BEA Viscounts 800s: Speedjacks to Air Ferries & Beyond

[RStretton]

Hi all. This is my first new as opposed to recycled blog content for the new site and I'm still feeling my way as to how this'll work from a DiMA perspective. My thoughts are I still want to publish useful content on here and use it as a lead in for the blog entries so here it goes!



I just recently acquired the excellent Classic Civil Aircraft 4: Vickers Viscount by Alan J. Wright so it is rather fitting that Aeroclassics has recently released a bevy of new Viscounts - mainly the longer 800 series.

In the first of a multi-part thread I investigate BEA's Speedjack Viscounts. Go here for the history and a lot more photos like those below:

http://yesterdaysairlines.weebly.com...ack-divisonals

BEA / British Airways Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr

BEA Channel / Scottish Divisions Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr

Feel free to leave comments here or on the blog (or both)!

[RStretton]

Onto part 2 of our story as we trace the Viscount's transition to the BA fleet. The full story can be found here - as usual with lots of photos:

http://yesterdaysairlines.weebly.com/airline-history-blog/bea-viscount-800s-pt2-onwards-to-the-negus

BEA / British Airways Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr

British Airways Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr

[Adrian]

Ah, now this is a subject dear to my heart - Viscounts and especially BEA. Alas AK has cocked up the BEA Speedjack livery yet again despite my posts all over the place advising him that the BEA Speedjack livery had NO markings above the wings. He made this error on his BEA Speedjack Comet 4Bs and Vanguards and now these Viscounts, including fictitious 'BEA' white lettering on the wings - WHERE did that come from? You need to get a cotton bud soaked in Acetone (nail varnish remover) and remove these markings. I managed this perfectly on the Comets and Vanguards but on these Viscounts it took the red paint off, so a touch up was necessary.

[RStretton]

Part 3 will be coming along in a few hours I hope!

[RStretton]

Ok yesterday was a Christmas party so I was in no fit state to blog about anything after that, but today we have part 3 of the Viscount story. This still only covers 7 of the 8 Viscounts though so there'll be a part 4 coming! As always there's a lot more content at the blog post with histories and many more photos.

Here's the latest: http://yesterdaysairlines.weebly.com...rnsey-airlines

British Air Ferries / Guernsey Airlines Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr

British Air Ferries / Guernsey Airlines Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr

British Air Ferries / Guernsey Airlines Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr

[eugenevh]

Oh how I pine for a Vickers Viscount in SAA colours in 1:400 as well as for an example of the one 781D flown by the South African air force .

[RStretton]

Part 4 is now ready to go. Rather ironically one of BEA's old Viscounts even made its way into the colours of BA's 1980s nemesis. Read the full story here:

http://yesterdaysairlines.weebly.com/airline-history-blog/bea-viscount-800s-pt4-like-a-virgin

British Air Ferries / Virgin Atlantic Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr

British Air Ferries Vickers Viscount 800s by rstretton, on Flickr