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Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 08 Feb 2013, 23:26
by Garry Russell
Maybe this
http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air ... ee11f1e56a
Or maybe a dark patch for some technical reason for equipment inside???
It is very

Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 08 Feb 2013, 23:32
by TSR2
Hi Garry,
Your spot on, and I had got my wires crossed (again).
That looks like it was the DRA markings but I didn't think they had been applied while it was at Bedford and still with Ferranti. Does anyone know how long it was on the Civil reg while at Ferranti, or have any photos of her as she was delivered to them?
Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 09 Feb 2013, 01:52
by Garry Russell
Hi Ben
G-BGKE was registered to GEC-Marconi 10 June 1991
It was cancelled 01 March 1994 as transferred to Ministry of Defence
Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 09 Feb 2013, 09:36
by TSR2
So I wonder if the letters were GEC before becoming DRA. Can't seem to find any pictures of her in GEC guise.
Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 09 Feb 2013, 10:04
by NigelC
Neither can I

Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 09 Feb 2013, 10:14
by Garry Russell
GEC-Marconi were the operators but that doesn't mean it would wear those titles.

Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 09 Feb 2013, 10:23
by TSR2
I know that Garry, but its unlikely it wore roundels etc before getting it mil reg, so there were 3 years were it was on the civil reg being operated by GEC but, so far, with no pictures

Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 09 Feb 2013, 10:28
by Garry Russell
Maybe it never flew like that and spent the whole time being fitted out.
It's probably the DRA titles as in the pick I linked above

Re: ZE433 departing Thurleigh
Posted: 09 Feb 2013, 10:51
by TSR2
You could well be right Garry. DRA was formed in 91, I thought it was '95, but that was DERA