Vickers Viscount: The World's First Turboprop Airliner

The Viscount was the most successful British medium-range airliner ever produced, combining Vickers state-of-the-art postwar design and Rolls-Royce power-plant technology. It was developed to meet the demand for a fast, economical short- to medium-range airliner in the postwar civil aviation market. The Viscount entered full service with BEA in 1953 and was operated by 200 individual airlines, companies, and organizations in over eighty countries. It was the world's first turboprop airliner and broke the American manufacturers' stranglehold on the airliner market. This book covers the type's military career, construction, variants, and surviving examples, with twenty-four artworks by Juanita Franzi.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 120 pages
\n Publication date: 08 May 2018
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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The Viscount, a remarkable British medium-range airliner, stands as a testament to the pinnacle of engineering excellence achieved by Vickers and Rolls-Royce during the postwar era. This iconic aircraft emerged as a harmonious blend of Vickers' cutting-edge postwar design and Rolls-Royce's state-of-the-art power-plant technology, both companies flourishing at the height of their powers during the Viscount's conception and evolution. Tracing its origins back to the wartime Brabazon Committee, the Viscount was one of several designs crafted by various British aircraft manufacturers to meet the committee's stringent specifications for a swift, economical short- to medium-range airliner. This demand was fueled by the burgeoning postwar civil aviation market, which was projected to experience robust growth in the coming decades.

In response to this challenge, Vickers' chief designer and Managing Director, George Edwards, swiftly devised the Dart turboprop-powered Vickers V.630. This innovative aircraft made its inaugural flight in July 1948, despite facing uncertainty due to British European Airways (BEA) ordering twenty examples of its chief rival, Airspeed's Ambassador, six months prior. Undeterred, the Viscount entered full service with BEA in 1953, bringing immense relief to its manufacturer. Orders flooded in from numerous airlines and air forces worldwide, solidifying the Viscount's reputation as a dependable and development-friendly aircraft.

Over its illustrious career, the Viscount touched the lives of countless individuals, companies, and organizations across more than eighty countries. Its enduring success can be attributed to its remarkable reliability, coupled with its ability to adapt to evolving technologies. Ultimately, some 200 individual airlines, companies, and organizations operated the Viscount, contributing to its status as the world's first turboprop airliner. This book, dedicated to recounting the full story of the Viscount, encompasses its origins, early flight trials program, service entry, and its ascendancy to become the undisputed leader in medium-haul turboprop operations. It also delves into its groundbreaking success in the United States, where it single-handedly revolutionized air travel.

The Viscount's legacy endures as a testament to the collaborative efforts of British aviation pioneers and the enduring impact of their innovative designs on the global aviation industry. Its remarkable journey from the wartime Brabazon Committee to its position as the world's premier turboprop airliner serves as a source of inspiration for future generations of engineers and aviation enthusiasts alike.

\n Weight: 346g\n
Dimension: 245 x 190 x 7 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526701954\n \n