Vickers Viscount
Vickers-Armstrongs · United Kingdom · first flew 1948 · airliner
The Vickers Viscount was the world's first turboprop airliner and Britain's most commercially successful, prized for its smooth, quiet ride and panoramic oval windows.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Low wing, conventional single fin, rounded friendly fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four slim wing-mounted Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops
- Large oval cabin windows, generous for the period
- Low wing, conventional single fin, rounded friendly fuselage
The Viscount is identified by its four slender Dart turboprops on a low wing, a conventional tail, and above all its large oval windows. It is markedly smaller and rounder than the Britannia, with which it is most often confused, so compare size and window shape to tell them apart.
Specifications
- The Vickers Viscount has a length of 26.11 m (86 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 28.55 m (94 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 566 km/h (352 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Born from the wartime Brabazon Committee's recommendations, the Viscount first flew in 1948 and entered service in 1953 as the world's first turboprop airliner. Its smooth, quiet Dart engines and panoramic windows transformed passenger comfort, and 445 were built between 1948 and 1963, a breakthrough that even penetrated the North American market.
Variants
The original Type 700 was followed by the stretched, higher-capacity Type 800 and the more powerful, longer-range Type 810. Continual Dart power growth allowed steady increases in payload and range across the family.
Where you'll see it
BEA inaugurated the world's first scheduled turboprop passenger service with the Viscount on 18 April 1953, and the type went on to serve British Airways and many British independents. Preserved UK examples include a Type 806 at Brooklands Museum and a Type 701A in BEA colours in the Duxford British Airliner Collection.
Related aircraft
- Vickers Viscount 700
- Vickers Valiant
- Vickers Viking
- Vickers Viscount 800
- Airspeed Ambassador
- Avro Canada C102 Jetliner
- Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- Bristol Brabazon
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