"Astra" flies the flag on arrival at Heathrow North from one of the UK colonies, having shut down the two outer Merlins.

10454 was based in Noumea, New Caledonia. It was withdrawn use in 1969 and scrapped.

One of then only two flyable Carvairs in the world is seen here in a glorious take-off, a very rare and wonderful sight (and sound)! This beautiful oldie had already seen a lot of the world: it flew as LN-IAE, JA6012, HL4003, VH-INK, N54598, ZK-NWA, N5459X and C-GAAH, before ending up with Brooks Fuel in late 2002. Roger Brooks did a great restoration job on it, but then unfortunately crashed it near McGrath, AK on 30 May 2007.

CAT was one of the civilian airlines active on behalf of the US government in Indo-China during the Vietnam War. It wore no markings other than its registration and Taiwanese flag. B-1016 was acquired directly from the USAF in 1967 and was sold in 1975 as N65132.

VH-EDA climbs away on a hazy day bound for Norfolk Island. Its days were numbered, with Qantas finally prepared to hand over the route to another operator. VH-EDA was sold in 1977.

VH-TAE being prepared for its delivery flight to Thailand where it became HS-VGZ.

Ex YA-BAH. Sold in Thailand as HS-VGY in 1970

Taxying for take-off to Norfolk Island.

Aircraft withdrawn by TAA soon after picture taken. Became HS-VGZ in 1970.

In 2011 this C-54 was restored in its WWII Pacific Theater markings, which it still carried during Berlin Airlift service, by then the one of 38 'M' models converted for coal hauling. From 1973 was used for sky marshall training but joined the AMC Museum in 1989

Ex VH-EBL (Qantas). Sold in South Africa as ZS-IGB in 1970.

After Qantas relinquished the Norfolk Island service in 1977 in favour of East West Airlines and its special long-range Fokker Friendships, VH-EDB went to Air Express as a cargo aircraft.

Delivered new to TAA in 1946. Sold in 1972. Became XV-NUL with Air Vietnam

Working at Southend Airport in the 'Seventies produced some great opportunities. Just before N80FA departed on its ferry flight to Texas, I was able to fix up an air-to-air session from Cessna 172 G-ATLN. We flew as fast as possible, the Carvair as slow as it could with everything down. I can still hear those P&Ws roaring over the sound of my open window and the general racket in the Cessna. I even sold my car to one of the Falcon directors who duly loaded and flew home to the States with it - truly Car-via-air as Freddie Laker originally intended. This aircraft crashed in Alaska in 1997 as N103; another of the few remaining Carvairs suffered a similar fate up there in May 2007, so now only two survive

VH-TAC being prepared for its ferry flight to Thailand where it became HS-VGX.

VH-EDB sets off on its regular run to Norfolk Island.

Ex JA6007. Became N32AC in 1972.

Converted from an Ansett-ANA DC-4 in 1965