NEWS IN BRIEF

FATAL CONVAIR CRASH

Convair 340 ZS-BRV crashed when it suffered engine problems just after take-off from Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria, South Africa on 10 July, while undergoing a local flight. The 1954-built airliner had recently been presented to the Aviodrome in the Netherlands by its last operator, Rovos Air. One crew member died, while the other 19 occupants escaped.

CAF SKYTRAIN LOST

Douglas C-47B N47HL Bluebonnet Belle, operated by the Commemorative Air Force’s Highland Lakes Squadron, was consumed by fire following a take-off accident at its Burnet, Texas, base on 21 July. All 13 people on board escaped, some of them with minor injuries. BEN DUNNELL

DC-7 NOSE ON DISPLAY

The restored front fuselage of former SAS Douglas DC-7C OY-KND Rolf Viking went on display at the Danish Air Museum in Helsingør on 17 July.

SEA FURY CHANGES HANDS

Hawker Sea Fury T20 WG655/ G-CHFP, formerly operated by The Fighter Collection, was re-registered G-INVN on 25 July for new owner Shaun Patrick.

BREWSTER CORSAIR FLIES

The only surviving Brewster-built F3A-1 Corsair, BuNo 04634, made its first flight at Breckenridge, Texas, on 4 July with Stewart Dawson at the controls, following restoration by Ezell Aviation.

DUTCH CATALINA UP FOR SALE

The Neptune Association has announced that it has decided to sell Lelystad-based PBY-5A Catalina PH-PBY. Engine problems and a problem with the nose undercarriage last year when the aircraft made a landing with the nose gear up caused a significant loss in pleasure-flying revenue. Combined with this, the operator reports that new Dutch regulations for such operations, classing them as commercial flights, makes them financially unviable. BEN DUNNELL

MARY ELLIS

Air Transport Auxiliary legend Mary Ellis passed away on 24 July, aged 101. Her obituary will appear in the October issue of Aeroplane.