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Aden Airways Viscounts
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First flown in 1948, the Vickers Viscount was
designed by Vickers in the UK in response to
the Brabazon Committee’s recommendations on
post-war airliner requirements. The
prototype first flew on 16 July 1948, and
444 were produced before production ceased
in 1962. It would go on to be one of the
most successful of the first-generation
post-war transports.
Vickers Viscount VR-AAW in 1967
in UK
It was particularly well-liked by the passengers
as it was quiet, vibration free, and had
much larger windows than those found on more
modern airliners. The windows and the doors
were unique in their oval shape.
The Viscount was powered by four Rolls Royce
Dart turbo-prop engines and seating was
usually provided for 47 passengers. The
Viscounts were operated by
Aden Airways on
the route to Mombasa, Kenya.
Aden Airways
operated two Vickers Viscount 760D models
registered as VR-AAV and VR-AAW.
VR-AAV
was destroyed on the
ground by a terrorist bomb attack. VR-AAW was returned
to
BOAC on the closure of Aden Airways
in 1967 and was
re-registered in UK as G-AWCV.
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VR-AAV
was a Vickers Viscount 760D formerly
owned by MSA and registered 9M-AMS. Destroyed in the afternoon at 3.30pm 21st July 1967 at Aden. It had been quarantined after an
engine change as it was suspected that a bomb had been
placed aboard while the aircraft was hangared. True
enough; there was an explosion, and the
plane was destroyed in the ensuing fire.
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VR-AAW
was a Vickers Viscount 760D formerly owned by MSA and
registered 9M-ALY. VR-AAW was returned
to
BOAC on the closure of Aden Airways
in 1967 and was
re-registered in UK as G-AWCV. |
VR-AAW at Mombasa
Airport, Kenya
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Viscount maintenance dock at
Salisbury Airport
The picture above shows part of the Viscount maintenance
dock at Salisbury Airport, Rhodesia, in 1964, showing an
Aden Airways Viscount
undergoing a check, and modifications to install weather
radar. The dock was built by the airline, and provided
reasonable access to all areas of the aircraft,
including the vertical tail fin and rudder and top of
the fuselage. The walkways in front of each engine
hinged to one side to provide access from removing an
engine or propeller.
From early in its history, the airline had carried out
contract maintenance on other parties' aircraft, engines
and equipment, to generate extra income.
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