Douglas C.47A-75-DL Dakota G-DAKS at Leeds-Bradford airfield.
During the latter months of 1980 and the early part of 1981 Yorkshire Television filmed a drama called "Airline" at various locations in Yorkshire. It was set in the early Post-WW2 period and was a story around a fictitious airline Ruskin Air Services. The film company used two airworthy Dakotas, G-DAKS and G-BHUB, owned by Aces High Ltd, of Fairoaks airfield, Surrey. An old fuselage of a third, G-ALYF was also used and initially they were all based at Rufforth airfield. G-DAKS was given a fake registration of G-AGHY for the filming as well as other identities and was also painted in RAF camouflage. In January 1981 they flew both flying Dakotas to Blackpool, then on 1st March 1981 both Dakotas were noted as being based at Leeds-Bradford airfield. Over the next few weeks they were based at Leeds-Bradford airfield and were parked on an old apron on the south side of the airfield. Various flying film sequences were done over the next few weeks. On 16th March 1981 G-DAKS was being filmed flying over the area to the north-west of the airfield when it developed an oil leak in the port engine. The crew returned to Leeds-Bradford airfield and landed normally. It then taxied back to the old apron but a fire in the port engine then broke out. The fire was soon put out but minor damage resulted. The damage was soon repaired and both Dakotas left for further filming on Malta on 24th March 1981. What occurred to the fuselage of G-ALYF I list on a seperate webpage.
Pilot - Name unknown.