Dutch Dakota Assocation established
The Dutch Dakota Association was founded on March 10, 1982 from an idea by Anne Cor Groeneveld and Gerrit van Gelder. Both pilots at Transavia wanted to build support for bringing a DC-3 Dakota to the Netherlands. Pictured on the left is Margaret van Gelder, also a DDA board member, and on the right is Anne Cor Groeneveld.
First test flight
After a long search for a suitable DC-3, more than 30 aircraft were inspected, a Dakota was purchased in Finland. With registration PH-DDA, this aircraft made its first test flight on April 13, 1983.
Landing at Schiphol Airport
A year later, on April 18, 1984, PH-DDA landed at Schiphol Airport. In the meantime, pilots and cabin crew had been trained according to international rules and a skilled and complete technical service had been assembled. That summer, the DDA received the certificate of airworthiness from then-Minister of Transportation Neelie Smit-Kroes.
First prize at the ‘Concour d’Elegance’
In 1985, the year of the DC-3 Dakota’s 50th anniversary, the Delta Delta Delta Alpha won first prize at the “Concour d’Elegance” at the Fairford airshow. In 1985, the first DDA magazine “Dakota” saw the light of day.
Second Dakota: PH-DDZ
There had been a desire to add a second Dakota for some time. After a two-year search, a suitable aircraft is found in 1987 in Malta. In May of the same year, PH-DDZ landed at Schiphol-East. With the intention of preserving this aircraft for a long time, the technical department began a complete overhaul with great enthusiasm. It would eventually last 12 years.
Purchase Beechcraft 18-3NM
On May 10, 1988, the Beech 18 N5369X arrives from Canada. The Beech 18 will be used as a smaller passenger aircraft and to prepare prospective DDA pilots to fly a tailwheel aircraft. In 1994, the Beech would be sold to the Royal Air Force Historical Flight.
Purchase DC-2: ‘PH-AJU’
On December 10, 1988, a DC-2, purchased by the DDA from Australia, arrives in Den Helder on the deck of HMS Zuiderkruis. At that time, the DDA intends to restore the DC-2 and make it airworthy again. However, the restoration of the DDZ took priority and eventually the DC-2 was sold to the Aviodrome, which in turn sold the aircraft to the Dutch Transport Museum.
Own hangar
October 13, 1989 marks the opening of DDA’s own hangar at Schiphol called “Hangar 3″. On the same day, the DDA presents PH-PBB, a 1944-built Stinson L5 Sentinel that was privately owned by DDA patron HRH Prince Bernhard until 1956.
DC-4 Skymaster
After successfully flying DC-3 Dakotas, the DC-3’s bigger sister is acquired; the DC-4 Skymaster PH-DDS and her sister ship, the C-54 PH-DDY. The DDS flew successively for South African Airlines and the South African Air Force since 1946.
In 1996, the DC-4 ZS-NUR arrived in the Netherlands after a ten-day ferry flight from South Africa. Equipped with 50 first-class seats, the aircraft will be used for members and sponsors of the DDA. The ZS-NUR was entered in the Dutch aviation register in 1997 as PH-DDS and started its activities for the DDA that season. On June 4, 1997, the second DC-4 registered as ZS-IPR landed at Schiphol Airport. The registration PH-DDY was reserved for the C-54, but the aircraft would never fly again and was sold to the Aviodrome in 2003
Tragisch ongeluk
Tot grote ontsteltenis van de hele luchtvaartwereld verongelukt de PH-DDA ter hoogte van Texel. Alle inzittenden komen om het leven. Dit ongeval laat diepe sporen na bij de nabestaanden en de DDA. In de tuin van het Provinciehuis te Haarlem bevindt zich een monument ter nagedachtenis van dit tragische ongeval.
PH-PBA
A longtime wish of H.R.H. Prince Bernhard became a reality in 1998; after a thorough restoration, the PBA Foundation transferred the former government aircraft, the PH-Prince Bernhard Alpha (PH-PBA), to the DDA board to add to its operational fleet.
PH-DDZ into the air
May 7, 1999, will be a memorable day for DDA Classic Airlines. PH-DDZ took to the skies for the first time. The aircraft has undergone a transformation in 12 years that no one thought possible. Rising like a phoenix from the ashes, this aircraft has been transformed from an old workhorse into a DC-3 in nearly new condition. The representative of Boeing, McDonnell-Douglas’s licensee, stated characteristically that the last DC-3 was built in Holland.
