Atlantique Classic Flight Dove

[markw]

Does anyone based at Coventry know if Air Atlantique Classic Flight (if that's the name they fly by nowadays) still have their Dove? Only there appears to be one very similar being advertised for charter and air taxi services out of Shoreham despite the AACF still showing the Dove on their website. Whilst the idea of a Dove being used for real revenue earning work is always nice to hear, I must admit I would have liked to have had the opportunity to pop down to Airbase for a pleasure flight in a Dove sometime, having squeezed myself into the Classic Flight's Rapides on a couple of occasions, as well as a couple of Daks before they were withdrawn, so if it has migrated south, it looks like that might not be possible.

Just curious as there can't be many RAF liveried Doves around.

[Nigel H-J]

Hi Mark

Just had a look at their site, even though the Dove is listed on it looking at their calender of events sadly it is not down for flying which is a shame.

http://www.classicflight.com/EventsCalendar

Hopefully some-one will come along with greater depth of information.

Regards
Nigel.

[Garry Russell]

Hi Mark

It's still registered to Air Atlantique Ltd.

[Chris558]

The one at Shoreham may possibly be G-OPLC, the Mayfair Dove. I had read a while ago that it changed hands and was going to be based at ...Bournemouth or Shoreham..? and was due to be re-painted in RAF livery.

Is the one you've seen in RAF uniform?

[Chris558]

Aha! Just found this....

http://www.aeroalliance.uk.com/news/pos ... rters.aspx

so it seems it is the Classic Flights Devon, probably on loan..?

[DaveB]

It makes complete sense to put it out on loan rather than have it sitting on the deck not earning. I believe they've done the same with the Rapides on more than one occasion

ATB
DaveB

[markw]

Thanks for the replies, I'm glad others also think it's the AACF Dove and not just me imagining it. It's definately in RAF colours, whereas I think the Mayfair Dove is in an odd dark brown or black colour scheme. Like you say, perhaps it's on loan. I just wish they'd put something else on other than the Rapides at Coventry, being on the chunky side I struggle to get into the things and every time I have been in one the pilot moved me to the wing seats to make sure my weight is over the wheels and presumably the c-o-g, I suspect if my frame was at the back it would remain a tail dragger a bit too long for comfort. I think I have had enough Rapide humiliation for one lifetime so the Dove or the Twin-Pin would make a nice change and an excuse to go over to Airbase!

[Tomliner]

My avatar image was taken from Air Atlantique's Dove on final approach to Coventry's r/way 23.Also on board were DaveB,DelP and Ben Watson and this was my first contact with them.Despite that I enjoyed the flight very much! EricT

[DaveB]

We couldn't have been on the same flight Eric.. I went on the Air Atlantique 'Devon'

ATB
DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Ohhhh!

A Dovers tiff