Dublin Movements, April 1977

Air Malta's first jet equipment was a pair of Boeing 720Bs leased from Pakistan International and these commenced a weekly charter series, still with Pakistani registrations until they were purchased by Air Malta a few years later. Aviaco's favoured equipment on its Dublin charter flights was the DC-8 series 50, several of which the company had inherited from Iberia.  

The two former French Skyraiders which had arrived in March took to the air again on the 4th on the next leg of their flight to the USA, departing one after the other in noisy fashion from runway 35, destination Reykjavik.  Two French-operated aircraft arrived to be based for survey duties; one was the IGN's brand-new Super King Air F-GALP, while a lot more interesting was DC-3 F-OCUY of Hemet Exploration.  The latter was to be lost four years later when it disappeared south of Mallorca on 21 April 1981 with the loss of the four persons on board.  By then it was registered as F-BJBO.  Also hailing from France was naval C-47 serial 726, in the usual silver and dayglo finish worn by these machines.  It too was to be lost in an accident, though a non-fatal one, when as EC-EQH it veered off the runway at Palma de Mallorca on 4 January 1991. Other piston-powered movements of note were the departure to Southend of Aer Turas's last C-54, EI-ARS, and a visit by Nor-Fly CV440 LN-MAP.

Two aircraft passed through en route to Baldonnel for demonstration to the Air Crops. These were Britten-Norman Defender G-BCMY and Cessna Titan N5432G.  No orders resulted.

1 April

EI-AVG                 Beech Baron

G-BBEE               Learjet 25B

G-BBXE               PA-23-250

LN-RLD                DC-9-41                                SK537

2 April 
EC-ARB               DC-8-52                                Aviaco op. AO1713 
N9040V                Beech A60 Duke

3 April

AP-AMG              B720B                                    Air Malta
EC-CAK               B727                                      IB741/2

G-BATA                HS125

G-BAWV              PA-23-250

SE-DAT                DC-9                                      SK537/8

SE-FNF                Beech 95 Travel Air
  
4 April

N91935                 A-1D Skyraider                  dep. to Reykjavik

N91945                 A-1D Skyraider                  dep. to Reykjavik
F-GALP               Beech 200                           IGN
G-AWUF              HS125
G-BAPG               V814                                   BD902/3
N1720                  Cessna 310
PH-HBG               Fuji 200
PH-MVT               Cessna 210
208                       Cessna 172                          Irish Air Corps

5 April

EI-AYN                  BN-2A                                   RE117/8

EI-BCE                  BN-2A

F-BSQU                Falcon 10

F-BTML                 Falcon 20

G-ATID                  Cessna 337

G-BBYA                Dove

G-BCGU               Jetstream 200

N5432G                Cessna  404

N8735                   B707                                      TW877

222                        SF260                                    Irish Air Corps

6 April

F-BSUX               Learjet 23

F-BTML                Falcon 20

G-AVXL                 HS125

G-AZLP                V814                                      BMA

G-BBCL                HS125-600B

SE-DAR                DC-9-41                                SK537

7 April

G-AWWL             HS125

G-BCXR              BAC 1-11                              OM624/8624

N18706                B707                                     TW877

8 April

EI-BBL                   RC690                                  Earl of Granard

G-AWRO              Beagle 206

9 April

EC-ASN                 DC-8                                      AO1133

EI-BCW                 Rallye

HB-CEM               Cessna 172

HB-OHG               PA-28R

HB-OKK               PA-28R

11 April 
G-BBOJ                 PA-23-250

HB-LFN                 PA-23-250

12 April

G-AWZF               Trident 3B                           BE518/9

F-BLEU                Beech 50

LN-MAP               Convair 440                         Nor-Fly

SE-DDE               Cessna 500 Citation

13 April

HB-VDA               Cessna 500 Citation

OO-TEH               B737                                   TEA op. HE1634

17 April

AP-AMJ                B720B                                    KMC750/1

D-ABEY                B737                                      LH

EI-ARS                 C-54E                                    Aer Turas (departed after sale)

F-OCUY               DC-3 (C-53)                           Hémet Exploration

G-AVEC               Cessna 172

OY-KGB               DC-9                                      SK

18 April

N121WT               Falcon 20                             IBM

N887PA                B707                                      PA

20 April

G-BCNT               P68B

OY-KGH               DC-9                                      SAS

23 April

EC-ARB               DC-8                                      Aviaco

EC-AUM               DC-8                                      Aviaco

24 April

D-ABFI                 B727-230                              LH

G-AVHJ                Wassmer WA.41

G-BCMY               BN-2A Defender

SE-DBT                DC-9                                      SAS

SP-LSI                  Il-18                                       LOT

25 April

G-ASDC               Carvair                                  BAF

G-AYNR               HS125-400B

G-AZVS                HS125

N94                       ET-29C                                  FAA

726                        C-47B                                    French Navy c/s FYDQH

26 April

N781FT                 DC-8-63F                              Flying Tigers

27 April

F-BRSU                Cessna 177

N80MD                 Beech 100

PH-TVA                 B707-123B                           Transavia dep. as HV998

SE-GRR                Beech 200                           Irish Air Corps, c/s 232B

28 April

OE-FPW               PA-31

OO-TEB                Boeing 720-048                 HE721 (dep.)

29 April

LN-RLK                 DC-9                                      SAS

N100WK               Gulfstream II

30 April

D-ABER                B737-130                              LH

EC-ARC                DC-8                                      AO1712/3

EC-ATP                 DC-8                                      AO1132/3

G-BCDC                PA-18-95 Super Cub

Dublin Movements, March 1977

From this month on my logs are more detailed so I'll be able to include flight numbers etc. for more visitors.  The main event of the month was the Ireland-France rugby match on 19 March, and this produced a good variety of operators, most of which were not regularly seen at Dublin.  Star item was the MEA Boeing 720B, some of that carrier's fleet being based at Paris during one of the many upheavals in Lebanon's recent history.  Of the British charter carriers, Dan-Air appeared in some strength, with two Comets visiting in addition to BAC 1-11s.  A soccer international against France at the end of the month saw several French visitors, with the Air France 747-100 a first visit of the type with that airline.

The two ex-French Skyraiders rank as the most interesting ever visitors to Dublin, as far as I am concerned.  From memory, they pitched up on the Dublin frequency after diverting from Shannon in bad weather, and when they announced themselves to ATC as two Skyraiders I made an urgent visit to the airport to see them!  Having come from Chateaudun, they spent a few weeks at Dublin before leaving for Iceland on the next stage of a transatlantic ferry flight.

On the 21st, Super King Air SE-GRR was already on charge to the Irish Department of Defence and later took up Air Corps serial 232.


1 March
G-AYRY            HS125

2 March
OY-BIM            Cessna 421B

3 March
HB-VEZ           Falcon 20

9 March
N91935           A-1D Skyraider             Arrived together as "Univair 702"
N91945           A-1D Skyraider

11 March
OY-ASP           Learjet 25 

12 March
F-BTOV           V952                                EAS
G-AXMG          BAC1-11                          Monarch (op. for Aer Lingus)

13 March
D-ANNO          BAC 1-11-414EG              Bavaria Fluggesellschaft (op. for Aer Lingus)
OH-LSA           SE210                              Finnair (op. for Aer Lingus)
SE-DAX           DC-9                                SAS

14 March
F-BYCB           SE210
OO-TEF           A300B1                            TEA (op. for Aer Lingus)
165                   N2501 Noratlas                French AF

15 March
G-BART           HS125
N910CL           DC-8-63CF                      Capitol

17 March
G-BCYF          Falcon 20

18 March
G-ATYW         Beagle 206
G-BBAG         L-1011                                BE518/9
N8731             B707                                  TW8048 to SNN-PIT-AMA(Amarillo)

French Rugby traffic
F-BRGU         SE210                                 Minerve
F-BRUC         Baron
F-BSEL          SE210                                 Euralair        EL857
F-BTQN          Beech 50 Twin Bonanza
F-BUTA          F27                                      TAT               IJ8945 
F-BVPD         SN601 Corvette
F-BVPH         SN601 Corvette 
F-BVPU         SE210                                  Aero'tour
G-AWYS         BAC 1-11                            BCAL
G-AWYU         BAC 1-11                            BCAL
G-AWWZ        BAC 1-11                           Monarch         OM562/3
F-GAMR         DHC-6                                Companie Aérienne du Languedoc

19 March
CN-RMB         B707-351C                        AT5990
D-ABEI           B737-130                          LH076/7

French Rugby traffic
F-BJTH           SE210                              Air Charter, op. SF201A/202A
F-BPFO           Baron
F-BPJV            B727-214                        Air Charter, op. SF165
F-BRUC           Baron
F-BSMP           ST.10 Diplomate
F-BSSL            HS125-400B
F-BTME           Beech 99                         TAT
F-BTOV           V952                                EAS
F-BTYV           Learjet 24D                      Uni-Air
F-BUFF           SE210                              Catair
F-BUFH          SE210                               Aerotour
F-BUTE           F28-1000                         TAT/Air France
F-BUTI            F28-1000                         TAT/Air France
F-BUTS           King Air 90
F-BXAC           Beech 58
F-BYAF            F27                                 Air Rouergue, op. UZ4077
F-BXAJ            V952                               EAS
F-BXAZ           PA-23-250
F-BXOB          PA-28R Arrow
F-BXOG          V952                               EAS
F-BXOK          Cessna 402B
G-BDAS          BAC1-11                         DA
OD-AGB          B720B                            MEA op. for Air Charter as SF010

20 March
D-ABEQ          B737-130                       LH076/7
D-GOLD          PA-34
EC-BMV          DC-8-55F                       IB3741
G-AWZU         Trident 3B                       BE op. as "Bealine 'ZU"
G-BCXR          BAC 1-11                        Monarch op. OM565 EHRD-EGKK
SE-DAL           DC-9-41                          SK537/8

French Rugby traffic 
F-BUZC          SE210                             Minerve
F-BYCB          SE210                             Catair
F-BYCD          SE210                             Catair op. QV7840/1
G-APMG         Comet 4B                        DA9575
G-ARJN          Comet 4B                        DA9574
G-AXCP          BAC-11                           DA9264
G-AXJK           BAC-11                           BR8400/99
G-BDAT           BAC1-11                         DA9262

21 March
SE-GRR          Beech 200                      Irish Air Corps

22 March
EI-AWH           Cessna 210
N90WT            Cessna 206
9J-AEB            B707                              Zambia Airways, dep. as QZ8039

23 March
D-IABC            Citation
G-BDUK          RC690B

25 March
220                  CM170 Magister            Irish Air Corps
G-ASDC          Carvair                           BAF

26 March
G-AZAG          Bell 206

27 March
G-ARNC         PA-22 Tri-Pacer             (from/to Weston)

28 March
F-BPNT          Nord 262                        DGAC

30 March
EI-AWY          Mu-2B-35
F-BJTG          SE210                            Air Charter
F-BJTH          SE210                            Air Charter
F-BKMC         HS125
F-BOSY          Beech 90
F-BPVP          B747-128                       AF4606/7
F-BUFH          SE210                           Aerotour
F-BUTV          Beech 90
F-BVUY          V952                              EAS
SE-DAW         DC-9                              SK538
5N-AND          B737                              Nigeria Airways

31 March
PH-ILX           Falcon 20                       Philips

Dublin Movements, February 1977

Lufthansa sent in a couple of their less-common 727-100s.  Their service operated via Manchester on Saturdays and Sundays.  Similarly SAS used two of their short DC-9s, which were a rare sight in Dublin.  The French Noratlas was on one of their occasional navigation training flights - always a stirring sight and sound. The appearance of executive Convair 580 N76Y necessitated a visit after I heard "Convair 76 Yankee" on the radio that Sunday afternoon!

4 February
G-AZGG       King Air 90

6 February
D-ABIU         Boeing 727-30C             Lufthansa
G-ATPE        HS125

9 February
F-BXPT        Learjet 23

17 February
G-BEJN        RC690

18 February
SE-DBS        DC-9-21                         SAS

20 February
C-GDHA       DHC-6-300                     De Havilland Canada
D-ABEC       B737-130                        LH
G-AXFH        DH114 Heron 1B

22 February
123                 N2501 Noratlas             FM0377

25 February
SE-DBP        DC-9-21                         SAS

27 February
D-ABII            Boeing 727-30C            Lufthansa
N76Y              Convair 580                   Great Lakes Carbon
N102ML         Gulfstream II
SE-DDP         DC-9-41                         SAS

28 February
G-APSO         DH104 Dove

Dublin Movements, January 1977

Another month of slim enough pickings, but some nice visitors nonetheless.  Gulfstream C-FNOR was a regular visitor; I think owners Noranda had an interest in Tara mines.  N64696 was an ex-United 720 which still wore that carrier's basic (old) livery.  This was a re-registration from OO-VGM of Delta Air Transport. It was one of many early Boeings to linger around the Aer Lingus hangars at Dublin for months at a time.  It eventually lasted a lot longer than most of the type, as it ended up as an instructional airframe at the Geo T Baker School beside Miami Airport.  It was broken up there in 2003.

The Iberia DC-8 freighter was operating possibly the first of a series of scheduled cargo flights.  These used to arrive on a Saturday afternoon, with EC-BMV operating all flights in the series.  British Airways VC10 G-ARVM was used largely for crew training and while it mostly appeared at Shannon, on occasion Dublin or Cork were used for circuit work as well.  It shows how relatively quiet things were, that training jet traffic could be accepted in the circuit at Dublin.
 

1 January
G-AROI         DH104 Dove
N827GA       Gulfstream II

5 January
C-FNOR       Gulfstream II                  Noranda Mines
SE-DAT        DC-9                             SAS

6 January 
N8705T          Boeing 707-331B       TWA

N64696          Boeing 720-022

10 January
49                   Mystere 20                    French AF c/s FM0060, to Cork
9J-AEB          B707                              Zambia AW c/s QZ8024
F-BRAR         Cessna 310

15 January
D-ABEN         B737-130                     LH
EC-BMV         DC-8-55F                     IB3741/2
EI-AWY           Mu-2

16 January
D-ABKF          B727-230                     LH
G-ARVM         VC10                            BA
N4867T           DC-8-63CF                 TIA
SE-DAL          DC-9                             SAS

24 January
XX507             HS125 CC.2                 RAF c/s RR1695

Dublin Movements, November and December 1976

My records for these two months are few, so I am combining them in one post.  The star sighting for me was the French Navy C-47 on 15 December, which took me by surprise as it made an early left turn out off runway 24 towards Killiney and Vartry.  I had not known it was in and it was the first time I had seen one of these silver, white and dayglo machines.  Thankfully several more would visit before their retirement in the mid-1980s.  Aircraft "23" was originally 17223 of the US Navy, delivered in 1944.  After disposal by the French it was bought by Basler for their BT-67 turboprop programme.  As N96BF, on 16 December 1994 it crashed on takeoff at Lobito, Central African Rep. and was destroyed.

BCAL 707 G-AYSI was a rare enough vistor to Dublin. This particular machine was later sold to TAMPA Colombia as HK-2401-X but was destroyed when it crashed after an engine failure on take-off at Medellin on December 14, 1983.

