I have the good fortune to have a son-in-law with a pilot license for small aircraft. So yesterday we set off for the airport of Lelystad, Hollands' largest airport for general aviation. There we embarked in a Piper Cadet which would fly us to the island of Texel, some 90 miles north west of Lelystad airport. I never flew in a Piper before so I can add this aircraft type to my 'our aircraft' series.
Piper Cadet PH-VFB in the hangar at Lelystad Airport. |
Schiphol Airport with the WTC (the white building to the right), the tower in the middle and the cargo handling area top left. |
Castricum |
Heiloo, with the Laan Eindeloos (Ypestein) running from left to right. |
Bulb fields in the province of North Holland north of Alkmaar. |
The PH-VFB with captain H. (r) and my fellow passenger at De Kooy. |
Earlier that day we learned that the Aviodrome will reopen its doors to the public today (April 28). And that is good news! Final closure of this aviation history museum has been looming around the corner for some time. The PH-PBA, a Dakota in old KLM-livery keeps history alive (and roaring) there.
Scenic flights are made from Lelystad Airport. |
Hi Peter,
ReplyDeletelucky you to have a son who flies you around; this way you'll sure make your half million miles full.
As to the Dakota PH-Prins-Bernhard-Alfa here some facts that I found and which may interest other readers too:
Qte:
The PH-PBA is the most important piece of Dutch Aviation History stil airworthy and was delivered as a C-47A Dakota to the USAAF on January 11, 1944 with serial: 42-100971. She joined the 8th Air Force, "the Mighty Eight" on February 20, 1944 to be stationed at RAF Cottesmore with the 52nd Troop Carrier Wing as part of 44th Troop Carrier Squadron. The first time she was connected with the Netherlands was in September 1944 when she participated in Operation Market Garden.
Just after the War, in February 1946 she was struck of charge of the USAAF and got stored in Germany until HRH Prince Bernard acquired her, first flying her with the original US serial and later she was registered as PH-PBA (Prince Bernhard Alpha). On February 25, 1947 she was owned by the Rijksluchtvaartdienst (RLD) and so she became the first Government plane for the Netherlands. The Prince passed his type certification in November 1947 and flew the "PBA" many times by himself while on official State Visits.
Unqte C: Touchdown-Aviation
Thanks Hans! Although I was aware of a number of these details, I was not aware of the fact that this C-47A saw the light of day exactly two weeks before I did. I just wonder who looks better. (Don't bother to react.)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thanks for your lecture in aviation history!