Help needed (what it this?)

Posted by Droid_K2SA@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 21 comments

while I was putting things away in my father's house I came across this photo accompanied by a flight log. my father took this plane several times for his company between 1967 and 1969. This plane carried out domestic flights in France. My sister told me that our father told her that the plane crashed some time later. I grew up under an airport and I'm interested in aviation but I've never seen such a machine, if you can identify it I'd be grateful.

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Rich_Primary_1168@reddit

DeHavilland Dove, there's one for Sale in Germany rn https://www.planecheck.com?ent=da&id=63348

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Hattix@reddit

That's a De Havilland DH104 Dove modified as the Riley Turbo-Executive 400. They based it at Le Bourget and, like you say, it flew mostly for domestic French routes.

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Varmtvandogis@reddit

Here it is:
https://www.airhistory.net/photo/704327/F-BORJ

It appears that it was deleted from the French registry on 24/01/1975

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Droid_K2SA@reddit (OP)

wow awesome thank you so much!

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It is a de Havilland DH.104 Dove, the "Riley 400" variant with serial number 04288. You can see lots of pics of it's type here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Dove
It was registered on 09/05/1967 and deregistered on 24/01/1975, so those date may help you.
Its operational base is listed as having been Saint-Brieuc-Armor, so the photo was probably taken at the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Brieuc–Armor_Airport

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Droid_K2SA@reddit (OP)

that's impressive! thank you so much 🙏

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Night_Chicken@reddit

Here's more info on it.

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Bloodyfinger@reddit

Wow, isn't that the exact same one as in the photo? Same tail letters!! F-BORJ

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Droid_K2SA@reddit (OP)

that's insane, Reddit is a crazy place I'm amazed!

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Droid_K2SA@reddit (OP)

Thank you!! 🙏