19 April 2024
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Viscount Survivors


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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 49

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 49
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)


Australia flag Australia

This V.720 series Viscount was built for
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) as VH-TVF

It first flew on Sunday, 30 January 1955 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 506 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
ANSETT-ANA and Keegan Aviation Ltd


Photo of Viscount c/n 49
Flightspares Ltd


England flag England

Its final owner/operator was
Flightspares Ltd as VH-TVF.

Its fate:-
Broken up for scrap at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England in February 1970.


Operational record
Photo of Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) Viscount VH-TVF

Country of Registration Australia

April 1955 to March 1960

Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)

VH-TVF - c/n 49 - a V.720 series Viscount
Australia registered

June 1952
This was the sixth Type 720 of six ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).

The total value of the order was £1,934,000 including spare parts.

Production Aircraft No. 47 - the 47th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 13th Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 21st Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F06/720. Sales Order No. F06/88A. Stock Order No. F18/21B.

24 May 1954
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

22 June 1954
Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission trading as Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).

7 July 1954
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

30 January 1955
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

2 April 1955
Delivered to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) named as 'Ernest Giles'.

It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines and extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

6 March 1960
Dry leased (i.e. without crew) to ANSETT-ANA.

TAA received two Douglas DC-6B (VH-INH and VH-INU) on lease from ANSETT-ANA to cover the leasing of three Viscounts.

The other two were VH-TVC (C/N 46) and VH-TVE (C/N 48).

This arrangement was imposed upon TAA by the Australian Government through its Department of Civil Aviation and certainly favoured Ansett-ANA in having the use of more modern aircraft and was known as the 'Two Airlines Agreement'.


Photo of ANSETT-ANA Viscount VH-TVF

Country of Registration Australia

March 1960 to September 1966

ANSETT-ANA

VH-TVF - c/n 49 - a V.720 series Viscount
Australia registered

6 March 1960
Dry leased (i.e. without crew) from Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) in full ANSETT-ANA livery. The daily charge was 160 pounds 18 shillings.

TAA received two Douglas DC-6B (VH-INH and VH-INU) on lease from ANSETT-ANA to cover the leasing of three Viscounts. The other two were VH-TVC (C/N 46) and VH-TVE (C/N 48).

This arrangement was imposed upon TAA by the Australian Government through its Department of Civil Aviation and certainly favoured Ansett-ANA in having the use of more modern aircraft and was known as the 'Two Airlines Agreement'.

circa 1962
Weather radar was installed as a result of the accident to VH-TVC (C/N 46) and a subsequent Australian Airworthiness Directive.

26 September 1966
Returned to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).


Photo of Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) Viscount VH-TVF

Country of Registration Australia

September 1966 to January 1967

Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)

VH-TVF - c/n 49 - a V.720 series Viscount
Australia registered

26 September 1966
Returned from ANSETT-ANA lease.

12 October 1966
Returned to service in full TAA livery, now named as 'Peter Warburton'.

18 January 1967
Dry leased (i.e. without crew) again to ANSETT-ANA. This lease was to cover the loss of VH-RMI (C/N 416) which had crashed 22 September 1966.


Photo of ANSETT-ANA Viscount VH-TVF

Country of Registration Australia

January 1967 to April 1967

ANSETT-ANA

VH-TVF - c/n 49 - a V.720 series Viscount
Australia registered

18 January 1967
Dry leased (i.e. without crew) again from Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA). This lease was to cover the loss of ANSETT-ANA Viscount VH-RMI (C/N 416) which had crashed 22 September 1966.

This aircraft had only just been overhauled and repainted in full TAA livery and had to hurredly re-enter the hangar to have the TAA titles removed and ANSETT-ANA titles applied.

17 April 1967
Returned to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).


Photo of Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) Viscount VH-TVF

Country of Registration Australia

April 1967 to October 1967

Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)

VH-TVF - c/n 49 - a V.720 series Viscount
Australia registered

17 April 1967
Returned from ANSETT-ANA lease.

TAA titles repainted and the aircraft returned to service.

30 June 1967
Withdrawn from service and stored at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

9 October 1967
Sold to Keegan Aviation Ltd.


Photo of Keegan Aviation Ltd Viscount VH-TVF

Country of Registration Australia

October 1967 to January 1970

Keegan Aviation Ltd

VH-TVF - c/n 49 - a V.720 series Viscount
Australia registered

9 October 1967
Purchased from Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) and ferried to Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England and stored, still in its full TAA livery.

Total time 28,748 hours and 20,936 total landings.

It was offered for sale but there were no buyers.

16 January 1970
Sold to Flightspares Ltd.


Photo of Flightspares Ltd Viscount VH-TVF

Country of Registration Australia

January 1970 to February 1970

Flightspares Ltd

VH-TVF - c/n 49 - a V.720 series Viscount
Australia registered

16 January 1970
Purchased from Keegan Aviation Ltd but the aircraft remained stored at Southend Airport, Rochford, Essex, England.

It was then robbed of all useful spares.

February 1970
Remains broken up for scrap by Ali Ingots Ltd of Raleigh, Essex, England.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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Information@VickersViscount.net.


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This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.