Aden Airways
Encyclopedia
Aden Airways was a subsidiary of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) based in Aden
. It was in operation from 1949 to 1967.
, a proposal to form an airline in Aden using a pair of Bristol Wayfarers
did not materialise. An engineering base was established by BOAC in Asmara
, Eritrea
in January 1948 as part of BOACs No.5 Line, which was centered on Aden and served Cairo
, Nairobi
and the Red Sea
area. On 7 March 1949 Aden Airways Ltd was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of BOAC. A fleet of six BOAC Douglas DC-3
aircraft were based at Aden and these were taken over by Aden Airways. Operations commenced on 1 October 1949 with the aircraft operating under their United Kingdom
(G-) registrations. On 1 February 1950, the aircraft were placed on the Aden (VR-A) register.
On 31 March 1950, share capital of Rs.800,580
(£60,043
) was issued. BOAC owned all the shares. The ownership of the shares passed to Associated British Airlines (Middle East) Ltd in 1955 and B.O.A.C. Associated Companies in 1957.
Aden Airways experienced a seasonal increase in passenger numbers due to the pilgrammage to Mecca
. Extra aircraft were leased to cover these flights, notably Avro York
s from Skyways
in 1954 and 1955. On 28 February 1960, Aden Airways took delivery of their first Canadair C-4 Argonaut
. A May 1960 order for Avro 748s was later cancelled. From 1 January 1962, Aden Airways entered into an agreement with East African Airways Corporation
to pool services on the Aden - Nairobi
route. In September 1963, the first Vickers Viscount
s entered service. In 1967, the political situation in Aden
was deteriorating. Aden Airways ceased operations on 30 June 1967.
Three Argonauts were acquired from BOAC in 1960, G-ALHR "Antelope", G-ALHX "Astraeus" G-ALHV "Adonis" re-registering as VR-AAR VR-AAS and VR-AAT respectively.
The former BOAC Argonaut G-ALHM came to Aden Airways after being sold to East African Airways
in 1957. It retained it's Kenya
n registration VP-KOJ
BOAC's G-ALHS "Astra" was sold to Derby Airways, who leased it to Aden. It returned to Derby Airways and was scrapped in 1970.
The remainder of the Argonauts were scrapped after serving with Aden Airways except VP-KOJ which saw further service going to the UK in May 1964 and then scrapped in 1966.
Aden Protectorate
The Aden Protectorate was a British protectorate in southern Arabia which evolved in the hinterland of Aden following the acquisition of that port by Britain in 1839 as an anti-piracy station, and it continued until the 1960s. For administrative purposes it was divided into the Western...
. It was in operation from 1949 to 1967.
History
In 19471947 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1947:-January:* January 11 – The BOAC Douglas C-47A G-AGJX crashes into a hill at Stowting in southeast England, killing eight of the 16 people on board and injuring all eight survivors...
, a proposal to form an airline in Aden using a pair of Bristol Wayfarers
Bristol Freighter
The Bristol Type 170 Freighter was a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner, although its best known use is as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively short distances.-Design and development:The...
did not materialise. An engineering base was established by BOAC in Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
, Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
in January 1948 as part of BOACs No.5 Line, which was centered on Aden and served Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
and the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
area. On 7 March 1949 Aden Airways Ltd was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of BOAC. A fleet of six BOAC Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
aircraft were based at Aden and these were taken over by Aden Airways. Operations commenced on 1 October 1949 with the aircraft operating under their United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(G-) registrations. On 1 February 1950, the aircraft were placed on the Aden (VR-A) register.
On 31 March 1950, share capital of Rs.800,580
Rupee
The rupee is the common name for the monetary unit of account in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and formerly in Burma, and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupee" was introduced in the 16th century...
(£60,043
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
) was issued. BOAC owned all the shares. The ownership of the shares passed to Associated British Airlines (Middle East) Ltd in 1955 and B.O.A.C. Associated Companies in 1957.
Aden Airways experienced a seasonal increase in passenger numbers due to the pilgrammage to Mecca
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
. Extra aircraft were leased to cover these flights, notably Avro York
Avro York
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.-Design and development:...
s from Skyways
Skyways (British airline)
Skyways Limited was an early post-World War II British airline formed in 1946 that soon became established as the largest operator of non-scheduled air services in Europe....
in 1954 and 1955. On 28 February 1960, Aden Airways took delivery of their first Canadair C-4 Argonaut
Canadair North Star
The Canadair North Star was a 1940s Canadian development of the Douglas C-54 / DC-4 aircraft. Instead of radial piston engines found on the Douglas design, Canadair employed Rolls-Royce Merlin engines in order to achieve a 35 mph faster cruising speed. The prototype flew on 15 July 1946 and...
. A May 1960 order for Avro 748s was later cancelled. From 1 January 1962, Aden Airways entered into an agreement with East African Airways Corporation
East African Airways
East African Airways Corp. was an airline jointly run by three countries in East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania; and Uganda, which were then part of an East African Community. The airline was headquartered in the Sadler House in Nairobi, Kenya...
to pool services on the Aden - Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
route. In September 1963, the first Vickers Viscount
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
s entered service. In 1967, the political situation in Aden
Aden Emergency
The Aden Emergency was an insurgency against the British crown forces in the British controlled territories of South Arabia which now form part of the Yemen. Partly inspired by Nasser's pan Arab nationalism, it began on 10 December 1963 with the throwing of a grenade at a gathering of British...
was deteriorating. Aden Airways ceased operations on 30 June 1967.
Douglas DC-3
- VR-AAA Aden c/n 14141/25586 Built as a C-47B-1-DK Skytrain. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-48325 on 9 August 1944. To Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as KJ802 on 11 August 1944, delivered to RAF Montreal, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. To BOACBritish Overseas Airways CorporationThe British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
on 21 September 1944 and registered G-AGKA. To Aden Airways, re-registered 1 February 1950. Leased to Arab Airways between 11 September and 19 November 1953, re-registered TJ-ABO, reverted to VR-AAA on return to Aden Airways. Written off on 26 March 1965 at Hadibo Airport, SocotraSocotraSocotra , also spelt Soqotra, is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through...
, South Yemen.
- VR-AAB Built as a C-47B-1-DK Skytrain, c/n 14361/25806. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-48525. Served with the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as KJ867. To BOACBritish Overseas Airways CorporationThe British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
on 21 September 1944 and registered G-AGKE, then to Aden Airways, registered VR-AAB on 1 February 1950. Sold to Arab Airways and re-registered TJ-ABN, later becoming JY-ABN and then sold to World Inter Supply Services and re-registered 5B-CAZ. Preserved at the Museum of Science and Natural History, Kuwait CityKuwait City-Suburbs:Although the districts below are not usually recognized as suburbs, the following is a list of a few areas surrounding Kuwait city:Al-Salam ""السلام"" -Economy:...
in Kuwait National Airways livery.
- VR-AAC Built as a C-47B-1-DK Skytrain, c/n 14365/25810. Served with the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as KJ871 then G-AGKH postwar. Re-registered YI-GKH May 1947. To BOAC November 1947 and re-registered G-AGKH. On the dissolution of Aden Airways it was sold to Air DjiboutiAir DjiboutiAir Djibouti, also known as Red Sea Airlines, was the national airline of Djibouti between 1963 and 2002.-History:Air Djibouti was established in 1962 as Air Somali. Operations commenced in April 1963 under the Air Djibouti name, and in the 1960s the airline operated Douglas DC-3s, a Beechcraft...
and re-registered F-OCKU.
