Demonstrated in Europe in 1934-1935, this Staggerwing was sold to Abyssinia (Ethiopia). A French pilot delivered it to Akaki airfield on 20 October 1935. Emperor Haile Selassie came to inspect it two days later. It was painted creamy white and blue and named Nisiri (eagle) in Amharic script. The Red Cross objected to the red Coptic cross marking seen on the wing and it was removed. Meanwhile Italy was invading the country and the subsequent use and fate of the Beech are uncertain. Thanks to Zelealem Andarge for pointing out that Akaki was the same airfield as Lideta. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

A crowd gathers at Addis Ababa airport to see the arrival of EAL's first pressurised aircraft - a Convair 240. Re-registered ET-AAV in June 1964 and sold to Central Airlines (USA) in December 1964. From Convair 60 years ago.