This registration was cancelled on 20th December 1988 when the aircraft was transferred to the Canadian marks C-FDFC. It returned to the UK in 1994 but sadly, on 18th June 1996, on its way to an appearance at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, the aircraft crashed on departure from Enstone Airfield in Oxfordshire and was written off.

Operated by Instone Air Line and flying for Air Atlantique / Atlantic Air Transport. Delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ5912 on 17 Mar 1955. Leased to Straights Air Freight Express as ZK-BVI Dec 1957 to Mar 1958 then returned to the RNZAF. Bought by Dwen Airmotive Aug 1978 as ZK-EPH. Sold to Instone Airlines as G-BISU 06 May 1981. To Trans Provincial Airlines of Canada as C-FDFC 20 Dec 1988. Bought by John Duncan and Partners Jul 1994. Damaged beyond repair on take of from Enstone in Oxfordshire on 18 Jul 1996.

Ex ZK-EPH, NZ5912, ZK-BVI, NZ5912, G-18-194. Registration cancelled on 20 December 1988 on sale to Canada as C-FDFC. Damaged beyond repair in a take-off accident at Enstone on 18 July 1996.

Damaged beyond repair as C-FDFC whilst taking off Enstone, Oxfordshire July 18, 1996.

Date extimated

It always pains me that if it had not gone tech on arrival (not this day, but another time at East Midlands) I would have flown on it, positioning to Coventry. Sadly, I never got another opportunity.

Seen soon after acquisition from NZ, with horse loading ramp just in front of the nose doors

Years ago, a lot of photos of this airframe could already be found online, including those of its sad end in 1996. However, hardly visible on those were the 'Instone Air Line' titles on the cargo doors. As I have this shot that shows them at least partly I gladly responded to a request to upload it. [Pentax MX, Fuji Sensia]

One of the world's last active Bristol Freighters wearing the titles of both Instone and Atlantic. It had been delivered in March 1955 to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ5912.

Sold in Canada not too long after this shot but returned to UK in 7.94 as C-FDFC, sadly to be written off in a take-off crash two years later