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 434

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 434
Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)


Australia flag Australia

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

It first flew on Monday, 8 June 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 Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA)


Photo of Viscount c/n 434
Mandala Airlines


Indonesia flag Indonesia

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

Its fate:-
Crashed into Mount Lalaboy, Maluku Island, Indonesia on the 24 July 1992 at 16:30 (local time) at an altitude of 2,300 feet during an aborted instrument approach to Pattimura Airport, Ambon in a heavy rainstrorm, 16km from the runway. The aircraft was circling the area waiting for the weather to improve.

The service had originated from Jakarta, Indonesia via several other islands. The last stop was at Hasanudin Airport, Ujung Pandang. All 7 crew and 63 passengers on board were sadly killed.


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

Country of Registration Australia

June 1959 to February 1971

Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA)

VH-TVQ - c/n 434 - 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 second of four Type 816 Viscount ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).

The third aircraft VH-TVR (C/N 435) and fourth aircraft VH-TVS (C/N 436) were not completed for TAA.

The registration VH-TVR was eventually allocated to C/N 318.

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

Also noted at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England, which is likely to have been the delivery departure location.

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

It then departed on delivery to Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) named as 'McDouall Stuart'.

It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa7 Mark 525 engines, a weather radar system and integral front 'airsteps'.

The crew consisted of Captains Baker, Browne and James and Navigator Stone.

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

24 June 1959
Arrived at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

A three aircraft flypast was arranged as Lockheed 188 Electra VH-TLA and Fokker F27 Friendship VH-TFA had also arrived on delivery on the same day.

29 June 1959
Entered revenue service.

David Carter illustration of TAA Viscount VH-TVQ

Viscount illustrations by David Carter


TAA 'orange tail' Jetline livery'.

circa 1962
Painted in the TAA 'orange tail' Jetline livery.

TAA 'white tail' Jetline livery'.

circa 1963
Painted in the TAA 'white tail' Jetline livery.

TAA 'white tail' livery'.

circa 1968
'THE NATION'S JETLINE' titles removed

7 July 1970
Operated a final service from West Beach Airport, Adelaide, South Australia to Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and then withdrawn from service and stored.

Total time 26,463 hours and 20,535 total landings.

A sale to Colney Aircraft Sales was not completed.

A sale to Arkia - Israel Inland Airlines was not completed as the sale was not sanctioned by the Australian Government.

February 1971
Sold to Consolidated Aviation Holding Pty Ltd.


Photo of Consolidated Aviation Holding Pty Ltd Viscount VH-TVQ

Country of Registration Australia

February 1971 to April 1971

Consolidated Aviation Holding Pty Ltd

VH-TVQ - c/n 434 - a V.816 series Viscount
Australia registered

February 1971
Purchased from Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).

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


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2027

Country of Registration Taiwan

April 1971 to May 1975

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2027 - c/n 434 - a V.816 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

16 April 1971
Purchased from Consolidated Aircraft Holding Pty Ltd.

The sale was brokered through AAS - Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd and their titles were applied to the port side of the basic TAA livery.

17 April 1971
Departed from Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on delivery to Taiwan. There were packing cases inside the forward cabin, presumably containing spare parts and at least two people seated in the rear cabin.

This was the last Viscount to depart from Melbourne.

17 April 1971
Seen at West Beach Airport, Adelaide, South Australia, Alice Springs Airport, Northern Territory and Darwin Airport, Northern Territory during the delivery to Taiwan, still in ex TAA livery with AAS titles on the port side only and still carrying its Australian registration.

It then routed to Bali, Indonesia, Kota Kinabalu, Philippines and Manila, Philippines.

19 April 1971
Re-registered to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).

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

19 April 1971
Australian registration cancelled as aircraft sold abroad.

25 May 1974
Total time 29,617:32 hours and 24,339 total landings.

16 October 1974
Total time 30,405:47 hours and 25,474 total landings.

13 May 1975
FAT registration cancelled.

24 May 1975
Leased to Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA).


Photo of Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA) Viscount PK-MVL

Country of Registration Indonesia

May 1975 to March 1983

Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA)

PK-MVL - c/n 434 - a V.816 series Viscount
Indonesia registered

Merpati Nusantara Airlines 'Orange and Blue' livery.

24 May 1975
Leased from Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT). Merpati means Dove (or Pigeon) in Malay and Nusantara means 'of the Indonesian Islands'

25 May 1975
Total time 31,296:28 hours and 26,725 total landings.

27 May 1975
Departed from Taipei on delivery to Jakarta, Indonesia which took 6 hours 17 minutes and 2 landings.

28 March 1976
Total time 32,991:00 hours and 28,471 total landings.

9 June 1976
Departed from Jakarta, Indonesia to Taipei, Taiwan, returning for maintenance with FAT.

10 June 1976
Arrived at Taipei, Taiwan from Jakarta, Indonesia.

The two day journey took 10 hours 2 minutes flying time with 4 landings.

Total time 33,355:36 hours.

circa 1980
Painted in the Merpati Nusantara Airlines 'Orange and Blue' livery

1 March 1983
Returned to Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).


Photo of Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT) Viscount B-2027

Country of Registration Taiwan

March 1983 to January 1986

Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT)

B-2027 - c/n 434 - a V.816 series Viscount
Taiwan registered

1 March 1983
Returned from Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA) lease.

1 October 1985
Total time 43,272:12 hours and 36,432 total landings.

1 January 1986
Sold to Mandala Airlines.


Photo of Mandala Airlines Viscount PK-RVU

Country of Registration Indonesia

January 1986 to July 1992

Mandala Airlines

PK-RVU - c/n 434 - a V.816 series Viscount
Indonesia registered

1 January 1986
Purchased from Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation (FAT).

16 June 1988
During an approach to land at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Cengkareng, Jakarta, Indonesia on a service from Semarang, Indonesia the crew noticed that the starboard main undercarriage safe light was not lit. They carried out a low fly-by and the tower advised them that the leg looked to be down but when they landed the starboard leg collapsed and the aircraft veered off of the runway resulting in damage to the No.3 and No.4 propellers and shockloading of the corresponding Rolls-Royce Dart engines.

Repaired and returned to service.

24 July 1992
Crashed into Mount Lalaboy, Maluku Island during a steep approach to Pattimura Airport, Ambon in a heavy rainstrorm, 16 KM from the runway at 16:30 (local time) at an altitude of 2300 feet during an aborted instrument approach. The aircraft was circling the area waiting for the weather to improve.

The service had originated from Jakarta, Indonesia via several other islands. The last stop was at Hasanudin Airport, Ujung Pandang.

All 7 crew and 63 passengers on board were sadly killed.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

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