On 29 June 1949, I flew for the first time, in a Dragon Rapide – a round-the-houses trip from RAF Northolt, which at the time also hosted most of the European airlines. It ruined my life: I’m still a more-or-less current glider pilot, and I’ve booked an anniversary rematch with Classic Wings.
Is there any way of unearthing who the DH89 operator was, possibly the a/c? I’ve tried the obvious searches to know avail. Unfortunately I didn’t keep a logbook at the age of six.
By: avion ancien - 9th January 2024 at 11:42
De rien.
By: thatsmeintheanorak - 9th January 2024 at 11:14
I’ve just found a history of IAS which confirms that they also operated pleasure flights from Croydon and Northolt during the period in question. Thank you so much for the response.
By: thatsmeintheanorak - 9th January 2024 at 11:02
Thank you, that sounds a likely hit. Low probability that a rival with the same aircraft type were operating in close proximity.
Unless Monique was a bloke, unlikely. It was all very embarrassing in retrospect. My elder brother was spending his 7/6 birthday present, I went to see him off, and this seven foot tall figure in a blue uniform with stripes on said “Who’s this then? I think we’ve got room for a little one…”
By: avion ancien - 9th January 2024 at 10:47
Not quite Northolt, but Island Air Services operated pleasure flights from Heathrow (then, unglamourously, known as London Air Port) at about this time (1948-56). If it was one of their Rapides in which you flew, you might have had the legendary Monique Agazarian at the helm!
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January 9, 2024 at 10:24 am