Restoration to flight of Douglas DC3 G-AMHJ

Dakota DC3 G-AMHJ (13468) was owned and operated in early 1974 by Macedonian Aviation for both Site Aviation and themselves. It was acquired from British Island Airways together with G-AMRA and these machines were in convertible passenger-cargo configuration and were placed in service on the Aberdeen-Sumburgh (Shetlands) route with a scheduled service in conjunction with BEA.

Macedonian Aviation was formed in 1972 to operate passenger and cargo charter flights from Southend airport and their managing director was Roger Byron-Collins and the Chief Pilot/General Manager was Harry Chang. Their fleet comprised 5 Dakota DC-3 and one DH104 Dove.

Macedonian was initially based at Luton airport operating under McAlpine Aviation’s AOC until they secured their own AOC. In September 1972 they acquired from BAC their Filton based DC3 G-AMPO and commercial charter began operations on November 5, with a passenger flight from Southend to Rotterdam. Freight charters were also undertaken, amongst which was a series of movements to Brussels and Saarbrücken. 1973 proved very busy for this emergent airline, with passenger and cargo flights to numerous destinations around the UK and Europe many for Conoco oil company ranging as far afield as Bergen, Malta and Libya. Occasional scheduled services were also carried out on behalf of Intra Airways.
In December 1973, Macedonian’s opened a facility in Aberdeen to undertake a series of oil-rig support sub-charters on behalf of Site Aviation. Developing business in this area warranted the purchase of additional aircraft. The original Dakota operated primarily from Southend on ad-hoc charters, which took it to such European destinations as Lisbon and Gibraltar as well as the near Continent.
From April 1974, Macedonian became a scheduled operator for a second time when it took over the Rotterdam-Le Havre service of Maastricht-based Limburg Airlines.
Fleet List:
Douglas C-47A/B Dakota: G-AMHJ (13468), G-AMPO (16437/33185), G-AMPZ (16124/32872) Intra Airways 11/12.73, G-AMRA (15290/26735), G-AMSV (16072/32820) DH.104 Dove 6: G-APZU (04511)[ATTACH=CONFIG]231483[/ATTACH]

I flew on Dakota G-AMHJ twice in 1974 whilst it was operated by Macedonian Aviation. The first time was out of Southend to Groningen and the second out of Aberdeen to the Shetlands. I flew on 3 of the Macedonian Daks – they were certainly a pioneering airline for the 1970s. Shame these small independents didn’t survive during that era.[ATTACH=CONFIG]231867[/ATTACH]

First flight of the type – December 1935. Still going strong.

Be nice in Hunting Clan livery!

Regards

Dakota DC3 G-AMHJ (13468) was owned and operated in early 1974 by Macedonian Aviation for both Site Aviation and themselves. It was acquired from British Island Airways together with G-AMRA and these machines were in convertible passenger-cargo configuration and were placed in service on the Aberdeen-Sumburgh (Shetlands) route with a scheduled service in conjunction with BEA.

Macedonian Aviation was formed in 1972 to operate passenger and cargo charter flights from Southend airport and their managing director was Roger Byron-Collins and the Chief Pilot/General Manager was Harry Chang. Their fleet comprised 5 Dakota DC-3 and one DH104 Dove.

Macedonian was initially based at Luton airport operating under McAlpine Aviation’s AOC until they secured their own AOC. In September 1972 they acquired from BAC their Filton based DC3 G-AMPO and commercial charter began operations on November 5, with a passenger flight from Southend to Rotterdam. Freight charters were also undertaken, amongst which was a series of movements to Brussels and Saarbrücken. 1973 proved very busy for this emergent airline, with passenger and cargo flights to numerous destinations around the UK and Europe many for Conoco oil company ranging as far afield as Bergen, Malta and Libya. Occasional scheduled services were also carried out on behalf of Intra Airways.
In December 1973, Macedonian’s opened a facility in Aberdeen to undertake a series of oil-rig support sub-charters on behalf of Site Aviation. Developing business in this area warranted the purchase of additional aircraft. The original Dakota operated primarily from Southend on ad-hoc charters, which took it to such European destinations as Lisbon and Gibraltar as well as the near Continent.
From April 1974, Macedonian became a scheduled operator for a second time when it took over the Rotterdam-Le Havre service of Maastricht-based Limburg Airlines.
Fleet List:
Douglas C-47A/B Dakota: G-AMHJ (13468), G-AMPO (16437/33185), G-AMPZ (16124/32872) Intra Airways 11/12.73, G-AMRA (15290/26735), G-AMSV (16072/32820) DH.104 Dove 6: G-APZU (04511)[ATTACH=CONFIG]231483[/ATTACH]

