During the summer of 2012 one of the engines of PH-DDZ failed and the aircraft was grounded. The financial burden was too great for the Dutch Dakota Association to restore airworthiness and, after almost four years of inactivity, the PH-DDZ was sold to the Aviodrome museum at Lelystad. This venerable old DC-3 is now stored in the restoration hangar.

Built as USAF 43-15288 and delivered Mar-1944. To N87663 (FAA) registered Oct-1962, reregistered N161 by 1964, to 6OS-AAA (Somali AL) registered May-1964, reregistered 6O-SAA Oct-1970, to N920 registered Jan-1981, to SU-BFY (Pyramid AL) registered Jun-1982, to EI-BSJ in Jun-1986 but that was not taken up, to PH-DDZ instead, registered Apr-1987. It is here painted in the old MAC color scheme.

Already carries the name Doornroosje on the left side, and Sleeping Beauty on the right side.

Very nice to see this old classic at close quarters. (Canon 40D 55mm)

Departing the Airfield at 5-50pm after the Flying Legends display had ended. (Canon 40D 275mm)

Departing off of the Kaagbaan at 09-20. (Canon D60 190mm)

Reminding me of Southend in the 60's, the MAC Dak fires up for the short hop back to Holland after loading its pax at the end of Flying Legends 07

DDA's second DC-3 making a low pass over runway 32 (now closed), at the end of its delivery flight from Malta, in the company of ill-fated sistership PH-DDA. It already carries the name "Doornroosje" just below the cockpit window (with "Sleeping Beauty" on the right side). This DC-3 would not fly again for 12 years due to a very thorough restoration. When it did, on 7 May 1999, the Pyramid Airlines colours in this photo (ex SU-BFY) had been replaced by a nice retro Martin's Air Charter livery. The aircraft was withdrawn from use in October 2012, and initially stored at Amsterdam-Schiphol. In September 2016 it was dismantled and transported by barge to the Aviodrome Museum at Lelystad.

Like the bears in the zoo this warm winter, Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty) isn't hibernating. She's wagging her tail and pressing her nose against the hangar door, wanting to get out and fly.