MAS Dakota Flight-1973

[Beemer]

For and behalf of Viscount


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[viscount]

Dave Calveley (corrected) recently handed on a bundle of photographs taken on and around the MAS Sales Stall in the 70s and 80s. Amongst them two black and white photos of members disembarking from two Air Anglia Dakota 'pleasure flights' flights. The A5 sized boarding card and colour slides are mine. Who wrote the article in 'Flypast' is not recorded, but as quite a number of those on the flights are still around, I thought I'd awaken the memories of a good flight. So this (with some editing) is the story of the day.

A Jaunt in a Dakota

It all started 13.05 Saturday afternoon March 24th....... no it didn't, it all began a long time before that as a germ of an idea in someones mind. It grew, and the long job of arranging, taking bookings and organising began. The flights were originally planned for February 17th, but because there was not enough support to see Norwich play Everton the flights had to be cancelled as the aircraft had no reason to be at Liverpool. However, when Norwich came up on 24th to play Liverpool, not only was the Dakota full, but two Vanguards came as well!

Slightly downfallen in February but not discouraged, all the bookings had to be rearranged in the hope all would go well in March. Then the week before arrived. Consultations with Dan-Air, words with the Public Address, approaches to the 'Echo' and talks with Air Anglia on last minute details.

March 24th at 13.05 "Bravo November" touched down from Norwich. 13.30 the MAS took control of the Dan Air check-in desk (bloodlessly of course) and the first passengers arrived. The huge boarding cards (possibly candidate for the 'Guiness Book of Records') were distributed. A quick conference with the pilot and he vanished for a weather briefing for a flight along the North Wales coast. Meanwhile, behind the check-in desk the MAS staff cheered as the last pax on Flight One arrived. "Will passengers for the Merseyside Aviation Society Dakota Flight One, please board the aircraft through Gate Number Five." The announcement made thirty-six people trot out and board the waiting plane. Start-up, taxi down to 17 and away.

Back on the ground, as if they had just become parents, the check-in clerks celebrated, "one down - one to go". 'Bravo November' touched down on 17 an hour later and taxied back in. Beautiful flight, if a little bumpy. Despite some of the passengers finding out what the little blue bags for, everyone was overspilling with praise.

Flight Two was called and another consignment went out. This time the MAS check-in clerks could sample the experience as well. The wind had changed and the Dak' headed for 26. Take-off at 15.33 over a tranquil Mersey. The skeletons of ships-to-be lay in Cammell-Laird's yard. The Wirral stretched below. On to the Welsh coast in gusty conditions but perfect visibility. Now one could sit back and take in the view, or just feel the throbbing of those Twin Wasps. The actual experience if flying in an aircraft with as much character as a DC-3 is impossible to relate in a medium as inadequate as paper, it is truly a unique sensation. Out over Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay and onto Llandudno to rub shoulders with the Great Orme. A slow, turning sweep over Anglesey reveals Mona airfield shrouded in mist. Back over the Menai Straight above Llandrog airfield with glimpses of towering Snowdon and Carnedd Llewelyn (those Welsh names will be the death of me!), sweeping over Caernarfon Castle then back along the shimmering coastline and home for a perfect touch-down on 27 at 16.33.

Two never-to-be-forgotten flights came to an end.

All very happy the group split up. The passengers congregate in small bunches to exchange experiences. The crew prepare for a positioning flight to Dyce. The Dan-Air desk returns to sanity. For some lucky people on Flight One, a further thrill (if that's the word) came on the following Monday, when the 'Echo' displayed them full-frontal in accompaniment with G-AOBN. Top photo

Our sincere thanks to Dan-Air for their help and letting us use their facilities and to Air Anglia for their patience and consideration in getting these flights together. Not to forget the crew, to Captain 'Bain' Porterfield, First Officer Ian Brigham and Stewardess Lynda Scobbie who bravely faced a cabin full of Merseysiders, not once but twice, thanks very much.

HISTORY LESSON

G-AOBN started life as a C-53 built by Douglas at Santa Monica. With constructors number 11711, entered service 5.43 with the USAAF as 42-68784. Sold in October 1945 to ABA/SAS as SE-BAU. In 1951 it became F-OAIF before arriving on the British register as a Dakota 4 in 1955 with Silver City Airways as 'City of Canterbury'. It has since seen service with Morton Air Services, BUIA, BIA Calibration Unit, Air Ulster and now Air Anglia. Subsequently sold to Air Freight of Lydd and then exported to Ethiopian Airlines as ET-AGP 7.77 and within a month destroyed on the ground at Jiggiga Airstrip.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

So who are pictured on the photos. I think I can pick out Wal Gandy, Brian Billington, Alan Scholefield, Steve Mason, Phil Butler, Bryan Workman & son on the top one, and Ken Ellis, Bill McDiarmid, Isabelle, Clive Campbell, George Jones, John Downey and Ray Kittle on the second one- surely thats not Paul Ellison with the 'trade-mark' BOAC bag though! My apologies to anyone I should have recognised and left out. As they are not my photos the strange thing is Brian Jones should be on the second one, but I am not!

Well, hope this brought thirty-seven year old memories flooding back for some. They did for me researching this.

[davecalveley]

Brian
what a pity you didnt research who passed you the photos though.... still... I can think of worse people to be mistaken for!! Easy to see how you made the mistake though..both ex AB trip coach drivers... both work for same company... both live on the Wirral... both devilshly handsome witty caring people... both modest!The photos were part of the old Air Britain Merseyside stock left over after PHB took the others.I dare you to post the sales stand ones with the very dodgy fashions in them!!
regards Dave( the handsome one of the 2)

[viscount]

My sincere apologies Dave. I know it was you who handed over the photos. Cannot work out why I stated it incorrectly, although as you state you shared roles in the functioning of Air Britain Merseyside, not that that is any excuse.

Once again, my apologies. You must agree though your saving and passing on the photos has provided the basis for a little nostalgia. As for some of the other photos, I'm not sure that they would pass the webmasters definition of decency!

Brian.

[davecalveley]

Brian
no apology needed..... but think the fashion police will be on to you if you post any of the other pics.....
regards Dave