26 April 2024
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Viscount Survivors


59 of the 444 Viscounts built survive as complete airframes or major components. Some are in very good condition and are looked after by museums while others are just wrecks. They can be found in 24 countries.

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

Viscount c/n 181

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 181
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)


Australia flag Australia

This V.756D series Viscount was built for
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) as VH-TVK

It first flew on Thursday, 10 January 1957 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 510 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 181
Sims Metal Ltd


Australia flag Australia

Its final owner/operator was
Sims Metal Ltd as VH-TVK.

Its fate:-
Operated its final Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) service then placed in storage at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 30 December 1968. Cancelled from the Australian Civil Aircraft Register 13 May 1970. Remains sold to Sims Metal Ltd and broken up into sections for removal to their yard at Brooklyn, Western Melbourne, Victoria, Australia..


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

Country of Registration Australia

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.

VH-TVK in its last TAA livery.
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.


Photo of Sims Metal Ltd Viscount VH-TVK

Country of Registration Australia

May 1970 to June 1970

Sims Metal Ltd

VH-TVK - c/n 181 - a V.756D series Viscount
Australia registered

31 May 1970
Remains purchased from Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) for metal salvage.

circa July 1970
Broken up into sections for removal to their yard at Brooklyn, Western Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

The Vickers Viscount Network is always interested to hear from anyone who has information or photographs to help complete the story of the Viscount. If you can help please contact us at
Information@VickersViscount.net.


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