Vickers Viscount

The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world. A product of the Brabazon Committee, it was a ground-breaking aircraft making use of a brand-new form of propulsion, the turboprop engine, replacing the conventional piston engine.

The Viscount was well received by the public for its favourable cabin conditions, which included pressurisation, significant reductions in vibration and noise, and large panoramic windows. Due to these unique advantages, it went on to be one of the most successful and profitable of the first generation post-war transport aircraft types; a total of 445 Viscounts were built for a wide range of international customers, including the North American market.