Flypast: The day the DC6 stole the show

Jan 20 2010 Hounslow Chronicle

FOR many of those lucky enough to have been at the Farnborough Air Show in 2008, the most awe-inspiring moment was not watching the latest bit of wizardry from Airbus or Boeing going through its paces, nor the sight of a bit of 21st century military muscle being flexed in the skies above Hampshire.

No, from what I gather, the finest part of the entire event was the sight of a 50-year-old piston-engined plane thundering down the runway and climbing sedately into the air.

For many too young to have revelled in the sound of four Pratt and Whitney engines at full throttle, it was an indication of what proper flying is about. For those of a slightly more advanced age, the appearance of Douglas DC6 G-APSA clad in the colours of long-defunct independent British Eagle was nostalgia heaven.

I have spoken to several people who openly admit they were moved to tears by it all!

The appearance of the plane at Farnborough stirred up such an astonishing level of interest that owners, Air Atlantique, which operates a fleet of classic aircraft, organised a 'European tour' for the DC6 at the beginning of November that year.

The last port of call was scheduled to be Heathrow, with the plane arriving from Rotterdam - the very same sector operated by the final British Eagle commercial passenger flight before this proud airline went into liquidation exactly 40 years

before. Signature Flight Support offered free ground handling services and Heathrow staff even arranged for landing fees to be waived.

Then, at the 11th hour, airport operator BAA announced the flight's slots were being withdrawn on the grounds that the visit of the old aircraft would be 'potentially disruptive to normal operations'.

It was a harsh blow to all concerned, many believing that permission had been refused less for operational reasons and more for the fact that BAA was worried about hundreds of enthusiasts swarming over Heathrow trying to get a glimpse of the DC6. And, as we all know, allowing people to watch the aircraft is anathema to airport bosses.

So, here's a reminder of the days when G-APSA was a resident at Heathrow in the late 1950s, in the colours of what was then Eagle Airways.

The late Brian Stainer took the photo outside the airline's number two hangar.

The DC6, bought by Eagle in 1958, later went on to serve with Saudi Arabian Airlines and was purchased by Air Atlantique in 1987, in whose colours it returned to Heathrow on a regular basis about 20 years ago, operating evening cargo flights on behalf of Lufthansa.

I gather there are plans to operate a series of special charter flights this year.

Sadly, I think there is more chance of me flying to the moon for my summer holiday than there is of this magnificent machine ever being seen at Heathrow again.