VH-TVF Vickers Viscount 720

VH-TVF. Vickers Viscount 720. c/n 049.

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

Built at the Vickers-Armstrong Hurn factory

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

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

First flown - January 30, 1955

It arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - April 02, 1955

Known ferry crew: Captain Morey; F/O James; Navigator Randall; Radio Operator Allan

The aircraft was named 'Ernest Giles'

Operated its first revenue service - April 18, 1955

It was converted to '720C' standard during its early career

Set a speed record Adelaide - Perth of 4 hours 27 minutes (Captain R. M. Green) - March 23, 1955

Set a speed record Adelaide - Melbourne (Essendon) of 62 minutes (Captain L. Thrift) - October 14, 1955

Set a speed record Sydney - Melbourne (Essendon) of 78 minutes (Captain T. B. Shaw) - August 23, 1957

Set a speed record Brisbane - Townsville of 137 minutes (Captain B. Fuller) - August 28, 1957

Set a speed record Launceston - Hobart of 19 minutes (Captain V. J. Glann) - August 30, 1957

Set a speed record Melbourne - Launceston of 45 minutes (Captain I. Black) - September 14, 1957

Set a speed record Cairns - Townsville of 37 minutes (Captain C. Howard) - September 19, 1957

Set a speed record Brisbane - Townsville of 122 minutes (Captain D. Lawrence) - October 21, 1957

Set a speed record Hobart - Sydney of 115 minutes (Captain R. Andrews) - February 22, 1958

It was dry-leased to Ansett-ANA on cross-charter - March 06, 1960

Leased to Ansett for 160 pounds 18 shillings per day and configured to seat 48 First Class passengers

Returned to Trans-Australia Airlines at the end of the lease - September 26, 1966

Returned to service with Trans-Australia Airlines - October 12, 1966

The aircraft was renamed 'Peter Warburton'

It was dry-leased to Ansett-ANA - January 18, 1967 to April 17, 1967

During this lease it was operated in the basic T. A .A. livery with white tail and Ansett-ANA cabin roof titles

Withdrawn from T.A.A. service and placed in open storage at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - June 07, 1967

Sold to Keagan Aviation, England - September 21, 1967

Flown to Southend, England and placed in storage

Sold to Flight Spares Ltd - January 16, 1970

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 30, 1970

Stipped for parts and scrapped - February 1970

The aircraft had flown 28,748 hours with 20,936 cycles

VH-TVF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Ernest Giles' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 28, 1956.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0129-198.)

VH-TVF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Ernest Giles' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0129-232.)

VH-TVF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Ernest Giles' in the original livery at an unknown location, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-149.)

VH-TVF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Ernest Giles' in the original livery with the modified tail stripe at Coolangatta Airport, August 16, 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-145.)

VH-TVF. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery at Adelaide Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0129-338.)

VH-TVF. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1964.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-270.)

VH-TVF. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1965.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-105.)

VH-TVF. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 14, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-324.)

VH-TVF. Ansett-ANA - in the basic T.A.A. livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-097.)

VH-TVF. Ansett-ANA - in the basic T.A.A. livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 11, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-029.)

VH-TVF. Ansett-ANA - in the basic T.A.A. livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, March 11, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-030.)

VH-TVF. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Peter Warburton' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 29, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-031.)

VH-TVF. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Peter Warburton' in the standard livery at Southend Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-153.)

VH-TVF. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Peter Warburton' in the standard livery at Southend Airport, August 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-460.)

VH-TVF. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Peter Warburton' in the standard livery at Southend Airport, September 1968.