June 1956 to May 1970
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)
VH-TVJ - c/n 148 - a V.756D series Viscount
Australia registered
22 June 1954
Registration to Australian National Airlines Commission trading as Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) reserved on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TVJ.
April 1955
This was the third Type 756 Viscount ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).
Production Aircraft No. 125 - the 125th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 81st Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 86th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Production Order No. F03/756. Sales Order No. F03/74B. Stock Order No. F42/22B.
10 January 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
29 February 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
14 June 1956
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
22 June 1956
Handed over to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) named as 'John Forrest' at London Airport (Heathrow), Middlesex, England and then departed on delivery fitted with Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines.
26 June 1956
Arrived at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
12 July 1956
Entered service from Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and on to the eastern routes the following day after an overnight stop at Brisbane.
Fitted with extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks for use on the Trans-Australia flights. These were later removed.
19 December 1957
Damaged after a collision with a hangar at Launceston Airport, Tasmania, Australia. Repaired locally.
1 April 1958
After landing at Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane, Australia the first officer selected the propeller ground fine pitch position and started to apply foot braking. Neither seemed to be slowing the aircraft down so the handbrake was applied, again with little effect.
The Captain took over and selected 47 degrees of flap. As he could see that they were going to over-run the end of the runway with about 600 feet left to run he steered the aircraft off to the right towards a clear area.
When the aircraft was on the grass it became uncontrollable and slid sideways. It headed towards a bitumen spreader which was parked 320 feet to the right of the active runway centre-line.
The aircraft was still moving at about 50 knots and collided with the machinery resulting in a spin of 45 degrees with the nose section of the aircraft resting on the spreader.
The cause of the accident was a malfunction in the propeller pitch control electrical circuit.
There were no reported injuries to the 38 passengers or 5 crew on board.
Repaired and returned to service approximately three weeks later.
circa 1959
Painted in the Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) later 'Orange Tail' livery.
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)
'White Tail' livery
circa 1961
Painted in the Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) 'White Tail' livery.
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 February 1964
Fuselage skin damaged after being struck by the wingtip of TAA Viscount VH-TVG (C/N 84) at West Beach Airport, Adelaide, South Australia.
circa June 1964
Noted at Teversham Airport, Cambridge, England undergoing maintenance with Marshall's without a name. The actual date is not known.
Was this as a result of the damage incurred at Adelaire? (see above). Details please to information@vickersviscount.net.
November 1964
Noted renamed as 'Ernest Giles'.
2 October 1968
Made a farewell enthusiast flight from Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia which lasted for two and a half hours.
10 October 1968
Last revenue flight to Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and withdrawn from use and placed in open store.
Total time 28,961 hours and 20,502 total landings.
13 March 1970
Moved into a hangar at Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and stripped of all useful parts and deletion of TAA markings.
17 March 1970
Parts recovery complete.
13 May 1970
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.
20 May 1970
Remains sold to Nonferral Pty Ltd for $800.00.
|
