A turboprop airplane is distinct from one with a piston engine powering the propeller. The propeller on a piston plane is turned by the crankshaft and pistons, whereas on a turboprop, the propeller is turned by a turbine. Piston-engine planes like the DC-6 and Convair 340 were employed by Philippine Airlines from the 1940s until the early 1950s. That’s why the Vickers Viscount 784, a turboprop made in the United Kingdom, is the first plane of this kind in the PAL fleet.
The first turboprop in the PAL fleet
In 1957, PAL took delivery of the first of two Vickers Viscount 784s that the airline had purchased. The Convair 340 was retired from service between Manila and Hong Kong in favor of this more modern turboprop. In March of 1958, the Vickers Viscount entered domestic service.
However, the Vickers Viscount were retired from the PAL fleet in 1967 after being replaced by the BAC One-Eleven series 400, the airline’s first short range jet aircraft. In 1967, PAL acquired the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 which became the airline’s standard turboprop aircraft.
The first Vickers Viscount 784 of PAL carried registry PI-C770. It was delivered brand-new to PAL in 1957. The second PAL Vickers Viscount carried registry PI-C771.
About the Vickers Viscount
On Friday, 16 July 1948, the Vickers Viscount took to the skies for the first time as the world’s first turboprop. The aircraft’s success may be attributed in large part to the dependable Rolls-Royce turboprop engines that powered it. These engines were able to be upgraded to provide additional thrust as the aircraft grew in size. Only the smaller de Havilland Dove sold more than the Viscount, but it was nevertheless one of Britain’s most successful civil aircraft after World War II.
The Viscount’s luxurious interior was a major contributor to its economic success and long service life. In addition to being a pressurized aircraft, this kind also featured large panoramic windows for the comfort of its passengers. According to reports, the dimensions of these elliptical portholes were an amazing 48 x 66 cm. Less material was needed to strengthen this shape’s integrity.
The Viscount’s efficiency grew as Rolls-Royce upgraded the Dart engines it used. As a result, the latest models can carry more people, carry more cargo, and travel farther than ever before. In retrospect, it should come as no surprise that the Viscount was successful enough to remain in service in significant numbers for well over half a century.
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