Vickers Viscount

Vickers Viscount

Vickers 813 Viscount (1958)                                 

SAA took delivery of 8 of these popular British aircraft. They were initially used on the main domestic routes and later served most destinations in Southern Africa. They were withdrawn from service in 1971. A Viscount 818, the “Rietbok”, disappeared under mysterious circumstances off of East London in March 1967. The last Viscount was withdrawn from SAA service in 1971.

Normal passenger load: normal 56 and 61 in “Skycoach” configuration.

Viscount 813; ZS-CDT, CDU, CDV, CDW, CDX, CDY, CDZ

Viscount 818; ZS-CVA (a further -818 was ordered as CVB but never delivered.)

Modelling

The following kits have been produced over the years that will allow the modeller to build a model of this aircraft.

S&M Models have a vac-u-form 1/144^th scale Viscount 800 kit in their range

Glencoe has a 1/96^th scale Viscount 700

Mach 2 has a 1/72^nd scale Vickers Viscount 700 in their range. This will require modification to represent a SAA Viscount 800.

Welsh Models have a couple of Viscount 800 series aircraft in their 1/144^th scale vac-u-form range.                                                           

Modellers note. The SAAF’s Viscount is a -700 variant with different fuselage doors of an oval shape. It is also shorter than the -800 series.

Colours

Scheme one

The basic delivery scheme of the Viscounts was natural metal overall with Dark Blue trim on top of the cowlings with a pin stripe and a fuselage cheat line through the windows was modified by the addition of a white top to the fuselage and central tail fin. SAA logo carried on nose and the aircraft had SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS (left) /SUID AFRIKAANSE LUGDIENS (right) struck through by a blue band with wings enclosing the airlines name. This band had a black pin stripe to it. The tail fin had the blue band on it with the aircraft registration above and fin carried the fluttering national flag.

Scheme Two

During 1963 the Viscounts acquired their final colours. The aircraft was finished as per delivery scheme but the vertical tail fin was painted orange with the Swoosh with the Flying Springbok in the high position.

Scheme Three

During 1968 this was modified to the simpler non-italic logos and plain flag

Decals

 144 SOUTH AFRICAN VISCOUNT 800