Daks over Central London this evening.
 

My son, an experienced glider pilot and civil aviation follower, rang me earlier to say he had just seen two DC3's in formation fly over central London, heading North at 20-10 local, at around 1500ft. He was in Camden.
Possibly Air Atlantique colours.

Any ideas as to why they were there please? Any other sightings?

...And apologies if this is the wrong forum.I have checked other likely forums, but am new to this, so please dont shout at me!

Thanks.


EGCA

There were two in Cherbourg t'other day. One was standard Atlantique colours. The other was in RAF Transport Command colours.

No idea what they were doing though:hmm:

lowerstoft airshow today
 

poss somthing to do with lowerstoft airshow

Sounds like the two that were at Farnborough, at least on the Sunday. Unfortunately they were in an inaccessible area and it was impossible to get pics of them while they were parked. I snapped this as G-AMRA landed:
http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p31988944.html

Bren

Course if you'd only phoned ATC Bren, you might have got a closer look!

Thanks all.

Looks like ex-Farnborough.

EGCA

The DC3's had been to Cherbourg on a corporate charter. Something to do with a new computer game. Pax were being dropped off at Biggin so I guess you saw them as they were heading home to Coventry.

Heathrow Director
Very nice photo, nice to see a DC3 doing some work

G-I-B

Hi EGCA,

I think that your son (steve?) and I may vaguely know each other. I was at Chalk Farm at about 20.10 and I can attest that two Daks in very close formation was a very fine sight.

N

Hi noisy.

Mistaken identity unfortunately, he's not called Steve. Only down in London doing a Summer job before returning to Uni "up North" to finish the PhD.

Is anyone able to confirm the reggies of the two Daks? I thought AA only had one active now, but I could be mistaken.

Thanks again for all your responses. Appreciated.

EGCA

North Derbyshire's forgotten airfield.

G-AMRA and G-AMPY, PY having only just been returned to active use this year. G-ANAF is also still "active" as a trials aircraft for Thales, making Atlantique's airworthy fleet total 3.

Thanks, Stand 22.

It's good that they are still active, although a smaller fleet than in the "spraying" days. Is there still a "six" equipped for spraying if necessary?

Excuse me if I recall previous encounters with these aircraft, firstly 'RA or 'PY and a public flight in the early 90's to the Great Warbirds at West Malling, and at that airshow an appearance by the Short Sunderland that I think is now exiled in America. It flew off Southampton water for a brief time.

Secondly, back in the 1970's when Air Atlantique was but an ad-hoc freight charter company based in Jersey, and the owner was a friend of a friend who was involved with the flying club at the now closed Doncaster airfield near the racecourse.
Word came to me that 'AF was going to land at this small flying club strip, and I duly recorded the event on cine film. The strip was wet and muddy, and the roll-out on touchdown was minimal!
After fixing the undercarriage locks those of us there were given the "freedom to roam" inside 'AF, whilst the crew were on the phone in the clubhouse chasing up their next freight charter job!

I guess that was what it was like as a small charter co. back in those days.

Anyway, as I said, good to see three Daks still active, long may it continue.Thanks for the update.

(Pity we cannot see a Coventry based Shackleton flying again, but I suppose whilst ever they exist even if only in ground-running condition, there is hope!)

EGCA