Civilian aircraft

In addition to its military commitments, Khormaksar was the operating base for a number of civilian registered companies. Prominent among these was the local flag carrier, Aden Airways, which operated a fleet of around a dozen twin and multi-engined aircraft on passenger carrying routes from its apron at the eastern extreme of the airfield. A number of other civil-registered aircraft owned by local businesses and private owners could be found dotted around the apron when they were not away on business or leisure activities.

Taking photographs of civil registered aircraft for anyone on the RAF side of the airfield was relatively easy and entailed either waiting for them to taxi along the peri-track or simply walk round the portable barbed-wire security barrier to the apron. Although all of the images displayed in the following galleries were taken by the author, unless indicated otherwise, images from contributors are most welcome.

Aden Airways and locally-based aircraft

Having had many years of experience of operating routes through the Middle East area, the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) decided in the late forties to set up a subsidiary airline based in Aden. Thus, on 7 March 1949, Aden Airways was born, the initial fleet comprising six DC-3s which BOAC had sold to its new sibling. For the whole of its existence the Aden Airways fleet was structured around this venerable aircraft and was bolstered further in the fifties by the addition of a few Avro Ansons and DH Rapides for short-range, internal routes.

As competition from airlines operating out of other Middle Eastern countries increased, Aden Airways began to lose custom and had no option but to obtain larger, faster and more luxurious aircraft for its routes to Egypt, East Africa and to the northern countries of Arabia if it were to survive. The opportunity was, thus, taken to ‘purchase’ three Canadair Argonauts from its parent company, BOAC, and they duly arrived at Khormaksar in 1960. The Argonaut was basically a DC-4 fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines and from an airmen’s perspective, produced a sound reminiscent of a Lancaster. However, these were already eleven years old and they soon succumbed to the inhospitable climate of Aden. One by one corrosion took hold and they were withdrawn in 1963/4, replaced by a second-hand pair of Viscount 760Ds, plus one other leased from Central African Airways.

As the colonial troubles of the mid-sixties intensified, sabotage became a real issue and one of the company’s DC-3s was destroyed by a bomb with the loss of all 31 people on board, as it flew down the east coast towards Khormaksar. With the imminent withdrawal of British forces, the deteriorating operating conditions up-country and the difficulty in persuading pilots to remain in or move to Aden, the Aden Airways board decided to cease operations and DC-3, VR-AAZ flew the last scheduled service to Mukeiras and back on 30 June, 1967.

A comprehensive history of Aden Airways can be found in the excellent Dacre Watson book, ‘Red Sea Caravan’, further information about which can be found on the Bibliography page.

VR-AAA, Aden Airways DC-3, 04-64

Destroyed 26-03-65 at Hadibo, Socotra. No fatalities.

VR-AAF, Aden Airways DC-3, 06-62

Sold to Air Djibouti as F-OCKV in 1967.

VR-AAN, Aden Airways DC-3, 06-62

Destroyed by bomb on 22-11-66 , 30 people killed including the crew.

VR-AAZ, Aden Airways DC-3, 04-64 (author's collection)

Sold to Air Djibouti as F-OCKT in 1967.

VR-AAT, Aden Airways Argonaut, 1963

VP-KOJ, Aden Airways Argonaut, 03-64

Leased from Central African Airways and retained CAA livery.

VR-AAV, Aden Airways Viscount 760D, 03-64

Destroyed on ground at Ksar by bomb, 21-07-67.

VR-AAW, Aden Airways Viscount 760D, 04-64

Sold to BOAC as G-AWCV in 1967.

VP-YNB, Aden Airways Viscount, 04-64

Leased from Central African Airways and retained CAA livery.

N128E, Fairchild C-82A Packet, 1963

Aircraft shot down by Egyptian MiG-21 fighter planes near Alexandria 19-12-64 after ignoring warning signals, warning shots and failing to land at Cairo as instructed. Both crew killed.

