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Today we will learn the story of a plane that is in Puembo near Quito, it is a Vickers Viscount 798D that belonging to SAETA.
Thanks for the historical photos to the Gudiño Family.
In a corner of Puembo, Ecuador, rests a jewel of commercial aviation: el Vickers Viscount 798D ex SAETA. This elegant plane, that once crossed the skies carrying passengers, Today it is preserved in the Hostería Laguardia, becoming a living museum that connects us with the history of Ecuadorian civil aviation.
El Vickers Viscount: An Icon of Commercial Aviation
Before telling you more details of the story, I share this video from the YouTube channel with an AeroReport with many more shots and data of this beautiful aircraft:
The Vickers Viscount was one of the first commercial aircraft to use turbines, revolutionizing the airline industry in the 1990s 1950. Its sleek design and onboard comfort made it a favorite with airlines and passengers alike..
El Vickers Viscount, introduced in 1953, It marked a before and after in commercial aviation by becoming the first passenger aircraft powered by turboprops.. This innovation revolutionized the flight experience, offering passengers a quieter, more comfortable ride. The Viscount not only transformed the aeronautical industry, but also laid the foundations for the development of more modern and efficient commercial aircraft.
The Viscount was a success from the beginning. It was praised for its comfort and performance, and quickly became a popular choice for airlines. When production of the Viscount ended in 1965, more than 445.
There were several variants of the Viscount. The most common was the Viscount 700, which had a capacity of 48 passengers. Other variants included the Viscount 800, which had a capacity of 71 passengers, and the Viscount 724, which was designed for use in cold climates.
The Viscount was used by many airlines around the world. Some of the airlines that operated the Viscount include BEA, British Airways, Air France y Lufthansa. The Viscount was also used by various military forces, such as the Royal Air Force and the Indian Air Force.
El Vickers Viscount 798D ex Saeta
Este Vickers Viscount, with build number (c/n) 226, It has a remarkable history that spans several continents and purposes. Throughout its useful life, this plane changed hands several times, passing through airlines like Continental Airlines, Northeast Airlines y, finally, operating in Ecuador with SAETA.
Here is a summary of the history of this particular plane until its arrival in the country.:
Birth in England (1957)
- Built by Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd and Hurn, England.
- Originally intended for Capital Airlines (EE. UU.), but the sale was not completed.
US sales tour. UU. and loan period (1957-1958)
- Painted in Vickers livery and titled "Vickers Viscount" for a US sales tour. UU.
- Loaned to Continental Airlines and Northeast Airlines for crew training.
- Sustained minor damage while parked in a Continental Airlines hangar.
Return to England and Northeast Airlines (1958-1963)
- Vickers returned to England after loan period.
- Sold to Northeast Airlines and converted to V.798D variant.
- Repossessed by Vickers due to outstanding Northeast Airlines payments.
Change of hands in EE. UU. (1963-1972)
- Sold at auction and acquired by Essex Wire Corporation Inc.
- Title transferred to Essex International Inc. due to a corporate name change.
- Later owned by North American Rockwell, Travis Ward y Westernair of Albuquerque.
Mexican lease and Ecuador (1972-1985)
- Leased to the Federal Electricity Commission (Mexico).
- Sold to Distribute Air Inc. and then to Sociedad Anónima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aéreos (SAETA) in Ecuador.
- It never flew on SAETA and was used for spare parts.
Private property and preservation (1985-gift)
- Purchased by Carlos Alfredo Gudiño in Ecuador.
- Disassembled, transported and reassembled on private land in Puembo, Ecuador.
- Repainted in a fictitious “Aero Puembo” livery and with a false registration (HC-CAG).
- Later repainted in a new non-dummy livery.
Currently this plane is in the Laguardia hacienda in excellent preservation conditions., surely one of the best maintained historical aircraft in the world in charge of Carlos's daughter, Paula Gudiño, who welcomed us again to retrace the incredible history of this historic aircraft.
This Viscount has a luxurious VIP interior, which includes a unique and very important chair, one that used Papa John Paul II during a visit to Ecuador in the year 1985, of course it is, At that time this plane did not transport the Pontiff within the country, but Carlos Gudiño managed to recover for history this seat that was part of the Pope's special flight on the defunct Ecuadorian airline SAN in a Boeing 727-100 HC-BIB especially suitable for this visit.
I personally congratulate Paula Gudiño for her love of aviation and desire to continue preserving an important part of the history of our country in Laguardia, a place that has become a very special space for those of us who love aviation.
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