Emerald Isle Dakotas – before The Troubles

The first time I crossed the Irish Sea was with a friend in July 1967, when we flew from Heathrow to Belfast on a BEA Vanguard (remember them?).

The main purpose of the trip was to visit the Ulster Air Rally at Newtownards and we must have been incredibly naive in those days as we hitch-hiked around Northern Ireland with Union Jacks sewn into our backpacks.

Of the Rally itself I remember absolutely nothing but my notes indicate there was some German, French and Belgian representation, although the total number of aircraft present including locally based was less than fifty. I took no photos so can only conclude that the weather on the day of our visit was less than favourable.

I do remember one sunny afternoon spent relaxing and watching the gliding at the former wartime airfield of Long Kesh – later to become infamous as the site of the notorious Maze Prison, and also have vivid memories of following an Orange parade, together with its marching bands, with their drums and twirling batons and cacophony of sound, along the length of the Shankill Road.

Back at Aldergrove again we left Northern Ireland on an Emerald Airways Dakota EI-APJ bound for Prestwick. On arrival there was temporary panic as my friend collected his bag but there was no sign of mine. ”Never mind sir, there’ll be another one along in a minute”, and sure enough 28 minutes after we landed EI-ARR appeared and the errant bag was offloaded.

We had left another of their aircraft behind on the tarmac at Aldergrove, namely G-AMWV, and I often wonder what became of those Dakotas and whether any of the airframes still survive. Also whether that Emerald Airways had any connection with the outfit of the same name, which later operated HS.748s out of Speke?

Wicked Willip :diablo: