I remember that in the mid 1990ies I had a longish phone conversation with him (I had a share in an air taxi company then) where he tried to sell us the airplane or at least establish some kind of co-operation for selling oldtimer charter flights. We tried that for a while but could raise zero interest among our customers… Had it been a DC3 or Ju52 it might have been different, but nobody ever heard of a Dove before.
BTW: For people interested in aviation adventure literaure, Gavin Lyall’s “Shooting Script” features a Dove as one of it’s protagonists. It might be out of print though, as most of Lyall’s books (unfortunately) are.
Well the mayfair dove currently runs out at around £800 an hour they say (see my earlier link) with two pilots. Given that shes been going a while i am guessing that is a realistic rate, even if the pilots fly more for love than the money!
The ad says that the annual was due in 2010. But I think he told me it’s still in good condition.
At least it is still flying or at least airworthy!
Oh, I did not know that Carlos owns that airplane. Apparently he still does, it is for sale under his label.
http://www.aircraft24.de/multiprop/dehavilland/dove-d-h-104-7xc-dove-oldtimer-1963—xi100133.htm
Wonderful airplane. Unfortunately very expensive to run I expect.
Too bad i did not make a recording of their sound! But no iPhone in 1997 …
I’m sure this inline 6 cylinder engine in the Dove was aerodynamically superior to everything we have today…
I know the engines were original, and i am pretty sure the props were too!
For some time the Queen used to have one of these. One of the best things were the windows, the biggest ones i have seen in a twin.
Beatiful!
There’s one siting outside of Lubbock, TX rotting as well last time I was there.
