Capital146 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2003, 2125 posts, RR: 51 Posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 392 times:
As someone who only caught the Vickers Viscount near the end of its career (during the 1980's), I still distinctly remember the whine of those 4 RR Darts it flew over my house on LBA-LHR everyday with British Midland until 1985 and then just at weekends on this route until 1987 along with British Air Ferries (VF) to Jersey at summer weekends until approx 1988.
The final passenger flights by the Viscount were by British World (formerly British Air Ferries) on ABZ-Sumburgh(Shetland Isles) in 1996.
I loved the Viscount, does anyone else have fond memories?
TNboy From Australia, joined Mar 2002, 1131 posts, RR: 17 Reply 1, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 372 times:
The Viscount was my favourite airliner for many years. It introduced quiet, vibration-free flight (OK, it's all relative, but it was quieter and smoother than anything else around at the time of its introduction), and those huge windows were magnificent. It was also a beautiful looking aircraft. Some of the early advertisements showed passengers balancing coins on their edge, to demonstrate the lack of vibration - and on mnay flights you could see passengers doing the same thing. It was a beautiful aircraft throughout its flying career, and popularised prop-jet flight. A real classic!
Cheers
Bill
Bd1959 From Australia, joined Oct 2002, 450 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 349 times:
I had two Viscount experiences:
My first flight memory (tho' not flight!!) was a BMA pleasure flight which my primary school organized from EMA we flew over the City of Derby (home of RR aero engines!!). It was summer, the flight was low, the cabin hot and the pilot kept banking to give everyone a great view. I enjoyed my recent meal a second time that night!!
My second was in 1985 flying GB Airways from Tangiers to Gibraltar on a Viscount (both ways). Having flown LGW - TNG on a BY737, the windows of the Viscount were like an obs deck!!
Rongotai From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 443 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 346 times:
Yes, just wonderful. I remember my first flight on a Viscount - G-AOHR in 1961, that was also my first flight on a plane that wasn't piston powered. I had flown LPL-GLA (Renfrew) on Starways DC3 G-AMPY and returned to MAN on BEA. I just couldn't believe that flying could be like that. Quiet, stable, huge seat pitch and huge windows. There has been nothing like it since.
My last Viscount flight was HLZ-PMR on an NZNAC Viscount in 1974.
BN747 From United States, joined Mar 2002, 3575 posts, RR: 49 Reply 5, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 333 times:
If it helps at all..the Vegas carrier flew Viscounts from LAS to Tucson and some other destination. A very smooth turboprop aircraft if their ever was one.
Who was that carrier?
Gore vs Bush, Kerry vs Bush...did the people choose WISELY? History says 'Hell NO!
IMissPiedmont From United States, joined May 2001, 5481 posts, RR: 41 Reply 6, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 311 times:
The Tucson based Viscount operator was Royal American, a part of Ron Clark's Go Group. Last seen as LorAir.
Cheers.
Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man, though my mind could think I still was a madman
Milesrich From United States, joined Jul 2003, 714 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 267 times:
United acquired 47 Viscount 745D's when they merged with Capital in 1961. A year later, these aircraft were being used east of Omaha all over the UA system. I flew on many of them between ORD and MLI. It was a quiet airplane on the inside, noisier than heck outside. The seats had contained trays like the jets, and it in the all first class 2-2 seating, it was very comfortable, plus those huge oval windows gave the passenger a great view at 6-8000 feet. Compared to the DC-6, the Viscount was far superior in passenger comforts.
CanadianNorth From Canada, joined Aug 2002, 3003 posts, RR: 11 Reply 10, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 261 times:
Well I have never flown on one, nor seen one fly, only seen the one parked in the corner somewhere round YVR there and the pictures of em, but from what i hear/see they seem to be a decent aircraft
BlackandWhite From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined Aug 2003, 107 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 197 times:
First Viscount flight in 1966 on British Eagle from LHR to INN ,last 27Apr 1983 British Midland GAYOX GLAEMA.
The Viscount was the mainstay of BA highland and island operations,from the mid 70s up until 1982,there was nothing finer to my way of thinking than to look out of its large windows on a clear sunny summer day flying at about 2-5000 feet with the islands of scotland slipping bye,thats the main thing i remember about the Viscount those windows,and its legroom.
Sponsor Message: 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2003, 2125 posts, 
From Australia, joined Mar 2002, 1131 posts, 
From United States, joined Mar 2002, 3575 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 443 posts, 
From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 14932 posts, 
.gif){kind=small}
From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined Aug 2003, 107 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
