Coventry-Baginton - 15th July 2008

A tip-off from an Air Atlantique Classic Flight volunteer provided us with the perfect end to a brilliant day, even if it was a sad occasion which prompted it.

As a result of ludicrous new EU imposed regulations, all passenger carrying aircraft must now comply with certain criteria, irrespective of age, pracitality or even logic. Many of these changes would be prohibitively expensive, and in some cases even impossible to carry out on an aircraft like the Dakota. I mean, why should a Dakota need to be fitted with oxygen masks when it never flies high enough to use them? Why should it need to be fitted with emergency slides when the passenger door is a mere 4ft above the ground?

It is therefore very sad that the 15th of July 2008 will needlessly go down in history as being the last day that Air Atlantique's venerable old Dakotas would be able to operate passenger flights.

The first movement after our arrival was the return of the DC-6 from Farnborough in the most stunning early evening light.

G-AMPY then took off for the penultimate time, and a striking metallic red Gazelle dropped in for fuel.

The light just got better and better.

Then, finally it was time for the last Dakota Pax ride to take to the skies. A stunning right hand turn offering a lovely glimpse of the topside followed, and closely behind was G-APSA, resplendent in her British Eagle colour scheme.

A very poignant paired flypast took place before the Six carried on back to Farnborough, and G-AMPY landed at the end of her passenger carrying days.

A really lovely, if sad end to a cracking day. You just have to love these aircraft, and you have to hope and pray that further tightening of EU regulations doesn't result in the loss of these types from our skies for good.

A final decision on what happens to Air Atlantique's Dak's is yet to be made.