hurricanemk1c 195 Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 OK - let's get this section underway! Just before Continental Airlines merged into United to create the super United airline, they quitely restored a series 800 Viscount. This particular Viscount, N247V, was the 389th Viscount to be built. It first flew on Wednesday, 23 July 1958 at the Vickers plant at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines, as a V812 series Viscount. Delivered on 20th August of that year, it served Continental until 9th April 1967 when it was sold to Channel Airways in the UK. Re-registered as G-AVJL, it eventually ended up in Indonesia and touched down early during landing, destroying the nose gear and the aircraft was scrapped. (More information here - http://www.vickersviscount.net/Index/VickersViscount389History.aspx) Anyway, back to the story Just before the merger, Continental managed to get another V812 Viscount up and running at Tucson International Airport and painted it up as N247V. They wanted a ferry pilot to get it to the Pecus Municipal Airport for sight-seeing trips around the place, allowing people to use the massive windows without using a modern aircraft. I sort of ended up flying the leg, which was convenient for me and the Baton. Parked up - I like the VW van at the back! Glancing over the cockpit. No GPS has been fitted, so it looks like classic VOR-to-VOR flying with ATC IFR rules I know I haven't flown it for a while, but there's no need for the fire engine! Pushback approved The start-up order for a Viscount is 4-3-1-2. That allows the quickest access to the passenger door in case of fire Pushback complete, looks like we're following that MD-80 out As it is technically a test flight, the baton carrier is the only 'passenger', actually flight test recorder Holding short. The Darts have plenty of power in them, so taxiing can be a problem Setting up the autopilot as we get clearance to go Up, up and away! Climbing upwards Passing over E95 (Benson Municipal Airport). Looks like we are a bit south of the planned route A classic wing view from a classic airliner Sharon popped along for the trip. The cockpit door remained locked....... Looks like we are about at the CIE VOR. There was no real need to head for this VOR, but CIE to me means Córas Iompair Éireann (Transport Authority of Ireland) Turning south A nice quiet cockpit Passing overhead El Paso International - a useful diversion point The 'quiet' bliss of four Darts is interrupted by ATC as we get vectors inbound Going down with the sun Runway in sight. Now a landing at an airfield with no active ATC. Who's idea was it to base the Viscount here? Gear down with flaps travelling A little bit ropey on the descent But we get down quite nicely with only a touch of wheel squeal And finally parked up to allow more work to carry on. They must hve a job lot of those VW's..... Over to you Steph! Aircraft used: Aeroplane Heaven / Just Flight Viscount 800 Skyvector, Routefinder and Plan-G used for flight planning Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Nice Classy start Kieran. Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Great PIREP Kieran Those Dart engines take me back to my younger days (just a few years.... ) Gonna be a tough act to follow the Viscount.. beautiful bird Link to post Share on other sites
stu7708 244 Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Itching to go were you Kieran, I didn't even have time to put up the new departure board Great looking plane that, and the VW-bus really adds to the over all look and accurate feel of it! Great to see Sharon back in the Challenge as well! Link to post Share on other sites
Bruce (a.k.a. brian747) 142 Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Off to a flying start, then! (sorry, couldn't resist it). Lovely retro aircraft — congratulations! Cheers, bruce a.k.a. brian747 Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,495 Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Great job Chuck, love the choice of aircraft, like Steph they bring back a memory or two with that distinctive whine of the engines overhead! Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Nice Pirep Chuck. I love the old Viscount, made just up the road from me, one of the most successful civil aircraft of its time. Link to post Share on other sites
Kasper 14 Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Classic start of the new section. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted October 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Thanks all! Link to post Share on other sites
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