U.S. AIRLINE WILL BUY BRITISH TURBOPROP PLANES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27368, 5 June 1954, Page 7

U.S. AIRLINE WILL BUY BRITISH TURBOPROP PLANES

(Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 3. Three British Vickers-Viscount four-engined turboprop airliners have been bought by an American airline, Capital Airlines, with the Qption of buying 37 more on undisclosed terms.

This is the first time that British aircraft have been bought for internal commercial use within the United States. The Viscounts will be the first turbo-prop airliners to be used here. The value of the total order for 40 Viscounts will be 45,000,000 dollars, including all equipment and spares. Delivery of the'Tirst three Viscounts will be made early in 1955. This is the first United States order for the Vickers-Armstrongs Viscount, a medium-range aircraft which has been impressing the air transport world for more than a year by its exceptional economy of operation, vibrationless qualities, and high cruising speed of 311 miles an hour. One competed in the transport handicap section of the London-Christchurch international air race last year. Capital Airlines is one of the leading American domestic airlines, serving the

East Coast and mid-Western areas of the United States.

Mr J. H. Carmichael, president of the company, said at a press conference today that he was “thrilled to death about buying these aircraft from Vicjkers-Armstrongs.” He added that as far as equipment was concerned, no other airline in the United States would have anything better to offer than Capital Airlines. Mr Carmichael said that Capita] Airlines was the largest company operating in the intermediate, or snort-hau] field within the United States, and that up to now the aircraft available had not been designed for economical use in this field. 4 ‘We have searched for years for the type of aircraft which could be operated economically and efficiently,” he added. The contract brings the total num-

ber of Viscounts sold to 99, including 38 for British European Airways. Pan American World Airways is the only other American airline to place an order for British aircraft. It has ordered three Comet 111 jet liners for delivery in 1956 and has an option on a further seven to be supplied in 1957. In London, the Qhancellor of the Exchequer (Mr R. A. Butler) congratulated Vickers-Armstrongs” on this first venture into the great United States internal market for civil aviation. It is a fiercely contested field into which you are carrying the flag, but the rewards of achievement are great,” the Chancellor said in a message to the firm’s chairman (Sir James Reid Young). The Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr A. T. Lennox-Boyd) said: "This is a great day for Britain’s aircraft industry.” ~