This first episode of Plane Tales takes a look at G-DMCA, the sole DC-10 operated by Monarch Airlines from 1996 until 2001 and has become a gate guardian at Manchester Airport's Runway Viewing Park.
Originally ordered by Egyptair but cancelled before delivery the aircraft was completed as line number 348 in 1980 and following its test flights was stored until July 1984 when Checmco International Leasing acquired it, assigned it the registration N3016Z and placed it with Zambia Airways. It remained with them until 1994 when it was withdrawn and stored in the USA. The British charter airline, Monarch Airlines picked up the aircraft in in the spring of 1996 and registered it G-DMCA and painted it into their iconic livery. The DC-10 supplemented the airlines Airbus A300 and B757 fleet which were being used on long-haul flights, it was eventually ousted following the arrival of the airline's shiny new Airbus A330s and eventually scrapped. The cockpit and forward fuselage have been put on display at the Manchester AVP, this is the full story of G-DMCA from creation to destruction and it's afterlife.
Plane Tales is a new project of mine to look at the numerous stories in aviation, whether it is of an individual aircraft, airport or aircraft type. I am still chiseling away on episodes of the Grounded Series too, this is just a great way of keeping the creative juices flowing when I hit a writers block - which can happen with Grounded from time to time.
Obviously I am open to all of your feedback and suggestions, I've already got a few ideas in mind for making the episodes more visually appealing (as the current colour scheme is a bit lame). I've been through quite a bit recently trying to get this episode ready, especially with my house flooding in the early hours of New Year's Day resulting in us being placed into a hotel for the foreseeable future but at least I've got a laptop to thrash out scripts before i get back home so rest assured, there are more episodes of both Plane Tales and Grounded coming soon!
Thanks for watching, don't forget to subscribe to see more episodes as they land :)
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