Dakota c/n 9043 G-AKNB (FD789) Photo. Is there one out there.

Here is G-AKNB at Duxford in June 1984, and clearly it had not been repainted since its sojourn in Ireland with Clyden Airways (as EI-BDU):
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1152784/

Nice photos Mark, Any quality is better than non at all to look at, I wonder when G-AKNB got her camouflage paint job in the early 80’s. Obviously before the filming started for the Dirty Dozen sequel which was released in 1985.

regards
Albert

Sorry that they’re not clearer, but here they are:

G-AKNB is the centre one, with G-DAKS and N54NA flanking it, Duxford ’84, 16th September:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=174732&stc=1&d=1247440289

Had to lighten this one a little as the original was a little too dark, Duxford 50th Jubilee Anniversary Display, 6th July 1985:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=174733&stc=1&d=1247440289

Here she is

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N59NA.html

Garry

FAA status: valid
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?NNumbertxt=59NA&cmndfind.x=0&cmndfind.y=0

Thank you for the response, but the FAA website wouldn’t display. I assume that the aeroplane is still extant (and is the registration N59NA?)

Thanks again

It was at Seething airfield,Norfolk in early 1976 for a film on the life of Orde Wingate. The RAF camouflage was removed at Speke and the aircraft departed to Dublin, March 1977.

BINGO! Garry and Guys,

Garry found your photo in Aircraft illustrated July 1982 Airview column, there is a photo of an aerial view from high up at the Duxford Airshow May 1982. It shows G-AKNB in civil colours, white colour scheme parked up.

Then later than I thought in Aircraft Illustrated printed in Nov 1985 page 526 there it is a photo of G-AKNB as FD789 in DD Day colour scheme. Painted up for the motion picture “The Dirty Dozen The next mission.” Had gone back and looked at the history of this aircraft and found this statement, to lead me to this later date.
“In 1982, it returned to the UK registered G-AKNB and passed through several owners. At one point, it was painted as an RAF Dakota marked FD789 and appeared in an unknown film”.
Just to add to the above, also found information on G-DAKS. This was also painted up in RAF colours from January 1983 after its Ruskin Air colour scheme was removed. Used in the TV series Airline for Yorkshire television.
I have a feeling I didn’t see G-AKNB in military colours after all in Aug 1982 as she was probably still in her civil colours. Well it is a long time ago and the memory plays tricks with what we actual remember from the past.

regards
Albert

FAA status: valid
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?NNumbertxt=59NA&cmndfind.x=0&cmndfind.y=0

Does G-AKNB still exist? G-INFO says that the registration was cancelled as the aircraft was sold overseas.

Regards

HP81,
G-AKNB was more than likely in this scheme in your photo at the Duxford Air show as well. This was on 13th june 1982. As a LAAS mag has a log for that day of her in this reg and not the military serial FD789. So was more than likely painted up into FD789 between the end June to the August. When it then arrived at Blackpool all camouflaged up. No wonder there are hardly any photos of her.

Mark,
Can’t wait to see them, hopefully if you can find them again.

much appreciated
Albert

My photo records show that I took pictures of her in Sept. 84 and July 85 at Duxford wearing D-Day stripes – I’ll see if I can dig them out if that helps.

This isn’t quite what you’re after, but it is Duxford in 1982:)

Hello Albert

It is quite a small pic:(

Garry

Have got them down again out of the attic. I will also give the annuals a look too.

Albert

All I can tell you is it was at the time and it was in the airport news roundup.

Garry

Garry,
Can you at a guess pick what year in Aircraft Illustrated. As I have 1980-1989, bar 1985 or 84 they are in the attic. I have already scanned through them the other day and didn’t notice her. She is in Air extra but in intra colors.

Albert

This aircraft continued in service with Intra when not being used for filming and I saw it several times in the RAF cammo. I did photgraph it but I have no idea where the pic is.

Aircraft Illustrated had a pic so if you know someone with a collection you’ll find it in there.

Althougth G-AKNB was to only DC3 to wear the final BUA livery, the other survivors wore the virtually identical BUIA livery with Freighter titles.

http://www.british-caledonian.com/images/DC3%20G-AKBN.jpg

The only difference in the latter version was the addition of the ‘I’ deletion of the arrow and in the case of the Heralds which had wing bands, those were deleted…..I don’t know if ‘KNB had wing bands as I never saw it in that livery. G-AKNB did not wear BUIA as it went to become the intial aeroplane of the new Intra Airways (Jersey) Ltd as it was called at the time,formed by four ex BUA pilots.

Garry

It was featured in the new BUA colours at Squires Gate,the scheme with the sytlised arrow head and two broad bands of blue and brown. The local paper Evening Gazette published a pic and may stil have a copy available.It was the only BUA Dak to get painted in this scheme.

A photo but not the one you want, sorry. 🙂

http://www.rareairinc.com/DC-3.html

I believe the c/n on this link should read 42-32817.