24 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 218

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 218
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

This V.757 series Viscount was built for
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) as CF-THA

It first flew on Monday, 14 January 1957 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 506 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Canadian Inspection & Test Company


Photo of Viscount c/n 218
Wabush Mines Ltd


Canada flag Canada

Its final owner/operator was
Wabush Mines Ltd as CF-THA.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Wabush Mines and stored at Dorval Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada in September 1976. Broken up for scrap circa October 1978. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) Viscount CF-THA

Country of Registration Canada

February 1957 to February 1963

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-THA - c/n 218 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

August 1954
An order was placed by Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) for an initial batch of seven Type Type 757 aircraft as a follow on from the previous Type 724 order.

This order was placed before they had received their first Type 724!

This was the fourth one built.

The total order for Type757 aircraft reached thirty six in May 1957.

Production Aircraft No. 171 - the 171st production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 121st Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 126th Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F04/757. Sales Order No. F04/76B. Stock Order No. F74/27B.

19 July 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

23 September 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

14 January 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

5 February 1957
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '619'.

It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines.

The delivery route for this aircraft is not known.

6 February 1957
Arrived at Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

10 July 1957
TCA issued instructions that all Viscounts would be repainted in a 'White Top' livery when a suitable maintenance period became available.

28 October 1959
Suffered an electrical failure incident. No more details known so please contact information@vickersviscount.net if you can help.

31 August 1960
Total time 9,425 hours and 7,777 total landings.

10 October 1962
Severely damaged at Bagotville Airport, Quebec, Canada after being hit by RCAF McDonnell F-101B Voodoo 17452.

Severely damaged at Bagotville Airport, Quebec, Canada after being hit by RCAF McDonnell F-101B Voodoo 17452 10 October 1962.
Hit by a RCAF McDonnell
F-101B Voodoo

The Voodoo was awaiting clearance to take off on an air intercept mission but the landing Viscount had priority on runway 11. After the Viscount landed the air traffic controller expected it to take the high speed turnoff but it continued on down the runway to the next turnoff.

The Voodoo was cleared too soon for takeoff by the controller and it accellerated down the runway and became airborne shortly before it reached the Viscount. It collided with the Viscount's tail fin and rudder which was ripped off and a large gash was punched in the forward fuselage towards the starboard side. The Voodoo continued climbing to about 1,200 feet before the crew baled out. The Voodoo then crashed in open land.

Sadly a stewardess was killed instantly by the fuselage entry and a passenger died a few hours later from injuries sustained but both the RCAF pilots survived.

Captain J Laver, his remaining crew and 10 passengers escaped uninjured with a further 6 passengers receiving injuries.

Total time 13,875 and 12,176 total landings.

Rebuilt and offered for sale.

21 February 1963
Sold to Canadian Inspection & Test Company.


Photo of Canadian Inspection & Test Company Viscount CF-THA

Country of Registration Canada

February 1963 to November 1968

Canadian Inspection & Test Company

CF-THA - c/n 218 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

21 February 1963
Purchased from Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) by the Canadian Inspection & Testing Company, 355 St James Street, Montreal.

It was fitted with integral front 'airsteps' and an Auxilliary Power Unit (APU) in the rear fuselage.

June 1964
Noted named as 'La Vicomtesse' (Viscountess).

November 1968
Sold to Wabush Mines Ltd.


Photo of Wabush Mines Ltd Viscount CF-THA

Country of Registration Canada

November 1968 to October 1978

Wabush Mines Ltd

CF-THA - c/n 218 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

November 1968
Purchased from Canadian Inspection & Test Company.

It was generally operated from Dorval Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada to Sept-Îles Airport, Province of Quebec, Canada and Wabush Airport, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.

It was also occasionally operated on behalf of sister Wabush Lake Railway Company.

Iit has a standard airline cabin seating in the forward section with an executive seating area at the rear.

September 1976
Withdrawn from service and stored at Dorval Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Total time 21,921 hours.

C-FTHQ (C/N 277) was purchased as a replacement.

Broken up for scrap at Dorval.
Broken up for scrap at Dorval

circa October 1978
Broken up for scrap. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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.


Click here for more details about the Vickers Viscount Network

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