VH-TVD. Vickers Viscount 720. c/n 047.

 

 

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

Built at the Vickers-Armstrong Hurn factory

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

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

First flown as VH-TVD - December 01, 1954

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - December 24, 1954

Flight crew: Captain Boyd, J. Benton; Navigator W. Ryman; Radio Operator A. Algie

The aircraft was named 'Hamilton Hume'

Operated its first revenue service - January 01, 1955

Converted to '720C' standard during its early career

Set a speed record between Brisbane - Townsville of 144 minutes (Captain R. Longhurst) - January 06, 1955

Set a speed record between Townsville - Cairns of 40 minutes (Captain R. Longhurst) - January 06, 1955

Set a speed record between Melbourne - Sydney of 62 minutes (Captain V. C. Austen) - August 07, 1955

Set a speed record between Sydney - Brisbane of 75 minutes (Captain L. Thrift) - August 14, 1955

Set a speed record between Perth - Melbourne of 4 hours 4 minutes (Captain R. Keig) - October 16, 1955

Set a speed record between Brisbane - Sydney of 82 minutes (Captain R. Keig) - June 08, 1956

Withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Melbourne (Essendon) - April 06, 1967

Sold to Keagan Aviation, England - October 09, 1967

Placed in storage at Southend, England

Sold to Flight Spares Ltd - January 16, 1970

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 30, 1970

Stipped for spares and scrapped at Southend - February 1970

Aircraft had flown 29,352 hours with 22,350 cycles

 

 

VH-TVD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Hamilton Hume' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-439.)

VH-TVD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Hamilton Hume' in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-177.)

VH-TVD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Hamilton Hume' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0129-275.)

VH-TVD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Hamilton Hume' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-178.)

VH-TVD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Hamilton Hume' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0129-368.)

VH-TVD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Hamilton Hume' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-295.)

VH-TVD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Hamilton Hume' in the standard livery at Canberra Airport, August 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-008.)

VH-TVD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Hamilton Hume' in the standard livery at Southend Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0129-367.)

VH-TVD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Hamilton Hume' in the standard livery at Southend Airport, February 27, 1968.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0129-504.)