25 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 305

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 305
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

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

It first flew on Tuesday, 25 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 305
Zaire Aero Service


Zaire flag Zaire

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

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Zaire Aero Service and stored at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire in September 1984.

The final fate of this aircraft is currently not known.
Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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

Country of Registration Canada

April 1958 to June 1964

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-THW - c/n 305 - 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 sixth one built.

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

Production Order No. F26/757. Sales Order No. F26/76B. Stock Order No………

25 March 1958
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

1 April 1958
Aircraft passed off by TCA inspectors as completed and ready for delivery.

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

3 April 1958
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '641'.

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

4 April 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.

31 August 1960
Total time 6,429 hours and 5,570 total landings.

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


Photo of Air Canada Viscount CF-THW

Country of Registration Canada

June 1964 to April 1974

Air Canada

CF-THW - c/n 305 - 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 '641'.

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

12 November 1969
A wingtip of CF-THB (C/N 219) was damaged as this aircraft was being towed at Malton Airport, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

23 December 1971
Withdrawn from service and initially stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

12 June 1972
Offered for sale following an overhaul.

August 1973
Noted stored at Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

circa April 1974
Ferried to Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada for further storage. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

Total time 30,249:38 hours

30 April 1974
Sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd.


Photo of Beaver Enterprises Ltd Viscount CF-THW

Country of Registration Canada

April 1974 to November 1978

Beaver Enterprises Ltd

CF-THW - c/n 305 - 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 163K 1426 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.2 TCA S/N 61A 119K 2086 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.3 TCA S/N 61A 94K 2823 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.4 TCA S/N 61A 59KA 2972 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

30 November 1978
Sold to Zaire Aero Services.


Photo of Zaire Aero Service Viscount 9Q-CPJ

Country of Registration Zaire

November 1978 to

Zaire Aero Service

9Q-CPJ - c/n 305 - a V.757 series Viscount
Zaire registered

30 November 1978
Purchased from Beaver Enterprises Ltd.

24 January 1979
Departed Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada on a ferry flight to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

Noted at Dorval Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada during the ferry flights to the UK.

1 February 1979
Departed East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England on delivery to the Republic of Zaire via Malaga Airport, Spain.

September 1984
Withdrawn from service and stored at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire.

The final fate of this aircraft is currently 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.


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