Based on the need of British European Airways for a hundred seat turboprop air­craft Vickers designed the Vanguard. The Viscount was taken as starting point, so both aircraft have the same basic characteristics, such as the configuration, hori­zon­tal stabilisers with dihedral and oval cabin windows. The engines are in the wing's leading edge. The engine nacelles are slender, and have circular air intakes around the prop spinners, typical for the Rolls Royce Tynes. The vertical stabiliser has a trapezium shape, and a dorsal fin in front (except initially the prototype). Typical for the Vanguard is the streamlined nose and cockpit with many windows. The fuselage has a double double cross section.

The different versions of the Vickers Vanguard can externally be distinguish by

• the shape of the dorsal fin
• the presence of a cargo door in the left forward fuselage

This was the prototype version of the Vanguard. Initially it could be distinguished from later versions by the much smaller dorsal fin. However, already during the flight test programme the aircraft were equipped with the bigger dorsal fin.

The production versions of the Vanguard differ mainly in internal structure and operating weights. Types 951 and 953 were originally used by British European Airways (BEA), type 952 by Trans Canada Airlines (TCA).

Nine BEA aircraft were later converted to cargo aircraft, by adding a large cargo door in the left front fuselage. These were known as Merchantman. For a photo see at the top of this page.