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The RAAF operated the Viscount in VIP configuration. This is A6-435 about to land at Fairbairn in 1967
Aircraft Profile – Viscount
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The Vickers Viscount occupies a unique place in the history of aviation development as the first propeller turbine aircraft to enter airline service. It utilised the then-revolutionary gas turbine engine to create a new standard of comfort in air travel.
The origins of the Viscount can be traced back to decisions made by the Brabazon committee in 1942/43. This committee identified several categories of requirements for airliners in the post-war period. One such need was for an economical airliner for European routes. When the second Brabazon committee met in 1945 it suggested that the alternative power plants for such an aircraft were either, (1) Two Rolls-Royce Merlin 90 engines of 1600hp each. (2) Two Rolls-Royce Tyne B41 turboprops. (3) Four Armstrong Siddeley Mamba turboprops developing 850bhp each.
The committee decided that the best alternative was the turbo-prop version known as the Brabazon IIB. Vickers were subsequently approached to build four type IIB aircraft. They identified the aircraft as the VC2 and proceeded to commence with firm design studies. Initially it was proposed to construct the VC2 with a “double bubble” fuselage using four Rolls-Royce Darts developing 1030ehp with a gross weight of 24,500lb. In 1946 the fuselage concept was changed to a circular fuselage with an outside diameter of 128 inches. The Ministry of Supply also requested Sir W. G. Armstrong-Whitworth to produce two prototypes of their project later known as the Apollo should the Vickers design be unsuccessful.
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