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 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) Airport

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.