SAAB 91D Safir

PH-UDU Beechcraft D-18S c/n A473 of the Rijksluchtvaartschool, at Groningen Airport Eelde in Holland on 14/02/1970

On 1 January 1946, the Rijks Luchtvaart School Holland, the Dutch Government Flight Training School, was founded. Gilze-Rijen was chosen as its operational base. In March 1946, delivery started of the DH-82A Tiger Moth, acquired by the Netherlands Government from R.A.F. supplies and in April 1946, the R.L.S. begun its flying operations with the DH-82a aeroplanes. As on 10 January 1946, the former Commando Luchtvaart Opleidingen of the military LSK also choose for Gilze-Rijen as an operational base for their air training Gilze-Rijen became too busy. Therefore the aircraft of the RLS were diverted to and based at several airfields in the Netherlands. On 3 October 1951, the Dutch government decided that the RLS had to move out of Gilze-Rijen to Eelde airfield near Groningen. On 16 August 1954, the R.L.S. fleet was finally flown to its new base. The Rijksluchtvaartschool operated in the period 1946-1969 a total of 15 Beechcraft D-18S aeroplanes. Beech D-18S PH-UDU was registered by the Rijksluchtvaartdienst, holder RLS, on 12 December 1948. On 24 October 1969, the registration PH-UDU was cancelled after the aircraft was being withdrawn from service with the Rijksluchtvaartschool. Four ex RLS Beech D-18S, including the PH-UDU, were sold to Dutch Air Sprayers on behalf of Agrarflug. These aircraft were parked in front of the German hangar at Groningen-Eelde awaiting resale. The PH-UDU was re-registered N9473 and departed to Worms in Germany on 21 March 1970. After the aircraft was scrapped the registration N9473 was cancelled on 10 October 1994.