Malayan Airways August 1956
As promised some notes from the Malayan Airways timetable for 1956, which includes not only the DC-3 services but also the Rapides in Borneo which 828a was operating. They are shown as an integral part of the service, with Malayan Airways flight numbers. And as you might expect, the service has filled out quite a bit since 1949. It’s all a bit complex so I’ll just do one day of the week. I’ve chosen Thursday
Rapides first. 3 aircraft.
Labuan 0620 ML618
Anduki 0730
Lutong 0805
Sibu 1040
Sibu 1235 ML619
Lutong 1510
Anduki 1545
Labuan 1655
Labuan 0700 ML614
Anduki 0810
Anduki 0825 ML615
Labuan 0935
Labuan 1430 ML616
Anduki 1540
Anduki 1555 ML617
Labuan 1705
Jesselton 0830 ML608
Ranau 0900
Ranau 0920 ML 609
Jesselton 0950
Jesselton 1010 ML604
Ranau 1040
Ranau 1100 ML605
Jesselton 1130
Jesselton 1150 ML611
Keningau 1240
Labuan 1320
A Rapide also flew 3 days a week Sandakan to Tawau, which doesn’t seem to have been linked to the other services. The whole schedule would seem to be a bit of a challenge if there were only 3 Rapides in the fleet, were there more than this ?
DC-3s :
[see posts below]
I’ll also put a scan of the whole timetable on a pdf when I get into my office, if anyone would like one PM me.
For further reading on Far East flying I can recommend “Beyond the Blue Horizon” by Alexander Frater. Published about 20 years ago, well-known journalist Frater got hold of an account from the first Imperial Airways flight from London to Australia in the 1930s, then retraced all the steps in the 1980s on commercial flights, and wrote a whole book about it. Absolutely fascinating, in all my somewhat large aviation book library I have to say it’s my favourite. Out of print but you will find it on Amazon or in secondhand book shops.
Last edited by WHBM; 31st Oct 2006 at 09:31.