An End of an Era: Atlantic Airlines retires its last Lockheed Electra

Atlantic Airlines (UK) (Coventry) yesterday (April 27) reached a milestone for the company.

Atlantic Airlines’ last airworthy Lockheed Electra, the pictured 188C (F) G-LOFC (msn 1100), ferried from Katowice to Coventry in the early hours of April 27 after operating the final Electra commercial flight from Leipzig on behalf of DHL.

The converted freighter has been sold to Buffalo Airways (Yellowknife) and departed for Keflavik just after 1045 local time. Atlantic Airlines
staff were out in force to wave it off, the departure was filmed for “Ice Pilots”, it received a water canon salute and then made a final approach and flyby before departing to its new home.

There are still two derelict Electras parked up at Coventry. However G-LOFC was also the last airworthy Electra in Europe.

This aircraft was originally delivered to American Airlines as N6123A “Flagship Nashville” on October 22, 1959.

Thank you to Gordon Stretch for this report and photos.

Atlantic Airlines (UK): AG Slide Show

Copyright Photos Below: Gordon Stretch. G-LOFC is given the traditional water cannon salute on its departure from CVT. The last operational Electra leaves Europe.

Atlantic Airlines (UK) 188CF G-LOFE (Grd) CVT (GST)(LR)

Atlantic Airlines (UK) 188CF G-LOFE (Tko) CVT (GST)(LR)

4 thoughts on “An End of an Era: Atlantic Airlines retires its last Lockheed Electra”

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  3. Graham

    I recall flying from Wellington NZ to Sydney Australia mid-1965 in an Electra operated by Tasman Empire Airways just before TEAL changed its name to Air New Zealand. From memory the flight took about six hours – about twice what it takes modern aircraft. Six hours was not long enough to become accustomed to the very loud engines and visibly shaking sides of the aircraft. Later I learnt that just weeks earlier a TEAL Electra had been destroyed when a training landing went wrong at Whenuapai (Auckland). The accident was hushed up. Nevertheless I have a soft spot for the old turboprop transport and ocean reconnaisance workhorse. Thanks for the memories!

    1. Bruce Drum Post author

      Thank you Graham. The Lockheed Electra had a troubled early career with three highly publicized crashes between 1959 and 1960. An engine mount problem caused severe turbulence and in two of the crashes, the wings came off in flight. After grounding, Lockheed redesigned the mounts and wing structures were changed and the updated “Electra II” went on for a very long career as a successful passenger and cargo aircraft. I flew the type too with National Airlines and Eastern Airlines (you can find pictures in the AG library – see below). Now Canada will be the last stronghold of the Electra both as a fire bomber and a freighter. The redesign has proven its worth.

      Thank you for your support of WAN and the AirlinersGallery.com.

      Bruce

      Link for Electra photos:

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