The Vickers Viscount: The Dawn of the Turboprop Era

The Vickers Viscount was a revolutionary turboprop airliner that took to the skies in the 1950s. A significant leap forward from propeller-driven aircraft, the Viscount’s turbine engines offered smoother, quieter operation and improved performance. This innovation made it a popular choice for airlines, ushering in a new era of comfortable and efficient air travel. With seating capacities ranging from 40 to 70 passengers, the Viscount served on short and medium-haul routes around the world, becoming a familiar sight in the skies for decades.

New Zealand’s national airline, NZ National Airways Corporation, operated a fleet of up to five Viscounts on the New Zealand main trunk routes from 1958 until they were replaced with Boeing 737 jets in the late 1960’s

The solid NAC promotional model on display in our Museum is on loan from member John Kennedy of Waikanae, New Zealand.