This 1977 built DHC-6 was Arkia's sole Twin Otter and flew for the airline between April 1989 and May 1997. Founded in 1949 as Eilat Airlines, Arkia's initial main purpose has been, as the name suggested, to serve the domestic Tel Aviv - Eilat route. Later, additional domestic destinations were added, and Arkia did operate many different a/c types, mainly in small numbers. Arkia's most popular and longest serving a/c type was the four engined DHC-7 Dash 7, of which the airline did operate no less than 13 airframes between September 1981 and early 2011, a span of almost three decades.

Fuel stop en-route to new operator, Prattville Airlines. Stored the following year in Canada with Trans Capital Air as C-GNUY. Probably scrapped by now.

Fuel stop en-route to new operator, Prattville Airlines. Scrapped the following year in Canada with Trans Capital Air as C-GYTZ.

Arkia briefly tried a helicopter service, taking rich tourists from the airport to their hotels. This location is only described as 'Tel Aviv'. 4X-BAC to Israeli air force in May 1961, but crashed a few months later. Photo by: Fritz Cohen / National Photo Collection of Israel

Probably came to pick up military equipment. I was afraid of being shot by the Mossad-looking guy visible standing by the RH gear assembly, so took this while hiding in the gap between two hangars.