
March 1962 to June 1970
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)
VH-TVR * - c/n 318 - a V.818 series Viscount
Australia registered
15 March 1962
Purchased from Compania Cubana de Aviación S.A.
NOTE: Registration VH-TVR was originally allotted to Viscount C/N 435.
Delivered to Trans Australia Airlines (TAA)
15 March 1962
Registered to the Australian National Airlines Commission for operation by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).
30 April 1962
Handed over to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).
Jack Ellis was contracted by TAA to ferry the aircraft to Australia and for the first leg from Havana, Cuba to Miami, Florida, USA he was instructed locally to use a Cuban Co-pilot.
After the engines were started a woman and several children were quickly put on board with some luggage. The door was closed and the co-pilot insisted that they hurry up and depart. As they lined up to take off a jeep appeared with armed guards and they indicated for the plane to stop, but the Co-pilot convinced Jack that they should continue with the takeoff.
It turned out that the Co-pilot, and his family were defecting to the USA. They left the aircraft in Miami, Florida during the first fuel stop.
24 June 1962
Arrived at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Australia on delivery to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) and immediately converted to V.816 standard.
27 November 1962
Operated its first TAA revenue service named as 'John Murray'.
28 December 1969
Temporarily withdrawn from service and stored at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
circa February 1970
Noted with the No.4 Rolls-Royce Dart engine removed.
1 March 1970
Returned to service.
10 April 1970
Operated its final TAA revenue service TN1983 from Kingsford Smith Airport, Sydney, New South Wales to Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria and stored.
Total time 21,213 hours and 17,447 total landings.
All the useful parts removed
The aircraft was scheduled to go to the Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) for use as a fire trainer but the Chairman of TAA Sir Frederick Scherger intervened and insisted that the aircraft should be preserved somewhere.
June 1970
Donated to the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group (AARG) based at the Moorabbin Air Museum which was situated at Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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