Cargolux CL-44 TF-LLF

Hongkong-Kai Tak, early 70s (Propfreak Collection)

TF-LLF was the first CL-44 for Loftleidir and was delivered in 1964. Before regular passenger service started she was used as a demonstrator by Canadair. Built as a CL-44-D4-8 she was converted to J standard in 1966, being called the "Rolls Royce 400 Jet Prop" by the Icelandic carrier. Loftleidir used their CL-44s on trans-atlantic Luxemburg-New York, via Reykjavik, services. With their 160 seat all-economy layout, they were popular with passengers and crews alike. Converted to a she was delivered as a freighter Cargolux in 1972 - Cargolux was originally founded by Loftleidir and Swedish Shipping Company as Salloft. In 1970 when Luxair bought a stake the airline was renamed Cargolux. The cargo carrier operated a fleet of 5 CL-44s on their worldwide cargo network. TF-LLC was sold to Cargosur in 1976 and has seen many leases and last been used by Aer Turas of Ireland and Heavylift as EI-BRP before being scrapped at Southend at the end of 1992.

Saeta Boeing 707 HC-BLY

Quito, December 1989 (photo by Propfreak)

Built for Trans World Airlines in October 1963 she served for the US carrier until sold to Aerotal Colombia in 1981 - being parked for 2 years until a buyer could be found. Aerotal used her for 2 years before she was parked again. In 1985 Ecuadorian Saeta decided to add the jet to their fleet which consisted of a sole Boeing 727-95 at the time. HC-BLY entered service and was often seen at Miami during that time. I was lucky enough to sample a domestic flight on the Quito-Guayaquil route shelling out an astonishing 20 US$ for the 30 minutes flight. The 707 was scrapped at Quito in 1993.

Classic Air DC-3 HB-ISC

Switzerland, December 1998 (Propfreak Collection)

Zurich based Classic Air used 2 DC-3s for pleasure flights from 1985 until 2003. In 1998 ISC was painted into this striking scheme promoting the perfume label Alrodo. HB-ISC still resides in Switzerland, owned privately, and has been seen recently in a metallic color scheme with Swissair titles at the nose performing at several airshows throughout Switzerland.

United Air Service HS.748 7P-LAI

South Africa, December 1983 (Propfreak Collection)

This 1970 built Hawker was originally owned by French carrier Rousseau Aviation which leased her to SATA Air Acores until being sold to Air Botswana in 1975. United Air came into the picture when they acquired the turboprop in 1981 and leased her straight away to Air Comores as ZS-LHN. When returned half a year later she spent a year with United Air before being leased to Zambia Airways and registered with Lesotho markings as 7P-LAI. She was returned to United Air in early 1984 and sold to Canada in 1986 where she still soldiers on in the colors of Wasaya Airways.

Pegasus Club DC-6 N90710

Miami, December 1976 (Propfreak Collection)

St Louis, Missouri, based Pegasus Club was founded in 1967 and used two DC-6s and one Convair 240 during their 8 years of doing business. This former American Airlines "straight 6" was delivered in 1947 and the 23rd DC-6 which rolled off the production line. At the time of the picture taken she was already stored for a year, owned by Lloyd Aero Corporation, and to be scrapped soon.

Pinehurst Airlines YS-11 N102PH

USA, early 1980s (Propfreak Collection)

Pinehurst operated a fleet of 20 different Japanese NAMC YS-11s over the years. N112PH was built in 1967 and delivered to Brazilian Cruzeiro do Sul, which leased her to Austral of Argentina in 1968. Shortly afterwards she was returned to the manufacturer and leased to Korean Air Lines. A year later KAL purchased the turboprop and kept her in service till the end of 1974. The Philippines was the next port of call. Philippine Air Lines used her on her domestic network until sold to Pinehurst in 1981. Only 2 years of service with the North Carolina based carrier - she later was operated by Trans Central Airlines, Simmons Airlines and finally Airborne Express who used her as a parcel freighter.

President Airlines Antonov AN-24B XU-335

Phnom Penh, January 2003 (Propfreak collection)

President Airlines started operations in 1997 with a mixed Russian and Western fleet compromising of Boeing 737s, Fokker F27/28s as well as Antonov aircraft.
XU-335 is a former Russian Air Force example and she served with several Cambodian carriers in her career. Nowadays she is displayed at Sihanoukville downtown as a night-club attraction.

