Dc-3 Zs-lvr
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Dc-3 Zs-lvr
Hello,
I flew DC-3 ZS-LVR for a year or 2 in the '90's (Africa Cargo Air out of Lanseria).
I'm interested in finding out the wherabouts of the aircraft and some of the crews, namely Ferdie Zymaan, Manfred Broussouw (sp), Cliffy (engineer) also Tim Green, Robin Anderson and Dean DuToit who purchased the aircraft from ACA in '96 before taking it to Lusaka where we operated in and out of Angola.
Fair winds
I flew DC-3 ZS-LVR for a year or 2 in the '90's (Africa Cargo Air out of Lanseria).
I'm interested in finding out the wherabouts of the aircraft and some of the crews, namely Ferdie Zymaan, Manfred Broussouw (sp), Cliffy (engineer) also Tim Green, Robin Anderson and Dean DuToit who purchased the aircraft from ACA in '96 before taking it to Lusaka where we operated in and out of Angola.
Fair winds
Last edited by Dak Man; 27th Oct 2004 at 07:23.
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I think LVR got damaged in a fire caused by avgas thieves when they tried to look into the tank using a lighter. She was subsequently repaired and now operates from Nelspruit. Tokoloshe may know more....
If it's the same Manfred I know, I think he left SA a while back.
If it's the same Manfred I know, I think he left SA a while back.
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So Manfred bolted, I wondered why he had bought that Lear. Can't say I'm surprised, as if I remember correctly there was a big article in the Sunday Times about Gold smuggling out of Lanseria.
I always thought that that Dak fealt heavy !!!!!!!!!
I always thought that that Dak fealt heavy !!!!!!!!!
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Cliff Dixon was stabbed 72 times in his own house by the re-distributiion of wealth team and is no longer with us. Robyn Anderson is still around still looking for work. Ferdi I dont know where he is but he is still around. Manfred is still around, he never owned a Lear and has never been charged with any criminal act. He has more tales (lies) told about him than are told about Al Capone! 
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Very sad to hear about Cliffy he kept LVR flying through thick and thin.
There was definately an early Lear around at one point (late '96) as I asked Manfred if I could fly it for him!, glad to hear that he's still around and I assume OK as I got on really well with him and enjoyed working for him, very brusque exterior but a heart of gold.
What about Tony Robinson is he still around and Dudley Foster also.
I wouldn't be surprised if you and I know eachother.
There was definately an early Lear around at one point (late '96) as I asked Manfred if I could fly it for him!, glad to hear that he's still around and I assume OK as I got on really well with him and enjoyed working for him, very brusque exterior but a heart of gold.
What about Tony Robinson is he still around and Dudley Foster also.
I wouldn't be surprised if you and I know eachother.
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Lear belonged to the infamous Bruce Kellar not Manfred! Bruce was in Manfreds Offices at the time. Heard Manfred is operating into Angola with Aztecs some time back but he stopped or was stopped. Last seen In Brits!!!!!
Tony is also dead killed in one of Manfreds Aztecs a couple of years ago. Did you know Val Humphries? Dudley is still finding punters and floggin planes.
Tim Green is dead killed in Mozambique in a microlight early this year. Some repair failed and it broke up.
Tony is also dead killed in one of Manfreds Aztecs a couple of years ago. Did you know Val Humphries? Dudley is still finding punters and floggin planes.
Tim Green is dead killed in Mozambique in a microlight early this year. Some repair failed and it broke up.
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She Lives...
Dak Man
In answer to your question, LVR is now owned by a company called Nelair and is based out of the old Nelspruit airfield. It was indeed damaged due to a fire at Lanseria several years ago. It was repaired and flown to Nelspruit where it sat for about a year undergoing major repairs and a refurb of the interior.
She now has the moniker "Memphis Belle" painted on the nose.
It does the occaisonal charter but otherwise it's not too busy.
I believe it's on the market, but no idea for how much.
It still flies beautifully
Can't comment on it feeling heavy as it's the only thumper that I've flown. The TP's definitely felt lighter (RIP 5Y-RDS!)
