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AIR PARTNERS
The Mayfair Dove company, based at the former
RAF fighter station, Biggin Hill Airfield in Kent, operate a splendid classic aircraft
retired from the Royal Flight which on
many royal visits, sometimes piloted by the Duke of Edinburgh, safely flew members of the Royal
Family.
Our pilots, Bill Pritchard and Dave Frost
are former British Airways trans-oceanic captains. They have logged tens of
thousands of hours flying jet airliners all over the World - Comets and 707s,
Tridents and
747/400 Jumbos - and trained many BA pilots how to fly these huge aircraft on long
haul routes.
The Mayfair Dove began life as a Royal Air Force VIP
aircraft - the sturdier RAF version was called a Devon - based in Germany and then at Supreme Allied
Headquarters Europe where her task was to fly Field Marshal Montgomery, Deputy
Commander Allied Forces Europe and later his successor, General Sir Richard Gale
who had commanded the British 6th Airborne Division on D Day.
She is a veteran of two wars - the 1965 war
between India and Pakistan and the Vietnam War - having been the Air
Attaché's aircraft in both countries, first based at Karachi then later on Saigon. By one of those quirks of fate
Adrian Hill ( see our guides ) experienced both these wars and often flew in her
when she was based in Saigon - he well remembers watching F4s putting in
air strikes not far below her among the Central Highlands and the Air Attaché,
Group Captain Mickey Swiney, normally a supersonic fighter pilot, bringing her
on finals by side-slipping through the aerial queue often - scores of circling
aircraft - and softly flaring straight onto the runway at Tan Son Nhut
to incredulous vocal approval from
the young American air traffic controllers.
Mickey Swiney flew her all over Vietnam,
Cambodia and Laos. He took her into Dalat, probably
the trickiest airfield in South Vietnam, in those days an earth strip perched
on the summit of a 5,000 feet high mountain, sometimes with the VC lurking among the thick
forest along the approach.
Eventually she went home and joined the VIP
squadron at RAF Northolt. Finally she retired from RAF service and
became a small civil airliner. Mayfair Dove Company have owned her since 1993 with her present day registration number and smart livery.
Until the Britten-Norman Islander took to
the air the DH Dove was the most popular British airliner ever built with some
550 sold all over the World and quite a number still flying. The Dove's spacious cabin offers six Club
Class seats, courtesy tables, an onboard WC and large panoramic passenger
windows for spectacular aerial views - air travel in classic style.
The
aircraft has two voluminous holds which can easily carry six
full sets of golf clubs, equipment and luggage! Just relax
onboard in comfort and enjoy a continental breakfast or
complimentary drink, without the hassle of stowing your luggage
in awkward overhead lockers or that tedious long wait in the
baggage hall after landing.
As the uppermost picture shows although on top of the
North Downs and therefore in the countryside, Biggin Hill Airfield is close to
Central London. On a clear day the tall offices beside the River Thames at
Canary Wharf look as though just down the ' bump'.
Anyone flying around this country and the
Continent on business or pleasure at the present time need only click the link above
to save themselves from the endurance test of modern air travel. No
traffic jams, no lines, no delays, no worries. Choose your own ' check-in ' time
and leave the rest to our team.
The Mayfair Dove is a capable lady. She was
built to demanding RAF specifications. The photo at right shows her low over the
Bay of Cambodia. She is very comfortable though safe and
sturdy as befits an aircraft designed for flying the Queen. Recently, she has
undergone an extensive re-fit, both inside and out and now is considered one of
the most luxurious aircraft of its type. Powered by two very sturdy Rolls Royce
supercharged engines, she cruises quietly, allowing onboard conversation at
normal speaking levels.
The
flight deck boasts an array of modern avionics including the
sophisticated Trimble GPS, 3M Storm Scope, dual controls and
full IFR. She can also
operate off grass and shorter runways which opens up many airfields across the
British Isles and the Continent for our sky tours and private air travel for
business or pleasure.
Have a look at the
207 Squadron RAF Association's website pages on Devon VP962 - now the Mayfair Dove -
and the
Australian Clyde North Aeronautical
Preservation Group's pages on the DH Devon/Dove.
Mayfair Dove also has a sister in Germany -
the LTU Dove based at Munchengladbach - have a look at STOP PRESS and the Swiss Alps pages on our website.
The LTU Dove's website at
www.ltu-classic.de
has some wonderful touches and you can book a flight via
the website.
We chose
Synergy Aviation
as our original air partner because of their professional operating standards and
safety reputation. Synergy were also founded by a former British
Airways senior training captain who imparted his high standards to a very fine
team of young pilots. Lots of pictures of their aircraft on the Easy
Aircraft Guide page reached via the Easy Sky Guide. Among their regular passengers are the boards of internationally known companies.
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Synergy Aviation run by Captain Glenn
Heavens and Captain Fiona Brittion - see photo below - operate from Fairoaks Airfield in Surrey. Their stable of aircraft includes Senecas,
Navahos, Chieftains and a turbo-prop Kingair. When flying on board one
of their larger aircraft we need a longer runway and take off from
Biggin Hill in Kent or Blackbushe in Surrey - the latter airfield where
General Eisenhower commuted to and from Europe after D Day.
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OUR
CONTINENTAL
FRIENDS
