26 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 386

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 386
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)


Canada flag Canada

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

It first flew on Monday, 23 March 1959 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, Alidair and Zaire Aero Service


Photo of Viscount c/n 386
Zairean Airlines


Zaire flag Zaire

Its final owner/operator was
Zairean Airlines as 9Q-CPY.

Its fate:-
Withdrawn from service by Zairean Airlines and stored at N'dolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire following a landing accident in 1989. Broken up for scrap circa June 1997 with the registration being re-allocated to a Sud SE210 Caravelle.


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

Country of Registration Canada

March 1959 to June 1964

Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA)

CF-TIF - c/n 386 - 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 thirty fifth one built.

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

Production Order No. F35/757. Sales Order No. F35/76B. Stock Order No………

23 March 1959
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

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

25 March 1959
Noted at Gatwick Airport, Surrey, England carrying out a single ILS approach and overshoot.

26 March 1958
Aircraft passed off by TCA inspectors as completed and ready for delivery.

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

28 March 1959
Departed from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on delivery to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) with fleet number '650'.

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 (872 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.

29 March 1959
Departed from Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada to Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (810 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 3,668 hours and 3,742 total landings.

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


Photo of Air Canada Viscount CF-TIF

Country of Registration Canada

June 1964 to April 1974

Air Canada

CF-TIF - c/n 386 - 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 '650'.

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

30 September 1968
Total time (not quoted) and 21,473 landings.

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Withdrawn from service and stored at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada.

Total time 29,411 hours and 30,436 total landings.

30 April 1974
Sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd.


Photo of Beaver Enterprises Ltd Viscount CF-TIF

Country of Registration Canada

April 1974 to March 1976

Beaver Enterprises Ltd

CF-TIF - c/n 386 - 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 205KA 2940 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.2 TCA S/N 61A 110KA 2723 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.3 TCA S/N 61A 172KA 1689 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

No.4 TCA S/N 61A 170KA 1644 hours remaining out of a TBO (overhaul life) of 9,000 hours

May 1974
Transferred to the CAE Aircraft Limited facility at Winnipeg Airport, Manitoba, Canada for overhaul.

July 1974
Overhaul completed and returned to open storage.

July 1974
The forward door escape shute was stolen, and recovered by police, but held as evidence.

21 July 1974
Aircraft was further damaged by vandals. This time they removed the port pitot tube and forced open the front door damaging the handle.

23 August 1974
Vandalism damage repairs completed which resulted in 31 man hours of work.

September 1974
Noted with a dark blue stripe down the middle of the red cheatline.

1 March 1976
Sold to Alidair.


Photo of Alidair Viscount CF-TIF

Country of Registration Canada

March 1976 to September 1978

Alidair

CF-TIF - c/n 386 - a V.757 series Viscount
Canada registered

1 March 1976
Purchased from Beaver Enterprises Ltd.

7 March 1976
Arrived at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England from Keflavik, Iceland and stored still in its basic Air Canada livery less titles. It was originally purchased as a source of spares.

Noted stored at East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire, England in an all white livery.
Painted white Feb 1978

26 February 1978
Noted at East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire, England now repainted all white but still carrying the Canadian registration.

1 September 1978
Sold to Zaire Aero Services.


Photo of Zaire Aero Service Viscount 9Q-CPY

Country of Registration Zaire

September 1978 to January 1981

Zaire Aero Service

9Q-CPY - c/n 386 - a V.757 series Viscount
Zaire registered

1 September 1978
Purchased from Alidair and repainted in full Zaire Aero Service livery.

4 October 1978
Departed East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England on delivery to the Republic of Zaire.

circa January 1981
Sold to Zairean Airlines.


Photo of Zairean Airlines Viscount 9Q-CPY

Country of Registration Zaire

January 1981 to June 1997

Zairean Airlines

9Q-CPY - c/n 386 - a V.757 series Viscount
Zaire registered

circa January 1981
Purchased from Zaire Aero Service.

1989
The nose undercarriage leg collapsed after a heavy landing at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire.

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

July 1991
Noted at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Zaire being repaired using parts from Viscount 9Q-CVL (C/N 189).

January 1992
Noted stored at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire, with all repairs stopped.

2 June 1995
Noted stored at Ndolo Airport, Kinshasa, Republic of Zaire, with all four propellers and the starboard Rolls-Royce Dart engines removed.

December 1995
Officially withdrawn from service.

circa June 1997
Broken up for scrap with the registration being re-allocated to a Sud SE210 Caravelle.


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.