20 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 303

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 303
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

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

It first flew on Monday, 3 March 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 and Beaver Enterprises Ltd


Photo of Viscount c/n 303
Zaire Aero Service


Zaire flag Zaire

Its final owner/operator was
Zaire Aero Service as 9Q-CPD.

Its fate:-
Damaged beyond repair at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire 28 August 1984. It crashed into a swamp shortly after takeoff. There were no fatalities.


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

Country of Registration Canada

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.


Photo of Air Canada Viscount CF-THU

Country of Registration Canada

June 1964 to April 1974

Air Canada

CF-THU - c/n 303 - 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 '639'.

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

30 September 1968
Total time (not quoted) and 24,082 total landings.

29 April 1973
Withdrawn from service and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

Total time 29,762:03 hours

30 April 1974
Sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd.


Photo of Beaver Enterprises Ltd Viscount CF-THU

Country of Registration Canada

April 1974 to September 1978

Beaver Enterprises Ltd

CF-THU - c/n 303 - 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

The Rolls-Royce RDa3 Mark 506 engines installed were: -

No.1 TCA S/N 61A 169KA 2471 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.2 TCA S/N 61A 210KA 3963 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.3 TCA S/N 61A 241K 891 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.4 TCA S/N 61A 9K 1374 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

21 September 1978
Sold to Zaire Aero Services.


Photo of Zaire Aero Service Viscount 9Q-CPD

Country of Registration Zaire

September 1978 to August 1984

Zaire Aero Service

9Q-CPD - c/n 303 - a V.757 series Viscount
Zaire registered

21 September 1978
Purchased from Beaver Enterprises Ltd.

25 September 1978
Departed from Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada on a series of ferry flights to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England for maintenance work with Field Aircraft Services Ltd.

19 October 1978
Departed from East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England on delivery to the Republic of Zaire together with 9Q-CKB (C/N 304).

28 August 1984
Damaged beyond repair at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire.

It crashed into a swamp shortly after takeoff. There were no fatalities.


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.