Dan-Air lost two aircraft from the eet due
to accidents. The rst was G-BEKF, which
failed to become airborne from Runway 09
in the Shetlands, en route to Aberdeen on
July 31, 1979. Fifteen of the 44 passengers
died, along with two of the three crew. The
crash report said: “The accident was caused
by the locked condition of the elevators which
prevented the rotation of the aircraft into a
ying attitude. It is likely that the elevator
gust-lock became re-engaged during the
pilots’ pre-take-off check, and that this
condition was not apparent to either pilot
until the take-off was so far advanced that a
successful abandonment within the overrun
area could not reasonably have been made.
The re-engagement of the gust-lock was
made possible by the condition of the gust-
lock lever gate plate and gate-stop strip.”
Sole surviving stewardess Liz Cowe
(now Elphinstone) was made a Member of
the British Empire (MBE) for her bravery inrescuing many of the trapped passengers.
Two years later, G-ASPL crashed at
Nailstone, Leicestershire, while on approach
to Castle Donnington on June 26, 1981.
Both ight crew and the loadmaster lost their
lives on the Royal Mail service.
The official investigation stated: “The
accident was caused by the baggage door
becoming lodged on the leading edge of
the right tailplane after it had opened and
detached in ight. This produced changes in
the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft
which rendered it uncontrollable resulting
in over-stressing of the wings and tailplane
leading to an in- ight structural failure. A
contributory factor was the mis-rigged state
of the door operating mechanism, which
allowed the top and bottom pairs of claw
catches to lose synchronisation. The failure
of the door warning arrangements to give
adequate warning of door safety was a
further contributory factor.”TWILIGHT YEARS
By the early 1990s, Dan-Air’s eet of HS
748s was waning. The oil support work in
Scotland had reduced so many of the 748s
were sold to other operators in the UK and
overseas.
By March 1992, the night mail ights had
ceased, and the service’s dedicated aircraft
were stored awaiting sale.
Two aircraft were retained, G-BIUV – the
converted freighter – was kept on for any ad
hoc work that might arise and G-BEKE for
the remaining BP contract.
By July 1992, the last six machines had
been sold to Janes Aviation, of Blackpool,
where they found a fresh role ying freight for
the company’s new venture, Emerald Airways.
The nal Dan-Air HS 748 service, DA
7276 was operated by G-BEKE, and arrived
at Aberdeen from Scatsa, Shetland on
September 30, 1992, delayed 24 hours by
the infamous island weather.OUR READERS HELP SAVE G-BEJD
The Dan-Air legacy is living on, thanks to the
readers of Aviation News and our sister publications.
A 748 built by Avro, G-BEJD, was set for the
breaker’s torch until a successful public plea
for funding was made in July 2010 on the Key
Publishing online forum. Key Publishing is the
parent company of Aviation News and other
titles including FlyPast, Airliner World and Air
International.
The appeal ensured the Series 1 airliner was saved
and taken to Liverpool where the Speke Aerodrome
Heritage Group is carrying out a painstaking
restoration.
The group says on its website: “A plea for funding on
the Key Publishing Forum proved incredibly effective
and enough donations, and more, were received
to enable the rescue operation to go ahead. It
took seven days to dismantle and transport ’JD to
her new home at the old Liverpool (Speke) Airport
terminal and into the hands of the Speke Aerodrome
Heritage Group.”
It was estimated that £2,500 was needed to
dismantle and move the aircraft from Blackpool
to Merseyside and the full amount required wasdonated by forum users in 2½ days.
The aircraft, which had ended its career with
Emerald Airways, is now restored to its former
Dan-Air colours. The wings and engine nacelles are
in place and the airline’s titles re-applied, althoughmuch work is needed to bring G-BEJD to full display
status.
The Speke enthusiasts are endeavouring to see the
Dan-Air London HS 748 grace the apron at Liverpool- nearly six decades after its ights began in the city.
40 Aviation News incorporating Jets March 2018Dan-Air’s legacy lives on at Liverpool airport where volunteers from the Speke Aerodrome
Heritage Group are re-assembling G-BEJD, an early Series 1 aircraft, rst delivered to
Aerolíneas Argentinas in 1962. It now has its wings and engine nacelles attached and the
group hopes to have the aircraft on its undercarriage before the end of this year.Dan-Air’s last service with the HS 748 was from Scatsa to Aberdeen on September 30, 1992, operated by G-BEKE. The company had acquired
the aircraft from Argentina.36-40_prop_dan_airDC.mfDCDC.mf.indd 40 05/02/2018 14:20