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 308

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 308
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

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

It first flew on Saturday, 10 May 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, Zaire Aero Service, Air Caravane, Air Cardinal and Aeroleasing & Sales Ltd


Photo of Viscount c/n 308
Marche Bonsecours


Canada flag Canada

Its final owner/operator was
Marche Bonsecours as C-FTHZ.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service and stored at Cartierville Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada circa January 1982. Noted back at Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada in August 1990. Broken up for scrap circa June 1995 except for the forward fuselage section and rear fuselage section including the tail which were transferred to the Bonsecours Market and fitted at each end of the building. Noted there 21 June 1995. The fate of these sections of the aircraft after their use at the market building is unknown. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net.


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

Country of Registration Canada

May 1958 to June 1964

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-THZ - c/n 308 - 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 ninth one built.

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

Production Order No. F29/757. Sales Order No. F29/76B. Stock Order No………

10 May 1958
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

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

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

15 May 1958
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '644'.

After refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland it stopped for seven hours before continuing on to Keflavik Airport, Iceland (743 nautical miles), Bluie West 8 (BW8) Airfield, Sondre Stromfjord, Western Greenland (804 nautical miles), Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (1482 nautical miles). They must have had a very strong tailwind to miss out Goose Bay!

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 6,031 hours and 5,295 total landings.

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


Photo of Air Canada Viscount CF-THZ

Country of Registration Canada

June 1964 to April 1974

Air Canada

CF-THZ - c/n 308 - 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 '644'.

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

16 June 1970
Fatal ground incident at Malton Airport, Toronto, Ontario, Canada involving the No.3 propeller. No further details known.

23 May 1972
Withdrawn from service and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

Total time 30,536:09 hours and 31,645 total landings.

30 April 1974
Sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd.


Photo of Beaver Enterprises Ltd Viscount CF-THZ

Country of Registration Canada

April 1974 to November 1979

Beaver Enterprises Ltd

CF-THZ - c/n 308 - 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 195KA 2266 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.2 TCA S/N 61A 233KA 1059 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.3 TCA S/N 61A 219KA 2405 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.4 TCA S/N 61A 236KA 2741 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

A sale to Zaire Aero Service was not completed.

14 June 1978
Ferried to Cartierville Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

February 1979
Noted back in storage at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

2 November 1979
Sold to Air Caravane.


Photo of Air Caravane Viscount C-FTHZ

Country of Registration Canada

November 1979 to September 1980

Air Caravane

C-FTHZ - c/n 308 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

2 November 1979
Purchased from Beaver Enterprises Ltd.

Air Cardinal titles and tail logo were applied to the basic Air Canada livery with black and white stripes running through the red cheatline.

September 1980
Transferred to Air Cardinal.


Photo of Air Cardinal Viscount C-FTHZ

Country of Registration Canada

September 1980 to January 1982

Air Cardinal

C-FTHZ - c/n 308 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

September 1980
Transferred from Air Caravane, who were part of the same airline group and remained in their livery with Air Cardinal titles applied.

October 1980
Noted at Calgary International Airport, Alberta, Canada.

circa January 1982
Sold to Aeroleasing & Sales Ltd. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Photo of Aeroleasing & Sales Ltd Viscount C-FTHZ

Country of Registration Canada

January 1982 to June 1995

Aeroleasing & Sales Ltd

C-FTHZ - c/n 308 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

circa January 1982
Purchased from Air Cardinal.

The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

21 July 1983
Noted stored at Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

September 1986
Noted stored at Cartierville Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

The No.1 propeller was now in the 'feathered' position.

August 1990
Noted back at Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

April 1993
Noted still in storage.

circa June 1995
Broken up for scrap except for the forward fuselage section and the rear fuselage section including the tail which were subsequently transferred to the Marche Bonsecours building in the centre of Montreal.

The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

November 1996
Registration cancelled as aircraft permanently withdrawn from use.


Photo of Marche Bonsecours Viscount C-FTHZ

Country of Registration Canada

June 1995 to

Marche Bonsecours

C-FTHZ - c/n 308 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

The nose and tail sections noted attached above the entrances to the Marche Bonsecours building, Montreal, Canada.

21 June 1995
Forward fuselage section and rear fuselage section including the tail noted attached above the entrances to the Marche Bonsecours building, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada and named as 'Plein Vol'.

This historic building is located at 350 St Paul Street East, H2Y 1H2.

The fate of these sections of the aircraft after their use at the market building is unknown. 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.