Personally I preferred the TP's especially the Basler -67. I'm sure many will disagree
My own question is, does anyone know the full history of LVR ?
I remember one of the Rossair daks 5Y-BNK/ZS-OBU had a little pamphlet in the aircraft detailing its history.
Many pax all ask about LVR and I always promise myself I will find out one day.
Dak Man maybe you know something ??
In answer to your question, LVR is now owned by a company called Nelair and is based out of the old Nelspruit airfield. It was indeed damaged due to a fire at Lanseria several years ago. It was repaired and flown to Nelspruit where it sat for about a year undergoing major repairs and a refurb of the interior.
She now has the moniker "Memphis Belle" painted on the nose.
It does the occaisonal charter but otherwise it's not too busy.
I believe it's on the market, but no idea for how much.
It still flies beautifully
Can't comment on it feeling heavy as it's the only thumper that I've flown. The TP's definitely felt lighter (RIP 5Y-RDS!)
Personally I preferred the TP's especially the Basler -67. I'm sure many will disagree
My own question is, does anyone know the full history of LVR ?
I remember one of the Rossair daks 5Y-BNK/ZS-OBU had a little pamphlet in the aircraft detailing its history.
Many pax all ask about LVR and I always promise myself I will find out one day.
Dak Man maybe you know something ??
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Thanks S R Twotter
The present owners tell me it flew for the CIA at one stage hence the unusual nose shape. Also that it flew off an aircraft carrier ?....
The aircraft is sitting at JIA at the moment, sans the left engine. Appears it threw a conrod or something the other day over Witbank but still got to JIA.
The present owners tell me it flew for the CIA at one stage hence the unusual nose shape. Also that it flew off an aircraft carrier ?....
The aircraft is sitting at JIA at the moment, sans the left engine. Appears it threw a conrod or something the other day over Witbank but still got to JIA.
I am a figment of my own imagination
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Saw a Super 3 at Opa Locka in Florida some years ago with a pointier nose (had radar), main wheel gear doors( they still protruded very slightly ), a squared off tail, and different engines, think they were Wright Cyclone's. Was told it was a souped up US Navy job, though not the RF4's which were the older Navy 3's.
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Jeez that has knocked me for 6, I'm totally gutted. Tim dead, Tony dead, Cliffy dead; all my old pals gone, who knows, If I had stayed around I may have well joined their ranks.
Tim and I were great friends and we operated LVR in Northern Angola, after his experiences in Mozambique and his book "Acabou" he inspired me to write a book about our exploits, I'm sad to think that he will not be here to enjoy it when it gets published later this year.
What about that tosser Dean DuToit who owned LVR with Tim, anybody shed any light on him as I've got his card marked
I spent many a good night with Bruce Keller and the boys from First Air Maintenance (Terry Venter et al) in the "fall inn" and our arm wrestling matches were stuff of legend, it was during those halcyon days that we started the tuesday night strippers. If you bump into him [Brucie] please remind him of me "Mark the mad Welshman" who flew LVR with Ferdie and ended up left for dead in Angola with cerebral Malaria. Ask him to forgive me for dumping those 3 New Zealand girls, he'll know who you mean then.
I would be greatly pleased if someone here could direct Bruce to here so I can catch up with my old friend.
Dudley is a good man and I regret the day I never accepted his offer of work. Is Tubby still around at Foster Aero?
I did know Val H and Ken and Gavin and Huw and Cedric and Lesley (phwoar) as I slept on the floor of LFC for about 6 months whilst doing an instructors rating there (never finished) before getting the job with Manfred when he sacked Swiss Manny for refusing to fly LVR as it was overloaded. I knew that Val had been killed any news on the other I mentioned.
For those looking for more info on LVR here's a brief history.
The funny nose is not uncommon on DC-3s, probably had some kind of weatherradar installed at some time.
Douglas C-47A-90-DL was produced with msn 20475 and served the USAF as 43-16009 after its delivery on 07Jun44. It was deployed to Air Transport Command in Alaska in Jun44. It ended up with Salvage Elmendorf, AK on 16Aug48. There was enough life for a civilian career and was registered as N4766C for Northern Consolidated Air Lines Inc (Nov53 to 1956). It moved away from mainstream passenger transport, to the Colorado Interstate Gas Company and at some unknown date was registered as N950 for the Electric Autolite Company. Some of these names bewilder me: what were they about ?
