Vickers Viscount

Introduced in 1948, the Vickers Viscount became Great Britain's most successful airliner by the late '50s, as well as the most widely used turbine-powered air transport in the world. Its huge windows and quiet, comfortable ride made it a favorite with passengers, and airlines found it to be a reliable, inexpensive plane to operate. In fact, in 1955 Flight magazine referred to the Viscount as, "a machine so patently superior to its rivals that it has set in its field wholly new standards of comfort, performance and reliability." In this book, author Robin MacRae Dunn covers the entire Viscount history, from the development of turboprop engines in England after World War II, on through the plane's 50-year service history. In addition to a step-by-step look at the Viscount's major systems and components, this comprehensive book also details its development, certification, variations, accident record and worldwide service record. Appendixes include significant dates, specifications, and the disposition of those Viscounts still in existence.