March 1958 to June 1964
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)
CF-THU - c/n 303 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered
May 1957
An order was placed by Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) for a fifth batch of thirteen Type 757 aircraft as a follow on from the previous Type 724 and Type 757 orders.
This was the twenty fourth one built.
The total order for Type 757 aircraft reached thirty six in May 1957.
Production Order No. F24/757. Sales Order No. F24/76B. Stock Order No………
3 March 1958
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa3 Mark 506 engines.
5 March 1958
Aircraft passed off by TCA inspectors as completed and ready for delivery.
It was painted in the later 'white top' livery.
12 March 1958
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '639'.
After refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland it then flew on to Keflavik Airport, Iceland (743 nautical miles) where it stopped overnight.
13 March 1958
Departed from Keflavik Airport, Iceland to 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.
30 January 1959
Made an emergency landing at Albany Airport, New York, USA.
After taking off from Idlewild Airport, New York, USA on a service to Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, smoke entered the cockpit. The Captain elected to land at the nearest available airport. All 4 crew and 39 passengers evacuated the aircraft without injury. A press photographer took a shot of the aircraft on the ground at Albany.
The cause of the smoke was a burnt out Inverter unit.
Repaired locally and returned to service.
31 August 1960
Total time 6,425 hours and 5,562 total landings.
1 June 1964
Transferred to Air Canada due to a corporate name change.
|