Air Atlantique's Classic Flight is to put one of its pair of Douglas DC-6s on the UK and Europe air show circuit in 2008, according to the flight’s owner Mike Collett.

He has two of the type – G-APSA and G-SIXC - and until a few years ago Coventry airport-based Air Atlantique was operating them in the ad-hoc air cargo role which they performed well, having a 13.5t payload.

G-APSA, the only UK-registered DC-6 currently operational, is being prepared for the UK and European air show circuit next year.

DC-6-1
© Malcolm Ginsberg

But it will also be revisiting its birth-place, Long Beach, to celebrate its 50th birthday on 13 June 2008, and will visit the Quebec air show on the way back home.

The aircraft has been painted in historic KLM Royal Dutch Airlines livery. KLM was a major long-haul operator of the DC-6s in its 1950s heyday – the type first entered service with Pan American World Airways in 1952.

Collett says: “I am very proud of the DC6, and the team that keeps it flying,” said Mr Collett. 

“In fact the KLM colour scheme is in many ways the future for classic aircraft, a flying brand image of a major company.  It is really eye catching.”

The aircraft are based and maintained at Air Atlantique’s main base at Coventry Baginton , where the company carries out its own maintenance for the aircraft and its Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp radial piston engines.

The Air Atlantique Classic Flight, based at Coventry Airport, has been established over 30 years. 

The Classic Flight comprises of DC3s, de Havilland Rapides, a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer, Avro Anson, de Havilland Devon and Percival Prentice.  Air Atlantique also operates various historic military jet aircraft including Canberra, Meteor and Vampire.

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Source: FlightGlobal.com

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