27 July 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 220

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 220
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

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

It first flew on Monday, 11 February 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
Air Canada, Beaver Enterprises Ltd and Goulet Enterprises


Photo of Viscount c/n 220
Keith Olson


Canada flag Canada

Its final owner/operator was
Keith Olson as CF-THC.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn fom service by Air Canada and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada in June 1973. Sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd 30 April 1974. Purchased by Goulet Enterprises in September 1975 and the majority of it was shredded and transported to their yard at Saint Malo, Manitoba, Canada. The forward fuselage section remained at Winnipeg and was later acquired by Keith Olson and moved to his farm at East Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada, 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in July 1978. It was then sold for use as a restaurant circa 1992. The current fate of this section is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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

Country of Registration Canada

February 1957 to June 1964

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-THC - c/n 220 - 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 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 sixth one built.

The total order for Type 757 aircraft reached thirty six in May 1957.

Production Aircraft No. 176 - the 176th production Type 700 series Viscount built,
was the 132nd Viscount fuselage assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England,
and the 131st Viscount assembled at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Production Order No. F06/757. Sales Order No. F06/76B. Stock Order No. F01/32B.

3 October 1956
Fuselage assembly commenced at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

11 November 1956
Fuselage to Erecting Shop 'E' at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

11 February 1957
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

16 February 1957
Aircraft passed off by TCA inspectors as completed and ready for delivery.

This was the first TCA Viscount to be delivered fitted with a weather radar system.

20 February 1957
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '621'.

After refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland it then flew on to Keflavik Airport, Iceland (743 nautical miles) where it was again refuelled.

21 February 1957
Departed from Keflavik Airport, Iceland to Bluie West One (BW1) Airfield, Narsarsuaq, Southern Greenland (804 nautical miles), Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (1482 nautical miles). They must have had a very strong tailwind to miss out Goose Bay!

BW1 was built during WWII to assist the transfer of military aircraft from North America to Europe and was opened in January 1942.

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

The cabin seating was installed in Canada, as the seats used by TCA were of American manufacture.

The cabin was fitted out with 44 seats which was a reduction from the original 48 seat specification and provided more leg room.

This was heavily marketed and resulted in a high load factor compared to the 18 seat Douglas DC-3 that it replaced on some routes.

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

September 1957
Noted in the new 'white top' livery.

2 February 1959
The starboard undercarriage leg collapsed on landing at Malton Airport, Toronto, Ontario, Canada at 12:15 Eastern Standard Time (EST) whilst operating flight 305-2.

The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the starboard wing, flaps and also shockload damage to the starboard propellers and Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

The cause of the collapse was the fatigue failure of a bolt holding the hydraulic ram to the starboard undercarriage leg.

The cold weather was also a factor as it affected the material strength of the bolt.

There were no reported injuries to the 27 passengers and 4 crew on board.

Repaired and returned to service.

31 August 1960
Total time 9,161 hours and 7,717 total landings.

1 June 1964
Transferred to Air Canada due to a corporate name change.


Photo of Air Canada Viscount CF-THC

Country of Registration Canada

June 1964 to April 1974

Air Canada

CF-THC - c/n 220 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

1 June 1964
Transferred from Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) due to a corporate name change retaining fleet number '621'.

It took several years to repaint the fleet in Air Canada livery.

17 June 1973
Withdrawn from service and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

Total time 35,042 hours and 36,382 total landings.

30 April 1974
Sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd.


Photo of Beaver Enterprises Ltd Viscount CF-THC

Country of Registration Canada

April 1974 to September 1975

Beaver Enterprises Ltd

CF-THC - c/n 220 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

30 April 1974
Purchased from Air Canada but the aircraft remained stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

A total of 24 aircraft were included in this sale.

It was then robbed of all useful parts including the Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

September 1975
Remains sold to Goulet Enterprises of Saint Malo, Manitoba, Canada.


Photo of Goulet Enterprises Viscount CF-THC

Country of Registration Canada

September 1975 to December 1977

Goulet Enterprises

CF-THC - c/n 220 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

September 1975
Remains purchased from Beaver Enterprises Ltd.

It was then shredded and transported to their property at Saint Malo, Manitoba, Canada including the intact tail fin.

The forward fuselage section remained intact at Winnipeg.

June 1977
Forward fuselage section noted still lying in the grass at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

circa July 1977
Tail fin noted lying in the grass at Saint Malo, Manitoba, Canada.

circa July 1978
Forward fuselage section acquired by Keith Olson of Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada.

The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of Keith Olson Viscount CF-THC

Country of Registration Canada

July 1978 to September 1987

Keith Olson

CF-THC - c/n 220 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

July 1978
Forward fuselage section acquired from Goulet Enterprises and moved to a farm yard at East Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada 37 miles (60 KM) northeast of Winnipeg.

The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

This site was also used to store artifacts belonging to the Western Canada Aviation Museum who are based at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

September 1987
Forward fuselage section noted still at Keith Olson's farm yard.

circa 1992
Forward fuselage section sold to a restaurant owner.

Does anyone know where this section went to, the date and its subsequent fate?

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.


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