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 307

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 307
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

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

It first flew on Wednesday, 23 April 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 307
Zaire Aero Service


Zaire flag Zaire

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

Its fate:-
Noted stored at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire 30 August 1980. Did it ever fly again? Does it still survive? Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


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

Country of Registration Canada

May 1958 to June 1964

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-THY - c/n 307 - 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 eighth one built.

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

Production Order No. F28/757. Sales Order No. F28/76B. Stock Order No………

23 April 1958
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

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

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

3 May 1958
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '643'.

It was flown by Vickers pilot W (Bill?) Cairns.

After refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland it continued on to Keflavik Airport, Iceland (742 nautical miles), Bluie West 8 (BW8) Airfield, Sondre Stromfjord, Western Greenland (804 nautical miles), Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada (842 nautical miles), Quebec City, Province of Quebec, Canada (570 nautical miles) where it stopped for eleven hours.

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

4 May 1958
Departed from Quebec City, Province of Quebec, Canada to Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (126 nautical miles).

5 May 1958
Departed from Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada to Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada (986 nautical miles).

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 6,250 hours and 5,326 total landings.

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


Photo of Air Canada Viscount CF-THY

Country of Registration Canada

June 1964 to April 1974

Air Canada

CF-THY - c/n 307 - 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 '643'.

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

13 February 1970
Overran the runway on landing at Halifax Airport, Nova Scotia, Canada. No significant damage.

1 March 1970
While on approach to Vancouver International Airport, British Columbia, Canada the pilots of flight 106 were warned of other traffic 1 mile in front of them, but they were unable to see anything. A little later a slight jar was felt. It transpired that there had been a collision with a white Ercoupe 415 CF-SHN, which then spiralled down.

The Viscount received damage to the outer side of the No.2 engine nacelle but landed safely.

There were no reported injuries to the 29 passengers and 4 crew onboard the Viscount but unfortunately the pilot of the Ercoupe, E Marier sadly died.

PROBABLE CAUSE:
The see-and-be-seen concept, although augmented by radar, was ineffective. The procedures to ensure safe separation of mixed traffic in the Vancouver area were obsolescent.

28 April 1974
Withdrawn from service and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

Total time 33,245:44 hours

30 April 1974
Sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd.


Photo of Beaver Enterprises Ltd Viscount CF-THY

Country of Registration Canada

April 1974 to August 1978

Beaver Enterprises Ltd

CF-THY - c/n 307 - 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 No details

No.2 TCA S/N 61A 72K 997 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.3 TCA S/N 61A 19K 1322 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.4 TCA S/N 61A 214KA 1435 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

16 May 1978
Ferried to Cartierville Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

August 1978
Sold to Zaire Aero Services.


Photo of Zaire Aero Service Viscount 9Q-CKS

Country of Registration Zaire

August 1978 to

Zaire Aero Service

9Q-CKS - c/n 307 - a V.757 series Viscount
Zaire registered

August 1978
Purchased from Beaver Enterprises Ltd. It was still in the Air Canada livery minus titles.

14 September 1978
Departed Cartierville Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada to Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada where it stopped overnight.

15 September 1978
Departed Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada on delivery to East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England.

Maintenance work was carried out at East Midlands Airport by Field Aircraft Services Ltd.

9 March 1979
Departed from East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England on delivery to the Republic of Zaire via Malaga, Spain. It was still in the ex Air Canada livery.

30 August 1980
Noted stored at N'dolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire still in the ex Air Canada livery with all four Rolls-Royce Dart engines removed.

Did it ever fly again? 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.