Prolific aviation photographer and past contributor to this site Bill Teasdale contacted me recently to share this July 2010 photo of FRED G-PFAL (PFA 029-10243) at the back of a hangar at Bann Foot, Northern Ireland.  According to Bill, this little beauty was “stored for several years after ditching into the River Bann.”  

According to G-INFO, G-PFAL was originally registered to builder Harry Pugh of County Durham in 1978 and then to Russell Abrahams of Manchester in 1981, both in England, before heading across the Irish Sea.  Once in Northern Ireland, it passed through the hands of Anthony Troughton of County Armagh in 1982, James McCullough of Newtownards in 1985 before ending up in the hands of John McDowell Robinson of County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland in 1988.  The CAA canceled G-PFAL’s registration just this month.

If any of this plane’s former owners or others can shed some light on the life and times of G-PFAL, or perhaps on plans to bring this old plane back to life, I’d love to hear more. 

Photo:  A forlorn G-PFAL waits for some tender loving care at Bann Foot.  Courtesy of Bill Teasdale.