VH-TVQ Vickers Viscount 816

VH-TVQ. Vickers Viscount 816. c/n 434.

Was also registered as: B-2027; PK-MVL; PK-MVU.

This aircraft was ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - ?

Built at the Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Limited Hurn factory

First flown - June 08, 1959

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TVQ - June 18, 1959

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Departed Hurn on the delivery flight to Australia - June 17, 1959

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - June 24, 1959

Ferry crew: Captains W. O. James, C. L. Browne, M. Baker; Navigator P. B. Stone

The aircraft's arrival was timed to coincide with the arrival of the Electra 'VH-TLA' and Friendship 'VH-TFA'

The aircraft was named 'McDouall Stuart'

Operated its first revenue service - June 29, 1959

Operated its final revenue service Adelaide (West Beach) - Melbourne (Essendon) as TN519 - July 07, 1970

The aircraft was placed in storage at Melbourne (Essendon)

It had flown 26,463 hours with 20,535 cycles

The intended sale to Colney Aircraft Sales was not completed - February 1971

A proposed sale to Arkia Israel Inland Airlines was not completed due to political reasons - March 1971

Sold to Consolidated Aviation Holdings Pty Ltd, Sydney - April 17, 1971

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd, Sydney - April 17, 1971

Sold to Far Eastern Air Transport - April 17, 1971

This sale was brokered by A.A.S. on behalf of Consolidated Aviation Holdings

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to Taiwan - April 17, 1971

It arrived at Taiwan (Taipei) on completion of the ferry flight - April 19, 1971

Ferry route: Melbourne - Adelaide - Alice Springs - Darwin - Denpasar - Kot Kinbalu - Manila - Taipei

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 19, 1971

Entered onto the Taiwanese Aircraft Register as B-2027 - ?

Leased to Merpati Nusantara Airlines - May 24, 1975

Entered onto the Indonesian Aircraft Register as PK-MVL - ?

Returned to Far Eastern Air Transport at the end of the lease - March 01, 1983

Sold to Mandala Airlines and reregistered as PK-MVU - 1986

The aircraft was named 'Nias'

It was badly damaged in a landing accident at Jakarta - June 16, 1988

The starboard undercarriage collapsed on landing causing the aircraft to depart the runway

The propellers on Number 3 and 4 engines were destroyed

It was repaired and returned to service

The aircraft was destoyed when it crashed into Mt Liliboy whilst landing at Ambon's Pattimura Airport - July 24, 1992

It was on the flight from Jakarta to Ambon and the crash occurred during its second missed approach in heavy rain

Killed were the 7 crew members and 63 passengers

VH-TVQ. TAA Trans- Australia Airlines - 'McDouall Stuart' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-438.)

VH-TVQ. TAA Trans- Australia Airlines - 'McDouall Stuart' in the original 'dayglow' livery at an unknown location, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-442.)

VH-TVQ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'McDouall Stuart' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Launceston Western Junction Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-307.)

VH-TVQ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'McDouall Stuart' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-151.)

VH-TVQ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'McDouall Stuart' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1961.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-459.)

VH-TVQ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'McDouall Stuart' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0129-420.)

VH-TVQ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'McDouall Stuart' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-448.)

VH-TVQ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'McDouall Stuart' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-061.)

VH-TVQ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'McDouall Stuart' in the standard livery at Coolangatta Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-156.)

VH-TVQ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'McDouall Stuart' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-255.)

VH-TVQ. TAA - 'McDouall Stuart' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-483.)

VH-TVQ. TAA - 'McDouall Stuart' in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1968.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0129-359.)

VH-TVQ. TAA - 'McDouall Stuart' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 09, 1969.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0129-299.)

VH-TVQ. TAA - 'McDouall Stuart' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 09, 1969.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0129-356.)

VH-TVQ. TAA - 'McDouall Stuart' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-076.)

VH-TVQ. TAA - 'McDouall Stuart' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1970.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0129-357.)

VH-TVQ. TAA - in the basic livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1971.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-279.)

PK-MVL. MNA Merpati Nusantara Airlines - in the original livery at Jakarta Airport, December 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-328.)

PK-MVL. MNA Merpati Nusantara Airlines - 'Sumba' in the revised livery at an unknown airport, June 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-077.)

PK-MVL. Merpati Nusantara Airlines - 'Sumba' in the final livery at an unknown airport, July 1981.