WIAS - Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society

Final Passenger Carrying Flight - Dakota G-AMPY

On July 15th 2008 the final passenger carrying flight by the renown Dakota took place at Coventry Airport, courtesy of Air Atlantique, the largest fleet operator of the Dakota. Passengers can no longer be carried as a result of new EU wide regulations affecting passenger carrying aircraft of over 13 seats. Adapting and altering each Dakota to comply with the regulations would cost in the region of £500,000. For 3 months the Dakota's visited all parts of the UK operating farewell pleasure flights - during that time they carried approximately 9500 passengers!

Your webmaster was delighted and very surprised when he received an early birthday present. Unknown to him plans had been made to fly on the very last flight and what's more he was the last passenger to board the last flight! The surprise was only sprung on him 30 mins before the take off at 7.30pm on a rare, glorious evening. Conditions could not have been better.

At around 6.30pm Air Atlantique had arranged for their beautifully restored DC6, newly painted in British Eagle colours, to fly in from the Farnborough Air Show where it been on display. As a bonus it took off and flew with the Dakota on its final trip. The flight, lasting about 30 mins, saw the Dak, G-AMPY, take off and fly out to the former airfield at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire. After turning the DC6 came up alongside and the two veterans flew back to Coventry making a low pass along the runway and then a circuit of Coventry. The DC6 pealed off and headed back to Farnborough and the Dakota landed. All passengers were treated to a glass of champagne on the ground, followed by a splendid buffet inside the hangar, surrounded by classic aircraft, while a band played and the head of Air Atlantique made a moving speech praising the years of service they had received from this trusty workhorse.

AIRBASE is housed in 35,000sq ft hangar at historic Coventry Airport and forms the home for more than 30 aeroplanes operated by Air Atlantique Ltd.

AIRBASE is far from your typical aeroplane ‘museum’ – this is a working museum, where aeroplanes are maintained and prepared for flight. AIRBASE visitors can see, hear and even smell these historic aircraft as they reach for the skies. Meet the crew and photograph the aircraft in action.

Air Atlantique has long been associated with the Dakota and three examples still operate from Coventry and can usually be seen in and around the AIRBASE centre. The Dakota is famous for its role in both the D-Day landings and the Berlin Airlift – in fact one of Classic Flight’s ‘Daks’ is a Berlin Airlift veteran.

Visit the AIRBASE web site and then pay a vist.