VH-TVJ Vickers Viscount 756

VH-TVJ. Vickers Viscount 756C. c/n 148.

This aircraft was ordered new by Trans Australia Airlines - ?

It was built at the Vickers-Armstrong Hurn factory

First flown - June 14, 1956

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TVJ - June 21, 1956

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - June 26, 1956

Known crew: Captain Fairbank; F/O Tamblyn; Navigator Madsen; Radio Operator Allen

The aircraft was named 'John Forrest' and later 'Ernest Giles'

It operated its first revenue service - July 11, 1956

Set speed record between Brisbane - Melbourne (Essendon) of 168 minutes (Capt. R. Andrews) - September 10, 1956

Sustain extensive damage when it collided with a hangar at Launceston Airport - January 19, 1957

Damaged when it departed the runway on landing at Brisbane Airport, striking machinery - April 01, 1958

It operated its final revenue service - October 10, 1968

It was placed in open storage at Brisbane Airport

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 13, 1970

Sold to Nonferral Metals (Queensland) for scrapping - May 27, 1970

The cockpit section was salvaged and is now with Queensland Aviation Museum, Caloundra - 2003

The aircraft had flown 28,961 hours with 20,502 cycles

VH-TVJ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Forrest' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-181.)

VH-TVJ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Forrest' in the original livery at Cairns Airport, October 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-268.)

VH-TVJ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Forrest' in the original livery at Cairns Airport, October 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-269.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Forrest' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 13, 1962.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 0129-481.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Forrest' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1964.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-219.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Ernest Giles' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0129-345.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Ernest Giles' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 13, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-033.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Ernest Giles' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-302.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Ernest Giles' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-418.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Ernest Giles' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-501.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Ernest Giles' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, October 26, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-296.)

VH-TVJ. TAA - in the basic livery at Brisbane Airport, March 28, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-293.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - the nose section awaiting restoration at the Queensland Air Museum, February 2006.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0129-287.)

VH-TVJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - the nose section awaiting restoration at the Queensland Air Museum, February 2006.