N5231N, Lockheed Lodesstar 1, 12-62

N62G, Grumman Scan type 20, 1962

Owned by US Oil of Louisiana Inc.

N7761, Convair 240-23, 1962

Believed still airworthy with Bahamas Air Ferries.

N9588Z, Curtis C-46D Commando, 06-62

Possibly owned at the time by JW Mecom Oil Company.

N86E, Douglas UC-67, Dragon, John Mecom, 1963

Ex-B-23, 39-059, converted during WW2 to UC-67 transport. Served with Pan Am then sold to John Mecom who abandoned it at Hellinikon in 1969. Still extant in 1986.

Twin-prop aircraft

ET-AAQ, Douglas DC-3, Ethiopian Airlines, 1963

The aircraft was reportedly shot down in 1969 after flying into a prohibited area near the Suez Canal. The pilot had reported that he could not receive the Cairo NDB and that the aircraft did not have a VOR receiver. 3 crew killed.

ET-AAV, Convair CV240-25, Ethiopian Airlines, 12-62. Carried the name 'Eagle of Ethiopia'.

Could be fiited with JATO (jet-assisted take-off) in a shape of cannisters under the wings which fired for 12 seconds and gave extra power when taking off from short runways with full loads.

HZ-AAU, Convair CV 340-68B, Saudi Arabian Airlines, 1963

The aircraft returned to Jeddah with a No. 2 engine failure. On final approach, the flaps got stuck at 17 degrees. On rollout, with the No. 1 engine in reverse, the aircraft ran off the left side of the runway. The nosegear struck an asphalt mound and collapsed. 3 crew and 12 passengers killed.

VP-KJR, Douglas DC-3, East African Airways, 1964

Bore the name 'Sir John Kirke'.

YE-AAA, Douglas DC-3, Yemen Airlines, 12-62

Bore the name 'Shibam'.

F-OBOO, Beech 18S, Air Djibouti, 1963

F-OCBX, DH Rapide, Air Djibouti, 1963

ST-AAR, Fokker Friendship 200, Sudan Airways, 12-62

Damaged beyond repair in heavy landing at Eldebba Airport in July 1985. 5 crew and 26 passengers killed.

G-ARTC, a Handley Page Herald, in the markings of Maritime Central Airways, captured on film during a stop-over at Khormaksar in 1961 (Des Meek)

The picture depicts the aircraft while being used by Handley Page for a 12,000 mile demonstration tour prior to it entering MCA service.

Another view of G-ARTC, taken this time on the RAF Visitors pan. The aircraft was the prototype HP Herald 200 (Keith Webster)

G-AWPA, HP Herald, Royal Malaysian Air Force, 1963 (author)

First production Herald used by RMAF for training pilots prior to delivery of its own aircraft. G-AWPA is currently displayed at the Berkshire Air Museum near Reading.

Rare visitor to Khormaksar was this Brothers Air Services DC-3, seen taxiing out in 1967 (Malcolm Stelfox)

Multi-prop aircraft

G-ARWI, Douglas C-54B Skymaster, from Lloyd International, Gatwick, 1962

G-ALAL, Lockheed Constellation L-749A, Skyways, 1962

AP-AFS, Lockheed L-1049H, Pakistan International Airlines, 1963

ET-AAX, Douglas DC-6B, Ethiopian Airlines, 1963

Ethiopian also operated several DC-4s, one of which taxies passed the Control Tower in 1967 (Malcolm Stelfox)

N6540C, Douglas DC-6A, US Department of Commerce, 1963

One of two Weather Bureau, hurricane research aircraft (N6539C being the other) with radar bump under fuselage, to pass through Ksar.

HB-IBZ, Douglas DC-6B, Balair, 1964

The 'Eagle' brand was a common sight at Khormaksar, the Douglas DC-6A of Cunard Eagle Airways depicted here being captured in the summer of 1963

G-APSA, Douglas DC-6A, Cunard Eagle Airways, 1963

Currently preserved by Air Atlantique in Eagle colours and flying out of Coventry.