Seulawah Air ATL-98A Carvair VH-INM

Australia, July 1975 (Propfreak collection)

Built in April 1945 as a C-54E-5-DO, a USAF variant, she only spent half a year in military service. Reconfigured to a DC-4, she was sold to Pan American World Airways before being sold to Japan Air Lines which operated her until 1965. Then acquired by Ansett Australia to converte her into a ATL-98A Carvair, one of 21 DC-4s converted. A sale to Indonesia's Seulawah Air didn't materialize but the airplane was then sold to Nationwide Air of New Zealand. In June 1990 she departed NZ for a new home with Hawaii Pacific Air before finally being sold to South Africa in 1996. There she is registered to Phoebus Apollo as 9J-PAA and in the process of being rebuild. Once finished, this will be the last airworthy Carvair.

Uganda Airlines Boeing 707 5X-UAL

Brussels, September 1976 (Propfreak Collection)

Assigned construction number 18580, Boeing B707-321C operated her first flight on 6th of April 1963. She was delivered to Pan American as "Clipper Jupiter" and registered N766PA. In September 1976 she found her way to Uganda Airlines but survived only for 2 years when she was destroyed by Tanzanian troops on 1st of April 1979.

CAMBA Martin 404 CP-1570

La Paz, September 1986 (Propfreak Collection - photo by M.Siegrist)

Martin 404 N40432 was one of a batch of 41 aircraft for Trans World Airlines. She first flew on 11th of July, 1952 and served 7 years as "Mainliner Detroit" before being sold to Pacific Air Lines. After severeal private Traveller Club's like Fiesta Air, Stardusters, Lake Los Angeles she found her way down south to Bolivia to join 2 sisters which were already earning their keep in the harsh surroundings operating as cargo/meat haulers to the Beni, the Bolivia lowlands. CAMBA (Comercializadora Aérea Mixta Boliviana) received their first Martin in 1976. Until the next year 2 more machines were added. Bad luck struck when one aircraft was lost at El Peru (Bolivia), when cattle was on the runway and the Martin overran. Replacement was found with CP-1570, which arrived in the early 80s and operated until 1987 when a forced belly landing was carried out at Paraparau, when one of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines backfired and she was damaged beyond economic repair.

Aerolinea Federal Fairchild FH-227B LV-MGW

Argentina, June 1986 (Propfreak Collection)

Aerolinea Federal Argentina (ALFA), based at Resistencia in northern Argentina, was founded in 1957 as AeroChaco. Owned by the local government, ALFA connected Resistencia with Salta, San Miguel de Tucuman, Cordoba, Mendoza, Formosa, Corrientes, Posadas and Puerto Iguazu. At their prime time, ALFA was the biggest airline outside of Buenos Aires. This Fairchild spent all her life in South America. Delivered to Paraense as PP-BUI in 1967, the turboprop was repossed by the Brazilian Government in 1970 and leased to Varig. Returned to the government in 1975 she was parked for 3 years before being sold to AeroChaco. After the name change LV-MGW operated for ALFA till 1990 when she was leased to Aeroposta, even further to the south, operating initially out of Ushuaia to Rio Gallegos and Lago Argentino (El Calafate). The Fairchild soldiered on for CATA, yet another Argentinian carrier, this time operating out of Buenos Aires. She remains stored in a derelict state at Moron, a former Fuerza Aerea Argentina base, home of the National Aeronautics Museum.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400 9V-SPK

Zurich, March 2000 (Propfreak)

The 1099th Boeing 747 took to the air for the first time on January 12th, 1997. Singapore Airlines operated 43 Boeing 747-412 on their worldwide network. In 1998 two of their 747s were adorned with a special Tropical Paradise livery, with SPK one of them. 9V-SPK was written off at Taipei, on October 31st 2000 while taking off on a runway which was closed for repairs.

Connair DC-3 VH-UPQ

Australia, December 1979 (Propfreak Collection)

Connair (formerly known as Connellan Airways) operated out of Alice Springs, it flew routes throughout the Northern Territory and the north of Western Australia and provided support for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Connair came into financial difficulties and was bought out by East-West airlines in 1980, but went into liquidation shortly after.
VH-UPQ was a former Royal Australian Air Force example, based in Malaysia. After World War 2 she was transferred to the Aircraft Development & Research Unit (ARDU) and later based at the Woomera Rocket Range. In 1973 she joined Connair which was renamed to Northern Airlines in 1980. Setair took her over in December of the same year. In 1984 the old Dakota found a new home with Rebel Air (Sydney), an operator of two more DC-3s. The next owner became Dakota National Air who used her on nostalgic flights. In 2003 renamed to Discovery Airtours she continued to operate out of Sydney Bankstown. She remains stored at Bankstown in a rather derelict state.