End of DC-4 operation
Flying the DC-4 proved financially unfeasible due to limiting regulations, and in 2000 the DDA board had to decide to stop the DC-4 operation. In South Africa, a partner is found in Springbok Classic Air, which wants to operate the aircraft under a lease agreement. A year later, the DDA remediates and bundles its operations in Hangar 2. Hangar 3 will be sold and occupied by another aviation company.
JAR-OPS
The DDA has always wanted to operate as a full-fledged airline to demonstrate its ability to meet the highest safety and training requirements. With the 2003 addition of the aircraft to a JAR-OPS license from partner JetNetherlands, this wish will become a reality. A few years later, the license was transferred to AllPlanes BV and the DDA’s operational responsibilities with its aircraft were transferred to the operational partner AllPlanes BV. The organization is growing with European regulations, and the DC-3 will fly under EASA-OPS starting in 2014.
To Lelystad
By the end of 2009, DDA will move to Lelystad. The goal is to merge with the Aviodrome located there. Maintenance will be done at the Catalina Hangar, while offices will be housed at the Aviodrome. When two years later the Aviodrome runs into difficulties, efforts are made to decouple and return DDA to Schiphol. KLM will provide shelter in Hangar 10. Both DC-3s, TD and offices reunited at Schiphol East in November 2013.
PH-DDZ grounded
PH-DDZ will be grounded in the summer of 2012. One of the motors needs to be replaced. An engine fund is being set up for this costly operation.
All DDA flights have been operated with the PH-PBA since the summer of 2012.
Operation of DC-3
In late 2013, the Foundation board decided to concentrate on operating DC-3 Dakota ‘s.
Therefore, goodbye was said to the DC-4. The DC-4 that has been sitting unused at the Cape Town airport in South Africa for several years will be sold to the Flying Dutchman Foundation. This keeps the device in Dutch hands. The second DC-4 that has been on display for years on the grounds of Aviodrome in Lelystad is being sold to the new owner and operator of the Aviodrome Aviation Museum.
AOC
In June 2014, IL&T, the regulator of civil aviation in the Netherlands, awarded the Aircraft Operate Certificate (AOC) to DDA. That is, the transfer for operational responsibilities from AllPlanes BV to DDA is a reality. DDA is establishing a separate foundation called DDA Flight Support for this purpose. The award of the AOC is yet another recognition of the professionalism shown by DDA in the conduct of flight operations.
End of KLM sponsorship
In September 2015, the KLM Executive Board announced that it would end its cooperation with the DDA as of January 1, 2016. That means an end to a commitment of more than 30 years. The DDA promoted KLM somewhere in Europe every year. The PH-PBA in retro KLM colors is generating a lot of exposure in the media and among KLM relations everywhere. The DDA must look for new housing as of Oct. 1, 2016, because Hangar 10 is no longer available. Also, the 2016 flying season is three months shorter than usual because KLM needed the hangar itself over the winter and there is an E-inspection in October 2016.
Back to Lelystad
After extensive exploration for a new location, it is decided to return to Lelystad. The Catalina hangar will be the site of E-inspection during the winter of 2016/2017.
In the fall of 2016, PH-DDZ will be sold to the Aviodrome. The plane had been grounded for more than 4 years without the DDA having the necessary resources to make it airworthy again.
September and October are busy months in 2016 with the move to Lelystad. Offices for engineering will be housed in the Catalina hangar, while the secrtariat, administration and OCC will be located at Emu Road 26.
Weight saving
At the beginning of 2017, in cooperation with Fokker Services, a comprehensive project to significantly reduce the PBA’s take-off weight will be launched, so that new and lighter seats will allow 18 passengers to fly instead of 12. The need to generate more revenue for our tours is compelling. A three-year sponsorship contract will be signed with Jumbo Supermarkets. This means that with a series of cost-saving and revenue-increasing measures, DDA can move forward for three years.
Work on the weight saving project will extend until mid-August, allowing only 2 1/2 months of flying in the 2017 season. A trip to Sweden sponsored by beer brewer Spendrups will ensure coverage in 2017.
