July 2018: Dutch museum Aviodrome to get Rovos Air Convair 340, ferry flight...

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By: Stratofreighter - 30th May 2018 at 21:16

Source:
https://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/node/146803
/
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=nl&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.luchtvaartnieuws.nl%2Fnode%2F146803&edit-text=

Press release:
https://www.aviodrome.nl/nieuws/aviodrome-krijgt-iconisch-historisch-passagiersvliegtuig-uit-zuid-afrika/
/
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=nl&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aviodrome.nl%2Fnieuws%2Faviodrome-krijgt-iconisch-historisch-passagiersvliegtuig-uit-zuid-afrika%2F&edit-text=

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Aviodrome is preparing for the arrival of a very special device for the Netherlands, the Convair 340.

The aircraft built in 1954 was donated to Aviodrome by the South African owner, Rovos Rail.

After the necessary technical work,
the Convair will fly straight through Africa and Europe to its new home base Aviodrome at Lelystad Airport this summer.

The cost of € 350,000 for the preparation of the aircraft,
the purchase of various spare parts and the exciting crossing,
Aviodrome will take care of.

The arrival of the Convair is a very welcome addition to Aviodrome's flying aircraft,
because this iconic device typifies the rise of (mass) tourism.

KLM had a total of 24 of this type in service since 1948.
Because of this great success, the Martin's Air Charter, established in 1958,
took over a plane and later added a similar aircraft to the fleet.

Use for luxury Air Safaris

South African Rovos Rail offered luxury air safaris in a Convair across southern Africa until 2009.

They did this in combination with organized train journeys.

Due to various circumstances the device became redundant for Rovos Rail and it was for sale.

In March 2018 it became clear that the owner wanted to offer the Convair a good future
and that is why he decided to donate the Convair to Aviodrome.

In the coming weeks the last parts will be ordered,
the aircraft will be technically prepared and various preparations for the crossing will take place.

The Convair is soon to be seen for visitors to Aviodrome as part of the collection.

It will start the engines with some regularity for maintenance and during the racing season,
for example on special occasions,
to choose the airspace. Yes, display flights are mentioned! :eagerness:

From Africa to Aviodrome

Around 12 July 2018 the aircraft will start the flight from South Africa.

Since the Convair is suitable for mainly short and medium distances, it makes several stops on the way to the Netherlands.

The route leads from South Africa via Zambia, Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, Croatia and Austria to Lelystad.

An experienced crew will fly the aircraft.

Follow the Convair

Through live updates and video reports, everyone can follow the special and challenging flight
via this page
https://www.aviodrome.nl/convair/
and via all social media channels from Aviodrome.
In the summer holidays the plane will be festively welcomed at Aviodrome.

Follow the journey of the Convair here

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By: FLY.BUY - 30th May 2018 at 21:22 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Good news, I wonder if it will eventually be painted in KLM colours ?

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By: AlanR - 30th May 2018 at 21:56 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Is this the same museum that has a Constellation ?

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By: David Burke - 30th May 2018 at 22:01 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Yes

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By: markb - 31st May 2018 at 02:34 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Excellent news. Hopefully they'll be able to secure the surviving ex-KLM Electra at some stage too - it's stored in Alaska.

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By: J Boyle - 31st May 2018 at 16:34 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

It's good to see a Convair preserved.
A very important 1950s-70s type (seemingly everywhere except the UK), which like many airliners, used to be common.

One of my father's favorite types to fly.

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By: RMR - 31st May 2018 at 21:53 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

There is one preserved in the UK at Caluke in Scotland. Photo taken in 2008 and it is still there.

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By: Fouga23 - 31st May 2018 at 22:47 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I love Convairs. Great news!

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By: Fouga23 - 10th July 2018 at 17:29 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

So sad :'(

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By: Propstrike - 10th July 2018 at 23:05 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

'' A Convair 340, registation ZS-BRV, crashed and broke up during a test flight out of Wonderboom Airport, reportedly carrying about 20 occupants.
During takeoff from Wonderboom Airport, the aircraft was seen trailing brown smoke from the no.1 engine. Eyewitnesses also reported observing flames. The pilot flew a circuit for an emergenncy landing back ton runway 29. It went down about 6 km to the east of the airport. The aircraft impacted a shed and broke up. One of the crew members sustained fatal injuries.

The aircraft had been donated by the owner, Rovos Air, to the Dutch aviation theme park Aviodrome. It carried the colour scheme of the former Dutch airline Martin's Air Charter (later renamed Martinair) and was to be ferried to the Netherlands with an expected arrival at Lelystad Airport on July 23, 2018. ''

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180710-0

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By: Auster Fan - 11th July 2018 at 08:06 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Already in the other thread....

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By: stuart gowans - 11th July 2018 at 08:38 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I looked at the other thread yesterday, but couldn't make head nor tale of the links; why so many on board a test flight?

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By: ericmunk - 11th July 2018 at 09:02 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Would be a good idea to merge the three (!) threads running on this accident.

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By: ericmunk - 11th July 2018 at 09:09 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

All round a very tragic event for all of those involved, and their families and friends. From what I understand a very international party was involved in making it airworthy again (South African, Dutch, Australian), the nationalities of those aboard reflecting that. One aboard was killed, as was a bystander on the ground, a fair amount of those injured are still in hospital with injuries ranging from relatively light to severe. Let's forget about the (nice) aircraft for a moment and spare a thought for those vintage aviation enthusiasts aboard and those affected on the ground who are struggling to recover from this tragic event. Aircraft can be replaced. People cannot.

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By: Bruce - 11th July 2018 at 10:09 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Merged two threads and closed another. Lets keep it all in here please?

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By: stuart gowans - 11th July 2018 at 12:07 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I don't know how far you need to go to turn one of these around but the video shows a smoke trail almost before it is airborne.

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By: clarkejw - 12th July 2018 at 12:42 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Whilst not knowing the two Australian pilots personally,I can perhaps furnish a little more information on the situation from a friend, and ex-QANTAS and RAAF pilot who knows them both well.
Apparently, the aircraft had undergone an extensive refurbishment prior to its flight to its new home at The Aviodrome, Holland. Both the pilots are extremely senior QANTAS A380 captains, one retired, one current, with around 37000 hours between them, and both active members of HARS, with a great deal of experience on vintage piston-engined aircraft with similar engines, for example, Caribou and Catalina.
We understand the aircraft was carrying around 18 passengers, comprised of family, friends, and those involved in the restoration, on the flight to The Netherlands.
My friend's initial thoughts are, and these are not to be taken in any other way than guesswork, are that the high density altitude, and the 21 or more people on board, made single-engine performance at takeoff and climb out, marginal to impossible.
In any case, a very sad and tragic outcome.

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By: Archer - 12th July 2018 at 13:34 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

There is another video, showing the take off from the end of the runway, in this thread on PPRuNe (post #30): https://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/610956-convair-340-c-131d-zs-brv-crash-pretoria-south-africa.html

These Convairs were somewhat likely to suffer from augmentor fires due to fuel pooling/oily tubes or such, in combination with the exhaust running through these tubes in the nacelle. John Deakin mentions it in his article about the CAF's C-131 here: https://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/182145-1.html This also provides an insight into the systems of this type.

I hope the other occupants will recover soon. A very sad outcome for this project.