Varig Electra PP-VLA

Rio de Janeiro-Santo Dumont, May 1989 (Propfreak Collection)

Delivered to Northwest in 1961 as N135US who used her until sold to Varig in 1970. Registered as PP-VLA she served mainly on the "Ponte Aérea" between Sao Paulo Congonhas and Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont. The published timetable listed about 70 round-trip flights between
the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., an average frequency of one flight every 15 minutes, operated by Varig, VASP and Cruzeiro.
PP-VLA flew for Varig till January 1992 when she was parked at Porto Alegre. In 1993 a buyer was found when she was sold to Filair (Congo Zaire) operating her as 9Q-CVK. In December the Lockheed was registered as 9Q-CGD and transfered to Trans Service Airlift. In July 1994 she had an accident somewhere in Angola which ended her flying career.

AeroRegional Antonov AN-24RV OB-1650

Cuzco, July 2001 (Propfreak Collection)

OB-1650 was built in 1973 for Tarom (Romania) and delivered as YR-AMH in August of the same year. In August 1993 she was sold to Russia for service with Cheremshanka Airlines. Her Peruvian adventure took off in May 1994, when she was leased to Expresso Aereo. The lease lasted a bit more than a year before she was parked at Lima. Finally in 1999 she had air under her wings again, this time operating for T doble A and named "Santander". In February 2000 she started service with TAR / Transporte Aéreo Regional. Flights from Puerto Maldonado to Cuzco were offered. OB-1650 is still active in Peru with Aero Condor.

Government of Oman VC-10 A4O-AB

Zurich, February 1981 (Propfreak)

This beauty used to be quite a frequent guest at Zurich. - Originally delivered to British United in October 1964 as G-ASIX. In 1970 BUA merged with Caledonian Airways and became British Caledonian whose colors she then received. In 1974 she was sold to the Omani Government and she was converted to a VIP jet at Hurn. A lounge, two bedrooms and a staff section for 32 passengers was installed and finally being adorned with a pretty paintcoat she left for her new life as a flying palace at the Arabian Gulf. She flew 13 years with the Sultan of Oman. She is now on display at the Brooklands Museum where she landed on the 6th of August 1987.

Aeropesca Viscount 745D HK-1708

Bogota, March 5th, 1978 (Propfreak Collection)

Aerovias de la Pesca y Colonizacion del Suroeste Colombia, Aeropesca, had 5 Viscount 745D in service. HK-1708 was used till 31.3.91 when she suffered an inflight incident overstressing the airframe. She subsequently landed at Medellin where she was grounded after inspection of the airplane. Intercontinental, renamed in 1982, donated HK-1708 to a recreation park in Rionegro (Medellin) where she survives till today.

LAN Express Boeing 737-236 CC-CZK

Santiago de Chile, March 2004 (Propfreak)

cn 21804 was built for British Airways in August 1980 and delivered as G-BGDP and named "River Taff". On January 9th 1998 she was sold to Lan Chile before being leased to sister company LAN Express in September 2002. Returned in May 2005 she is now in service with Air Comet Chile since last year.

Saeta DC-3 HC-AVQ

Guayaquil, June 1972 (Propfreak Collection)

SAETA (Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aéreos) started operations in 1966. In 1971 HC-AVQ joined the fleet when she was bought from Bahamas Airways. Originally build in 1944 for the USAF, she later served with the RAF before entering civil life with BEA. After spending time with Cyprus Airways, Silver City Airways and Skyways she crossed the pond again to fly for Bahamas Airways. HC-AVQ and her 2 sisterships were used to establish domestic air links in Ecuador. When Viscounts and Caravelles where acquired their days were numbered. HC-AVQ was sold to Air Sunshine in February 1977. In the late nineties the old Dakota was again flying in the Caribbean, operated by Four Star Aviation and Virgin Islands International Airways. By 1989 her luck run out and she was hit by a hurricane while parked at St.Thomas. 2 years later the oldtimer was scrapped.

Southwest Air Lines YS-11 JA8787

Japan, December 1985 (Propfreak Collection)

Southwest Air Lines was founded by Japan Air Lines (JAL) in 1967 to operate routes to Okinawa. 8 YS-11s were used on domestic services. JA8787 "Sotetsu" was delivered in 1974 and served the airline till 1997 when she migrated to the Philippines to soldier on for Asian Spirit who had her still in service in 2007.

