Southend Airport
The Golden Viscount arrives
By Mave Sipple
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Does anyone remember the Golden Viscount that used to fly from Southend Airport in the 60’s? It was pride of the fleet. Some weekends there would be an open day, people queued up to go inside and marvel at the wonders of the Viscount with its comfy seats, tiny galley, and a proper toilet.
Before the Viscount the fleet consisted mainly of Bristol freighters, so noisy you couldn’t hear yourself speak, and the Viking, a great heavy thing which had a tendency to tip up if not properly loaded, the Dak or Dakota which held 40 passengers, and the Dove which had room for only ten. They all seem very primitive now, but were a lot more fun.