Dakota

[tristar 500]

Oh joy, a dakota has just flown over my house (EGUF) heading southeast!!

Anybody know what it`s doing?

tristar 500

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I saw it heading south over Finchampstead. I'm 99.99999% sure it was N147DC, which was reported heading north over the area a few days ago. I think it might have been returned to Dunsfold today, but where it had been I know not.. What joy, though, after all the biz jets!

[Juliet Sierra Papa]

Anybody know what it`s doing?

Probably about 150Kts. :ok:

[avionic type]

Thank you J.S.P "nice one":D:D:D

[Juliet Sierra Papa]

Thank you J.S.P "nice one"
You're welcome a.t. I thought I was going to get flamed for that post.
Enjoy the threads. :ok:

[Blink182]

Saw a Notam about some filming earlier in the week. I'm sure a Dakota and Little Rissington were mentioned.

[JEM60]

JSP.
I was going to say 'flying', but I lost my nerve!!:\:)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Hahaha.. I just realised it was 50 years ago I watched Daks landing at Croydon from my classroom window.... and 43 years ago we flew in one on our honeymoon.... and 40 years ago I worked with plenty of them in Africa. What an amazing flying machine.

Anyone know if N147DC is the only airworthy example in the UK?

[chevvron]

What about BBMFs ZA947 (aka KG661) which they 'pinched' from Farnborough.
I flew in it once when it went to Brize after a sharp eyed member of the Brize Aviation Society pointed out that the real KG661 was written off in about 1945 so it was hastily re-numbered; how on earth it was allocated KG661 in the first place I don't know as Farnborough got it from West Freugh. It was almost written off at Farnborough in about 1980 when the undercarriage collapsed on the runway prior to takeoff severely damaging the port wing and engine, but now serves a useful purpose giving BBMF pilots experience of taildragging rather than use up precious airframe hours on the Lancaster.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Thanks for that, T. Most interesting...

Wonder what happened to KP208, which used to be parked at Aldershot? My wife recognised it from her WRAF days at Northolt back in the 60s.

[tristar 500]

Avionic type traced it to an overhaul company (can`t remember which one) but it is going on display at thr Para base ay Colchester.

Thanks for the info on yesterdays sighting, I will phrase my questions a little better in future!!

The prize, if there was one, goes to Juliet Sierra Papa 150 knots!!

tristar 500

[JRMA]

Anyone know if N147DC is the only airworthy example in the UK?

How about N473DC, G-AMRA and G-ANAF (?)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<How about N473DC, G-AMRA and G-ANAF (?)>>

I've not seen N473DC but saw G-AMRA over Morden in January, 1957 and again at a Farnborough Air Show in 2006. G-ANAF I first saw over Morden in June, 1961. It's good to know they may still be flying.

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

As it happens, in the great sort-out before an impending house move, I have come across a BEA Pionair Flight Bulletin for a flight between Aberdeen and Glasgow Renfrew on 31/03/59.

Captain Chalmers Aircraft RMA 'George Brackley'

Time 0813 local, height 6000 feet, air speed 159 mph, corrected for wind (speed over ground) 147 mph, present position Perth, at 0828 pass Falkirk, ETA Glasgow 0845.

"The traffic staff who will meet you on landing will be glad to assist you in any way they can. Your Cabin Attendant is Mr Foster."

Ah the charms of passenger flying in a bygone era!

:ok:

[chevvron]

'KG661' also known as 'Portpatrick Princess' arrived at Farnborough with the other West Freugh Dak, TS423 'Mayfly' This one became a TV star as G-AGHY in the TV series 'Airline'. It was owned by Aces High at North Weald and may still be flying. A frequent visitor to Farnborough when both RAE Daks were there was G-ALWC (Hunting Surveys) from White Waltham, so we often had all 3 lined up side by side on what is now East Apron (used to be called 'A' Shed Tarmac)

[PaperTiger]

Where is N1944A now ?

[captain_flynn]

Heathrow Director, G-ANAF and G-AMPY both work for RVL group.
I dont know what G-AMRA does these days.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Thanks, Captain. Good news on two of them anyway...

PS (Sometime later).. Just read elsewhere that G-AMRA is "currently operating out of Boscombe Down"...... ??

[pasir]

... likewise with HD my early association with the Dakota also involved
Croydon Airport - in 1946 as a junior with KLM air traffic - when often 3
or more KLM Daks would be alined alongside Junkers 52 types then operated
by Airfrance, Sabena and Swissar. In those days several of KLMs pilots
were ex USAAF .

It was at Croydon that I learned not to be first to open the cabin door on the a/c's arrival - Receiving a hefty static shock that threw me almost
to the ground ! KLM usually carried a crew of 3 and up to 18 pax.
The dutch stewardess's would make a dash for Croydon town to buy
packets of coffee - prbably worth a small fortune back in Holland.

I can remember that when the weather closed in there would be a frantic
rush for our air traffic staff to pile all the various documents into
Jeeps and make a dash for Bovington - one of the alternative airfields.

...

[piky]

G-AMRA is at Boscombe Down and due to fly back to Coventry this Tuesday!

[threepeanutpax]

Just spotted a Dakota heading over Cadnam near Romsey in the direction of Bournemouth. Too far distant to see markings but a great sight and sound.:ok:

[PaperTiger]

Where is N1944A now ?Still alive and well at Kemble.
DSC_0048 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/48975048@N06/4871882037/)

[ex-EGLL]

Ah, the West Freugh dakotas. Not sure if the 2 mentioned used to be operated by Marshalls or not, but back in 1974 I spent about 3 months at the Freugh ( which was at least 4 months too long:{) at the end of my aerodrome course. One of the highlights of those 3 months was flying as a safety pilot on the Daks. Pick up a load of sonar buoys, leap into the air, chuck the sonar buoys into the Irish Sea then potter around for an hour or so chasing tankers up the Clyde at VERY low level (you could see the prop was in the waves:D), then returning to check if all the buoys were still transmitting. Got a few hours in the RHS doing that.

Ahhhh the good old days!!

ex-egll

[chevvron]

The contractors at the Freugh seemed to change regularly (Shorts, Marshalls, Airwork) but it was always RAE until DRA came into being with ATC provided by NATS until that went out to contract too (Airwork, IAL, SERCO) with the rest of the operation.

[Mr_Grubby]

My first encounter with The Dakota was in 1967 when I lived in Bahrain.
The first picture I was sent, the second I took myself. Sorry about the quality.
I have some more DC 3 pics taken at Hurn in '63 / '64. I will try and dig them out.


http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/Airport77.jpg

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/Airport78.jpg

[Mr_Grubby]

Hurn 1963 / 64

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/airport83.jpg

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/airport84.jpg

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/airport85.jpg

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/airport86.jpg

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/airport87.jpg

[renfrew]

Keep them coming please,never mind these newfangled jets.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I'll never understand how you get pics on here, but here are some links:

4X-AOC Douglas DC3 Israeli Govt? Lydd 9 Aug 1961 :: 4XAOC.jpg :: Fotopic.Net (http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p22612711.html)
PH-MAG Douglas DC-3, Martin Air Charter, Gatwick 9 Oct 1965 :: PHMAG.jpg :: Fotopic.Net (http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p22353634.html)
NZ3546 Douglas DC3. Omaka Air Show, NZ. 7 April 2007 :: NZ3546_2.jpg :: Fotopic.Net (http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p40667416.html)
EIAYO.jpg :: Science Museum Wroughton :: Fotopic.Net (http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p61961237.html)