Today the team set off to RAF Shawbury to collect the tail section of the DC3.

Pictures later….

The DC-3/C-47 is such a wonderful timeless design.

So great to hear of another being made flyable again.

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More from Thursday

Pictures from the Assault Glider Trust

Here’s an article about the project. Well worth a read

http://wingsofhistory.net/features/bringing-back-the-dak/

Cyprus Airways, named “Paphos” – Registered G-AMHJ – 06 Feb (year unknown)

1951………..

Great to see another DC3 taking to the air again, especially if it ends up carrying passengers….

Planemike

Detailed History of KG651

• Built in Oklahoma City USA, allocated manufacturers serial number 13468 – 30th May 1944.
• Delivered to the US Army Air Force on 30th May 1944 as 42-108962
• Diverted to the Lend-Lease Programme as RAF Registration KG651 in Montreal – 03 Jun 1944
• Arrived in UK – 13 Jun 1944
• Delivered to 109 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Crosby in Eden, Cumberland – 26 Aug 1944
• 24 Sqn Hendon (Now the site of the RAF Museum) – 29 Aug 1945
• 1383 Transport Conversion Unit (T)CU Crosby in Eden – Mar 1946
• 1333 Transport Support Conversion Unit (TS)CU Leicester East – 23 Jul 1946
• Surplus to requirements, into storage with 22 Maintenance Unit (MU) Silloth, Cumberland – 1 Oct 1946
• Sold by the RAF to Air Prospectors – 21 Nov 1946
• Pan African Air Charters Ltd of South Africa – Registered ZS-BRW – 16 May 1947
• Cyprus Airways, named “Paphos” – Registered G-AMHJ – 06 Feb (year unknown)
• Iraq Petroleum Transport Co Ltd – 28 Jun 1956
• Hunting Clan Air Transport Ltd – 17 Apr 1957
• Hunting Clan Air Services Ltd – 9 Jan 1958
• Iraq Petroleum Transport Company Ltd, named “Qa:Petroleum” – 11 Jul 1958
• British United Airways Ltd – 15 May 1961
• Morton Air Services Ltd – 14 Jul 1962
• BUIA L (Dak Mk 6) – 1 Nov 1968
• British Island Airways – 20 Jul 1971
• Site Aviation Ltd – 08 Jan to 21 Jan 1974
• Macedonian Airways Ltd – 15 Mar 1974
• Humber Airways Ltd – 30 Dec 1974
• Pett Aviation Ltd – 1975
• Intra Airways – 30 Jun 1975
• International Air Cargo as SU-AZI – 5 Nov 1976
• Intra Airways as G-AMHJ again – 26 Aug 1977
• Jersey European Airways – 1 Nov 1979
• Field Aviation Ltd, East Midlands Airport – 23 Jan 1980
• Express Air Freight – Air Atlantique Coventry Airport – 29 Jan 1982
• Air Luton – Date unknown
• Air Atlantique – 1987
• Retired from service and stored at Coventry Airport – Jun 2000
• Presented to the Assault Glider Trust by Mr Stuart Powney on behalf of Air Atlantique – 7 Nov 2002
• Delivered to RAF Shawbury by road – 4 Dec 2003

The service history is still listed here http://www.assaultglidertrust.co.uk/content/Collection.html#3

I am currently working on getting her history off my freind who has purchased her. Once I have it I will research that for you. Along with pictures

You can’t keep a good plane down! Is this one of the Intra Dakotas I used to see at Hurn in the 1970s? ‘MHJ’ rings a bell.

And good luck!

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The last two pictures are her arrival at North Weald