Farewell to the Douglas DC-10

Bangladesh-Biman Airlines has recently flown a series of ‘final flights’ using their last DC-10. This was the last passenger carrying aircraft of its type in regular service in the World.

 

These were operated from Birmingham airport and by all accounts were extremely popular with the aviation enthusiast fraternity.

 

After the flights, the aircraft registered S2-ACR was to be returned to Asia to be cut up.

 

So then, time for me to dig out something for the occasion as my tribute to the last of the ‘Douglas Commercial’ line which goes back to the 1930’s.

 

Subsequent airliners were marketed as McDonald Douglas (MD-11, MD-90 etc.) Or even as Boeings (717).

Thanks go to Mr. John Beastall for some additional details.

 

G-BHDJ

A DC-10-30 which first flew on 01/08/1980. Built for ‘British Caledonian Air Lines’ (BCAL). It became part of British Airways fleet when the 2 airlines merged in 1988. 

 

It was sold in America as N612GC to Gemini Air Cargo in 1999 and converted to a freighter. It was reported in 2012 to be still working in Venezuela with ‘Solar Cargo’ as YV-524T.

 

G-BHDH

A DC-10-30 which first flew on 30/04/1980 Built for ‘BCAL’. It became part of British Airways fleet when the 2 airlines merged in 1988. It is seen operating with ‘Caledonian Airways’ at Manchester sometime in 1993. 

 

Sold in America as N78416 and converted to a freighter, it served a number of American companies until it was scrapped at Orlando-Sanford Airport in Miami in 2012.

 

N917JW

A DC-10-10 a member of the ‘Arrow Air’ fleet seen on finals into Gatwick. At the time this was taken one of the best ‘spotting’ spots which was on the top of the car park.

 

Over the years it did the rounds of operators which at one time included a stint with 

‘Laker Airways’ as G-BBSZ.

 

However, technology then had not advanced to auto focus cameras (at least not for me) and an aircraft coming downhill at 100 m.p.h. plus meant that manual focusing was to say the least tricky.

 

An unknown member of the ‘Nigeria Airways’ fleet taking off from Heathrow. Again taken from the top of one of many car parks.

 

G-BJZE

A DC-10-10 built for Laker Airways as G-GSKY which first flew on 21/03/1979. 

 

It went to ‘BCAL as G-BJZE in February 1982 and on to ‘Cal Air International’ (CAI) in October 1985. 

 

Despite its American sounding name ‘CAI’ would seem to be a ‘BCAL’ operation. (Have a look at the tail marking).

 

It was converted to a freighter in late1992 and served with World Airways as N591LF  eventually joining the fleet of ‘Federal Express’ as N40061 in 1994.

 

9G-ANA

A DC-10-30 Delivered to Ghana Airways 25/03/1982. It was eventually impounded at London Heathrow in May 2002 following the liquidation of the airline.

 

Although it carries BCAL Charter livery, I have no record of what its registration was. If memory serves me well, it was another image taken at Gatwick.

N13066

A DC-10-30. It first flew in May 1979 and was delivered to ‘BCAL’ in August of that year.

It went to ‘Continental Airlines’ in June 1987 and was scrapped at Opa Locka airfield in Miami in August 2003.

 

The image was captured at Gatwick.