanced craft that came soon after with an improved engine. The 727 replaced them all to herald the jet age in Australia.
Yes, TAA ordered the Viscounts in Australia initially while Ansett-ANA went with Douglas DC-6Bs. The two airline policy meant that they were supposed to have the same aircraft so TAA had to give ANA some of their Viscounts to Ansett-ANA in exchange for DC-6Bs – needless to say they weren’t happy about that! I’ll definitely be doing one on the Lockheed Electra soon, great that it was your first flight! Would have loved to have tried one of those. Thanks for the comment!
Nice looking bird. I’ve heard of these but never actually flown one. The wings seem surprisingly small.
Yes, they’re not huge, but then again the aircraft isn’t all that big either. I’ve been inside one in a museum and the windows definitely are massive! Thanks for the comment.
My first flight was in an Aer Lingus Viscount, LHR-DUB, in about 1961. That was millions of miles ago….
Excellent that you had a Viscount as your first flight. I can imagine it was millions of miles ago – but a nice one to start on! Thanks for the comment!