Balair's DC-6B

Well, even in 1981 it was close to being a heritage aircraft. Amazingly flying the the UK from Switzerland up to six days a week on charter work. I photted it a lot at LGW, and joined the enthusiast flight on it from Norwich in August 1981.

Amazing year. Not only a flight in a DC-6, but also in a DC-3, Dakota, on a scheduled service from LHR!

Got in flight cab rides in both as well!



Last report I found (2008), was that it was stored out of use as C-GIBS, as a fire water bomber. Having done work as a bud Worm sprayer in Canada. It surely dererves being brought back to Europe. But I guess that market is already served by Reb Bull's DC-6 in Austria.

Anyway, I'm slowly building a web page for this lovely machine as I get my 6 x 6 trannies scanned.

First part of web site for Balair DC-6B

 

There are two DC4/C54? at North Weald,it is sometimes possible to see their tails above the bank alongside the M11.
Colin.

 

Smashing images - more as soon as possible please!

 

Many thanks. Lovely to share them after the've been stuck in slide boxes for nearly 30 years without being looked at by anyone.

The second batch went to my photo lab this morning and I'm just sorting the third and final batch.

Hopefully all will scan OK and I can post them on my web site in the next few weeks.

 

Air Atlantic still have an airworthy 6 at Coventry, It was repainted into British Eagle colours last year (or maybe the year before, time flies!!). The two at North Weald were brought in for a failed film contract, & their fate now is not looking too good.
I'm afraid that the advent of (allegedly) convincing CGI has sounded the death nell for the restoration & operation of old (especially large) aircraft for the movie industry. The survival of quite a few WW2 warbirds can be directly attributed to the film industry.
Terry

 

According to G-INFO both Air Atlantic's DC-6s are registered, and, I would assume, airworthy. It would be a shame to lose either of these aeroplanes, particularly G-APSA, but it cost such a lot of money to keep them going.

Nice to see the piccies of the Balair example and the two C-54s at North Weald were there last December when I visited and looked to be in goodish condition.

Regards

 

I can remember flying British Eagle from Speke in the 60s

 

Slight thread drift but is anyone else watching the Canadian show Ice Pilots, about Buffalo Airways and their historic fleet? Some great action photos of historic planes still in regular service.

 

Yes, watched the first series on Quest, absolutely fascinating, can't wait for series 2
Terry

 

Web page finished now.

http://www.germansteam.info/Aircraft/DC-6/Balair-DC-6B-HB-IBS.html

I think that is all my photos of that lovely aircraft now. Quite a few I am pleased to say.

Including some shots of those lovely Pratt and Whitney 18 cylinder R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines.

 

I flew on Air Atlantique's DC3 back in the mid-Eighties. Couldn't believe the hike up the aisle with the rear tail wheel undercarriage and the great big 'picture windows'. Wonderful views as we circled Warwickshire, plus the tremendous noise of the engines. Glen Miller on the tannoy, rather worryingly! Iain

 

20+ years ago when I was working and travelling down in Africa the standard transport plane was a DC3, fun times. Never got a cab ride but you were part of the adventure as there was no fixed door to the cockpit.

 

Many thanks for that.

It was for many of the Gatwick photos that I invested in a Mamya C220 250mm lens, (equiv to something like a 150mm 35 mm lens). My 180mm wasn't enough for decent shots of HB IBS. Great lens, as were the two C220 bodies I had. Bulky, and only 12 shots per film. But am I glad now I took so many B&W photos and E64 slides with them. Aircraft and steam.

 

Wonderful set of photographs Bryan of a classic airliner. One or two interesting items in the background too.

 

Thanks for that Spamcan81. Yes, it was more luck than anything that got the other aircraft in shot.

Tyne Turbo: guessing where your avatar comes from I've got some BA and Airbridge Vanguard shots to process and post on web pages later on. Plus some of the few remaining CL44s that worked in the UK circa 1980. Transmeridian, Tradewinds and Aer Turas I think from memory.

Might have mentioned it before here. Airbridge gave me the run of their apron and one of their Vanguards at East Midlands on one day I was up there. Some nice close up shots of it being unloaded. And some shots of British Midland Viscounts taxiing past, taken from inside the cockpit of the Vanguard. (For Vanguard read Merchantman, which was what the cargo Vanguards were usually called). Strange being left alone in the cockpit of a big aircraft like that just after it had landed! Terrified to touch anything.

 

Great set of pictures of the DC6 Bryan.I must have seen this aircraft during my spotting days at LGW in the 1970s.I had a short trip on an Air Atlantique DC3 at Greenham Common once.A circuit of the airfield for £1.50 !!!!

 

(very) slightly of topic, about 5 years ago, an outfit called South coast airways were operating an ex Air Atlantique DC3/C47 on "Nostalgic" pleasure flights. I was lucky enough to persuade the better half, to accompany me on a day trip to le touquet, from Biggin. Heaven! but I couldn't get over how incredibly noisy it was inside. In industrial terms it would have been ear defender territory. Pilot & copilot sitting there nice & relaxed with their ear defender/phones on!
Terry

 

I remember the Balair 6 HB-IBS. I also remember Sterling Airways flying sixes into Edinburgh in 1969/70 OY-BAS/T/U and various other Scandanavian DC-6s on cargo flight. The USAF and USN also used to send DC-6s in the C-118 format into Scotland and who can forget the USMC C-54 91998? Those were the days.

 

I did the same flight at coventry on the dac and the twin pioneer and now we cannot do it anymore Thanks all those that spoilt it for us