Aircraft / Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount is a British-made four engine, medium-range turboprop airliner manufactured by Vickers-Armstrongs. Built in response to a design requirement put forth by the British government, the Viscount entered service in 1953 as the first turboprop-powered airliner. The aircraft included pressurization, reductions in vibration and noise, and panoramic windows.
Production of the Viscount ended in 1963 after 445 aircraft were built, due to the advent of the Jet Age and the introduction of newer generation turboprop airliners such as the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and Lockheed L-188 Electra. Dozens of airlines around the world took delivery of the Viscount both during its production lifetime and in the secondhand markets thereafter. It also saw service with several government and corporate operators. Many Viscounts were later refurbished into freighters and saw further service with passenger carriers in Africa, Asia and South America through the 1990s and early 2000s.
The type was retired in 2009, but over two dozen Viscounts can still be found on static display in museums and other venues worldwide.
Reference: Wikipedia.
Stats
Stats displayed are for the Vickers Viscount 700 series four-engined aircraft.
Name: Vickers Viscount 700
Origin: Weybridge, Surrey, UK; Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, UK
Role: Four Engined Turboprop Airliner
First Introduction: 18 April 1953
Status: Out of Production; Retired
Cockpit Crew: 2
Seating: 40-63
Engines: 4 x Rolls-Royce RB.53 Dart Turboprop
Cruise Speed: 276 knots (510 km/h; 317 mph)
Range: 1739 nmi (3219 km; 2000 mi)