It progressed as N5000C to the Swiflite Aircraft Corporation and was reregisterd N5000E in Feb68. It served a lease with Western Geophysical until 1975 and changed hands again to Aero Service Corp. from Houston, TX on 14Jan76. It was back to Starflite Corp. of Miami in Jan89 and registration N5000E was cancelled on 14Sep90. Time to move abroad!
ZS-LVR became its new identity for Bazaruto Air Charter at Lanseria, S.Africa in Sep90 and it was reportedly in Jul91 being inscribed as 'Castrol - A Can of the best Mala Mala'. Later during the 1990s it was operated by National Airways.
also the following link details some more with some pictures of me and LVR
http://www.ruudleeuw.com/dc3-zslvr.htm
seriously gutted
Rest In Peace my friends.
Tim and I were great friends and we operated LVR in Northern Angola, after his experiences in Mozambique and his book "Acabou" he inspired me to write a book about our exploits, I'm sad to think that he will not be here to enjoy it when it gets published later this year.
What about that tosser Dean DuToit who owned LVR with Tim, anybody shed any light on him as I've got his card marked
I spent many a good night with Bruce Keller and the boys from First Air Maintenance (Terry Venter et al) in the "fall inn" and our arm wrestling matches were stuff of legend, it was during those halcyon days that we started the tuesday night strippers. If you bump into him [Brucie] please remind him of me "Mark the mad Welshman" who flew LVR with Ferdie and ended up left for dead in Angola with cerebral Malaria. Ask him to forgive me for dumping those 3 New Zealand girls, he'll know who you mean then.
I would be greatly pleased if someone here could direct Bruce to here so I can catch up with my old friend.
Dudley is a good man and I regret the day I never accepted his offer of work. Is Tubby still around at Foster Aero?
I did know Val H and Ken and Gavin and Huw and Cedric and Lesley (phwoar) as I slept on the floor of LFC for about 6 months whilst doing an instructors rating there (never finished) before getting the job with Manfred when he sacked Swiss Manny for refusing to fly LVR as it was overloaded. I knew that Val had been killed any news on the other I mentioned.
For those looking for more info on LVR here's a brief history.
The funny nose is not uncommon on DC-3s, probably had some kind of weatherradar installed at some time.
Douglas C-47A-90-DL was produced with msn 20475 and served the USAF as 43-16009 after its delivery on 07Jun44. It was deployed to Air Transport Command in Alaska in Jun44. It ended up with Salvage Elmendorf, AK on 16Aug48. There was enough life for a civilian career and was registered as N4766C for Northern Consolidated Air Lines Inc (Nov53 to 1956). It moved away from mainstream passenger transport, to the Colorado Interstate Gas Company and at some unknown date was registered as N950 for the Electric Autolite Company. Some of these names bewilder me: what were they about ?
It progressed as N5000C to the Swiflite Aircraft Corporation and was reregisterd N5000E in Feb68. It served a lease with Western Geophysical until 1975 and changed hands again to Aero Service Corp. from Houston, TX on 14Jan76. It was back to Starflite Corp. of Miami in Jan89 and registration N5000E was cancelled on 14Sep90. Time to move abroad!
ZS-LVR became its new identity for Bazaruto Air Charter at Lanseria, S.Africa in Sep90 and it was reportedly in Jul91 being inscribed as 'Castrol - A Can of the best Mala Mala'. Later during the 1990s it was operated by National Airways.
also the following link details some more with some pictures of me and LVR
http://www.ruudleeuw.com/dc3-zslvr.htm
seriously gutted
Rest In Peace my friends.
Last edited by Dak Man; 4th Nov 2004 at 16:40.
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Theres a few photos of this plane at www.airliners.net.. Here's one I saw http://www.airliners.net/photos/big/2/7/7/627772.jpg
Flies for Nel Air now.
Flies for Nel Air now.
