
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'.
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