Passenger Turbo Props
Vickers VC.1 Viking
ICAO: VC1
Overview
The Vickers Vanguard was a British turboprop airliner introduced in the late 1950s. Designed for higher speed and capacity than earlier propeller aircraft, it served European trunk routes. The aircraft later found extended life as a freighter.
Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 4 × Rolls-Royce Tyne RTy.11 Mk 51
- Engine type
- Turboprop
- Power
- 4 × 5,545 shp · 4,135 kW
- Avionics
- —
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 139
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- —
- Cabin height
- —
- Cabin length
- —
- Exterior length
- 122 ft 10 in · 37.45 m
- Tail height
- 34 ft 11 in · 10.64 m
- Fuselage diameter
- —
- Wing span
- 118 ft 0 in · 35.97 m
- Baggage volume
- —
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 141,000 lb · 64,000 kg
- Max landing weight
- 124,000 lb · 56,000 kg
- Max payload
- 32,000 lb · 14,500 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 5,050 gal · 19,100 L · 15,300 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 460 kt · 529 mph · 852 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- —
- Range
- 2,730 nm · 3,140 mi · 5,060 km
- Fuel burn
- —
- Ceiling
- 30,000 ft · 9,100 m
- Rate of climb
- 1,280 ft/min · 7 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- —
- Landing distance
- —
Gallery
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Operational Context
Vickers Vanguard — four-engine turboprop airliner
The Vanguard first flew in 1959 and entered service in 1960 with British European Airways. It was developed to provide jet-like speeds on shorter routes while retaining turboprop efficiency. The aircraft featured a low-mounted wing and a pressurized fuselage optimized for passenger comfort.
Powered by four Rolls-Royce Tyne turboprop engines producing approximately 5,500 shaft horsepower each, the Vanguard cruised at around 350 knots (648 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight exceeded 140,000 pounds (63,503 kg). Passenger capacity typically ranged from 130 to 140 depending on configuration.
Although overshadowed by emerging jetliners, the Vanguard proved reliable and fast for its class. Many aircraft were later converted into Merchantman freighters. The type remains one of the last large British-built turboprop airliners.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.