G-AMRA
G-AMRA was built in 1944 and joined the USAF as 43-49474. She was transferred to the RAF on lend-lease and used in the Berlin Airlift. She later flew with many airlines including Starways, BUA and BIA until joining us in 1981.
G-AMRA has spent her life with Air Atlantique and Classic Flight transporting all manner of different loads such as fresh fish, mail, car spares, oil rig equipment, aircraft engines and is configured once a year to drop one million poppies over the remembrance day commemorations at Coventry. She has also appeared in the Berlin Airlift 40th Anniversary flypast, the amazing Coventry Airshow 7 ship formation and various air displays around the country as well as appearing several times in numerous film and TV roles including Steven Spielbergs "Band of Brothers'" serialisation.
She is a delightful way to remember 1930's passenger aviation as the thousands of people who have flown in her will testify.
43-49474-C-47B-DK-26735-USAF-Unused.
to RAF KK151 KK151-Dakota C.3-26735-RAF-ex 43-49474-USAF
to G-AMRA XE280-C-47B-DK-26735-RAF-ex 43-49474-USAF
to G-AMRA G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-British Island AW-ex XE280-RAF
to Macedonian G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Macedonian Avn-ex XE280-RAF
to Humber G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Humber-AW-ex XE280-RAF-Unused?
to Intra G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Site Avn-leased from BIA-Leased & Returned
G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Starways-ex KK151-RAF
to Airwork G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Airwork-ex KK151-RAF
to Transair G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Transair-ex KK151-RAF
to BUIA-temp.regd as XE280 G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-FlyBE-ex XE280-RAF
to Eastern AW G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Eastern AW-ex XE280-RAF
to Air Atlantique G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Empire AW wet-leased from Air Atlantique-Leased & Returned
G-AMRA-C-47B-DK-26735-Air Atlantique-ex XE280-RAF-Active-dba Air Atlantique; temp.repainted in RAF c/s for 11/11/2004 London flypast
G-AMPY
G-AMPY is also of 1944 vintage. She saw wartime service with the RAF in Burma, becoming a passenger carrier on demob. Unlike G-AMRA, G-AMPY has been left unlined inside, and the static line and jump lights for paratroopers are still in place. This gives flying in her a more military feel, though the 36 seats are distinctly more comfortable than those used by her paratroop passengers!
Douglas C-47B-15-DK Dakota 3 c/n 15124/26569 (c/n given in CofA documents as KK116)
Built at Oklahoma 1943 for USAAF with serial 43-49308 and taken on charge.11.44.
To RAF 24.11.44 with serial KK116 at Nassau.
Served with ACSEA from 12.12.44. India 1946.
To 12 MU Kirkbride 22.9.47. Regd 8.3.52 (CofR No: R.3587/1) as G-AMPY to Jerome Anthony Wilson, Speke.
CofA (No.A3587) issued 3.8.54 and renewed 5.8.55, 3.8.56 and 15.8.57. Operated by Starways Ltd.
Cld 13.12.57 on sale in Jordan as JY-ABE (initially misapplied as JY-AAE).
Re-Regd 12.5.58 (CofR No: R.3587/2) to Starways Ltd, Speke and CofA renewed on 28.8.58, 8.10.58, 6.11.59, 4.11.60 and 4.11.61.
Cld 31.12.63 as sold in Iceland. Re-Regd 3.1.64 (CofR No: R.3587/3)
to Aviation Overhauls Ltd., Speke and CofA renewed 30.6.64.
Cld same day on sale in Iceland as TF-FIO.
Re-Regd 3.8.65 (CofR No: R.3587/4) to Aviation Overhauls Ltd., Speke.
Leased to Irefly 2.66 to 11.66.
Cld 1.8.68 on sale in USA (Notified 5.9.68) as N15751 to Aviation Enterprises Inc, Cedarburg, WI but not delivered.
Re-Regd 5.11.70 (CofR No: R3587/5) to The New Guarantee Trust of Jersey Ltd., Jersey.
Operated by Intra airways. Operated by Jersey European/Express Air Service 11.79.
Cld 23.1.80 (CofR No: G-AMPY/R6) on charter to Field Aviation Ltd., Heathrow & East Midlands.
Leased to Jersey European 10.80.
Proposed sale during 1981 in Ireland as EI-BKJ with Clydeen Airways not proceeded with.
Cld & Re-Regd 15.2.82 (CofR No: G-AMPY/R7) to Air Atlantique Ltd., Jersey.
Re-Regd .89 to Dak Holdings Ltd., Coventry and used for Pollution Control duties and detached elsewhere from time to time (eg inverness).
Re-Regd 15.3.00 to Atlantic Air Transport Ltd., Coventry.
Repainted in RAF Transport Command scheme as KK116 Cofk expires 4.7.08
G-ANAF
G-ANAF is a strange bird. That huge Adam's Apple under the nose takes away any justification for call it "she". But at 62 years old, it's a hard-working aircraft that's still doing a worthwhile job. The bulge contains radar equipment, and a range of additional antennae and a jet-powered auxiliary power supply make it a remarkably state of the art radar test bed.
Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota 3 c/n 16688/33436 (c/n given in CofA documents as 44-77104)
Built at Santa Monica 1944 for USAF as 44-77104 and taken on charge 8. 6. 45.
To RAF 9.6.45 with Serial KP220 at Montreal.
To UK 19.1.45. To 435 Sqdn RCAF
1.12.45 operating from Croydon (the RCAF unit had returned from India & Burma operations at Gujrat a few months earlier to Down Ampney).
To AOC 46 Group 6.3.46. To 24 Sqdn Bassingbourn 27.3.47.
To 22 MU Silloth 15.11.50. Regd 17.6.53 (CofR No: R4049/1)
to B.K.S.Aerocharter Ltd. Named "Jean Batten".
CofA (No.A4049) issued 17.2.54 after conversion at Woolsington.
Nominal change to B.K.S.Air Transport Ltd 11.1.55.
CofA Renewals on 18.2.55, 18.2.56, 18.2.57 and 18.2.58). Cld 28.10.58.
Re-Regd 7.11.58 (CofR No: R4049/2) to Hunting Aerosurveys Ltd and CofA renewed on 10.11.58 and 18.9.59.
Nominal owner change to Hunting Surveys Ltd 31.5.60.
Cofk renewed on 27.9.60 (extended to 9.10.61) and 17.10.61.
Nominal owner change to Hunting Surveys & Consultants Ltd 9.5.67.
Cld 9.4.73 as Permanently Withdrawn from Use.
Re-Regd 3.3.77 (CofR No: G-ANAF/R3) to Westcountry Aircraft Servicing Ltd., Exeter.
Cld 17.10.77 & Re-Regd 21.10.77 (CofR No: G-ANAF/R4) to Air Atlantique Ltd., Jersey.
Ferried Exeter-Luton 12.3.85 and wearing Air Luton titles that month.
Cld & Re-Regd 18.6.85(CofR No: G-ANAF/R5)
to Air Luton Ltd., Luton.
Reportedly also operated by Topflight Ltd. although not formally re-regd to them before they ceased trading in 1987.
Cld 29.4.87 on sale in USA as N170GP to Starf lite Corporation, Miami.
re-regd 22.7.88 as G-ANAF to Atlantic Air Transport Ltd., Coventry.
Used for MoD Contract work for THALES (previously Racal Radar) with on-board test equipment and a chin radar fit beneath nose and additional external aerials.
We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd and Air Britain Information Services for the provision of material for these histories
