VH-TVA Vickers Viscount 720

VH-TVA. Vickers Viscount 720. c/n 44.

This aircraft was the first of six Viscounts ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - August 19, 1952

It was built at the Vickers-Armstrong Hurn factory

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TVA - June 22, 1954

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

First flown - August 29, 1954

Departed Hurn on the delivery flight to Australia - October 06, 1954

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon)on completion of the delivery flight - October 13, 1954.

Flight crew: Captains F. Fischer, J. A. P. Boyd, D. Winch; Navigator Locke; Radio Operator Roberts

The aircraft was named 'John Batman'

Operated a route familiarisation flight Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - October 21, 1954

The aircraft was destoyed whilst taking-off during training a flight at Mangalore, Victoria - October 31, 1954

Killed in the accident were 3 crew members - Captains D. K. MacDonald, R. D. Fisher, J. W. Nickells

This accident resulted from crew's attempt to fly the aircraft off the runway below minimum control speed

It was engaged in a three-engined take-off where positive nose wheel control and forward stick was not maintained

This resulted in aircraft running off the edge of the runway and crew's response to this unexpected deviation

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 31, 1954

Aircraft had flown 100 hours with 120 cycles to date

To view more details on this accident please click 'HERE'

VH-TVA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the original livery at Hurn Airport, circa 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-463.)

VH-TVA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the original livery at Hurn Airport, August 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-464.)

VH-TVA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the original livery at Hurn Airport, circa 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-465.)

VH-TVA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the original livery at Hurn Airport, August 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-144.)

VH-TVA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the original livery at Hurn Airport, October 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-466.)

VH-TVA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the original livery at Darwin Airport, October 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-134.)

VH-TVA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 14, 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-323.)

VH-TVA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1954.