|
Early History of the Flying Bulls DC-6B extracted and abridged from the history of Namibia Commercial Aviation as told in their website, by the owner Chris Schutte. (offline: x) Aircraft c/n 45563/1034 , was the next to last DC-6B rolling off the production line in Santa Monica . She was delivered to Jugoslovenski Aerotransport ( JAT ) as YU-AFA on October , 1958, and after less than three years of operations was transferred to the Yugoslav Air Force during 1961 and given the military serial 7451. Thereafter she was used exclusively as the personal VIP transport of Marshall Tito. In September 1992, Namibia Commercial Aviation (NCA ) bought DC-6B c/n 45563 together with sister ship c/n 45564, the last DC-6B produced 1) and fourty tons of DC-6 spares from surplus Zambian Air Force stocks. The offer was only valid on the condition that the buyer also removed the pair of Zambian Air Force DC-6Bs which had not flown for the last fifteen years and which were lying at Lusaka. Although NCA was not actively seeking further aircraft to add to its fleet, spare parts were extremely valuable to continue operation of its own DC-6As on relief flights to Angola. ( V5-NCB c/n 45373 and V5-NCC c/n 44664 from Conner Airlines ). The airframes of both DC-6Bs were low-houred, and the hot and dry Zambian climate had preserved them in a rather good condition, so that both aircraft were capable of being flown out of Lusaka. DC-6B c/n 45564 was ferried from Lusaka to Windhoek after receiving the registration V5-NCG. After some freight work she has been parked at the Rundu airfield for six years in anticipation of restoration. |
B DC-6B c/n 45563 , the Flying Bulls aircraft today , followed in September 1994 receiving the registration V5-NCF. It was restored in nearly 20,000 man-hours, the interior had been left almost untouched from her original layout. It had been painted in the standard NCA colors of white and dark turquoise. The Douglas DC-6B serial # 45564 finally was recovered in1998 from Rundu airfield for the ferry flight to Eros Airport Windhoek. The owner of NCA Chris Schutte ´s words says at the end of the narraitve in NCA website: "We trust # 45564/ V5-NCG will serve as an attraction for our Namibian Aviation and Tourist Industry and have the support of all the aviation enthusiasts and those who wishes to experience the era of the 50xs and 60xs world wide." |
|
|
(1) |
| Page started : Revised last: Author: C.J.K. 
|
Disclaimer / Haftungsausschluss