BEA Pionair Dakotas at London Airport 1956

Not really my thing but I found this BEA publicity shot on file.

Mark

How about the Eastern Airways DC-3’s(G-AMPO was one) that operated into LHR for a while around 1980. Think it was a gimmick and they were later replaced by SD330’s.

Piece of trivia: wot woz last scheduled piston into LHR? I’ll offer, either, AF/LH Capitol-leased C-46F, or AF Duck Pond, both, I think, into 1970.[/QUOTE]

Kar Air’s DC6BF, OH-KDA, operated its last service on 25-9-81.

I went out to Ringway specially in June 1978 to photograph this aircraft, because I knew its days were numbered. Here is one of the photos I took that day: http://tinyurl.com/yc9qkeo

Memories…….

…outlived the Viking. BEAC unloaded V in 1955. Daks, converted by Scottish Avn. into Pionair config., continued, latterly as freighters, to 19/5/62 – yet later with Sabena, and as Postale de Nuit, Air France.

Piece of trivia: wot woz last scheduled piston into LHR? I’ll offer, either, AF/LH Capitol-leased C-46F, or AF Duck Pond, both, I think, into 1970.

Presumably when the Herons took over.

:confused: NAM’s de Havilland Heron 1B G-ANXB flew its first Air Ambulance sortie with British European Airways on May 4, 1955 out of Renfrew – with its last flight with the BEA Scottish Division being noted as March 31, 1973. {Source NAM Guide Book}

I dont know when they finished in Scotland

Presumably when the Herons took over.

Every time I visited Heathrow during the fifties, the BEA Dakotas always seemed to be parked on the hardstands beyond the apron surrounding the central area buildings. Happy New Year Autocrat.

Goldilocks

Goldilocks Hi have sent you a pm. Autocrat

BEA Pionair Dakotas at LAP

Every time I visited Heathrow during the fifties, the BEA Dakotas always seemed to be parked on the hardstands beyond the apron surrounding the central area buildings. Happy New Year Autocrat.

Goldilocks

I was surprised how many Daks were listed for BEA in 1957….noteworthy that they outlived the Viking with BEA….the Rapides served the Isles of Scilly till replaced by S-61 helicopters in 1964…I dont know when they finished in Scotland

I was a passenger on the delivery flight to Channel of G-AGZD from Heathrow to Southend on the 27th July, 1960.

BEA Dakotas and Rapides

I was surprised how many Daks were listed for BEA in 1957….noteworthy that they outlived the Viking with BEA….the Rapides served the Isles of Scilly till replaced by S-61 helicopters in 1964…I dont know when they finished in Scotland

In 1961 I flew from East Fortune to Glasgow then Inverness then Benbecula in BEA Dakotas.

Far from pensioning of the Dakotas…in April 1956 BEA were still using 6 Dragon Rapides !

Thanks guys I hadn’t realised that BEA were still using Daks in 1956. I knew that Channel had bought a few in the early sixties but assumed they were from stored frames. (reminder to self – Never assume)

I am fairly sure I flew in one to Nantes in 1953/4 on a family holiday to La Baule. Does that make sense to anyone in the know? I also have a recollection of flying in a Viking, presumably BEA, to Le Bourget in the same period. On reflection might the DC3 have been Air France? Distant memories…………

BEA Dakotas/Pionairs LAP ca.1956

Checked Civil Aircraft Markings (correct to March 1st 1957) and found G-AGHJ, GHL, GHM, GHP, GHS, GIP, GIU, GJV, GJW, GJZ, GNK, GYX, GZB, GZC, GZD, HCU, HCV, HCZ, IWD, JHY, JHZ, JIA, JIB, JIC, KJH, KNB, LCC, LPN, LTT, LXK, LXL, LXM, LXN, LYF, MDB, MDZ, MFV, MGD, MJX, MJY, MNV, MNW, total 42 (all ticked off ,too 🙂 )

They used them until at least 1958 when I saw a couple at Turnhouse, And G-AMNW at London in November of that year.
Jim

BEA Dakotas/Pionairs LAP ca.1956

Autocrat…BEA were still using DC-3s in 1956 so its unlikely you’ll be able to pin down which ones you saw. Attached is one I photographed by the tunnel exit in the Central area by the ground public enclosure ca. 1956 (1st camera, maybe 1st roll of film)