The Cessna 500 Citation was the successor of the Morane-Saulnier MS-760 Paris II and the HFB-320 Hansa in service with the RLS. The Rijksluchtvaartschool operated seven of these low noise aircraft. The PH-CTF, ex. N177CC, was registered 15 August 1974. It was photographed on 27 May 1975, in its original colours. When in August 1991, the RLS became the KLM Luchtvaartschool the Citation was transferred too. In May 1995, the Citation was sold to Uniwes t Air at Lelystad. In May 1997, it was sold as N192AB in the USA.

The Norwegian air charter company Nor-Fly A/S operated a number of Convair CV-440's. When needed they used Eelde airfield for refuelling on trips from and to Norway. LN-KLK was photographed on 2 October 1977, at the Eelde tarmac when waiting for the passengers on a charter from and to Oslo. This Convair CV-440-61 Metropolitan was delivered on 21 August 1956, as SE-BSR "Bjarne Viking" to S.A.S./A.B.A. In 1975, this Metropolitan was transferred to Nor-Fly A/S and registered LN-KLK in Norway on 3 December 1975. After being withdrawn from use with Nor-Fly A/S, the LN-KLK was transferred to Metropolitan.

After the discovery of the natural gas below Slochteren the oil-companies started their hunt for natural gas below the Northsea. In the early sixties World Wide Helicopters and Bristow Helicopters settled down at Eelde. World Wide operated with 2 Sikorsky S-58 and one Beech Twin Bonanza; Bristow with 2 float equipped Westland WS.55 Whirlwinds 3 and one Westland WS.51 Widgeon out of Eelde. The Bristow helicopters were maintained in the RLS hangars. Sweat memories came back when Sikorsky S-58ET G-BCTX was noted on July 2, 1977.

Jetstar Holland BV was founded in February 1977. Four Corvette executive jets were operated by Jetstar Holland BV. Operations started with the two Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette: PH-JSB and PH-JSC. Corvette PH-JSC, photographed on July 21, 1977, was registered on June 16, 1977. The investments trust Christoffel owner of the travel union Christoffel Reizen wanted to grow in aviation. They owned some aeroplanes and were active in Rotterdam Airlines and purchased Jetstar Holland and Business Air Services. After the investments trust Christoffel ran into financial problems Jetstar Holland BV ceased operations. The registration PH-JSC was cancelled on January 9, 1981 and the Corvette returned to France as F-GDAZ.

Fast-Eelde bv was founded in 1977. Their first aircraft, the Navajo Chieftain PH-AST, ex N63722, was registered March 7, 1977. The first commercial flight of Fast-Eelde bv was made on April 14, 1977 when the PH-AST flew to Odense. On March 16, 1981 the company was renamed Fast Airways Holland bv. Over the years the fleet increased to four Piper PA-31 Navajo's. Fast Airways Holland bv had to end it's activities in January 1984 when their financier took back his interest in Fast Airways and sold the aircraft to Rijnmond Air Services.

Shell Aircraft Ltd. was a regular visitor over the years with their De Havilland DH-114 Heron 2D's. At the end of the sixties they were replaced by the Hawker Siddeley HS.125. Shell operated three models of the HS.125 over the years: srs.1B, srs.3B and srs.800. HS.125 G-AVXK, photographed on February 9, 1979 was test flown as G-5-18. July 19, 1968 it was registered G-AVXK with Hawker Siddeley Ltd. In July 1968 it was reregistered D-CHTH. It was registered G-AVXK again in 1972 and entered service with Shell. After being withdrawn from use it left to Nigeria as 5N-AOG. The aircraft was reregistered N230TS on 05-04-2001as a DH.125-3A/RA with the additional serial number NA700. On 23-06-2001 the registration was cancelled; on January 22, 2004 the N230TS was registered again.

The Willow Run Airport, Michican, USA based Connie Kalitta Services Inc. came in on a transatlantic freight charter. Their Westwind IV N231LJ was built in 1945 for the US Navy as a Beech SNB-2C Navigator under BuNo 23835. In service with the Navy it was upgraded to the SNB-5/TC-45J standard. After being retired from the Navy it was modified by the Hamilton Aircraft Co. under supplemental type certificate (STC) SA2958WE which includes turbo-engines, cargo floor, extended nose, etc. It was photographed by Jack Poelstra on 9 June 1976.

In 1975 Philips Vliegdienst sold their Fokker F27 PH-LIP after nearly 14 years in service. It was transferred to WDL Flugdienst GmbH at Essen-Mülheim and registered as D-BAKA on June 28, 1975. The Friendship visited Eelde as D-BAKA on June 9, 1977 on a passenger charter with the new owner WDL. WDL still appears occasional on Eelde with the F-27 for the transportation of automotive parts for VW in Emden and the BAe 146 with passengers.

On 5 September 1976, the Royal Swedish Air Force Douglas C-47A 79007 arrived at Eelde in companion with Douglas C-47A 79006. Both aircraft belonged to F-13 Wing. In World War II the 79007 started its carrier as 42-92864 with the USAF. In 1945-1946, it was converted at the Canadair plant and was transferred to DNL / Norway and registered as LN-IAH with Det Norske Luftfartsselskap A/S on 01/10/1946. On 30/04/1949, it was reregistered LN-IKH. DNL was merged into SAS on 01/08/1948 and the LN-IKH became the 'Hallvard Viking' with the SAS. On 26/09/1957, the C-47A became SE-CFR with AB Linjeflyg. On 29/06/1960 the Dakota was delivered to F-8 Transport wing of the Royal Swedish A.F.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force operated over 100 L-18C, L-21A en L-21B Super Cub. The aircraft were owned by the Army but flown and technical supported by the Groep Lichte Vliegtuigen, formed by the 298, 299 and 300 squadron of the K.Lu. The R-163 (ex 54-2453) Piper L-21B Super Cub was photographed on August 29, 1975. After retirement from the military duties it was as many of the Dutch military Super Cubs transferred to the KNVvL. It was registered February 23, 1977 as PH-LET with the type changed to a Piper PA-18-135.

All photos on this site are copyrighted by international copyright laws, and remain the property of the relevant photographer. Prior permission should always be sought directly from the photographer for any other means than private viewing. If no photographer is mentioned the photos on these pages are made by Jack Wolbrink.

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