TACA BAC 1-11 YS-17C

Miami, June 1987 (Propfreak Collection)

TACA El Salvador ordered 2 new BAC 1-11-400s and YS-17C was the first example delivered in 1966. Appropriately named "El Centroamericano" she served the Central American carrier until 1990 when she was sold to Winchester Aircraft Financing who sold the "pocket rocket" further on to Nigerian Kabo Air. 2 years later she was scrapped after the Nigerian CAA grounded all BAC 1-11s.

Viasa Douglas DC-8-53 PH-DCM

Zurich, July 1969 (Propfreak Collection)

PH-DCM was delivered new to KLM in June 1961 and named "Henry Dunant", after the founder of the Red Cross and first winner of the Peace Nobel Prize. Cooperation with Viasa Venezuela was tight and KLM DC-8s were used on the European network. KLM finally sold PH-DCM to the Venezuelan carrier in 1974. The DC-8 was broken up at Opa-Locka, Florida, in 1985.

Monarch Bristol Britannia 312 G-AOVT

Basle, October 1973 (Propfreak Collection)

Luton based Monarch Airlines operated 8 Series 300 Bristol Britannia aircraft on charter flights, mainly throughout Europe. G-AOVT was acquired from British Eagle in 1968 and flew with the British carrier until 1974 when she was sold to Invicta International. G-AOVT is a proud exhibit at Duxford museum, again in the eyecatching yellow Monarch scheme.

Air New Zealand Fokker F-27-500F ZK-NFJ

Auckland, March 1986 (Propfreak)

Newly built for Air New Zealand and delivered only in October 1981, ZK-NFJ joined her 9 sisterships as last of the -500 series (a tenth example was lost in 1979 at Auckland) . The Fokker F-27 was operated in great numbers (another 12 - 100 series and a sole -200) and was the backbone of the domestic fleet before being replaced by the ATR-72. ZK-NFJ was sold in 1991 to Merpati Nusantara Airlines of Indonesia and served as PK-MFN before being retired and stored at Surabaya, Western Java, where she was seen last in 2006 in basic MNA colors.

Royal Air Lao Caravelle III XW-PNH

Vientiane, October 1975 (Propfreak Collection - taken by P.A. Petit)

Caravelle III with c/n 83 was built in 1961 and delivered to Air France christened "Bourbonnaie". Already in the same year she was leased to Air Liban for 6 months before returning to Air France as F-BGKZ newly named "Comte de Foix". In 1974 she was leased to Royal Air Lao to operate flights within Southeast Asia but was also used for the UN Hight Commissioner for Refugees (during this time the picture was taken, right after a torrential rainshower seems to have past the field minutes ago). Returned to Air France by the end of 1975 she plied again the Asian skies but on August 28th, 1976 she was damaged beyond repair in a bomb explosion at Saigon, Vietnam.

Surinam Airways DC-8-62 N1809E

Miami, June 1986 (Propfreak Collection)

N1809E came off the production line as 498th DC-8 and was delivered to Braniff in October 1969 in a orange color scheme. Later chocolate brown was used. In December 1983 she was leased by Arrow Air and two weeks later sub-leased to Surinam Airways and painted into one of the most beautiful schemes ever worn on a DC-8, at least in my opinion. Finally bought in 1986 by Surinam she was christened "Fajalobi", name of a bright red flower which translates into "passionate love". After a short lease to Tropical Airways she returned to Suriname and again plied the route to/from Amsterdam. Renamed to "Anthony Nesty" , a Surinamese swimmer and the 2nd black athlete to win an olympic medal (1988 at the summer olympics at Seoul). On June 7th, 1989 flight PY764 was approaching Paramaribo-Zanderij airport inbound from Amsterdam. The Captain attempted to capture the unreliable ILS-glide slope signal , even the flight was cleared for an VOR/DME approach by Zanderij tower. The DC-8 flew into the ground 3km before the runway and went up in flames - only 11 passengers survived of the 187 people on board.

Southeast DC-9-32 N12532

Fort Lauderdale, January 2000 (Propfreak)

349th DC-9 built, HB-IFI, a DC-9-32, was delivered to Swissair on 21st October 1968, named "Zug". She flew with the Swiss national carrier till 1980 when she was sold to Texas International as N532TX. In 1982 Texas International merged with Continental. The DC-9 was bought by Polaris Aircraft Leasing in 1988 and leased back to Continental. For a year she flew with Eastern and in 1992 was reregistered as N12532. In July 1999 ownership was changed to Southeast Airlines, an airline based in Largo, Florida. Southeast operated charter flights in the US, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. N12532 is stored in Saint-Petersburg, Clearwater-International, Florida.

