Basic RAF livery with small Cyprus Airways stickers above the doors, operated by Aer Turas

With Eurafric and about to be acquired by Redcoat Air Cargo - full details with my upload as XL639 at #736751. W/o Boston 16th February 1980

XL639 was delivered to 99 Sqdn in October 1958, the unit becoming 99/511 Sqdn in 1961. Stored at 5 MU Kemble from October 1975, it was bought by Guiness Peat Aviation in early 1976 and on to Airline Engineering a year later after storage at Stansted. Registered EI-BDC it operated various lease periods with Aer Turas and Cyprus Airways before being sold to Eurafric in January 1978. Moving to Redcoat Air Cargo as G-BRAC in June 1978, it sadly crashed after take-off from Boston-Logan on 16th February 1980 due to ice accumulation and windshear. Pre-flight weather briefing was judged inadequate.

sadly lost in February 1980 after take-off at Boston due to accumulation of ice and snow (photographer not known)

Redcoat was a Luton based cargo airline in operation from 1976 to 1982. This aircraft was delivered to the Royal Air Force as XL639 on 08 Oct 1959 and operated by 99 and 511 Squadrons. WFU and stored at Kemble in Oct 1975. To Airline engineering as EI-BDC on 25 Apr 1977. It did a couple of short leases to Cyprus Airways. To Eurafric on 20 Jan 1978. Bought by Redcoat as G-BRAC on 08 Jun 1978. It crashed after take off near Boston Logan Airport while operating for Redcoat on 16 Feb 1980 killing 7 of the 8 crew.

Operated by 99/511 Squadrons. Became EI-BDC, G-BRAC. Fatal crash after take-off from Boston-Logan on 16th February 1980 resulting from an accumulation of ice and snow on the airframe.

Photo from the collection of the late Stephen Piercey.

Delivered to the RAF as XL639 in 1959. To Aer Turas as EI-BDC in 1977 then to Redcoat Air Cargo as G-BRAC in 1978. Crashed after takeoff from Boston-Logan in 1980 due to accumulation of snow and ice.

ex RAF XL639. photo by Paul Zethof

Ex RAF XL639. With Aer Turas when this photo was taken. Went to Redcoat Air Cargo in Jun 78 as G-BRAC. Sadly crashed and written off due to icing after take-off from Boston MA (USA) 16 Feb 80.