G- HBBC - 1948 DEHAVILLAND DH 104

1948

DEHAVILLAND

DH-104

04211

G- HBBC

Used

Derrick Ings Aircraft Sales is pleased to offer this 1948 DH104 Dove 8 to the market. This quintessentially British aircrat is an ex-Royal Flight aircraft and is understood to have once been Prince Philip’s steed in which he logged some 128 hours. It was civilianised in 1985 at TT 5060 Hours as G-ALFM and has had 4 owners since. It became G-HBBC in 1996. Of late it has been a corporate aircraft. The current owner now wishes to sell as the contract he used it for has now come to an end. The de Havilland Devon is the RAF version of the civilian Dove aircraft. It was de Havilland’s most successful post war civilian aircraft, conceptualised by the Brabazon committee, and over 500 were built at Hatfield and Hawarden. Because of its inherent strength from its all metal low wing, cantilever monoplane construction, a considerable number are still in active service throughout the world today. G-HBBC was built in Hatfield in September 1948 and delivered to the Air Ministry, to be used as personal transport by the Secretary of State for Air. It was transferred to the Royal Air Force and designated VP961 on 11th March 1949. From 9th June 1953 until 25th October 1960 it was part of the Queens Flight and was designated the personal aircraft of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Indeed at the time it was the only twin engined aircraft in the Queens Flight due to its undoubted safety record. It was based initially at White Waltham, then at RAF Benson. The Duke of Edinburgh first flew the aircraft on 18th June 1953 with his Instructor, Squadron Leader Caryl Gordon, and after four sorties, totalling 6 hours 30 minutes, he flew the aircraft as First Pilot. HRH Prince Philip then flew the aircraft on 67 separate occasions for a total of 128 hours 50 minutes. His last flight in this aircraft was on 19th November 1959, and then, on 19th October 1998, HRH revisited the aircraft at RAF Northolt to see it after a period of 39 years, and commented on its excellent restoration. In the mid 1960’s it was uprated by de Havilland to the equivalent of a Dove Mk 8 with the installation of two Gipsy Queen Mk 175,400HP engines – the most powerful in a production Dove. It has a maximum speed of 235 MPH (204 Knots), a cruise speed of 179 MPH (155 Knots), and a range of 1,175 Miles (1,021 Nm). From May 1969 until November 1969 the Dove was based at RAE Boscombe Down, then with 60 Squadron RAF Wildenrath in Germany until July 1971. In 1974 and 1975 it was based with the British Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, and returned in July 1975 to RAF Northolt to join 207 Squadron. In 1984 it was placed on the Civil Registry under the original registration, G-ALFM, and sold to three aviation enthusiasts. It was acquired by BBC Air Ltd in November 1995. It has travelled throughout Europe each year since it was civilianised, to Italy, Spain, Greece and has won several awards for the best maintained post-war civilian commercial airliner. It has created a good deal of interest, especially with is Royal connections which is also the reason why it has been maintained regardless of cost; all the maintenance schedule times having been halved. Over a three year period the aircraft underwent a £300,000 restoration programme, including complete cabin and cockpit refit. It is an eleven-seater configuration and the aircraft has completed just over 5,500 hours since its construction in 1948. The aircraft is in superb condition and is probably the best presented DH104 in the world. G-HBBC De HAVILLAND DH 104 DOVE Mk 8 SERIAL NUMBER 04211 De Havilland DH104 Dove Mk 8 A quintessentially British aircraft, ex-Royal Flight and was once Prince Philip’s steed

5455.0

5455 @ 13/June/2005

1327

SOH

400HP Gipsy Queen MK175 Engines. Engine 1: 1327 Hours, Engine 2: 1287 Hours. LH Eng SN: 66551-A647594 RH Eng SN: 65961-A627976

1287

SOH

Props are PD197-312-1 LH Prop SN A11666 RH Prop SN A11667

COM 1 King KX 155 (7060Ch), COM 2 King KY 96A, ADF King KR 85 w/Dual Needle RMI, Nav 1 King KX 155 VOR/LOC/GS, One ILS, DME Narco DME 890, Transponder King KT 76A, Markers, Narco Audio Panel CP 136, 2-Place Intercom, 2nd Alitmeter, 2nd ADF Indicator Single Needle Co-Pilot Side.

Former Registration G-ALFM, Military Registration VP961, 400 HP Inverted piston inline 6 cyl, 2 x spare inhibited engines available, Spare engines are at 567/777 Hrs, MTOW 9150 LBs, Hydromatic Propellers, Props originally fitted 1974, 3-blade props, both last 6 yr O/H Jan 2005, De-Ice Sys placarded as inoperative, Reinstatement of deice at cost, Seperate toilet compartment w/ door.

1995

Exterior Overall white with blue and gold longitudinal stripes.

1995

11

Interior new in 1995, All seats (9 pax and 2 cockpit) were reupholstered, new head linings, new side walls and new carpets as part of a overall refurbishment, Seat material is Tartan cloth and is still in excellent condition, as is the rest.