Operated by Aerial Survey Botswana at this date, this Dakota has an interesting past story: Serving with the RAF as KP279 1945 to 1952, then BEA as G-ANMV before going to TASSA as EC-ATM 1962, Autair with G-ANMV restored 1965. To Bechuanaland National Airways as VQ-ZEA 1965 (re-reg'd A2-ZEA). To South Africa as ZS-FKI with Protea Airways November 1969, ZS-NPI with National Process Air and ZS-ASN with Aircraft Operating Company in 1980. To A2-ADN in 1982 and fitted with geological survey equipment at Toronto between 1982 and 1986. Seen here before fitting of nose extension. Photographer unknown

Operated by Aerial Survey Botswana at this date, this Dakota has an interesting past story: Serving with the RAF as KP279 1945 to 1952, then BEA as G-ANMV before going to TASSA as EC-ATM 1962, Autair with G-ANMV restored 1965. To Bechuanaland National Airways as VQ-ZEA 1965 (re-reg'd A2-ZEA). To South Africa as ZS-FKI with Protea Airways November 1969, ZS-NPI with National Process Air and ZS-ASN with Aircraft Operating Company in 1980. To A2-ADN in 1982 and fitted with geological survey equipment at Toronto between 1982 and 1986. Seen here after fitting of nose extension. Photo: Michael L Baker

Ex 44-77249, G-AMNV, EC-ATM, SE-EDI, 6V-AAM, VQ-ZEA, A2-ZEA, ZS-FKI, ZS-NPI, and A2-ADL. Became the 11th Basler conversion to BT-67 in 1992 as ZS-ASN for operation by Spectrem Air on worldwide geophysical surveys. Registered briefly in Brazil as PT-WXE in 2000 and PR-MGF in 2002. Photographer unknown

Ex 44-77249, G-AMNV, EC-ATM, SE-EDI, 6V-AAM, VQ-ZEA, A2-ZEA, ZS-FKI, ZS-NPI, and A2-ADL. Became the 11th Basler conversion to BT-67 in 1992 as ZS-ASN for operation by Spectrem Air on worldwide geophysical surveys. Registered briefly in Brazil as PT-WXE in 2000 and PR-MGF in 2002. Photographer unknown

ZS-ASN visited Australia to undertake electromagnetic surveys for a mining company.

Ex 44-77249, G-AMNV, EC-ATM, SE-EDI, 6V-AAM, VQ-ZEA, A2-ZEA, ZS-FKI, ZS-NPI, and A2-ADL. Became the 11th Basler conversion to BT-67 in 1992 as ZS-ASN for operation by Spectrem Air on worldwide geophysical surveys. Registered briefly in Brazil as PT-WXE in 2000 and PR-MGF in 2002.

On arrival from South Africa, prior to the survey gear fitment.

After RAF service it flew with British European Airways as G-AMNV. As if that was not enough of a UK connection, it visited on early IT flights as EC-ATM with TASSA. Here a world away and barely recognizable as a highly modified survey aircraft. Believed to be still going strong in 2021.

This DC-3 was parked by the old public ground enclosure above the tunnel to Heathrow Central. On the first roll of film through my first camera, a Kodak Brownie 127 my mother gave me when I was 12 years old

EX RAF Dakota IV KP279. To BEA in January 1952 as G-AMNV. Owned by Tyne Tees from June 1962 until January 1965. BOAC's leased Canadair CL-44 N228SW in background on the LHR-MAN-JFK cargo schedule.

This extraordinary beast, used for mineral surveys world-wide, still going strong after 55 years. Flew as Dakota IV G-AMNV with various companies till going to Africa in 1965. Fitted with magnetometer tail and wingtip housings at Toronto in 1982 and converted to turbo by Basler ten years later