Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-12
Capital Ar|ines
To Expand With
British Planes
$45 Million Deal
Completed for 40
Turbo-P Prop Croft

Capital Airlines' purchase Of
40 Vickers-Armstrong Viscount
transport planes, involving $45
million, will mean an expansion
OF the line. which has its head
quarters here. along with an
increase in employment, j. H.
Carmichael, president Of the
carrier. said yesterday.
Capital disclosed, during a
press conference in the Carlton
Hotel. that it had exercised its
option with Vickers-Armstrong
to purchase 81 propeller turbine
four-engined ViscountS and has
taken a further option on 20
more.
The purchase, now totaling 40
airplaneS. and involving the $45
million. will introduce to the
United States the propeller tur-
bine aircraft, which has been
accepted for many years by
aviation experts as the next
logical step in air transport de-
velopment.
For Service in April.
Last June Capital bought
three Viscounts and took an op-
ton for the 81. MIR. Carmichael
pointed out that the exercising
of this option at this time will
speed UP delivery. Capital plans
to begin the new service next
April. when the, first of the Wis
counts arrives. Delivery will be
completed by August, 1855.
If the option on the additional
20 planes is taken up, delivery on
these will be completed between
September, 1856. and February,
1857, Capital reported.
Mr.. Carmichael said the sched-
uled operation of the Viscount
will set the stage for one of the
greatest advances in air trans
portation history. He said the
VlScount is the only airline air.
plane designed specifically for
the turbo-prop.
Made by Rolls Royce.
Manufactured by Rolls Royce,
the engine burns kerosene and
develops power from a turbine.
But unlike the turbine-Jet, the
alrplane receives its thrust from
a propeller. Because there are
not reciprocating parts, the en-
CINE largely eliminates vibration
in flight and maintains a rela-
lively low interior noise level.
The Viscount's high cruising
speed of 1886 miles an hour will
reduce flying Tins between the
n cities served by Capital Air
lines
Mr.. Carmichael and G. r. Ed
wards. managing director of the
Vickers-Armstrong aircraft divi-
sion, signed the contract. Mr..
Edwards heads the design team
that produced the Viscount.
Capital is the first United
States carrier to buy the air.
plane. Already Is major air.
lines throughout the world have
ordered the Viscount. Trans
Canada Airlines soon will operate
them over their routes. which
serves several American cities.
4S-Passenger Planes.
Vickers-Armstrong has been a
leader in aircraft manufacture
since aviation's early days. One
of its airplanes was the first to
cross the Atlantic, with the
famed Alcock and Brown at the
controls.
The new plane will carry 48
two abreast. It's
speed will be about 40 to SIS
miles an hour faster than Cap
ital's present equipment, which
now consists of Lockheed Con-
stellations, Douglas IDEAS and
DC-3s.
Fares. in all probability, will
not be affected. since rates are
based on other factors. Mr.. Car
pointed out. He said all
plans for the Viscounts
have been completed, in a pri-
vate transaction between Capital
and Vickers-Armstrong.
The new planes will be put
first on the most competitive
routes" such as Washington to
Chicago.