Viscount news

[VEGAS]

Hi all,

Had the latest newsletter from vickersviscount.net sent to me this evening. Seems there is some interesting news regarding one of the African machines which could end up back on British shores.

Not sure about it to be honest, perhaps Garry can shed some light on Global Airways and their Viscounts? :think:

Article reads:


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AIRWORTHY VISCOUNT FOR SALE!

It all started with a request on the Key Publishing forum by The North Essex Transport Group, England who are interested in acquiring the fuselage of a Vickers Viscount, the type of aircraft that once operated from their location. They asked if anyone knew of anything that might be of interest to them? Is there a fuselage that is dumped or abandoned at some airfield and is no longer needed? They are willing to consider a complete airframe and have the space to display it inside a disused hangar.

On the 11 November 2008 Di Cambio posted this:-

'We got one! In a flyable condition on top of that. One of the last flying on the planet earth. My company named Global Airways is currently selling it. After several years of loyal services, we can't cope with its gigantic consumption, that is why we are looking for a much fuel saver turbo prop.'

'If The North Essex Transport Group are still interested in acquiring a Vickers Viscount fuselage, parts and much more, please advise so we can discuss'.'

Global Airways Viscount c/n 382 9Q-CON taken 2 March 2008.

Viscount c/n 382 was originally built for BEA - British European Airways as G-APEY and as 9Q-CON is currently stored in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

To follow the progress of this project have a look at the posting on the Key Publishing forum:- http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=84973

You will see that there is a lot of interest and it would be great to get more Viscounts preserved.

Vickers Viscount Network co-founder Geoff Blampied says 'Since the network was started in 2005, we have had many people contact us saying how they miss the unique sight and sound of the Viscount with its four Rolls-Royce Dart engines in flight, and wouldn't it be great to have one in the air once again.'

'There is a Viscount in America that is close to being airworthy and the MAAM - Mid Atlantic Air Museum tells us that all they need is a new Rolls-Royce Dart to get it finished. Watch our pages for progress with this project.'

'However, Europe is far from this position with no aircraft being prepared for flight. Perhaps the sale of the Global Airways Viscount could be the catalyst to correct this situation. It would be a mammoth task. A task that would need a special type of leadership. Leadership that could set-up a trust to finance the project, both for the restoration and to keep the project flying afterwards, to find and organise the engineering and aviation regulation requirements, to find and train air and maintenance crews. In all, this would be a very big task but one that would bring back and promote the memory of this pioneering aircraft.'

'The Vickers Viscount Network would love to get involved with a project of this nature to act as the window to the world to bring all interested parties together, and to keep the world of Viscount supporters informed on the progress being made. If you feel that you are this person then please get in-touch. Other aviation groups have succeeded with one even getting an Avro Vulcan back into the air!'

[DaveB]

.. all they need is a new RR Dart to get it finished :o Easier said than done but I wish them well with the project ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[markw]

Sounds like it's the British World aircraft that did a "last chance" set of flights with British World from Manston at an airshow I drove down to (from Staffordshire) and which I remember for a spectacularly heavy landing after our round the bay flight. However, the British World final tour wasn't the actual final tour as it was bought by Leeds based outfit HeliJet, who did a second round-Britain final tour (we copped a day trip from East Midlands to Jersey on that occasion including flight deck viewing) before flying it down to South Africa for tourist flights to safari destinations. HeliJet were even selling seats on the positioning flight from the UK to South Africa which was stopping off in a number of places which frequently crop up on the Foreign Office "Don't even think about it" dodgy places list, which led us to dub it the Great Hijackings Sightseeing Tour. We thought it safer to stick with Jersey.

Let's hope it can be repatriated and kept airworthy, better still, airworthy for passengers. It would be lovely if the Classic Flight crew at Coventry could get it but I expect they already have enough to look after.

[Garry Russell]

Not faimilar with the outfit

I heard a few weeks ago about this one for disposal but my feelings is it won't come back

Seeing as the condition of the machines were so poor back in the mid nineties that they were forced out of service in the UK I can only hazard a guess that they are by our standard, un airworthy.

All this extra time will have done nothing to improve that

Corrosion is a big problem with the type and some aircraft like the Channel 812 were scrapped due to excessive corrosion of airframes less than ten years old.

If they do make it back I am sure they would be grounded.

I read of one Viscount that was still in africa working daily with most of the instruments not fuctioning and no fuel trimmers.

Airframe was not even looked at and that came from a pilot of the aircraft.

It would be great, but I doubt if the news could be anywhere as good as wishful thinking suggest.

Garry

[Garry Russell]

Just reading throight

the last chance was by G-APEY and this aircraft was reported scrapped a couple of years ago......certainly that aircraft if it does exist has not flown for a while

The airworthy aircraft was originally G-AOHV with BEA

If the a 700 still files...............and I doubt that as it was parked 'airworthy' for several years, left to rot and was last reported covered with mould than that is an ex Air Canada machine.

On a UK note

G-BDRC was bought by Janus and ferried to Exeter form Guernsey where it had been stored with an hour left on the frame before overhail

It was overhauled and painted and then they inspectors saw the deep corrosion which was probably bettter than the current African aircraft. It ended up on the Manston dump and they wer not even permitted to make that flight...it went by road.


A lot is hidden. Many reported the Canary aircraft in good condition and the tarted up one was rumoured to be airworthy a couple of years ago when in reality back in the late 80's BAF were not interested in taking them back due to their condition.

Garry

[DaveB]

Hello Mate

Does that ring true or what. You'll all remember I advertised us doing an engine run at Brooklands quite recently which was subsequently cancelled due to a problem with engine no.1.. well, here are shots of why no.1 wouldn't start. This is the starter!!





We've found a replacement starter motor off a 'static exibit' which is in good nick but it does beg the question.. what state are the other 3 in?? :o

Here's an interesting link that illustrates what can be happening without being obvious..
www.corsairrestoration.com

Looking at this made us all on the Vanguard feel a lot better but even so, we have no cause to laugh :roll:

ATB

DaveB :tab: