UK classic aircraft specialist Air Atlantique could provide a Douglas DC-3 to replace Berlin's historic Rosinenbomber sightseeing aircraft, badly damaged in a crash two years ago.
But the plan depends on raising enough funds to purchase the aircraft, based at Coventry in England, and to carry out the restoration work necessary to bring the Rosinenbomber back to German skies.
Air Service Berlin was operating the DC-3 when an engine problem forced an emergency landing on a construction site at Berlin Schönefeld on 19 June 2010. While there were no fatalities among the 28 occupants, the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
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Frank Hellberg, chief of Air Service Berlin, says the renovation is "not so complicated" because the Rosinenbomber would effectively be restored by transferring specific type certificates for the configuration, seats and other specialised sections from the wrecked aircraft - still stored at Schönefeld - to the Air Atlantique DC-3.
"From two aircraft we're going to make one," adds a spokesman for the restoration effort. "But we need money to buy the aircraft in Coventry."
At least $180,000 is needed simply to purchase the DC-3, he says. To help raise funds a variety of limited-edition items are being sold through a co-operation with retailer KaDeWe, including 1,000 stuffed teddy bears dressed in a Rosinenbomber pilot's uniform - half of which have been snapped up already.
Rosinenbombers take their name from the sweets which the aircraft dropped over the city during the Berlin airlift.
Source: Flight Daily News
