Dublin Airport Historical Movements

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.  Al...

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...