Kuwait Express by
Robert Tomlin 00-DNF, one of DHL Europes fleet on loan to the Middle East, comes
in to land at Kuwait International Airport, at 08:25 GMT on 20th March
1991, only days after the end of the Gulf War. Operating from
Bahrain and flown by Capt. Wasberg and First Officer Pierre De Naeyer,
this aircraft has the distinction of being the first civil aircraft into
the liberated airport. Hastily painted under the DHL logo can be
seen the words Kuwait Express, from which our painting takes its title.
Headed by Capt. Manu Tytgat, the detachment of DHF and its sister ship
00-VGH, nicknamed 'Silver Fox', which was still wearing EAT markings, kept
the DHL promise and delivered important materials to enable business to
resume as soon as possible after the liberation of the Kuwait capital.
As DHF comes in to land, it passes the wreckage of the British Airways
Boeing 747 which was stranded in Kuwait at the outbreak of hostilities and
eventually destroyed by the Iraqis. It will stay there for some
weeks, the only useful parts being the engines which will ultimately be
reclaimed. There is feverish activity at this time, with USAF
Galaxy's, together with helicopters and C-130 Hercules from several allied
forces, bringing much-needed military supplies and equipment for the
rapidly advancing forces. The ubiquitous Convairs, for many years the backbone of the DHL network
in Europe, are still in daily operation, carrying customers' packages
every night and 'Keeping Promises'.
BAC 111 (One Eleven) 1980's by David Pentland
British Caledonian Airways BAC one-eleven over Aldergrove.
767 by Michael Rondot A British Airways Boeing 767-300 at the start of its take-off roll on a
rain-soaked runway moments after a thunderstorm has cleared the airfield.
You can almost hear the Rolls-Royce RB211-524H engines accelerate to full
power in this dramatic study. British Airways 767 pilots are also
qualified to fly Boeing 757, which is featured in the background. Both the
757 and 767 can perform fully automatic landings in the extreme weather
conditions of fog and low cloud, and are cleared to operate down to the
almost incredible visibility of only 75 metres. The 767 was one of the
first twin engine passenger aircraft allowed to operate over the North
Atlantic.
747 Classic by Michael
Rondot British Airways Boeing 747-200 at the moment of lift-off on a sunny
winter afternoon at the start of another intercontinental flight. In
British Airways service the 747-200 and its older sister the 747-100 are
known affectionately as the 747 'Classic'. 'Classic' by name and 'Classic'
by nature the 747-200 has served British Airways since entering service in
1977, for many years providing the backbone of the company's longhaul
fleet. An aircraft which has seen service in nearly every corner of the
globe, the 747-200 has the range to fly from London Heathrow to Hong Kong
non-stop, and features a three class cabin seating up to 382 passengers.
With a wingspan of almost 60 metres and a maximum take-off weight of
nearly 372 metric tonnes, 'Jumbo' is a very appropriate nickname.
Air Ulster, DC3 Dakota 1960's by David Pentland
Ulster Airways Dakota landing at Aldergrove airport
B.A. Trident by David Pentland British European Airways aircraft on the London/Belfast
route.
Vickers Viscount by David Pentland Cargo Carrier "Northeast" aircraft over
Belfast Lough.
Perpetual
Motion II by Robert Tomlin Dakota G-AMPZ (formerly KN442) of Air Atlantique
resplendent in the commemorative livery of RAF Transport Command heads out
across the English coast, back to Berlin? Still flying
more than 50 years after serving valiantly on the Berlin Airlift, this
aircraft carries out the bulk of the airlines passenger charters.
These prints are signed by the current crew.
Flagship Over Manhattan by Robert Watts An American Airlines DC-3, one of the 29 in service by 1936 with right
hand doors, outbound from La Guardia Airport.
Imperials Flying Bananas by Stan Stokes.
The
Handley Page H.P. 42 biplane airliner had a reputation unmatched in its
day for reliability, safety, and passenger comfort. Imperial Airways,
the British flag carrier during the between war period, was one of
aviations pioneers when it came to establishing long range commercial
air services. With the British Empire spanning the globe, effective long
distance air service was important in linking both former and current
colonies. In 1928 Imperial solicited proposals for a long distance
airplane capable of flying the London to India air mail route. Handley
Page won the bid for a total of eight new airliners. The large bi-plane
design which was agreed upon had four radial engines, with two mounted
on the upper wing and two on the lower wings on each side of the
fuselage. With its triple finned tail assembly, this huge biplane was
quite something to see. Despite its antiquated appearance the H.P. 42
had a very impressive passenger compartment which was quite luxurious.
Inlaid wood paneling, twin lavatories, a full galley, comfortable
seating, passenger ventilation controls, and wide windows gave the H.P.
42 ambiance comparable to some of the ocean liners of the day. The
slight kink in the aircrafts fuselage gave rise to its flying banana
nickname. Four aircraft were built for Imperials eastern route
structure, which included the India and South Africa routes. These
aircraft were powered by 9-cylinder 550-HP Bristol radials. The other
four aircraft were utilized for the London-Paris shuttle and other
continental routes, and were powered by a different engine, and
contained a total of 38 passenger seats instead of the 24 passenger
configuration for the longer routes. The H.P. 42 had a corrugated metal
skin similar to both the Ford and Junkers Tri-motor designs of that era.
With a cruising speed of only about 100-MPH the passenger amenities on
these aircraft were greatly appreciated, especially if a stiff headwind
was encountered. The aircraft, with its large wing area, had an
incredibly short take off capability, and could become airborne in only
600 feet. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting Hannibal
passes over the Pyramids in Egypt on its approach into Cairo, one of the
stop over points on the London to India route. This journey would take
more than six days, with no flying at night. Occasionally these aircraft
would make stops at unattended desert fuel depots in order to refuel.
These aircraft were in service for about eight years, with most of them
attaining more than one million flight miles. The eight aircraft in the
fleet, Hengist, Helena, Horatius,
Hannibal, Heracles, Horsa, Hanno, and Hadrian
chalked up more than 100,000 flight hours covering more than 10 million
miles. Only one aircraft was lost in a fatal accident, as Hannibal
disappeared over the Indian Ocean while being ferried back to England.
"The Golden Age" by Ivan Berryman Depicting the short S45 Solent 2 G-AHIS (Scapa), BOAC Flying Boat,
passing over the Queen Elizabeth on Southampton Water, Late 1940s.
Boeing 737 by David Pentland British Midlands 737 (300 series) en route from London to Belfast.
1993.
