Air Katanga DC-4

[turbojetsetter]

Hi there,

Long while since my last post.
I was surfing the net for airliner pics and on one particular airline postcard site I came across a color picture of an Air Katanga DC-4. This was a short-lived airline from the Congo that operated around 1961-1963. I immediately liked the livery and searched the net for a couple of hours trying to get as many pics as possible of this airline, I only managed to find two more B&W pics. However, I was determined to get this baby painted, even with the meager resources at my disposal.

Anyway, this DC-4 airliner was destroyed on 15 September 1961, when it was bombed, while it was parked on the tarmac in front of the tower, by a Katangese military jet during their civil war.

Here are 2 links of the event:
www.belgianwings.be/Webpages/Navigator/Photos/CivilPics/civil_pics_ooaaa_ooczz/Douglas%20DC4%20OO-ADN/Douglas%20DC4%20OO-ADN.html

aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19610915-0

If anyone's interested, I've uploaded it on the 3 major flightsim sites and should be available soon.


Here is the postcard that I used as the guide to paint.


And here are a couple of samples of the finished piece:

[gharper]

Very nice! I had not seen that one.

Gary

[turbojetsetter]

Same here Gary. I instantly decided to paint it when I saw it because of its rarity (as I wouldn't have expected to download this from avsim/flightsim anytime soon). I also think it had a fantastic livery for its era.

[gharper]

It certainly is. I also enjoy surfing and painting rare liveries.

Gary

[Dan]

I has downloaded and converted this beauty into FS9 format and she looks great! And now I have one more of long-time seeked liveries. Couple of times I even tried to create it by my own, but only with terrifying result. Thank you Turbojetsetter for this beauty!

[Tom/CalClassic]

Very interesting, I didn't know about this airline. Katanga was a province in the Congo, which became independent for a short time. It appears Air Katanga was at least affiliated with Air Congo, because this plane was transferred from Air Congo to Air Katanga in June, 1961. It was destroyed in September 1961 so they didn't own it for that long. Air Congo leased it from SABENA in January 1961 and I don't know if it was in Air Katanga colors from that date or not.

Here is their fleet:

www.aerobernie.bplaced.net/Air%20Katanga.html

A pic of a DC-3:

lubumbashi.free.fr/aeroport/Airkatanga.JPG

and a Convair:

img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/1098/pics/5073_1.jpg

The only other Convair info I can find is OO-SCO was wet-leased to Air Congo between June and November 1960. I haven't found a pic.

www.flickr.com/photos/kenfielding/6794839853

A history of the Katangan succession movement, which lasted from 1960 to 1963:

books.google.com/books?id=3iwgAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA211&lpg=PA211&dq=air+katanga+1960&source=bl&ots=n1PRRRZx1t&sig=cFO4z-RhyTADqj8AhYUP8_y4vds&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEvLf5vJrTAhXmzFQKHcJ4CygQ6AEISDAK#v=onepage&q=air%20katanga%201960&f=false

Hope this helps,

[Tom/CalClassic]

PS. Unfortunately I can't find Air Katanga in any of my OAGs, so no schedules in the AI traffic. Several airlines had also suspended or ended service to Elizabethville, I assume due to the conflict.

[turbojetsetter]

Thanks for the info Tom. It seems like it was an airline that was trying to be very discreet.

I noticed Klude above had to convert the textures to use on FS9. I apologize for that Klude, but I'm glad you liked them.

If any FS9 user here wants me to upload the BMPs to Flightsim/Avsim just let me know. It won't take long to do so.


Ted

[Deleted]

Katangese Air Force used a De Havilland Dove

@ted: I very much would appreciate to use the FS9 repaint of your DC-4 with my local traffic. Thanks anyway!  

[Maarten]

Thank you very much, Ted, for this special repaint! Great job! Converting to FS9 was a piece of cake using Peter Wright's freeware DXTBmp programme.

Cheers,
Maarten

[turbojetsetter]

Hi Aviavirt,

I just uploaded the FS9 version on Flightsim & simviation. Avsim seems to be having problems. Anyway, it should be on the first two sites by tomorrow.
I don't know if it is ok as I don't have FS9. I think it should be fine though.

Ted

[turbojetsetter]

Hi Maarten,

Thanks for the kind words.

Ted

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi,

I think the Air Force was known as Avikat. They also used DC-3s.

www.africafederation.net/Katanga_Military.htm

[Al]

I downloaded the FS9 version and installed it. When I select your repaint FS9 locks up. removed the texture file and reloaded it again and it will select the repaint without the texture file being present which tells me there is a format problem with the textures. Textures are my week area so don't know specifically what the problem is but it won't display on my system.

Thanks
Al

[Deleted]

Same here. It blocks all other textures been shown correctly. Probably too big file sizes.