Vickers Viscount 700
Vickers-Armstrongs · United Kingdom · first flew 1950 · airliner
The Vickers Viscount Type 700 was the first major production series of the world's first turboprop airliner, seating 40-53 passengers in a fuselage 1.4 m shorter than the later stretched Type 800.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large oval cabin windows, the Viscount's trademark, arranged in a shorter fuselage than the 800 |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four Rolls-Royce Dart 505/506 turboprops on a low tapered wing — the original production standard
- Large oval cabin windows, the Viscount's trademark, arranged in a shorter fuselage than the 800
- Shorter, rounder fuselage seating 40-53 passengers — visibly more compact than the stretched Type 800
Shorter than the 800-series Viscount with fewer fuselage window bays — compare by counting oval windows (typically nine per side vs twelve on the 800). The nose profile and tail are identical; fuselage length is the primary distinguishing feature.
Specifications
- The Vickers Viscount 700 has a length of 24.73 m (81 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 28.56 m (94 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 563 km/h (350 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Type 700 emerged from the second prototype with Dart 506 engines and a widened cabin; it entered service with BEA on 18 April 1953, inaugurating the world's first scheduled turboprop service between London and Nicosia. Capital Airlines of the US ordered large numbers, proving British technology could penetrate North America.
Variants
Sub-variants 701 through 724 reflected different customer specifications and Dart marks. The Type 700D introduced Dart 510 engines with water-methanol injection for better hot-and-high performance.
Where you'll see it
BEA was the launch customer, and British independent airlines including British Eagle and Channel Airways also flew 700-series Viscounts. Several 701-series aircraft are preserved in UK museums including Brooklands and Duxford.
Related aircraft
- Vickers Valiant
- Vickers Viscount
- Vickers Viking
- Vickers Viscount 800
- Ilyushin Il-14
- Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
- Martin 4-0-4
- Avro Canada C102 Jetliner
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