- VR-AAD Built as a C-47B-5-DK Skytrain, c/n 14660/26105. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-48844 on 25 September 1944. To Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as KJ933 on 29 September 1944, delivered to RAF Montreal, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. To BOACBritish Overseas Airways CorporationThe British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
on 7 November 1944 and registered G-AGKE, then to Aden Airways, registered VR-AAD on 1 February 1950. To Arab Airways in October 1953 and re-registered TJ-ABR Amman, becoming JY-ABR in April 1954. To Air JordanAir JordanAir Jordan, also known simply as Jordans, are a brand of shoes and athletic apparel produced by Nike originally designed for and endorsed by NBA Hall of Famer and Six Time NBA Champion Michael Jordan. The Air Jordan line is now sold by the Jordan Brand subsidiary of Nike...
on 1 December 1958., returning to Aden Airways on 31 May 1959 and re-registered VR-AAD. Leased out and re-registered JY-ACN at some point and later returned to Aden Airways as re-registered VR-AAD. Sold to I.A.D.Co, Danville, CaliforniaDanville, CaliforniaThe Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city". The population was 42,039 in 2010. Danville is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Oakland and San...
in July 1968 and re-registered N9895F. Sold to Diamond Leasing Co, Reno, NevadaReno, NevadaReno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
in 1971 and re-registered N488F. Leased to Lavco from December 1970 to July 1972. Active as late as March 1978, later used as a target by the Libyan ArmyLibyan ArmyIn 2009 the IISS estimated that the Ground Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya numbered 25,000 with an additional, estimated, 25,000 conscripts...
, registration cancelled March 1983.
- VR-AAE Built as a C-47B-10-DK Skytrain, c/n 14978/26426. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-49162 on 25 September 1944. To Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as KJ985 on 26 October 1944, delivered to RAF Montreal, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. To BOACBritish Overseas Airways CorporationThe British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
on 29 November 1944 and registered G-AGMZ. Proposed sale to Orient AirwaysOrient AirwaysOrient Airways Ltd. was an airline established in 1946 with a base in Calcutta, India. It was the first and only Muslim owned airline in pre-partition India.-History:...
as VT-CPA did not materialise. Became AP-AAA in October 1947, later returned to BOAC and re-registered G-AGMZ. To Aden Airways, registered VR-AAE on 1 February 1950. Leased to Nadir and re-registered N9935F, later leased to Libvan American Oil Co. Returned to Aden Airways and re-registered VR-AAE. To Air JordanAir JordanAir Jordan, also known simply as Jordans, are a brand of shoes and athletic apparel produced by Nike originally designed for and endorsed by NBA Hall of Famer and Six Time NBA Champion Michael Jordan. The Air Jordan line is now sold by the Jordan Brand subsidiary of Nike...
in April 1955 and re-registered JY-ABW. Sold to Transocean AirlinesTransocean AirlinesTransocean Air Lines was an Oakland, California based airline that operated from 1946 until 1960.-History:The men and women of Transocean Air Lines helped make modern air transport possible for today's world. At its height the Transocean organization included ten companies, making it the first...
on 25 April 1957 and re-registered N9820F. Leased to Air Jordan and re-registered JY-ABW, then leased to Oil Exploration Air Service, re-registered N9820F. Further leased to Sahara Petroleum Co, and International Aviation Development Co and Lavco. Sold to Diamond Leasing Corp c1967 and re-registered N482F. Active as late as January 1977, later used as a target by the Libyan Army.
- VR-AAF Mukallah Built as a C-47B-15-DK Skytrain, c/n 15274/26719. Built as a C-47B-15-DK Skytrain, c/n 15274/26719. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 43-49458. To Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as KK137 then To BOACBritish Overseas Airways CorporationThe British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
in 1944. Registered G-AGNB in 1945. Leased to Iraqi AirwaysIraqi AirwaysIraqi Airways Company, operating as Iraqi Airways , is the national carrier of Iraq, headquartered on the grounds of Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad. One of the oldest airlines in the Middle East, Iraqi Airways operates domestic and regional service...
in July 1947 and re-registered YI-GNB, returned to BOAC in November 1947. To Aden Airway, re-registered VR-AAF on 1 February 1952. Leased to Jordan Airways during 1953. On the dissolution of Aden Airways it was sold to Air DjiboutiAir DjiboutiAir Djibouti, also known as Red Sea Airlines, was the national airline of Djibouti between 1963 and 2002.-History:Air Djibouti was established in 1962 as Air Somali. Operations commenced in April 1963 under the Air Djibouti name, and in the 1960s the airline operated Douglas DC-3s, a Beechcraft...
in August 1967 and re-registered F-OCKV. Registration cancelled in August 1971.
- VR-AAI formerly Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Skytrain KN279 registered G-ANAD postwar. Acquired from TransairTransairTransair was an airline based in Canada. It was purchased by Pacific Western Airlines in 1979.- History :Transair had its origins as Central Northern Airways in April 1947 and based in Manitoba, Canada. In 1956 the name was changed to Transair...
in March 1954. On the dissolution of Aden Airways it was sold to Air DjiboutiAir DjiboutiAir Djibouti, also known as Red Sea Airlines, was the national airline of Djibouti between 1963 and 2002.-History:Air Djibouti was established in 1962 as Air Somali. Operations commenced in April 1963 under the Air Djibouti name, and in the 1960s the airline operated Douglas DC-3s, a Beechcraft...
and re-registered F-OCKX.
- VR-AAJ Built as a C-47B-35-DK Skytrain, c/n 16441/33189. To United States Army Air Force as 44-76857. Served with the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as KN 569. Sold to British West Indian Airways on 20 April 1953 and registered VP-TBJ. Leased to Aden Airways on 20 April 1953 as VR-ABJ then re-registered VR-AAJ. Off lease on 1 May 1953. Returned to British West Indian Airways and re-registered VP-TBJ, later becoming 9Y-TBJ. Sold to Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij on 13 June 1967 and re-registered PZ-TAW. Registration cancelled 13 June 1970, scrapped in May 1975.
- VR-AAK Built as a C-47A-25-DK Skytrain, c/n 13474. Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 42-93550. To Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as KG657 on 31 May 1944, delivered to RAF Montreal, Canada. Sold to Air Contractors Ltd on 13 November 1946 and registered G-AIWC. Sold to Skyways Ltd on 6 December 1948, named Sky Despatch. Sold to BOACBritish Overseas Airways CorporationThe British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
on 31 December 1951. To British International Airlines on 3 April 1952. To Aden Airways on 31 May 1955 as VR-AAK Attaq. After use with Aden Airways, it served with Silver City Airways as G-AIWC City of Lincoln. Leased to Libyan Oil Co it was renamed City of Tripoli. Sold to SABENASabenaSABENA was the national airline of Belgium from 1923 to 2001, with its base at Brussels National Airport. After its bankruptcy in 2001, the newly formed SN Brussels Airlines took over part of SABENA's assets in February 2002, which then became Brussels Airlines...
in 1962 and re-registered OO-SBI. Sold to SpantaxSpantaxSpantax S.A. was a Spanish airline that operated from 1959 to 1988. Its head office was located in Madrid.-Formative years:Spanish Air Taxi Líneas Aéreas S.A. was founded on 6 October 1959 by ex-Iberia pilot Rodolfo Bay Wright and ex-Iberia flight attendant Marta Estades Sáez...
on in 1962, delivered as EC-WRZ and re-registered EC-ARZ. Leased to Air Mauretania in 1962, returned to Spantax in 1964. Crashed at El Ortigal de Arriba, TenerifeTenerifeTenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
, Canary IslandsCanary IslandsThe Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
on 7 December 1965 shortly after take-off from Los Rodeos Airport on a flight to Gran Canaria Airport All 32 people on board were killed.
- VR-AAM formerly a Skytrain, KK198 of the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. Acquired from TransairTransairTransair was an airline based in Canada. It was purchased by Pacific Western Airlines in 1979.- History :Transair had its origins as Central Northern Airways in April 1947 and based in Manitoba, Canada. In 1956 the name was changed to Transair...
where it had been in service as G-AMVK. Written off on 14 April 1964 at Hargeisa, SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
- VR-AAN Built as a R4D-1 Skytrain for the United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Sold as military surplus to Pan American Airways and registered NC33372. Sold to Liberian National Airways in 1948 and registered EL-AAB, then to Middle Eastern Airlines, re-registered OD-ABO in 1953. It was bought by Aden Airways, registered VR-AAN on 6 April 1956. Written off on 22 November 1966 at Wadi Rabtah.
