The last airworthy Hawker Siddeley HS.748 (also known as the BAe 748) in Canada has been donated to a museum as it ends its incredibly 50 year flying career.
Welcomed by a water cannon salute, the aircraft, with registration C-FLIY, landed at Windsor Regional Airport in Ontario on Friday 30th May where it was handed over to the Canadian Aviation Museum for preservation.
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A History of C-FLIY
Photo (c) Aero Icarus
Built in 1975, this HS.748 Srs 2 aircraft (construction number 1723) spent 20 years flying for the German Federal Aviation Office. It had the registration D-AFSF.
In 1995 it was sold to West Air Sweden and took up the registration SE-LEG. It flew cargo services throughout northern Europe.
In 2006 the aircraft was sold on to Air Creebec as C-FLIY.
Air Creebec is a regional airline based in Val-d’Or, Quebec, with a hub at Timmins Victor M. Power Airport. It operates scheduled and charter services to 16 destinations in Quebec and Ontario.
This aircraft was used to support cargo and logistics operations, particularly to locations in the remote north of Canada.
Air Creebec, like many other Canadian carriers, found the 748 perfect for this kind of rugged operation and, despite their age, a sizeable fleet has been used in the country for years.
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Plans for the Aircraft
With all other active HS.748s in Canada (and indeed the Western Hemisphere) retired, it was left to C-FLIY to operate what is likely to be the last ever flight of the type in Canada.
The aircraft will now be put on display for public visiting the museum to get up close to and enjoy.
According to the museum:
The Canadian Aviation Museum will preserve C-FLIY as a testament to the important role regional and Indigenous-owned airlines play in the fabric of Canadian transportation. The aircraft will be on permanent display for museum visitors
The final flight of C-FLIY will be closing a chapter on decades of service and opening a new one in celebration and remembrance.
Windsor, Ontario
Canada N8V 1A1
3 comments
thank you for all your help
keep up the great work
take care and stay safe
Flew on Dan Air HS 748’s on numerous occasions in the 1970’s and 1980’s. From Jersey to Gatwick and return, plus Bristol. A reliable workhorse and a pleasure to fly on.
Yes loved the 748 and had many flights on them with BKS 1966/67/68. This aircraft was flying schedules right up until its retirement with 4 sectors on 26/05, and 2 sectors both 27/05 and 28/05.
We are fortunate to have just one preserved here in AUS, RAAF A10-601 at RAAF Pt Cook airfield near Melbourne.
There are a few other 748s preserved in Canada, one is ex BKS G-ATAM, ended its days as C-FMAA. at Thunder Bay.