
January 1957 to May 1970
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)
VH-TVK - c/n 181 - 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-TVK.
September 1955
This was the fourth Type 756 Viscount ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).
Production Aircraft No. 170 - the 170th production 700 series Viscount built,
was the 123rd Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 125th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Production Order No. F04/756. Sales Order No. F04/74B. Stock Order No. F21/32B.
13 August 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
28 September 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
10 January 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
16 January 1957
Entered onto the Australian Civil Aircraft Register.
18 January 1957
Delivered to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) named as 'Thomas Mitchell' fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines and crewed by Captain Dunn, First Officer Neal, Navigator Carnell and Radio Operator Hobbs.
8 February 1957
Operated its first Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) service.
15 August 1957
Set a speed record between Cairns and Brisbane, Queensland, Australia of 139 minutes under the control of Captain P. Buchanan.
The final TAA Viscount 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.
10 October 1968
Damaged during an emergency landing at Kingsford Smith Airport, Mascot, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia when the nose undercarriage leg was stuck in a partially retracted position.
During the previous takeoff the nose undercarriage leg over-extended and then jammed during the retraction phase due to the failure of a gland nut.
There were no reported injuries to the 4 crew and 23 passengers on board.
Repaired, including replacement propellers and Rolls-Royce Dart engines and returned to service.
24 November 1968
Damaged when the rear baggage door fell off after take-off from Coolangatta Airport, Bilinga, Queensland, Australia.
30 December 1968
Operated its final service for TAA and placed in storage at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Australia.
Total time 30,016 hours and 21,133 total landings.
It was subsequently robbed of all useful parts, particularly the valuable Rolls-Royce Dart engines.
A possible sale to Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) was not completed.
13 May 1970
Cancelled from the Australian Civil Aircraft Register.
31 May 1970
Remains sold to Sims Metal Ltd for metal salvage.
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