G-ARKB, Bristol Britannia 324, Cunard Eagle Airways, 1963

Last production Britannia built.

G-AOVE, Bristol Britannia 312, from British United Airways, Stansted, 1962

G-AOVP, Bristol Britannia 312F, BOAC, 1962

G-AOIG, Douglas DC-7F, BOAC, 1962

G-ARYE, Douglas DC-7C, from Caledonian Airways, Gatwick, 1963

Bore the name 'Flagship Bonnie Scotland'.

I-DUVB, Douglas DC-7C, Alitalia, 1963

OD-AEJ, DC-7, Lebanese International Airways, 1963

G-ANYB, Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair, from Channel Air Bridge, 05-62

Prototype Carvair, converted from Douglas C-54 in 1961 with a capacity of 25 passengers and five cars, loaded at the front.

G-ANYB, Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair, from Channel Air Bridge, Southend, 05-62

SU-AKX, Vickers Viscount 732, United Arab Airlines, 1964

Damaged beyond repair on landing at Beirut, 23 March, 1964.

OD-ACW, Vickers Viscount 754D, MEA, 1964

Leased from BOAC in 1958. Damaged beyond repair after ground collision with DC-9 at Honolulu, 27 June, 1969.

9G-AAL, IL-18 of Ghana Airways on the pan at Khormaksar Airport in 1963 (Mac McLauchlan)

9G-AAL, IL-18, Ghana Airways, 11-62

l to r; IL-18, 9G-AAL of Ghana Airways and two Britannias, G-AOVE of British United Airways and BOAC's G-AOVJ in the early morning sun at Khormaksar in 1963 (Mac McLauchlan)

Jet-engined airliners

VP-KPK, DH Comet 4 of East African Airways, taxies along the Khormaksar peri-track in December 1962

5H-AAF, Comet 4, East African Airways, 1967 (author's collection)

Originally VP-KPK, this aircraft ended its days at Lasham.

G-APDJ, Comet 4, BOAC, 12-62

Originally delivered to BOAC in January 1960 the aircraft was sold to Dan-Air in May 1967 and scrapped in 1974.

SU-AMV, DH Comet 4C, United Arab Airlines, 12-62

OD-ADR, Middle East Airlines Comet 4C, powers-out from the Khormaksar civil airport in 1963

In a retaliation against Lebanon for a terrorist attack on a Boeing aircraft in Athens, 8 Israeli Air Force Super Frelon helicopters landed at Beirut International Airport at night in December 1968. Commandos set fire to OD-ADR and 13 other Lebanese aircraft.

OD-AEF, Sud-Aviation Caravelle SE-210 of Middle East Airlines is seen parked on the civil airport apron at Khormaksar in 1963

In a retaliation against Lebanon for a terrorist attack on a Boeing aircraft in Athens, 8 Israeli Air Force Super Frelon helicopters landed at Beirut International Airport at night in December 1968. Commandos set fire to OD-AEF and 13 other Lebanese aircraft.

G-ARPB, DH Trident 1C, from British European Airways, 11-62

2nd production Trident, seen on hot weather trials, 29th November to 1st December.

G-ARVA, Vickers VC-10, BOAC, on hot weather trials from Wisley in late 1962/early 1963. The Hunters of 208 and 8 Sqns are visible in the background

1st production VC-10-1101. Leased to Nigeria Airways as 5N-ABD in January 1969 but crashed on landing at Lagos, Nigeria in the following November, killing all 83 passengers and crew.

VT-DJJ, Boeing 707-337C of Air India, taxies down the Khormaksar peri-track in 1964 (author)

The Boeing 707 was being seen in increasing numbers across the globe in the early sixties, OO-SJG of the Belgian airline Sabena being depicted in this example

Back