First 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-TVA - June 22, 1954

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission

First flown - August 29, 1954

Departed Hurn on delivery flight - October 6, 1954

Ferry crew: Capts F. Fischer, J.A.P. Boyd, D. Winch; Navigator Locke; Radio Operator Roberts

Arrived at Melbourne's Essendon Airport - October 13, 1954

Aircraft was named 'John Batman'

Operated a route familiarisation flight - Melbourne-Sydney - October 21, 1954

Aircraft was destoyed on take-off during training a flight at Mangalore, Victoria - October 31, 1954

Killed in accident were 3 crew members - Capts D.K. MacDonald, R.D. Fisher, J.W. Nickells

Accident resulted from crew's attempt to fly the aircraft off the runway below minimum control speed

Was engaged in a three-engined take-off where positive nose wheel control a forward stick was not maintained

This resulted in aircraft running off the edge of the runway and crew's response to this unexpected deviation

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 31, 1954

Had flown 100 hours / 120 cycles to date

VH-TVA. Trans Australia Airlines - in original livery at Hurn, August 1954.

(Image 0129-144. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-TVA. Trans Australia Airlines - in original livery at Darwin Airport, October 1954.

(Image 0129-134. R. N. Smith Collection)

VH-TVA. Trans Australia Airlines - in original livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, October 14, 1954.

(Image 0129-323. E. D. Daw Collection)

VH-TVA. Trans Australia Airlines - in original livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, October 1954.

(Image 0129-174. P. J. Gates Collection)