VH-TVB Vickers Viscount 720

VH-TVB. Vickers Viscount 720. c/n 045.

Was also registered as: VH-RMQ.

This aircraft was the second 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-TVB - June 22, 1954

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

First flown - October 20, 1954

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

Known ferry crew: F/O Manning; Navigator D. Lawrence; Radio Operator Hobbs

The aircraft was named 'Gregory Blaxland'

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne - Sydney - Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne - December 13, 1954

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

Set a speed record between Cairns - Townsville of 38 minutes (Captain H. Gray) - October 07, 1955

Set a speed record between Townsville - Brisbane of 125 minutes (Captain H. Gray) - October 07, 1955

Set a speed record between Launceston - Melbourne of 48 minutes (Captain R. D. Winch) - December 23, 1955

Set a speed record between Townsville - Brisbane of 114 minutes (Captain C. A. Howard) - August 14, 1957

Leased to Ansett-ANA - July 07, 1962 to August 1962

During this lease the aircraft flew in the basic 'T. A. A.' livery with 'Ansett-ANA' titles

Sold to Ansett-ANA - October 31, 1962

Reregistered as VH-RMQ

The aircraft was purchased to replace the Ansett-ANA Viscount VH-TVC that had crashed earlier

Leased to M.M.A. to upgrade its services from Perth to Port Headland - September 10, 1968

Delivered to M.M.A. in Perth - September 13, 1968

The aircraft was named 'Quininup'

The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at Indee Station, 45 km south of Port Headland - December 31, 1968

It was on descent to Port Headland - December 31, 1968

Killed were the 5 crew members - Captain B. Bayly; F/O M. Nelson; Hostesses G. Bradshaw,

G. Sweetman, K. Aubery and 21 passengers

This crash was attributed to a fatigue crack in lower starboard wing-spar boom, resulting in wing failure

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 31, 1968

Aircraft had flown 31,747 hours with 25,336 cycles

To view the ATSB report on this accident click 'HERE'

VH-TVB. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Gregory Blaxland' in the original livery at the Hurn Factory, September 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-477.)

VH-TVB. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Gregory Blaxland', circa 1954.

(G. Wilkes Collection Copyright Image 0129-503.)

VH-TVB. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Gregory Blaxland' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-147.)

VH-TVB. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Gregory Blaxland' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-253.)

VH-TVB. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Gregory Blaxland' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0129-276.)

VH-TVB. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Gregory Blaxland' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-028.)

VH-TVB. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Gregory Blaxland' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-214.)

VH-TVB. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Gregory Blaxland' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-175.)

VH-TVB. Ansett-ANA - 'Gregory Blaxland' in the basic TAA livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1962.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 0129-417.)

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

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-108.)

VH-RMQ. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, September 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-256.)

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

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-026.)

VH-RMQ. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 02, 1965.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0129-370.)

VH-RMQ. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Adelaide Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-306.)

VH-RMQ. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 16, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-497.)

VH-RMQ. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 18, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-478.)

VH-RMQ. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 18, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0129-479.)

VH-RMQ. MMA Jetstream Service - 'Quininup' in the standard livery at Perth Airport, October 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-272.)

VH-RMQ. MMA Jetstream Service - 'Quininup' in the standard livery at Perth Airport, November 1968.