The cockpit of a Sabena DC10 to be saved in Belgium

[sn26567]

The rescue of a Sabena DC-10 cockpit

By Guy van Herbruggen

Dear all - Very happy to inform you that 5X-JOE (ex OO-SLA) cockpit & some other important parts have safely arrived at St-Ghislain airport on another rainy day of Monday July 16th.

Departing at 05:20 this a.m. from MSE (Manston), we left Ramsgate on board MV Gardenia ferry operated by Transeuropean Ferries to Oostende where we arrived at 12:00 then heading to Saint-Ghislain Airport (in French, Aérodrome de Saint-Ghislain) where we finally arrived at 14:15.

5X-JOE is the former Sabena OO-SLA and the very first -30CF delivered to a European carrier on September 18th, 1973. The aircraft arrived at BRU on 22 September 1973. Initially used on routes to destinations in the Far East and Africa, it was also put into service on routes to the US and Canada. Wet-leased to JAT in 1987 in full colors and to Zambia AW in 1989 in basic SN colors, it returned to Sabena in 1990. In 1994, it was retired from Sabena fleet when sold to World as N116WA. At that time it was the highest time DC-10-30 with 89,139 hrs and 20,145 landings.

It was sold in 1995 to DAS Air Cargo as 5X-JOE and accumulated 125,718 hrs by Feb 2005. DAS Air ceased operations on September 17, 1997. The aircraft - scheduled for a check in Manston - was then stored and it is around April 2011 that first contacts were established to save Lima Alpha. A year later, dismantling started and on April 13, 2012 we conclude a deal with the owner to acquire the cockpit and some other parts. With the arrival of Lima Apha this afternoon, this concludes the first chapter of this adventure. Now in the hands of Eric Verlie, works will be undertaken to display the cockpit and other artifacts but that's an other story!

The cockpit is 99% complete, we are "only" missing two "clocks" or digital time indicators - see attached drawing. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Belgium is a small country but we can be proud to host the very first Sud Est Caravelle SE-210-6N (OO-SRA of Sabena - on display at the Brussels Air Museum), the first Boeing 707 delivered to a European carrier (OO-SJA of Sabena - front section on display at the Brussels Air Museum) and now significant parts of the first Sabena DC-10 and first -30CF delivered to a European carrier!

A few pictures can be seen here: http://www.oldjets.net/index_bestanden/Page2493.htm

[JOM4021]

Great news! Is it intended for display somewhere later on?

[Tomskii]

Great news! Is it intended for display somewhere later on?

Why not refurbish the whole plane instead of just the cockpit?

[EBAW]

This is good news.
It's a shame that they broke up the A300 OO-TEF some years ago!

[Bottie]

This is good news.
It's a shame that they broke up the A300 OO-TEF some years ago!

After all the excercises they did, I don't think there was another option but scrapping

[stratofreighter]

This is good news.
It's a shame that they broke up the A300 OO-TEF some years ago!

After all the excercises they did, I don't think there was another option but scrapping

Actually, there was a plan to preserve this unique Airbus A300B1. Unfortunately the project foundered in the end because of prohibitive costs.

[Bottie]

This is good news.
It's a shame that they broke up the A300 OO-TEF some years ago!

After all the excercises they did, I don't think there was another option but scrapping

Actually, there was a plan to preserve this unique Airbus A300B1. Unfortunately the project foundered in the end because of prohibitive costs.

Like I said, there must be a picture somewhere of the inside ... No other (affordable) option I'm afraid


edit: found one:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/TEA---Tr ... 990911d3f8

[EBAW]

It's a shame that airbus never bought this plane -> it was a good plane for Paris Le Bourget

[Bottie]

It's a shame that airbus never bought this plane -> it was a good plane for Paris Le Bourget

Let's hope they donate the first A320 to Le Bourget when it's no longer used for the 'sharklets'-program.

[stratofreighter]

It's a shame that airbus never bought this plane -> it was a good plane for Paris Le Bourget

Yes, Airbus was very much made aware of the continued existence of OO-TEF, and Noël Forgeard certainly knew about the project, but he wasn't interested...