17 November
OO-SKF        Rockwell 680
PH-PBX        Fokker F28                    Netherlands Govt.

21 November
OY-BLG         Learjet

26 November
G-ASDC        ATL.98 Carvair              BAF Cargo
 
15 December
23                  C-47A                              Aeronavale, callsign FYDQD
N888SW       Gulfstream II

17 December
G-AYSI           B707-373C                     British Caledonian c/s BR6394

23 December
G-BBAE         L-1011                             BA

24 December
G-BBAH         L-1011                             BA
N887PA          B707-321B                    Pan Am

Dublin Movements, October 1976

This month was again enlivened by some movements which would have used Shannon but for a fuellers' dispute there.  Three different Hercules appeared in my log - two Saudi C-130s and Southern Air's L-100 N9232R.  The two Dan-Air 1-11s were operating one-off charters but would in due course become regulars when the airline began a scheduled service from Gatwick.  

SFERMA Marquis F-BLLR was a Beech Baron converted to Astazou turboprop power; fourteen of these conversions were produced and in fact this example (or at least its fuselage) survives as a museum exhibit at Montelimar.  British Midland 707 G-AYBJ operated a charter for Quebecair.  BMA's 707s spent most of their careers out on lease and wore many different liveries.  US Navy Convair 141009 on the 25th was visiting in connection with the presence in Dublin Port of the USS Mount Whitney.  A visit to the vessel found two Bell UH-1Ns on board: serials 159191 and 159193.

2 October
D-ABEU        B737-130                          Lufthansa
EI-BBR          BN-2A                                Aer Arann
F-BUYR         Beech Baron
G-AWZI          Trident 3B                          BA
G-AXPU         HS125
HB-VBL         Mystere 20
N410ND        Citation 500
N403PA         B707-321B                       Pan Am
N884PA         B707-321B                       Pan Am
N9232R          L-100-30                          Southern Air

3 October
463                 C-130H                              Royal Saudi AF
C-GQBH        B707-123B                       Quebecair
D-ABFE         B737-230C                       LH
EC-CFE         B727                                  IB
EI-BBG           Rallye
G-AOHM        V802                                  BA
G-ATBH          Aero145
N424PA          B707-321B                       Pan Am
N214GP         Gulfstream II                      Gillette Corp.
N871D            Gulfstream II
OY-KGR          DC-9-41                            SAS

4 October
EI-AWS           PA-34
G-BAYT           HS125

9 October
D-ABED          B737-130                         LH
EC-BIL            DC-9                                  IB
G-AOYL          Viscount 806                     BA
G-AVFO          Trident 2                            BA
G-AVPS          PA-30

LZ-BTK            Tu-154                             Balkan

10 October
D-ABEI            B737-130                         LH
EC-CFG          B727                               IB
G-AVMR          BAC 1-11                         BA
N423PA           B707-321B                      PA
N453PA           B707-321B                      PA
N18708            B707-331B                     TW

11 October 
EI-ARS            C-54E                              Aer Turas

12 October
G-ATPL           BAC 1-11                        Dan-Air
G-ATTP           BAC 1-11                        Dan-Air

13 October
G-AWMS         HS125                            Rio Tinto Zinc
G-BCCE          HS125
I-DEME            B747-143                      Alitalia (wet-lease to Aer Lingus )
N18712            B707                              TWA
SE-DAL            DC-9                              SAS

16 October
F-BLLR             SFERMA Marquis        Air Lorient
G-BAVE            King Air 100

17 October
G-AYBJ             B707-321                      British Midland

18 October
F-BIHY               Mystere 20
G-AVFC            Trident 2                          BA
G-BCGU           Jetstream 200                Guinness

19 October
G-AVFJ            Trident 2                          BA
 9J-AEB            B707-351C                    Zambia A/W

21 October
C6-BDP            BAC 1-11                       Bahamasair
G-BBLI              Commander 500

25 October
461                   C-130H                            RSAF
141009            C-131F                            US Navy Mildenhall

28 October
OO-LFA            Learjet                            Abelag Aviation
G-BCZR             Viscount                        BMA