Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair
You never know what a quick Google search will find. I wanted to see if I could find a rare aircraft that had flown in the Eastern Provincial Airways fleet to write about; it didn't take very long. The ATL-98 Carvair (pictured in this edition's header) came up among the photos in the search and certainly fit what I was looking for.
While researching the history of the aircraft, I noticed that it is frequently described as one of the ugliest and weirdest looking aircraft ever built. It looks to me like a cross between a Boeing 747 and an Airbus Beluga but, while watching the video (link below) of the vehicles being loaded through the nose, an image of a piranha swallowing a goldfish came to mind.
The aircraft model was apparently developed in the 1960's as an idea from the always innovative Freddie Laker to modify some surplus Douglas DC-4's to replace Bristol Freighters and carry cars across the English Channel (car-via-air).
Although not an attractive aircraft, it was quite practical. As operated by British Air Ferries (BAF), it could carry up to 5 cars with 22 passengers or, with quick conversion, fewer cars and more passengers.
CF-EPX (pictured in header) was leased by EPA from Air Lingus (July 1968) to carry freight to remote regions in the Maritimes. On September 28, 1968 it was damaged beyond repair while attempting to land at Twin Falls, Labrador.
A second ATL-98 was operated in Canada by Hawkair as late as 1999 under registration C-GAAH.
Thanks to Terry, Ken & Bob for their assistance with this article.
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Click the icon for YouTube videos of the ATL-98 Carvair.
