20 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 433

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 433
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)


Australia flag Australia

This V.816 series Viscount was built for
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) as VH-TVP

It first flew on Friday, 8 May 1959 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.


During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by
Consolidated Aviation Holding Pty Ltd, Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) and Air Vietnam


Photo of Viscount c/n 433
Mandala Airlines


Indonesia flag Indonesia

Its final owner/operator was
Mandala Airlines as PK-RVS.

Its fate:-
Noted withdrawn from service and stored at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia in October 1994. It was not broken up for scrap until circa April 2004. The actual date is not known. Details please to information@vickersviscount.net


Operational record
Photo of Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) Viscount VH-TVP

Country of Registration Australia

May 1959 to April 1971

Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)

VH-TVP - c/n 433 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered

22 June 1954
Registration to Australian National Airlines Commission trading as Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) reserved on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TVP.

1956
This was the first of four Type 816 Viscount ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).

8 May 1959
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

23 May 1959
Delivered to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) named as 'John Gould' fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa7 Mark 525 engines, a weather radar system and integral front 'airsteps'.

An 'occasional use' lounge at the rear of the cabin with small side windows resulted in a reduction in luggage capacity.

This situation often required the use of a Douglas DC-3 following behind with the excess baggage, which was delivered well after the passengers arrived and went to their onward address.

David Carter illustration of Trans-Australia Airlines Viscount VH-TVP

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


Noted fitted with integral front 'airsteps' circa 1966.

1 June 1968
A set of steps was blown into the aircraft at West Beach Airport, Adelaide, South Australia from the jet blast of a taxying Boeing 727. This resulted in substantial damage to the port aileron.

18 August 1970
Operated the last TAA Viscount passenger revenue service on flight TN473 from Canberra to Melbourne. It was then converted to carry light freight by removing the seats and providing achorage points.

28 August 1970
Damaged at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia when a truck ran into the port wing.

The aircraft had just arrived from Llanherne Airport, Hobart, South East Tasmania, Australia on flight TN2288.

The aircraft was repaired using a replacement port wing from VH-TVR (C/N 318) and offered for sale.

Total time 27,013 hours and 21,296 total landings.

circa January 1971
A sale to Arkia Inland Airlines of Israel was not completed as the Australian Government would not approve the sale for political reasons.

3 March 1971
Noted parked at Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, Australia with all titles removed pending a sale.

19 March 1971
Ferried from Darwin to Melbourne which took 1 hour 45 minutes.

2 April 1971
Sold to Consolidated Aviation Holding (Pty) Ltd.


Photo of Consolidated Aviation Holding Pty Ltd Viscount VH-TVP

Country of Registration Australia

April 1971 to April 1971

Consolidated Aviation Holding Pty Ltd

VH-TVP - c/n 433 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered

2 April 1971
Purchased from Trans Australia Airlines (TAA).

2 April 1971
Sold to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2025

Country of Registration Taiwan

April 1971 to March 1973

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2025 - c/n 433 - a V.816 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

2 April 1971
Purchased from Consolidated Aviation Holding (Pty) Ltd.

The sale was brokered through Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd.

2 April 1971
Departed from Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to Adelaide - Alice Springs - Darwin.

3 April 1971
Departed from Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, Australia to Bali, Indonesia - Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and Manila, Philippines.

4 April 1971
Arrived at Songshan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan on delivery. The total journey time from Melbourne was 22 hours 45 minutes.

5 April 1971
Australian registration cancelled as aircraft exported.

Registered as B-2025 for Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).

Registered address: - No.36 Kuan Chien Road, Taipei, Taiwan.

It then carried out a local test flight.

8 May 1971
Total time 27,109:00 hours.

31 October 1971
Total time 27,831:00 hours and 22,244 total landings.

29 January 1972
Total time 28,027:00 hours.

10 May 1972
Total time 28,221:15 hours and 22,716 total landings.

29 March 1973
Leased to Air Viet Nam.


Photo of Air Viet Nam Viscount B-2025

Country of Registration Taiwan

March 1973 to March 1974

Air Viet Nam

B-2025 - c/n 433 - a V.816 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

29 March 1973
Leased from Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).

26 September 1973
Total time 30,068:25 hours and 24,504 total landings.

March 1974
Returned to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2025

Country of Registration Taiwan

March 1974 to August 1976

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2025 - c/n 433 - a V.816 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

March 1974
Returned from Air Viet Nam lease.

17 May 1974
Total time 30,910:25 hours and 25,192 total landings.

19 November 1974
Total time 31,718:20 hours and 26,172 total landings.

August 1976
Sold to Mandala Airlines.

The registration B-2025 was not cancelled until 24 September 1979!


Photo of Mandala Airlines Viscount PK-RVS

Country of Registration Indonesia

August 1976 to November 1995

Mandala Airlines

PK-RVS - c/n 433 - a V.816 series Viscount
Indonesia registered

August 1976
Purchased from Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) and named as 'Avatara'.

2 August 1976
Total time 34,382:46 hours and 29,887 total landings.

27 June 1977
Total time 35,249:26 hours and 30,837 total landings.

8 December 1977
Total time 35,755:37 hours and 31,495 total landings.

1 May 1978
The nose undercarriage leg collapsed on landing at Kaohsiung International Airport, Taiwan.

Total time 36,181:31 hours and 32,090 total landings.

Repaired and returned to service.

24 October 1981
Total time 40,891:04 hours and 36,621 total landings.

22 October 1982
Total time 41,751:41 hours and 37,113 total landings.

4 March 1983
Total time 42,201:43 hours and 37,373 total landings.

27 April 1985
Total time 45,010:02 hours and 39,535 total landings.

April 1993
Withdrawn from service and stored at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia.

circa January 1994
Returned to service in a new livery.

September 1994
Noted still active at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia.

11 October 1994
Noted withdrawn from service and stored at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia.

The No.4 Rolls-Royce Dart engine has already been removed.

circa April 2004
Broken up for scrap. The actual date is 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.