Balkan Antonov AN-12 LZ-BAB

somewhere in Europe, October 1975 (Propfreak Collection)

LZ-BAB was built in Tashkent and delivered to newly founded Bulair in 1968. The Antonov freighter was taken over by Balkan in early 1972. Of the 5 An-12V operated by Balkan, 1 crashed in Egypt in 1975, another in Addis Abeba in 1984, 2 were sold to Heli Air Service respectively Bright Aviation, while LZ-BAB is preserved at Burgas in the airport museum.

Finnish Air Force DC-3 DO-11

Bern Belp, July 1971 (Propfreak Collection)

DC-3A-453 was destined for Pan American but not taken up. Instead she went to the USAF as a C-53C in December 1942. She was in store at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, when the state of Finnland acquired her for service with Aero Oy. As OH-LCH she served the airline till 1960. She was dismantled for spare parts, but emerged again in 1963 converted to a freighter and registered again as OH-LCH to Finnair Oy (the descendant of Aero Oy). She was sold to the Air Force in March 1970 and served as DO-11 till 1985 when all DC-3s were retired from the Air Force. Airverteran Oy bought her and again she took to the air as OH-LCH. 65 years old and the old lady is still flown regularly on the European airshow circuit.

Hamburg Fuhlsbüttel, 16th September 2007 (Propfreak)

Ambassadair Boeing 720-048 N8790R

Amsterdam, August 1978 (Propfreak Collection)

From November 1978 till May 1982 Travelclub Ambassadair operated this former Aer Lingus Boeing 720-048. N8790R was owned by American Trans Air. The 1961 vintage jet had seen many different liveries, including Transpolar, Braniff, TEA, BWIA and EL AL. Registered as 9Q-CFT the aircraft overran the runway at Mbuji-Mayi airport, central Congo, in October 1990 while in service with Fontshi Aviation Services registered 9Q-CFT. Repaired again, the 720 flew for another year before finally retired in 1991.

Japan Air Lines Boeing 747-446D JA8083

Tokyo Haneda, December 2001 (Propfreak)

Boeing 747-400 series aircraft are used domestically in Japan. The only visible difference to the intercontinental version are the missing winglets. JA8083 was painted in the JAL Dream Express "Family" scheme to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary and the 100th birthday of Walt Disney. Special JAL Dream Express planes painted with five different designs.

Nunasi Northland Curtiss C.46 C-GIBX

Northern Canada (Propfreak Collection - M. Siegrist, March 1990)

Curtiss C.46F-1-CU c/n 22472 was delivered to the USAF in July 1945 as 44-78650. After spending 3 years in military service she was leased to Pan American as N74171 for 5 years. In 1955 the freighter went to Transocean AL where she stayed till 1961. Ortner Air Service bought her and kept the Curtiss till 1975. Her Canadian career began in the late seventies when she was acquired by Northland Outdoors and she took the marks C-GIBX. Northland Air (Manitoba) took the old prop over around 1985. Nunasi Northland, with bases in Winnipeg, Thompson & Churchill leased the old lady in August 1988. She was sold to Air Manitoba in December 1990 and leased to Kenya's Relief Air Transport from August 1994 to March 1996 registered as 5Y-IBX. In November 1996 she was sold to Commando Air Transport, again as C-GIBX. As of April 2006, the Curtiss was operated by FNT Transport from Gimli Industrial Park, Gimli, Manitoba, to haul freight to northern communities.

Redcoat Cargo Bristol Britannia G-BRAC

USA, December 1979 (Propfreak Collection)

Redcoat Air Cargo started operations in 1976 with Bristol Britannia 9G-ACE on dry-lease from Geminair to operate cargo flights to West Africa. The contract lasted one year and their first own Britannia was acquired from IAS Cargo. In 1978, the 2nd aircraft was bought, a former Royal Air Force and Aer Turas aircraft, and G-BRAC became the flagship of the young cargo carrier. In 1979 RAC won the contract to fly supplies to Belize for the Ministry of Defence. On February 16th, 1980, on one of those Central America runs, G-BRAC was taking off from Boston in a snowstorm, fully loaded with computer parts destined for Ireland. The Brit crashed 8 minutes later due to accumulation of ice and snow on the fuselage, but also because the aircraft was flown into severe icing conditions following take-off. Of the 9 people aboard, only the flight engineer survived the disaster.