Devonair’s Martin Whale has told EBAN of his company’s aim to start up fractional programmes with the de Havilland Dove. Currently a maintenance facility for the vintage aircraft, Devonair is particularly keen to persuade two of its clients to be the first on its management register. “Like many companies our clients are not the best equipped to operate such an aircraft, so we’re proposing to manage it for them.

“We may also put our own operational Dove out to charter, but it does have reasonably old avionics,” said Whale, who co-owns the company with Martin Lunn.

Whale was keen to emphasise that this is a very specific, niche market: “Because the market only consists of five or six aircraft, we’re not going to become a NetJets or anything.

“This will really appeal to the kind of people who enjoy driving around in old Jaguars and the like. The

Dove is ‘classic’ rather than super convenient.”

But does this aircraft lend its self to fractional ownership, we asked: “The reason for this proposal is two-fold. First Doves are quite old (produced between 1950 and 1960) and second they are notorious for being expensive to operate, because people don’t understand them. There is just not enough experience around to make them operational at an acceptable level,” explained Whale.

The company is looking to involve people who want the fractional model but with less onerous usage. “Obviously it can’t compete with a Falcon or anything like that, but is perfect for someone to cruise around in comfort and enjoy themselves with a bottle of champagne on the table,” said Whale.

The main selling point, he said, will be the cost of ownership: “To get one of these in the air in tip

top condition will only cost around £150,000 and after that we can accurately forecast the operating costs.”

Devonair should be well placed to take on this challenge as they claim to have virtually the world’s supply of spares, which could support a number of Doves. “Like Islanders, the aircraft have been dispersed

since production.

“There were 540 of them made soon after the war and they’re now spread around the world. We are trying to appeal to the operators out there who say they ought to sell the aircraft because they’re not getting enough use out of it. But when they do use it, they really enjoy flying it,” said Whale.

Those looking for a weekend’s golfing may be among the first attracted to the programme: “Our customers’ Doves can carry two passengers up front and eight in the back – and six sets of golf clubs can easily fit in,” he added.