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rog747 15th Dec 2020 16:53


Originally Posted by Flap40 (Post 10947767)
Well that's the 24hrs. Max Tow has it with Sidi Ifni. The Cable car ran from close to the southern threshold out to a deep(er) water anchorage and was used to get cargo ashore.
The outline of the runway and taxiways can still be seen but I don't think it has seen an aircraft in many years.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8b5fc83994.png

Sidi Ifni part of the Spanish Western Sahara, was returned by Spain to Morocco around 1969.
This saw an end to both Iberia and Aviaco flights who had been plying across from Las Palmas with Convairs DC3's and F27's.
I read that the airfield has been OOU for about 40 years.

Flap40 17th Dec 2020 10:54

Just in case no-one spotted it, Max Tow declared Open House.

old,not bold 17th Dec 2020 19:27

Not the best picture ever, but just to fill the silence.......this was an international airport at the time of the picture...there might be too many clues,

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....297f6b1fa0.jpg


OUAQUKGF Ops 17th Dec 2020 21:23

Is it Dubai ?

dixi188 17th Dec 2020 21:42

Gulf Aviation?
Bait Al Falaj?

Asturias56 18th Dec 2020 07:24

There are several pictures of it around Abu Dhabi/Dubai

Self loading bear 18th Dec 2020 08:56

Also a photo in Bahrein

old,not bold 18th Dec 2020 10:11

Sorry, been away, you're fishing in the right pond, but no catch yet...................I'll give you Gulf Aviation......on a scheduled service turnround.

1970 or '71. Here it is departing from the International Airport...the oil drum is the terminal seating ....the picture quality is part of the challenge (!).....

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5feb1dbe72.jpg



rog747 18th Dec 2020 12:10

We know it is a Gulf Aviation Dakota, G-AGKE in the Middle East, Trucial States, say late 1950's or early 60's at an International airfield.

I don't think it is Dubai,or Doha -
So I think it maybe Al Mahatta Sharjah's first airport?
Sharjah’s strategic location contributed to mark a significant change in the Empire's international air routes. The Imperial Airways decided to shift their air routes from Persia and launch a new flight route through the Arabian Gulf region to their destinations in the Far East. The new route included Cairo, Basra, and Sharjah Air Station as main stopover airports.


Sadly Gulf Aviation lost 2 Dakotas in the region -
On 10 July 1960, the 16 passengers and 4 crew on board a Gulf Aviation Douglas C-47 VT-DGS died when the aircraft was mysteriously lost during a flight from Doha to Sharjah. As the wreckage could not be located, the cause for this worst accident in the history of the airline could not be determined.

On 17 August 1966, a Gulf Aviation C-47 G-AOFZ crashed after take-off from Muscat/Azaiba aerodrome. The aircraft was unable to climb or maintain altitude after take off due to lack of engine power on the port engine, and crashed into trees 560 yards from the end of the departure runway. The 18 passengers and two crew survived the accident.
Loss of engine power due to the carburettor air intake shutters had been selected to 'Hot air' instead of 'Ram air'. On other C-47 aircraft operated by Gulf Aviation, the air intake control levers were positioned the other way around.

OUAQUKGF Ops 18th Dec 2020 12:58

Al Ain Old Airport?

old,not bold 18th Dec 2020 17:22

I think we're close enough to 24 Hours...

Bingo, OUAQUKGF Ops has it and has control. It was Al Ain, somewhere around 1970/71, weekly service from/to Dubai, then a very bumpy 4 hours Landrover ride from Al Ayn.

It had the world's first on-board Immigration office; a Dubai official would ride both ways and check passports on route. Abu Dhabi didn't care who got on or off. This was all prior to the UAE coming into being.

The character nearest the camera is the FISO/Baggage Handler/RFFS Driver and crew/Ticket Seller/Passenger Handler/Marshaller/Yours truly.

OUAQUKGF Ops 18th Dec 2020 19:06

Thanks Old not Bold.
Must say I loved the photos of Gulf Aviation's Dakota. G-AGKE phased out in 1971 as was G-AMZZ. When I joined Gulf Air in 1978 'ZZ' was standing derelict on the edge of the 'Ops Car Park'. I sometimes went and sat in her cockpit sweating in the humidity and covered in wind-blown sand. She was eventually taken away to the Bahrain Defence Force Camp at Hamalla presumably for anti-hijack exercises. A Dakota in Sharjah Aviation Museum bears this registration but in this respect is not the genuine article. Gulf Aviation Pilots I remember include Rex Edwards and Jimmy Stokes.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f000ddb4cb.png
Thanks to Laurence Garey for his photograph which I found on Pprune!

OUAQUKGF Ops 18th Dec 2020 19:15

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c003bc95e1.png




OUAQUKGF Ops 19th Dec 2020 05:58

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5604351e62.jpg

A strong cross-wind would often put the airfield off limits, particularly to larger aeroplanes.

Period of Operation: 1941 - 1944.

OUAQUKGF Ops 19th Dec 2020 08:38

Approximately 1000yds Grass East to West.....


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c6c0c71ba8.png

JENKINS 19th Dec 2020 10:25

RAF East Wretham?

OUAQUKGF Ops 19th Dec 2020 12:54

Good try Jenkins but not in Norfolk.

A Pilot wrote: ' This strip was hardly the sort of place where one would expect to be asked to land a Halifax. To start with it was by intent, difficult to find from the air, the only positive point of identification being a pond, a small but readily distinguished area of water near the western end of the strip. A small copse on the southern side of the strip approximately opposite the touch-down point from the west, narrowed the landing area at this point to perhaps 200 yards and because of the proximity of the trees, it was often bumpy. This left little scope for heading a large aircraft like the Halifax into wind, so if the wind was strong and across the strip, we just could not go in. '

JENKINS 19th Dec 2020 13:46

Thanks. Norfolk was a guess, but Halifax country narrows the search. Watching rugby first though.

OUAQUKGF Ops 19th Dec 2020 16:15

Thanks Jenkins.... to save you and anybody else spending hours searching 'Bomber Country' I suggest that you direct your efforts to looking South of The Thames.
You can enjoy this without leaving home. Stay safe! If needed I'll post another clue just before bedtime. Blasted cat has just brought in a Mouse. Having a real Tom and Jerry up them there stairs

OUAQUKGF Ops 19th Dec 2020 20:52

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....38180c5a79.jpg

Busy, along with others, in Spring and early Summer of 1943 ferrying Halifaxes to the 'airstrip' from the factories. Here the aeroplanes received the airframe modifications necessary before being flown out to St Athan for the installation of centimetre ASV Radar Equipment. I have quoted from her book on post #19657.


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