Vickers Viscount And Vanguard

by Malcolm L. Hill

Built in response to the famous Brabazon Committee's requirements for an aircraft to replace the Douglas DC-3 on European and Empire routes, the Viscount became the world's first turboprop-powered airliner, and the most successful British airliner of all. Operated initially by BEA, the Viscount soon became a favorite of passengers, pilots and aircraft enthusiasts alike. Its heyday was brief, as the advent of the jet airliner soon relegated it to second-line service, in which it remains - just- to this day. This book presents the complete design, development and operational history of the Viscount and its bigger sibling, the Vanguard.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2005

Reviews

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2004, 'Vickers Viscount and Vanguard' is another in the popular series of Crowood aviation titles. An interesting technical and operational history of the the two airliner types is given, with more than 300 excellent and well captioned photos together wit a wealth of other illustrations such as period adverts, technical diagrams, airline logos and more. A small number of the illustrations have been digitally reproduced in low res, resulting in pixcelated images, but most are okay. Personally, I think a little more could have been devoted to the powerplants of the aircraft, since they were central to the success of the Viscount, but this a common flaw. Very enjoyable.