DH Dove
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De Havilland DH104 Dove (1946)
SAA purchased two of these 8-seater British-built aircraft in 1946/7 for use on the proposed feeder services in South Africa. This scheme never materialised and the aircraft were briefly used on the route to Mozambique and for communications duties before being sold in 1952. In 1978 one of SAA’s original Doves, ZS-BCC, was re-acquired and restored to static display and is based at the SAA Museum Society complex at Rand Airport.
Normal passenger load: 8
ZS-BCC, BCB
DH Dove |
ZS-BCC |
Katberg Naval Hill |
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Modelling
The following kits have been produced over the years that will allow the modeller to build a model of this aircraft.
A-Model Produce a 1/72 scale injection moulded kit of this aircraft
Airfix released a close relative to the DH Dove in the form of a 1/72nd scale kit of the DH Heron. A conversion based on this model is possible but these days it is no longer necessary as it is now possible to build one straight from the box in the form of a 1/72nd scale resin kit from
Magna models.
Rareplanes also had a 1/72nd scale vac-u-form kit in their range if you can find one.
Welsh Models has a 1/72nd scale kit of the DH Dove series 8 in their range.
Colours
Natural metal overall with Cerulean Blue trim on top of the cowlings with a pin stripe and a fuselage cheat line below the windows. The tail fin had a blue band on it. SAA logo carried on nose and the aircraft had SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS (right) /SUID AFRIKAANSE LUGDIENS (left) struck through by a blue band with wings enclosing the airlines name. This band had a black pin stripe to it. There was no national flag carried on this scheme and the aircraft registration was carried in large letters on the rear fuselage as well as above and below the main wings.
Decals
At the time of writing no dedicated decals have been produced to allow the modeller to build an SAA operated aircraft. Although being plain black registration codes and airline titles it should not be too difficult to reproduce them. The modeller will have difficulty with SAA’s badge though as to date no decal manufacturer produces the early SAA winged wheel with a Springbok in it.