The Viscount was a medium-range turboprop airliner introduced in 1953 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world. It would go on to be one of the most successful of the first-generation post-war transports, with 445 being built over the life of the production line. It was particularly well liked by the passengers, as it was quiet, vibration free, and had much larger windows than those found on more modern airliners. A schematic diagram showing the operation of a turboprop engine. ... An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft (an aeroplane/airplane) initially designed for the transport of paying passengers, and usually operated by an airline company (which owns or leases the aircraft). ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1953: Events The first year in which the worlds airlines carried more than 50 million people (ICAO statement, 29 December) January January 26 - The first meeting of the Experimental Aircraft Association takes place at Milwaukee, Wisconsins Curtis-Wright Field. ... The Vickers corporation, founded as the Vickers company in 1828, was a British manufacturer, primarily of military equipment. ...

Vickers Viscount Model 802 of British European Airways at London (Heathrow) Airport, 1964.

Image File history File links Beschreibung A Vickers Viscount Modell 802 of BAE in Heathrow, London, England. ... Image File history File links Beschreibung A Vickers Viscount Modell 802 of BAE in Heathrow, London, England. ...

History

The original design resulted from the Brabazon Committee's Type IIB design, calling for a smaller medium-range turboprop-powered pressurized aircraft to fly its less-travelled routes, carrying 24 passengers up to 1,750 miles (2,816 km) at 200 mile/h (322 km/h). British European Airways (BEA) was involved in the design and asked that the plane carry 32 passengers instead, but remained otherwise similar. The Type IIA was to be a piston powered version of similar performance, and was built as the Airspeed Ambassador. In 1942, during World War II, the United States and the United Kingdom agreed to split responsibility for aircraft construction; the US would concentrate on transport aircraft while the UK would concentrate on their heavy bombers. ... For alternate usages of BEA see Bea (disambiguation). ... The Airspeed Ambassador was a twin piston engined airliner that first flew on July 10, 1947 and served in very small numbers through the 1950s. ...

The resulting Vickers Type 630 design was completed at Brooklands by Chief Designer Rex Pierson and his staff in 1945, a thirty-two seat airliner powered by four Rolls-Royce Dart engines for an improved cruising speed of 275 mph (443 km/h). An order for two prototypes was placed in March 1946, and construction started almost immediately. Originally to be named Viceroy, the name had to be changed after the partition of India in 1947. There was some work on replacing the Darts with the Armstrong Siddeley Mamba, but this was dropped by the time the prototypes were reaching completion. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1945: // Events January January 1 - the Luftwaffe begins targeting Allied airfields in Europe as Operation Bodenplatte February February 13-15 - Allied bombers attack Dresden with incendiary weapons, destroying most of the city and killing some 50,000 people. ... The Rolls Royce Dart was a long-lived turboprop engine. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1946: // Events January January 1 - a British South American Airways Avro Lancastrian becomes the first commercial flight to depart Heathrow Airport January 10 - a Sikorsky R5 sets an unofficial helicopter altitude record of 6,400 m (21,000 ft) at Stratford... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1947: Events March March 14 - Saudi Arabian Airlines begins regular services. ... The Mamba was Armstrong-Siddeleys gas turbine turboprop engine design of around 1,500 hp (1,100 kW). ...

The prototype Model 630 flew on July 16, 1948, and the second prototype was built as a test-bed with two Rolls-Royce Tay turbojets in place of the four Darts. The first prototype was awarded a restricted Certificate of Airworthiness on September 15 1949, followed by a full Certificate on July 27 1950, and placed into service with BEA the next day to familiarize the pilots and ground crew with the new aircraft. However the design was considered too small and slow at 275 mph (443 km/h), making the per-passenger operating costs too high for regular service. July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1948: Events January January 17 - BOAC begins to replace flying boat routes with the Lockheed Constellation March the Israeli Air Force is formed, with the new state of Israel March 10 - VF-5 becomes the first US Navy carrier squadron to... The Tay name is given to two Rolls-Royce jet engines. ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1949: Events Aerolíneas Argentinas established. ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1950: Events Arrow Air is founded March March 20 - Royal Air Force Avro Lincoln bombers are sent to Singapore to be used against the Communist guerillas of Malaya in the Malayan Emergency. ...

Vickers Viscount Model 701 of Cambrian Airways at Bristol Airport, England, 1963.

