Unknown aircraft used by Gibraltar Airways in the fifties

[Bernard]

 The 1955 timetable of Gibraltar Airways mentions that the flights between Gibraltar to Tanger are done with a "32 seater leopard aircraft". Honestly I never heard about such an aircraft. Also I couldn't find any information in rthe web. Has anyone ever read anything about such a designation? The British sometimes have a habit of giving special names to normal types, such as "Pionair" for a common DC-3. Thanks for any advice.

Bernard

[Tom/CalClassic]

According to the book A History of the Worlds Airlines Gibraltar Airways used DH89 Dragon Rapides from 1947 to 1953, BEA DC-3s until 1959, and BEA Viscounts after that.

[Defender]

The BEA Pionairs with cargo doors were called Pionair Leopards.

Bill

[Bernard]

Tom and Bill, many thanks for your help. The first GBAir timetable published on timetableimages.com shows one of the Dragon Rapides employed. Bill's "Lepoard" definition might be helpful with other British DC-3 mentions.

Bernard

[Defender]

No British DC-3's Bernard, just Dakotas , And of course all these Dakotas, Pionairs, Leopards and most of the world's DC-3's were actually just C-47's!

On your timetable point, my detailed BEA fleet list and history shows three DH-89's going to Gibraltar,

G-AFOI 1948?
G-AGSK 1952
G-AJSK 1953

But there is no mention in that fleet history of any Dakotas going to Gibraltar either sale or loan and a web search shows only G-AMFV operated by Gibraltar/GBAir and that was from 1963. BEA originally sold it to Cambrian in 1960. So my guess is that for their earlier schedules Gibraltar possibly used a wet leased Leopard, so still BEA colours and crew.

There's a nice history of GBAir and G-AMFV here,

miscellavia.com/g-amfv-the-last-pionair/

Bill

[aharon]

Great aviation history discussion!!!!

Regards,

Aharon

[Tom/CalClassic]

Both the DC-3’s and Viscounts were operated by BEA.