- VR-AAZ a former a United States Army Air Force C-47-DL Skytrain, sold in 1947 to Air FranceAir FranceAir France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
, registered F-BCYR. Sold to CGT Beyrouth 4 August 1947, re-registered LR-AAM. CGT Beyrouth later became Air Liban in March 1951. Change of registration to OD-AAM in May 1951. Sold on 27 July 1964 to Aden Airwyas and re-registered VR-AAZ. Sold on 23 July 1968 to Air DjiboutiAir DjiboutiAir Djibouti, also known as Red Sea Airlines, was the national airline of Djibouti between 1963 and 2002.-History:Air Djibouti was established in 1962 as Air Somali. Operations commenced in April 1963 under the Air Djibouti name, and in the 1960s the airline operated Douglas DC-3s, a Beechcraft...
and re-registered F-OCKT. Damaged propellors and carburettor intakes when it struck a number of cranes. Ditched off DjiboutiDjiboutiDjibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
on 23 July 1969.
Canadair C-4 Argonaut
The former BOAC Argonaut G-ALHM came to Aden Airways after being sold to East African Airways
East African Airways
East African Airways Corp. was an airline jointly run by three countries in East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania; and Uganda, which were then part of an East African Community. The airline was headquartered in the Sadler House in Nairobi, Kenya...
in 1957. It retained it's Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n registration VP-KOJ
BOAC's G-ALHS "Astra" was sold to Derby Airways, who leased it to Aden. It returned to Derby Airways and was scrapped in 1970.
The remainder of the Argonauts were scrapped after serving with Aden Airways except VP-KOJ which saw further service going to the UK in May 1964 and then scrapped in 1966.
Vickers Viscount
- VR-AAV c/n 187. Built for BOAC Associated Companies. First flight 14 February 1957. Leased to Hong Kong AirwaysHong Kong AirwaysHong Kong Airways – HKA was an airline in Hong Kong during the late 1940s and 1950s.-Context of launch:In 1946 Jardine Air Maintenance Company had been formed to serve the rapidly expanding portfolio of airlines serving Hong Kong and Jardine Airways was formed as the General Sales Agent in Hong...
on 28 February 1957. In April 1959 it was damaged in a runway overrun at Taipei Songshan AirportTaipei Songshan AirportTaipei Songshan Airport or Taipei Sungshan Airport is a midsize commercial airport and military airbase located in Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan...
but was repaired. Sold in August 1959 to Malaysia-Singapore AirlinesMalaysia-Singapore AirlinesMalaysia-Singapore Airlines came into being in 1966 as a result of a joint ownership of the airline by the governments of Malaysia and Singapore. The airline ceased operations after 6 years in 1972 when both governments decided to set up their own national airlines...
and re-registered VR-SEE. Re-registered 9M-AMS in September 1959. Sold to Aden Airways in September 1963. Destroyed by fire on 21 July 1967 after a bomb exploded while the aircraft was in quarantine. The bomb had been placed by National Liberation Front guerillas.
- VR-AAW c/n 186. Built for BOAC Associated Companies. First flight 13 December 1956, registered VR-HFI. Leased to Hong Kong AirwaysHong Kong AirwaysHong Kong Airways – HKA was an airline in Hong Kong during the late 1940s and 1950s.-Context of launch:In 1946 Jardine Air Maintenance Company had been formed to serve the rapidly expanding portfolio of airlines serving Hong Kong and Jardine Airways was formed as the General Sales Agent in Hong...
on 1 January 1957. On 1 January 1959 it was transferred to Malayan Airways, allocated registration VR-RCH (not taken up (ntu)) then and re-registered 9M-ALY. To Aden Airways in September 1963, allocated VR-AAU (ntu) and then re-registered VR-AAW. To BOAC Associated Companies on 25 April 1967 and placed in storage at WymeswoldRAF WymeswoldRAF Wymeswold is a former Royal Air Force military airfield in Leicestershire, England.-History:It was opened on 16 May 1942 during the Second World War and was home to Wellington bombers amongst others...
, LeicestershireLeicestershireLeicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. Sold on 7 April 1968 to British Midland AirwaysBmi (airline)British Midland Airways Limited , is an airline based at Donington Hall in Castle Donington in the United Kingdom, close to East Midlands Airport, and a fully owned subsidiary of Lufthansa...
. Withdrawn from use at Castle Donington on 28 November 1969 and stored. Flown to TeessideDurham Tees Valley AirportDurham Tees Valley Airport is an international airport in north east England, located southeast of Darlington, about southwest of Middlesbrough and south of Durham. The airport serves County Durham and parts of North Yorkshire, and is in Middleton St George in the borough of Darlington...
, Co Durham in April 1970 for spares recovery. Scrapped at NewcastleNewcastle AirportNewcastle International Airport is located in Woolsington in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, north-west of the city centre. In 2010 it was the 11th busiest airport in the United Kingdom....
, NorthumberlandNorthumberlandNorthumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
in May 1970.
- VP-YNG Leased from Central African AirwaysCentral African AirwaysCentral African Airways was formed in 1946 from the wartime Southern Rhodesian Air Services , which was in turn formed from the pre-war Rhodesia And Nyasaland Airways and Southern Rhodesia Air Force communications squadron...
.
Avro 748
- Two Avro 748s were ordered in May 1960. The order was cancelled in May 1962.
Accidents and incidents
- In October 1952, Douglas DC-3 VR-AAE was severely damaged in an accident when it landed on a road near Assouan, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and hit a tree stump. The damaged aircraft was dismantled and transported to HeliopolisHeliopolis (Cairo Suburb)Modern Heliopolis is a district in Cairo, Egypt. The city was established in 1905 by the Heliopolis Oasis Company, headed by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Empain, as well as Boghos Nubar, son of the Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Pasha.-History:The Baron Empain, a well known...
by barge and thence to CairoCairoCairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, where it was repaired despite being declared a write-off and Aden Airways receiving £30,000 in insurance money. - On 12 April 1964, Douglas DC-3 VR-AAM was written off at Hargeisa, SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
with the loss of 15 lives. - On 26 March 1965, Douglas DC-3 VR-AAA was damaged beyond economic repair after it was groundlooped following a downwind landing at Hadibo Airport, SocotraSocotraSocotra , also spelt Soqotra, is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through...
, South Yemen. - On 22 November 1966, Douglas DC-3 VR-AAN crashed at Wadi Rabtah after a bomb on board exploded. The aircraft was on a flight from Mayfa'ah Airport to Aden International AirportAden International AirportAden International Airport is an international airport in Aden, Yemen .The airport was established on the former RAF Khormaksar, which opened in 1917 and closed as an RAF station in 1967. It later served as a Soviet Air Force station during the 1970s and 1980s...
. Thirty people were killed, amongst them Amir Mohammed bin Said, the Prime Minister of WahidiWahidi BalhafWahidi Balhaf , or the Wahidi Sultanate of Balhaf , was one of several Wahidi states in the British Aden Protectorate. It was also part of the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South, and its successor, the Federation of South Arabia when it was known simply as Wahidi...
. The bomb had been planted by his son, Ali. - On 30 June 1967, Vickers ViscountVickers ViscountThe Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
VR-AAV was damaged beyond economic repair at Aden International AirportAden International AirportAden International Airport is an international airport in Aden, Yemen .The airport was established on the former RAF Khormaksar, which opened in 1917 and closed as an RAF station in 1967. It later served as a Soviet Air Force station during the 1970s and 1980s...
when a bomb on board exploded. The aircraft was in quarantine at the time after an engine change. Photo of burnt out aircraft