The design then went back to the drawing board and re-emerged as the larger Type 700 with up to forty-eight passengers (53 in some configurations), and a cruising speed of 308 mph (496 km/h). The new prototype first flew August 28, 1950. British European Airways ordered twenty V.701s, and soon orders came in from other airlines as well. The first 700 was delivered to BEA in January 1953, and in April began the world's first turboprop-powered service. Image File history File links Beschreibung Vickers Viscount 701 of Cambrian Airwaiys, Bristol Airport Photography taken by Adrian Pingstone, 1963 (released to PD) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Vickers Viscount ... Image File history File links Beschreibung Vickers Viscount 701 of Cambrian Airwaiys, Bristol Airport Photography taken by Adrian Pingstone, 1963 (released to PD) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Vickers Viscount ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1950: Events Arrow Air is founded March March 20 - Royal Air Force Avro Lincoln bombers are sent to Singapore to be used against the Communist guerillas of Malaya in the Malayan Emergency. ... For alternate usages of BEA see Bea (disambiguation). ...

Three years later the Viscount won all honours in the transport section of the 12,367 mile (19,903 km) air race from London to Christchurch, New Zealand. The aircraft averaged 320 mph (515 km/h) in the event, crossing the finishing line nine hours ahead of its closest rival. Vickers Vicounts served with New Zealand's National Airways Corporation. London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... For other uses, see Christchurch (disambiguation). ... National Airways Corporation was the national domestic airline of New Zealand. ...

The Model 700D added more powerful engines, and the Model 724 included a new fuel system, two-pilot cockpit, and increased weights.

The final major change to the design was the Type 800 Super Viscount, stretched 3 ft 10 in (1.2 m) for up to 71 passengers. A further change to the fuselage was planned, but later renamed as the Vanguard instead. The name Vanguard had earlier been used on a civilian model of the Vickers Virginia bomber, other versions of the same aircraft being the Victoria and Valentia. ...

The type continued in BEA and British Airways service until the 1980s, eventually being passed on to charter operators such as British Air Ferries (later British World). The last British-owned Viscounts were sold in South Africa where a small number are still in use. For the 1930s airline of similar name see British Airways Ltd British Airways (LSE: BAY, NYSE: BAB) is the largest airline of the United Kingdom. ...

Variants

• 700 - the first production version, 1,381 hp (1,030 kW) engines, 287 built
  • 700D - 1,576 hp (1,175 kW) engines
• 724 - 15 sold to Trans Canada Airlines (TCA) of Canada, included more electrical power, a new fuel system, and cold weather operation provisions.
• 745 - 40 sold to Capital Airlines of the USA
• 757 - 35 for Trans Canada Airlines with more powerful 1,600 hp (1,193 kW) Dart 510 engines
• 771D - improved 770D
• 800 - fuselage stretched 3 ft 10 in (1.2 m), 67 built
• 810 - 1,991 hp (1,485 kW) engines, 84 built

Air Canada Boeing 767 Air Canada Airbus A330 Another Air Canada A330 Air Canada is Canadas flag air carrier and recognised as one of the worlds safest airlines. ... This article is about the former North American carrier. ...

Specifications (Model 800)

General Characteristics

• Crew: two pilots + cabin crew
• Capacity: 75 passengers
• Length: 85 ft 8 in (26.11 m)
• Wingspan: 93 ft 8 in (28.56 m)
• Height: 26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
• Wing area: 963 ft² ( 89 m²)
• Weight:
  • Empty: 41,479 lb (18,815 kg)
  • Loaded: lb ( kg)
  • Maximum takeoff: 72,281 lb (32,786 kg)
• Powerplant: 4x Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7/1 Mk 525 turboprops, 2,100 shp (1,566 kW) each

The Rolls Royce Dart was a long-lived turboprop engine. ... A schematic diagram showing the operation of a turboprop engine. ...

Performance

• Maximum speed: 352 mph (566 km/h)
• Range: 1,735 miles (2,790 km)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7620 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

Military Operators

• Australia, Brazil, China, India, Oman, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey,

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Comparable aircraft: L-188 Electra - Ilyushin Il-18 The Lockheed L-188 Electra first flew in 1957, and was the first turboprop airliner built in the USA. It delivered performance only slightly inferior to that of a full jet aircraft, at a lower operating cost. ... Two aircraft have shared the designation Ilyushin Il-18. ...

Designation sequence: