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The Vickers Viscount: The World's First Turboprop Airliner (Aircraft) Paperback – July 31, 2018

by Nick Stroud (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 84 ratings
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By some margin the most successful British medium-range airliner ever produced, the world-beating Viscount was a sublime combination of Vickers’ state-of-the-art postwar design and Rolls-Royce’s cutting-edge power-plant technology, both companies being at the very peak of their powers during the type’s genesis and evolution.

Tracing its origins back to the wartime Brabazon Committee, the Viscount was one of several designs from various British aircraft manufacturers produced to fulfill the committee’s specifications for a fast, economical short- to medium-range airliner to satisfy the demands of the burgeoning postwar civil aviation market, which was predicted to grow at a healthy rate over the following decades. Vickers’ chief designer and Managing Director George Edwards was quick to respond, the result being the Dart turboprop-powered Vickers V.630, which made its first flight in July 1948, despite its future looking uncertain after British European Airways having twenty examples of ordered its chief rival, Airspeed’s Ambassador, six months before. The Viscount nevertheless entered full service with BEA in 1953, much to the relief of its manufacturer, orders flooding in thereafter from numerous airlines — and air forces — all over the world. Ultimately, some 200 individual airlines, companies and organizations in more than eighty countries operated the dependable and, crucially, development-friendly Viscount over its long and distinguished career.

This book tells the full story of the world’s first turboprop airliner, from its Brabazon Committee beginnings, through its early flight trials program and entry into service, to its almost unassailable position as the world’s number one medium-haul turboprop, including its astonishing breakthrough in the USA, where it single-handedly broke the big American manufacturers’ stranglehold on the airliner market. The type’s military career is also covered, as is its construction; also included in this volume are details of the numerous variants produced and those of the 444 built still surviving as exhibits today, along with twenty-four superb artworks by world-renowned aviation illustrator Juanita Franzi.
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  1. Print length
    120 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Air World
  4. Publication date
    July 31, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    7.25 x 0.25 x 9.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1526701952
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1526701954
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a niche book for the serious aviation enthusiast or aircraft modeler who is looking for an attractive, well done book on an iconic aircraft."
Air Power History

"The book goes into great detail of the development, service, variants and full history of a classic British Turboprop Airliner the Vickers Viscount ... The pictures [alone] are worth the cost of the book."
Allan Murrel, IPMS/USA IPMS# 49715

About the Author

NICK STROUD has worked full-time in aviation publishing since 1994, when he began his career working on Aerospace Publishing’s highly-respected titles _World Air Power Journal_ and _Wings of Fame_. Between 2000 and 2010 Nick worked on another highly-regarded aviation publication, IPC’s award-winning _Aeroplane Monthly_, with which he rose to the position of Deputy Editor. In 2012 Nick and _Aeroplane_ Editor Michael Oakey launched _The Aviation Historian_, a fiercely independent quarterly journal, which continues to grow and has established a reputation as the UK's most authoritative independent publication on the subject. Nick is also a regular contributor to aviation publications around the world and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group Committee.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Air World (July 31, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 120 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1526701952
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1526701954
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 0.25 x 9.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 84 ratings

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4.4 out of 5 stars
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  • Repsol Rider
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must for aviation geeks
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Well written book with lots of information about the Viscount, for those old enough to remember the type you can also hear the unmistakable sound of those 4 props
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  • Philip Elisha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfactory
    Reviewed in India on July 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Everyone knows that the Viscount was the world's first turboprop airliner and the most successful. It was flown by some 200 operators in 80 countries and was certainly a great British success story. This book on the type was largely an easy and enjoyable read.
    The Viscount ran on low - volatility kerosene fuel and had crash - proof wing tanks, both innovative features for the time. Because it was pressurized and the cabin differential pressure was 6.5 psi, the highest of any airliner of the time, the resulting stresses in the design of the aircraft had to be evenly distributed and hence the elliptical shaped windows and doors. The Dart turboprop engine was the key to the Viscount's success. It powered hundreds of other aircraft including the F27, Avro 748 and Gulfstream 1. The "orange peel " or "petal" arrangement of its engine nacelle enabled easy access for maintenance workers to carry out their tasks. Short range operations mean lower altitude flying missions which place more stresses on the airframe and the landing gear, due to the increased number of take - offs and landings involved. Demand for the Viscount was so huge that Vickers was producing 10 aircraft per month, a record for any British airliner, before or since. Staunch CV240 customer KLM was impressed by the Viscount's capacity, superior economics and ease of operation and ordered 9 aircraft. The piston engined CV240 had flown a year before the Viscount and KLM had been impressed with its rate of climb which was 1,260 ft./min. This compared to the Viscount's 1,650 ft./min. Moreover the CV240 carried 56 passengers only, compared to the Viscount's 70 passengers. Cruising speed was 314 mph ( 357 mph for the Viscount ). Though not comparable, it cost about $295,000 and the Viscount 700 about $497,000. It must be borne in mind that one is a piston engined aircraft and the other is a turboprop.
    American carrier Capital Airlines had approached Lockheed for a turboprop airliner but in the absence of interest from other airlines, Lockheed, though initially willing, had to abandon the idea. Capital then placed an order for 60 Viscounts. This created an upset in the American airline industry which was forced to realize that the Jet Age had finally dawned. [The Lockheed Electra was the immediate result but it was not successful]. Capital Airlines office staff was trained to answer the phone with "May I make a reservation on the Viscount for you?" Within a year of service with the Viscount, the airline had recorded a $4 million increase in revenue between May 1958 and May 1959. Trans - Canada Airlines bought a total of 51 Viscounts. The airline specified some 250 technical modifications, including a redesigned flight deck, more American furnished equipment and a more powerful heating system. The original order for 15 Viscount 700s which was valued at $ 11.5 million in November 1952 was the largest single dollar earner won by a British company since the War. Trans-Canada Airlines merged with Air Canada in 1964.
    BEA's world famous and much loved "red square " color scheme was introduced in March 1959. Its utilisation of the Viscount was about 8.5 hours a day, excellent figures for short haul operations. The airline eventually bought a total of 70 Viscounts. Aer Lingus featured at least 6 different liveries between 1954 and 1965, mostly variations on the same color theme, green and white. KLM's blue diagonal striped tail markings were introduced on its fleet of aircraft in 1960. South African Airways found its ongoing losses on domestic routes being flown by DC-3s and DC-4s, turn into profits within 7 months of the introduction of Viscounts on its routes in 1959. The Indian Air Force operated 2 Viscount 700s in a VIP configuration during 1956-66. These aircraft were then sold to Indian Airlines which was already operating 10 Viscount 700s at the time.
    Trans Australia Airlines' 14 Viscount 700s had a pair of slipper tanks each , which made for a total capacity of 1900 Imperial Gallons of fuel equating to a range of some 1,380 miles for the aircraft.
    This book is illustrated mostly in black and white with a few color photos. There are many air to air photos in it, which are mostly in black and white. Nine pages of color artworks bring up the rear of the book.
    For the price, the book is okay. It would have been nice if the Vanguard had also been included as there isn't sufficient material on the type to merit a separate title.
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  • Barry Mcguren
    5.0 out of 5 stars A succinct and engaging story of this landmark aircraft
    Reviewed in Australia on August 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I had overlooked the importance of this airliner in the development of frequent short and medium haul services until I read this book. It is well written, mixing the technical and anecdotal really well. It has excellent illustrations and overall is a very satisfying read.
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  • RHW747
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great tribute to this great aircraft
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This paperback has high quality pictures, & covers all eras of the Viscount. The choice of photos is varied & not ones that I had seen in any other publication. It’s an easy read, & very nostalgic for the lover of the Viscount.
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  • Lee Peachair
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for civil aviation fan
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I didn't want this book to end. I feel it could have been longer but it was an excellent account of the Vickers Viscount. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the crash of the Viscount in Australia. I had not heard of this crash and think the inclusion of this account enhanced the book.
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