Active on its last commercial contract, supporting firefighting operations for the Alaska Bureau of Land Management, operated by Duncan Aviation. Parked on the fire fighters' ramp at Fort Wainwright, still carrying elements of its previous Universal Airlines scheme. This is the prototype Argosy built in 1958. First for BEA - British European Airways in 1961 as G-AOZZ. Sold to Detroit-based Universal in 1968 as N896U. Joined Duncan Aviation in 1971. Retired to the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run, Michigan in 1991. Broken up in 2013.

Sadly this aircraft was scrapped in situ in March 2013.

AW image D0947. CAHS/Heather Zucal collection

AW image D0394. CAHS/Heather Zucal collection

K25 slide scan. Owner Duncan Aviation. First Argosy, delivered to BEA as G-AOZZ December 1961. Withdrawn 1965 and bought by Universal Airlines 1968, in storage at Marana by 1969. Aquired by Duncan Aviation 1971 for BLM contract work in Alaska, active until 1990 then flown to Lincoln, NE. Stencilled inscription on aircraft nose reads amongst others " last commercial flight 9/30/1990". Donated to Yankee Air Museum and flown to Willow Run 29 December 1991. Scrapped 2013.

The first Argosy!

The first Argosy built, seen after being retired from service with Universal and stored at YIP.

One of six Argosys registered to Universal Airlines

This is the very first Argosy built. This prototype was delivered to British European as G-AOZZ in December 1961. Exactly seven years later they sold it to Detroit-based Universal Airlines as N896U, and it kept those marks ever since. The aircraft is seen here during the twilight of its active career. A little more than a year later it returned to its former home at Detroit / Willow-Run airport, for preservation in the Yankee Air Force Museum. Regrettably, it was completely broken up in 2013 for financial reasons, despite still being in very good condition.