2018
Het jaar 2018 is een uitstekend vliegseizoen geworden. Niet in de laatste plaats door een uitzonderlijk mooie zomer, waardoor maar weinig vluchten vanwege weersomstandigheden moesten worden geannuleerd. De PBA bracht diverse bezoeken aan Duitse luchthavens, waar de belangstelling voor de ‘Rosinenbomber’ zowel bij het publiek als de media groot is.
AOC (opnieuw)
Op instigatie van de Luchtvaart Autoriteit worden voorbereidingen getroffen om in 2019 onder een AOC met een commerciële vergunning te gaan vliegen.
Het jaar 2019 wordt een jaar met een wisselend beeld. Het seizoen begint 6 weken te laat omdat het AOC en de exploitatievergunning pas medio mei worden ontvangen. Het behalen van deze vergunningen is een geweldige stap voorwaarts en een must voor DDA. Commercieel vliegen is onder de Regeling Historische Luchtvaart niet mogelijk.
Normandië
In juni 2019 is het 75 jaar geleden dat de landingen in Normandië plaatsvonden. Een grote verzameling Dakota’s verzamelt zich in Caen voor deze gelegenheid waaronder onze PH-PBA.Net als in ’44 werkt het weer niet mee, maar DDA is de enige Dakota die rondvluchten maakt boven de stranden. Het seizoen kent in de laatste maanden veel annuleringen door het weer en door de beperkte beschikbaarheid van cockpit bemanning. In technische en operationele zin heeft de PBA fantastisch gepresteerd. Zonder enig probleem zijn de bijna 200 vluchten uitgevoerd, dank zij de niet aflatende zorg van onze onderhoudsploeg en de vakbekwaamheid van onze vliegers.
Corona
In 2020 zijn door de regeringsmaatregelen ter voorkoming van de verspreiding van het Corona virus alle vluchten van april t/m oktober geannuleerd. Hierdoor vervielen de gebudgetteerde inkomsten van het vliegen met betalende passagiers en zijn kostenbesparende maatregelen genomen. Zo is de PH-PBA naar Gilze-Rijen gevlogen en mocht daar gebruikmaken van de gastvrijheid van de Stichting Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht (KLUHV). De WA-verzekering werd opgeschort.
Bij JetSupport
Sinds 28 april 2021 is de PH-PBA weer terug op Schiphol-Oost en heeft onderdak gevonden bij JetSupport in Hangaar 32. Ook de kantoren zijn van Lelystad verhuisd naar Schiphol-Oost. Na een reguliere C-check en training van de crew is onze Koninklijke Dakota begin augustus weer helemaal klaar voor rondvluchten vanaf de diverse luchthavens in Nederland.
Nadat in het voorjaar van 2021 de maatregelen ter voorkoming van de verspreiding van Corona werden versoepeld kon de PH-PBA in augustus van dat jaar weer vliegen. Ondanks de korte tijd die in het seizoen 2021 overbleef om te vliegen werden er een flink aantal vluchten gemaakt met record bezettingscijfers.
Na afloop van de Corona periode constateerden wij dat, met de hulp van vele historische luchtvaartenthousiastelingen, DDA zonder noemenswaardige consequenties weer aan de start van het nieuwe seizoen 2022 kan verschijnen.
2022
In 2022 wordt er een uitgebreid vluchtenprogramma gepubliceerd. Met bezoeken aan een aantal Duitse luchthavens en wederom Caen. De rondvluchten over de stranden van Normandië zijn allen uitverkocht.
Inde winter van 2022/2023 ondergaat de PH-PBA een grote onderhoudsbeurt die de technici maanden bezig houdt.
Succesvoller dan ooit
Het seizoen 2023 gaat in de boeken als het meest succesvolle van het afgelopen decennium. Ondanks een flinke prijsverhoging als gevolg van gestegen kosten maakt de PBA een record aantal vluchten en vervoert zij meer passagiers dan zij ooit in een seizoen heeft vervoerd. De organisatie is sterker dan ooit met vrijwilligers die hun vak verstaan. Langzamerhand dagen er bedreigingen op voor DDA, zoals de immer stijgende kosten, de milieu problematiek, geluidshinder en de annonce dat in 2025 de levering van de speciale brandstof voor de PBA niet meer wordt voortgezet.