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 277

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 277
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

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

It first flew on Sunday, 2 February 1958 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, Wabush Mines and Filair


Photo of Viscount c/n 277
Bazair


Zaire flag Zaire

Its final owner/operator was
Bazair as 9Q-CTU.

Its fate:-
Damaged while with Filair during a landing at Ndjili International Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire with the starboard undercarriage leg being ripped off on the 3 March 1992. Noted still in storage after the 1992 accident in January 1995.

In 1996 it was sold to Bazair and in 1998 it was withdrawn from service and stored at Boende Airport, Tshuapa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Noted on Google Earth 6 August 2019 still stored but with the nose of the aircraft now lying on the ground after the collapse of the soft earth. Still visible on Google Earth 16 June 2020.


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

Country of Registration Canada

February 1958 to June 1964

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-THQ - c/n 277 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

September 1955
An order was placed by Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) for a third batch of eleven Type 757 aircraft as a follow on from the previous Type 724 and Type 757 orders.

This was the nineteenth one built.

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

Production Order No. F19/757. Sales Order No. F19/76B. Stock Order No……...

2 February 1958
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

14 February 1958
Aircraft passed off by TCA inspectors as completed and ready for delivery.

It was painted in the later 'white top' livery.

15 February 1958
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '635'.

After refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland it stopped overnight.

16 February 1958
Departed from Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland to Keflavik Airport, Iceland (743 nautical miles), Bluie West 8 (BW8) Airfield, Sondre Stromfjord, Western Greenland (804 nautical miles), Sept-Îles Airport (Seven Islands), Province of Quebec, Canada (1,116 nautical miles), Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (810 nautical miles).

BW8 was built during WWII to assist the transfer of military aircraft from North America to Europe and was opened in October 1941.

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.

31 August 1960
Total time 6,706 hours and 6,057 total landings.

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


Photo of Air Canada Viscount CF-THQ

Country of Registration Canada

June 1964 to April 1974

Air Canada

CF-THQ - c/n 277 - 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 '635'.

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

17 January 1969
Ran off the runway at Vancouver International Airport, British Columbia, Canada after landing. No damage details known.

August 1971
Withdrawn from service at Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada and then ferried to Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada for further storage.

Total time 29,369 hours and 30,220 total landings.

30 March 1972
Offered for sale following an overhaul.

30 April 1974
Sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd.


Photo of Beaver Enterprises Ltd Viscount C-FTHQ

Country of Registration Canada

April 1974 to September 1976

Beaver Enterprises Ltd

C-FTHQ - c/n 277 - 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.

United Aviation Services Ltd had some role in the processing of these Viscounts. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

21 September 1976
Sold to Wabush Mines.


Photo of Wabush Mines Ltd Viscount C-FTHQ

Country of Registration Canada

September 1976 to December 1987

Wabush Mines Ltd

C-FTHQ - c/n 277 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

21 September 1976
Purchased from Beaver Enterprises Ltd.

It was then fitted with integral front 'airsteps'.

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.

December 1987
Sold to Filair.


Photo of Filair Viscount C-FTHQ

Country of Registration Canada

December 1987 to January 1988

Filair

C-FTHQ - c/n 277 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

December 1987
Purchased from Wabush Mines.

18 December 1987
Arrived at Middelkerke Airport, Ostend, Belgium still using its Canadian registration but no titles.

1988
Re-registered 9Q-CTU.


Photo of Filair Viscount 9Q-CTU

Country of Registration Zaire

January 1988 to January 1996

Filair

9Q-CTU - c/n 277 - a V.757 series Viscount
Zaire registered

1988
Re-registered from C-FTHQ.

16 October 1990
Noted active at N'dolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire utilising the integral front 'airsteps'.

3 March 1992
Damaged during landing at Ndjili International Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire with the starboard undercarriage leg being ripped off.

January 1995
Noted still in storage after the 1992 accident.

1996
Sold to Bazair.


Photo of Bazair Viscount 9Q-CTU

Country of Registration Zaire

January 1996 to

Bazair

9Q-CTU - c/n 277 - a V.757 series Viscount
Zaire registered

1996
Purchased from Filair and named as Mampala.

1998
Withdrawn from service and stored at Boende Airport, Tshuapa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

6 August 2019
Noted still stored but with the nose of the aircraft now lying on the ground after the collapse of the undercarriage leg.

16 June 2020
Still visible on Google Earth.


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.