Fifth 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-TVE - June 22, 1954

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission

First flown - December 23, 1954

Arrived at Melbourne's Essendon Airport on delivery to T.A.A. - January 22, 1955

Delivery route - Hamburg-Rome-Athens-Beirut-Bahrain-Delhi-Calcutta-Rangoon-Singapore-Jakarta-Denpasar-Darwin

Ferry crew: Capts D. Winch, R. Keig, J.C. Johnston; Navigator J. Pelletier

Aircraft was named 'Charles Sturt'

Operated its first revenue service for T.A.A. - February 2, 1955

Converted to '720C' standard during its early career

Set a speed record between Melbourne-Adelaide of 144 minutes (Capt L. Thrift) - July 16, 1955

Set a speed record between Sydney-Adelaide of 128 minutes (Capt R. Andrews) - June 8, 1956

Set a speed record between Melbourne-Launceston of 50 minutes (Capt A. Hawkesford) - August 9, 1956

Dry-leased to Ansett-ANA on a cross-charter agreement - March 6, 1960 to October 12, 1966

Leased for 160 pounds 18 shillings per day

Resumed service with T.A.A. - November 23, 1966

Aircraft was renamed ' John Ross'

Withdrawn from T.A.A. service and placed in storage at Essendon Airport, Melbourne - April 2, 1968

Proposed sale to Keegan Aviation Ltd did not eventuate

Sold to Simsmetal for scrapping - December 18, 1969

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 30, 1970

Had flown 29,383 hours / 21,680 cycles

VH-TVE. Trans Australia Airlines - in the original livery at Brisbane Airport - date unknown.

(Image 0129-179. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-TVE. Trans Australia Airlines - in the original livery at Brisbane Airport - date unknown.

(Image 0129-311. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-TVE. Trans Australia Airlines - in the original livery location & date unknown.

(Image 0129-365. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-TVE. Trans Australia Airlines - in the original livery location & date unknown.

(Image 0129-322. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-TVE. TAA The Nation's Jetline - in the final livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(Image 0129-009. J. Hopton Photograph)

 

VH-TVE. Ansett-ANA - in its final color scheme at Sydney Airport, December 1965.

(Image 0129-109. G. Wilkes Collection)

VH-TVE. Ansett-ANA - in its final color scheme at Essendon Airport, September 1966.

(Image 0129-366. G. Bennett Photograph)

VH-TVE. TAA The Nation's Jetline - in the final livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, September 1969.

(Image 0129-339. G. Bennett Collection)