The historic Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft (the legendary Dakota “Poseidon”), is preparing its wings to fly again in the sky of Thessaloniki, possibly in 2022. “This is our will and wish, always with the help and the cooperation of our Air Force “, said speaking to the radio station of APE-MPE, Mr. Dimitrios Kolias, vice-president and legal representative of the” Ikaros “Foundation, the body that will bear the cost of its reconstruction.
According to Mr. Kolias, the specific effort for the Dakota 49-2622 “Poseidon” located in Thessaloniki can be completed quickly as it will not be necessary to transport the aircraft to the premises of a special factory for historic aircraft in the United Kingdom, as was done with the Spitfire MJ755 who now participates in military parades.
“We have already taken steps for this Douglas C-47 Skytrain to be built. And it will be made very soon. We know what happens to the aircraft. “As soon as the Harvard (another aircraft) that we plan to rebuild there as the Spitfire was repaired leaves England, we are moving forward with this legendary aircraft as well”, added Mr. Kolias. He also explained the reasons that the return to flight condition of this historic Dakota aircraft will eventually take place in Greece. “For this particular plane we know what is happening and what will happen with the spare parts. “Where will we find them, how will we find them in Greece but, if necessary, also from abroad”, explained the vice-president of “Ikaros”, pointing out that in the current circumstances it is difficult to move for its reconstruction the legendary transport that participated in Korean War.
“Thessaloniki must have this plane”
Mr. Kolias explained that everything that will be done in Dakota 49-2622 “Poseidon” will be done in Greece, with the only possible external repair of a wing and if something like that is needed. According to Mr. Kolias, “the mobilization will be complete in order for the aircraft to fly. We will also bring a special team of engineers to Greece, who, together with the excellent Greek engineers, will assist so that we can rebuild the aircraft. This Dakota is also in much better condition than the other aircraft (including Spitfire and Harvard) so only a partial reconstruction is needed in Greece. We have seen the design for this plane very warmly. We are very optimistic that, with the cooperation and the positive mood that exists from the PA of the country, the project of this Dakota will proceed very immediately, so that in 2022 we have even completed it! “Thessaloniki must have this plane …”, stressed Mr. Kolias.
The second historic aircraft leaves for the United Kingdom
The efforts to find again in the skies historic aircraft with all the benefits of promotion and image that the country can receive, have another perspective: “Greece to become within the next 3-4 years a country that has a remarkable swarm of historians aircraft and will be able to take part in international exhibitions, “said the legal representative of the institution. Mr. Kolias explained that immediately, within the next two weeks, he is expected to leave the country to be rebuilt in the United Kingdom and the second aircraft (Harvard), which will fly in a few months. “We had some delays in the case of Harvard brought by the pandemic, but we are pleased to announce that this vintage plane is now leaving Greece to return fully rebuilt, in flight condition …” he said.
“The Foundation has signed a reconstruction contract with ‘The Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill)’ at the UK’s Heritage Hangar, we have agreed everything with the Air Force and the reconstruction of Harvard will take about a year. It’s a little more time than we expected, the result of a … full of three Spitfire and two more Harvard sheds of the company that are also being rebuilt on the same site. “But then, as Greece, we will have a … historical training for the future pilots of the Spitfire MJ755!”, Kolias stressed, referring to the second historic plane that Greece will acquire.
The first international appearances of the Greek Spitfire MJ755 are planned
Given the operation of the rare reconstructed historic aircraft “… and as flag carriers) of Greece abroad, Mr. Kolias revealed that a presence at an international airshow, carefully selected with the data and the challenges brings the pandemic, is in the early stages of planning. “The goal is, at least at European level, for aircraft like the Spitfire MJ755 initially to go to exhibitions, events and air shows flying. “Such very important events are taking place several times in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Germany, and many countries have already received Spitfire challenges in the first phase,” Mr Kolias explained.
The vice-president of the “Ikaros” Foundation stressed that, with the cooperation of the Air Force, with the colors of which the aircraft flies and will fly, all these information-requests will be processed. And within the next quarter it will be clear whether the Spitfire MJ755 (which flew over Athens and Thessaloniki on national holidays) will take part in such events representing Greece. A possible, “if all goes well in the mobility of the relevant exhibitions”, first presence abroad in Germany may be possible next September with the “Ikaros” Foundation “ready to help financially for this.”
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