The Vickers Viscount was a British-built, four-turboprop-powered airliner designed for medium-range routes, produced between 1948 and 1963.
Prototypes
Type 630
The initial prototype featured a shortened fuselage measuring 74 ft 6 in (22.71 m), seating 32 passengers, and was equipped with four Rolls-Royce Dart R.Da Mk 501 engines delivering 1,380 ehp (1,032 kW) each.
Type 663
The second prototype served as a test platform for the Rolls-Royce RB.44 Tay turbojet engine.
Type 640
A planned third prototype intended to use four Napier Naiad turboprop engines; this model was never constructed, with its components repurposed for the Type 700 prototype.
Viscount 700
Type 700
This marked the first production model, powered by engines rated at 1,381 hp (1,030 kW). A "D" suffix indicated versions fitted with the more powerful 1,576 hp (1,175 kW) Dart 510 engines. A total of 287 units were built.
Type 701
Manufactured for British European Airways (BEA), this version mirrored the Type 700 prototype but featured engines repositioned 18 inches further outboard to diminish cabin noise. Initially equipped with Dart 505 engines, later replaced by Dart 506s. Seating capacity evolved from an original configuration of either 40 or 47 seats to accommodate up to 60 or 63 passengers by the 1960s. Twenty-seven were produced, with deliveries commencing in January 1953.
Type 702
Built for BWIA West Indies Airways (BWIA), this variant employed Dart 506 engines and offered seating for either 44 or 53 passengers. Four units were delivered starting June 1955.
Type 703
A proposed variant designed to seat 53 passengers; however, it was never constructed.
Type 707
Produced for the initial export customer Aer Lingus, this model was fitted with Dart 505 engines later upgraded to Dart 506s and had a seating capacity of 53. Four were manufactured, with first delivery in March 1954.
Type 708
Designed for Air France, this version featured Dart 505 engines (upgraded subsequently to Dart 506s) and accommodated 49 passengers. Twelve units were built and first delivered in May 1953.
Type 720
Constructed for Trans Australia Airlines (TAA), this model came with Dart 505 engines later replaced by Dart 506s and seated 49 passengers. Seven aircraft were outfitted with additional conformal "slipper tanks" providing an extra 290 imp gal (1,300 L; 350 US gal) of fuel capacity. Deliveries began in October 1955.
Type 723
A single aircraft produced for the Indian Air Force, powered by Dart 506s and featuring a VIP interior. Delivered in December 1955.
Type 724
Built for Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), this variant included Dart 506 engines along with enhancements such as increased electrical power, a revised fuel system, and equipment suitable for cold climates including ice-guard fuselage panels and anti-skid brakes. Seating arrangements varied between 44 and 48 passengers. Fifteen units were delivered starting December 1954.
Type 728
A proposed production variant intended for Cyprus Airways and Aden Airways, equipped with Dart 506 engines but never constructed.
Type 730
Produced for the Indian Air Force similar to Type 723 but featuring an alternate VIP interior layout. One unit was delivered in January 1956.
Type 731
A planned production version for KLM featuring Dart 506 engines that did not proceed to construction.
Type 732
Manufactured for Hunting-Clan Air Transport, this variant included Dart 506 engines, slipper tanks, and a cabin configured for fifty-two passengers. Three aircraft were delivered starting May 1955.
Type 734
Produced for the Pakistan Air Force, equipped with Dart 506 engines, slipper tanks, and a VIP interior. Delivered in March 1956.
Type 735
Built for Iraqi Airways, this model came with Dart 506 engines and seating options of either forty-four or fifty-three passengers. Three units entered service beginning October 1955.
Type 736
Manufactured for Fred. Olsen & Co., powered by Dart 506s with forty-eight seats installed. Two aircraft were delivered starting November 1955.
Type 737
A single production unit created for the Canadian Department of Transport featuring Dart 506 engines and a VIP interior. Delivered in March 1955.
Type 738
A design proposal for a special-purpose variant utilizing Dart 506 engines that was never realized.
Type 739
Constructed for Misrair, equipped with Dart 506 engines and seating forty passengers. Six units were delivered beginning December 1955.
Type 740
A design concept intended as a staff transport variant powered by Dart 506 engines that remained unbuilt.
Type 741
A conceptual VVIP variant featuring Dart 506 powerplants that was not produced.
Type 742
Initially ordered by Braathens ASA#Braathens-SAFE but ultimately delivered to the Brazilian Air Force in November 1956, this version included Dart 510 engines, VIP interiors, and slipper tanks.
Type 744
Developed for Capital Airlines (United States), powered by Dart 506s with forty-eight seats installed. Three aircraft were delivered commencing June 1955.
Type 745
Also built for US-based Capital Airlines, the first nine of these used Dart 506 engines while subsequent units featured Dart 510s. They accommodated forty-eight passengers and incorporated a forward integral airstair. Sixty were produced beginning November 1955.
Type 747
Manufactured for Butler Air Transport, equipped with Dart 506 powerplants and seating forty passengers. Two units entered service starting September 1955.
Type 748
Built for Central African Airways using Dart 506 engines, configured with forty-seven seats plus slipper tanks. Five aircraft were delivered beginning May 1956.
Type 749
A production model created for LAV featuring Dart 506 powerplants and seating forty passengers. Three units were delivered from February 1956.
Type 754
Produced for Middle East Airlines, powered by Dart 510 engines offering between forty-four and forty-eight seats. Eight aircraft began delivery in July 1957.
Type 755
Intended originally for Airwork Services, outfitted with Dart 510 engines and forty-eight seats. The order was canceled and transferred to Cubana de Aviación. Three units were built and first delivered in May 1956.
Type 756
Manufactured for Trans Australia Airlines featuring Dart 510 powerplants, forty-four seats, and slipper tanks. Seven aircraft entered service starting June 1956.
Type 757
A version similar to Type 724 but fitted with upgraded Dart 510 engines rated at approximately 1,600 hp (1,120 kW). Thirty-five units were built beginning March 1956 for Trans-Canada Air Lines.
Type 759
Ordered by Hunting Clan Airlines with Dart 510 powerplants, seating configurations of forty or forty-four seats plus slipper tanks. Two units were delivered to Icelandair from November 1956 onward.
Type 760
A production variant built for Hong Kong Airlines, equipped with Dart 510 engines, accommodating either forty or forty-four passengers along with slipper tanks. Two aircraft were delivered starting January 1957.
Type 761
Developed for Myanma Airways#Union of Burma Airlines, featuring Dart 510 powerplants and seating forty-eight passengers. Three units entered service beginning July 1957.
Type 762
A planned executive transport variant powered by Dart 510s that did not proceed to construction.
Type 763
A single production unit constructed for Howard Hughes's use fitted with Dart 510 engines and seating forty-eight passengers, delivered to TACA Airlines in October 1958.
Type 764
Bespoke models created for the United States Steel Corporation featuring Dart 510 powerplants, VIP interiors, slipper tanks plus an additional belly tank holding approximately four hundred fifty gallons of fuel. Three units were delivered starting December 1956.
Type 765
A similar design to Type 764 commissioned by the Standard Oil Company (ESSO), one unit built and delivered in 1957.
Type 767
A proposed production variant intended for Aden Airways equipped with Dart 510s that remained unconstructed.
Type 768
Produced for the Indian Airlines Corporation using Dart 510 engine models configured with forty-four seats. Ten aircraft entered service beginning August 1957.
Type 769
Built for PLUNA airline featuring Dart 510 powerplants along with forty-eight seats plus slipper tanks on three aircraft first delivered in May 1958.
Type 770
A fundamental design basis aimed at creating a Type 700D model intended for the United States market that was not realized.
Type 771
A basic design standard based on Type 745 that did not progress beyond planning stages.
Type 772
Constructed variant supplied to British West Indian Airways (BWIA) powered by Dart 506 engines seating forty-eight passengers across four units delivered from October 1957 onward.
A planned production model intended for Saudi Arabia fitted with Dart 510s that was never constructed.
Type 775
A proposed design targeted at Yugoslavian operators using Dart 510 powerplants which did not come to fruition.
Type 776
Converted from a Type 745 unit in 1958 to serve Kuwait Airlines equipped with Dart 510 engines.
Type 777
A fundamental design featuring Dart 510 powerplants that remained unbuilt.
Type 778
A projected production variant intended for Chile utilizing Dart 510s which did not proceed to manufacture.
Type 779
Bespoke models produced for Fred Olsen comprising four units powered by Dart 510 engines configured with forty-eight seats first delivered April 1957.
Type 780
A standard basic design incorporating dart 510s combined with VIP interiors that was not realized as a production model.
Type 781
Bespoke production version supplied to the South African Air Force including dart 510 powerplants, VIP interiors plus slipper tanks in one unit delivered June 1958.
Type 782
Manufactured specifically for Iranian Airways equipped with dart 510s offering forty-eight seats across three units convertible into VIP configurations suitable for the Shah of Persia’s use beginning March 1958 deliveries.
Type 783
A planned production version destined for LAC outfitted with dart 510s which did not advance to construction phase.
