Vickers-Armstrongs
Vickers Viscount 800
The Vickers Viscount 800, produced by Vickers‑Armstrongs in the late 1950s, was the definitive version of the world’s first successful turboprop airliner. Development began in 1950 as the V.140, and the type entered service with British European Airways in 1956; the 800 series appeared in 1958 with improved engines, increased payload and a longer range of 2,000 nautical miles. Powered by four Rolls‑Royce Dart Mk 511 turboprops, the Viscount 800 could cruise at 330 kt and carried up to 75 passengers in a quiet, pressurised cabin that offered a smoother ride than contemporary piston‑engine aircraft. Its large, rectangular windows and low noise interior quickly made it popular with travelers and crews. Over 400 Viscounts were built, and more than 150 were exported to airlines across Europe, Africa, Australasia and the United States, where it helped usher in the transition from propeller‑driven to turbine‑powered commercial flight. The Viscount 800 demonstrated the economic advantages of turboprop propulsion—lower fuel consumption, shorter run‑up times and reduced operating costs—proving essential to the evolution of short‑haul jet competitors and cementing Vickers‑Armstrongs’ reputation as an innovator in post‑war aviation.
Classification
Dimensions
- Length
- 26.11 metre
- Height
- 8.15 metre
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 151
- Service Entry
- 1953
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Vickers-Armstrongs
- Developer
- Vickers-Armstrongs
- Operator
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- Wikidata ID
- Q113505768