Because the new turboprops were much lighter than the radial engines, they had to be mounted further forward to maintain the aircraft's center of gravity.

Due to the small diameter of the Viscount propellers, airflow was restricted by the bulky nacelles and landing gear fairings.

This caused the takeoff distance to be 6000 feet, making it unappealing as a commuter aircraft.

The aircraft ended up parked at Groton-New London Airport in Groton, Connecticut where on February 19, 1984 its cockpit was hit by a wing from a Transamerica Airlines Lockheed L-100 Hercules.

[2] A similar conversion had been performed for British European Airways (BEA) in the 1940s when a Dakota was converted to Dart power in order to obtain turboprop experience prior to the introduction of the Viscount.