Type 784
Bespoke models created for Philippine Air Lines featuring dart 510 powerplants configured with forty-eight seats plus slipper tanks on three aircraft first entering service May 1957.
Type 785
Built specifically for LAI-Alitalia incorporating dart 510 engine types along with forty-eight passenger seating across three units initially delivered March 1957.
Type 786
Constructed models serving Lloyd Aereo Colombiano outfitted with dart 510 powerplants including both slipper and belly fuel tanks seating forty-eight passengers on three aircraft first entering service August 1957.
Type 787
A proposed production variant intended to serve Iraqi Airways using dart 510 powerplants which was never built.
Type 788
A planned model aimed at Syrian Airways utilizing dart 510 engine types that remained unconstructed.
Type 789
Bespoke aircraft produced exclusively for the Brazilian Air Force fitted out with dart 510 powerplants plus slipper and belly tanks combined with VIP interiors in one unit delivered December 1957.
Type 790
A conceptual design targeting local service roles powered by dart 506s which did not proceed beyond planning stages.
Type 791
A proposed production version intended primarily for AVIANCA airline using dart 506 engine types that remained unbuilt.
Type 792
A projected model designed specifically for Pakistan incorporating dart 506 powerplants alongside VIP interiors which never reached construction phase.
Type 793
Bespoke production aircraft created exclusively for the Royal Bank of Canada featuring dart 510 engine types paired with VIP interior layouts comprising one unit built.
Type 794
Manufactured specifically to serve Turkish Airlines (THY) employing dart 510 powerplants alongside configurations accommodating forty-eight passengers across four units initially delivered January 1958.
Type 795
A projected production variant aimed at Trans World Airlines (TWA) utilizing dart 510 engine types which was not constructed.
Type 796
A planned production version designed exclusively for Turkish Air Force incorporating dart 510 powerplants alongside VIP interiors which remained unbuilt.
Type 797
Bespoke single unit produced specifically for Canadian Department of Transportation fitted out with dart 510 engine types entering service March 1958.
Type 798
Constructed variants supplied to Northeast Airlines equipped with dart 510 powerplants totaling eight units produced.
Viscount 800
An enhanced model featuring a fuselage lengthened by 3 ft 10 in (1.2 m), with a total of 67 units produced
Type 800
Initial design, never constructed.
Type 801
Manufactured version for British European Airways equipped with Dart 510 engines, later updated to Dart 520 engines and redesignated as Type 802.
Type 802
The first production model of the 800 series for British European Airways, powered by Dart 510 engines and accommodating either 53 or 57 passengers. A total of 24 were built, with the initial delivery in February 1957.
Type 803
Production model built for KLM featuring Dart 510 engines and seating for 53 passengers. Nine units were delivered starting June 1957.
Type 804
Produced for Transair (Canada) with Dart 510 engines and a capacity of 65 seats. Three aircraft were completed, first delivered in September 1957.
Type 805
Manufactured for Eagle Airways powered by Dart 510 engines with seating for 70 passengers. Two units were produced, delivered beginning December 1957.
Type 806
Production variant for British European Airways fitted with Dart 520 engines and seating for 58 passengers. Nineteen were built, initially delivered in March 1958. Subsequently, nine of these were converted back to Type 802 by replacing the Dart 520s with Dart 510s to allocate the Dart 520s to the airline's Argosy cargo planes.
Type 807
Produced for the New Zealand National Airways Corporation, equipped with Dart 510 engines and configured for 60 passengers. Four units were built, first delivered in December 1957.
Type 808
Manufactured for Aer Lingus featuring Dart 510 engines and a seating capacity of 70. Six aircraft were completed, initially delivered in May 1957.
Type 809
A proposed production variant intended for Greece but never constructed.
A refined extended-range version powered by Dart 525 engines producing 1,991 hp (1,485 kW), with a total of 84 produced
Type 810
The prototype representing the enhanced 810 series, equipped with Dart 525 engines and a cabin layout offering seating for 52 plus a rear lounge accommodating four additional passengers. Only one was built, first flown on December 23, 1957.
Type 811
A planned production model for Capital Airlines featuring Dart 525 engines but never constructed.
Type 812
Production variant created for Continental Airlines powered by Dart 525 engines, providing seating for 52 plus a four-seat rear lounge and an integrated airstair. Fifteen units were built, first delivered in May 1958.
Type 813
A production model designed for South African Airways, initially fitted with Dart 525 engines later upgraded to Dart 530s. It offered seating for 56 passengers plus a four-seat rear lounge. Seven aircraft were produced and first delivered in October 1958.
