Electra G-LOFE Departs the UK

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11 years 3 months

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On Saturday 23d March Atlantic Airlines' Lockheed Electra L188 G-LOFE departed from Coventry for a new life with Buffalo Air in Canada. The following clips are of its last night time arrival from Bournemouth, with flight NPT188S, on the night od 21st March arriving at around 21.45.

The following day it undertook some training and, no doubt some filming, as I understand a film crew was present. I managed to catch the last daylight arrival, only just, but missed several take off and landings.

It was due to depart at 10.00 on Saturday morning but was delayed for nearly 1 hour due to snow clearance being carried out.

Enjoy the videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV18V4Qs3B8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzQjTVUmaW4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htVLcKD__7Q

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8583241007_cdd2dc4b6b.jpg
Electra G-LOFE 032 by Shane Wilton, on Flickr

cheers

Shane

Original post

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11 years 8 months

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Expect to see this old bird on Ice Pilots soon then?

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14 years

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Have Buffalo found work for the Electras? Or is this for a spares source? The last time I watched Ice Pilots, the Electra was always parked outside.

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18 years 3 months

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Perhaps she's going to be converted to a fire fighting aircraft? It was recently passed in Canada that all fire fighting aircraft with more than two engines must be turbo probs. That's why Buffalo bought the EX Reeve Allutian *sp* aircraft two years ago. Though there Dc-4 tankers were flying last year on fire suppression flights.

I'd imagine Canada is the place to Go for Electra parts now, as far as I know of all the flying electras in the world bar the one remaining Atlantic aircraft are in Canada. Four for buffalo and an unknown to me number flying for a company called air spray I think used soley as fire supression aircraft.

May I also add that the owner if Buffalo airways Joe Mcbryan was at Coventry this week to over see the sale of the aircraft, no doubt he'll have purchased a large amount if spares as well.

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12 years 5 months

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One of the guys at my flying club is a techy on Electras so they can't all be in Canada.

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20 years 5 months

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In Season 4, the Electra sees a lot of work. One even suffered a crash landing due to stuck landing gear. But she's repaired and but back into service. Buffalo seem to be getting more contracts requiring the Electra. Good to see this handsome old bird still earning it's keep!

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12 years 5 months

Posts: 172

That rings a bell Joe, he used to fly out to Leipzig a bit. Slightly OT another one of our club guys flys 757's out of Leipzig for DHL, never knew that it was their headquarters. Apparently it's quite a place (the DHL hub that is)

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10 years 10 months

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First time posting here, so hopefully all goes right.

Electra G-LOFE and Electra G-LOFC both parked at Buffalo Airways Red Deer facility and I photographed them May 17, 2013.
G-LOFE is now C-GZFE and G-LOFC is C-GXFC.
At least one of them will be converted by Air Spray of Red Deer for fire suppression.
Buffalo now has 6 L-188's in their fleet.[ATTACH=CONFIG]217182[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]217183[/ATTACH]

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15 years 2 months

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Nice photos there and thanks for the info.

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19 years 1 month

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Nice photos there and thanks for the info.

John:

Thanks or posting/sharing a nice landing video of a fine flying machine. G-LOFE had a superb history in the European skies. Good job guys!!

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15 years 6 months

Posts: 562

Very sad - that was the last 4-engined propliner based in the UK. Apart from the C-130s at Brize, there are no other operational 4-prop transports based here now! A sign of the times!

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12 years

Posts: 58

Last week when visiting Coventry a engineer from Atlantic told me that Buffalo is interested in G-LOFB. Only it would cost around 1 million pound to get her airworthy again.....

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15 years 9 months

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Regarding 4-props

Isn't G-APSA the DC 6 still operational, and possibly the Heron G-AORG?

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14 years 9 months

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PS I think the Royal Air Force has something called a Lancaster that flys :-) but you did say transport.