Type 814
Manufactured variant for Lufthansa equipped with Dart 525 engines and carrying up to 64 passengers. Eleven units were built and initially delivered in October 1958.
Type 815
Produced for Pakistan International Airlines, featuring Dart 525 powerplants and seating capacity of fifty-one. Five aircraft were completed, first delivered in January 1959.
Type 816
A production version made for Trans Australia Airlines, powered by Dart 525 engines with seating for fifty-six passengers. Two units were built and first delivered in March of 1959.
Type 817
A planned production model intended for AVENSA equipped with Dart525 engines but never realized.
Type 818
Constructed variant for Cubana powered by Dart525 engines with accommodation for fifty-two passengers. Four aircraft were produced and initially delivered in October1958.
Type819
A proposed production variant intended for Aviacon featuring Dart525 engines that was not built.
Type820
A planned version designed for American Airlines equipped with Dart525 powerplants but never constructed.
Type821
A proposed production model intended for Eagle fitted with Dart525 engines but not manufactured.
Type822
A planned variant designed for LAV powered by Dart525 engines that remained unbuilt.
Type823
A proposed production model made for California Eastern featuring Dart525 powerplants but never realized.
Type824
A planned production version intended for LAI equipped with Dart525 engines but not constructed.
Type825
A proposed variant designed for Black Lion Aviation powered by Dart525 engines that was not built.
Type826
A planned model intended for Agile Azur featuring Dart525 powerplants but never manufactured.
Type827
Production version made for VASP, equipped with Dart525 engines and seating fifty-six including a four-seat rear lounge. Six units were built and first delivered in October1958.
Type828
Manufactured variant created for All Nippon Airways (ANA) powered by Dart525 engines offering sixty seats. Nine aircraft were produced and initially delivered in July1961. Notably, these featured television sets mounted on hat racks—a rarity at the time—for passenger entertainment during flights.
Type829
A planned production model intended for TAP equipped with Dart525 powerplants but not constructed.
Type830
A proposed larger-fuselage variant designed for American Airlines featuring Dart525 engines that was never built.
Type831
Production version created for Airwork and Sudan Airways powered by Dart525 engines accommodating sixty passengers. Three units were manufactured and first delivered in July1961.
Type832
Produced variant made for Ansett-ANA featuring Dart525 powerplants seating fifty-six including a four-seat rear lounge. Four aircraft were built and initially delivered in March1959.
Type833
Manufactured model designed for Hunting Clan powered by Dart530 engines. Three units were produced and first delivered in June1959.
Type834
A proposed production variant intended for LOT Polish Airlines fitted with Dart525 powerplants but never constructed.
Type835
A conversion of an undelivered Type818 originally destined for Cubana, repurposed and delivered in September1959 to Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.
Type836
A converted Type816 originally ordered by Trans Australia Airlines, delivered in May1960 to Union Carbide after cancellation of the original order.
Type837
Production version manufactured for Austrian Airlines powered by Dart525 engines offering either fifty-six seats in mixed-class or sixty-six seats in tourist-class configurations plus a four-seat rear lounge. Six aircraft were completed, first delivered in August1960.
Type838
Produced variant designed for Ghana Airways, equipped with Dart525 powerplants seating sixty passengers. Three units were built, initially delivered in June1961.
Type839
A VIP-configured production model supplied to the Iranian Government, one unit delivered in February1960.
Type840
Basic design planned with Dart541 engines but never constructed.
Type841
A proposed production variant intended for British European Airways fitted with Dart541 powerplants that was not built.
Type842
Planned production model designed for Iraqi Airways featuring Dart541 engines but never realized.
Type843
Manufactured variant created for CAAC, powered by Dart525 engines providing fifty-two seats. Six aircraft were produced and first delivered in October1963. This marked both the final delivery of this type and the last Viscount ever handed over as of April1964.
Type845
A planned production version intended again for Pakistan International Airlines using Dart525 powerplants that was not constructed.
Proposals
Type 850
Major initiative involving the Viscount, ultimately not constructed.
Type 870
An enhanced second-generation model, which evolved into the Vickers Vanguard.
Notes
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Bibliography
Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, Second Edition, 1988. ISBN0-85177-815-1
Eastwood, Tony and Roach, John. Turbo Prop Airliner Production List. West Drayton, UK: Aviation Hobby Shop, 1990. ISBN0-907178-32-4
Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972, Volume III. London: Putnam, Third Edition, 1974. ISBN0-85177-818-6
Turner, P. St.John. Handbook of the Vickers Viscount. London: Ian Allan, 1968. ISBN978-0-7110-0052-0
