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I-ZERC_1985-07-09_MUC_1600_MK

 

Photo taken by Manfred Kaffine and kindly provided by him for inclusion on this page.

 

 

München-Riem

1985-07-09 (9 July 1985)

 

I-ZERC

Handley Page HPR-7 Herald 209

195

Columbia

 

 

Information from airhistory.net - thanks to Kerry Taylor and Aad van der Voet:

Delivered new to Arkia of Israel as 4X-AHO on 10 Apr 1968. Bought by Express Air Freight Mar 1978 and registered G-BFRJ. Renamed Channel Express Jan 1983. Sold to Columbia Italy as I-ZERC 10 Mar 1984. Leased to Aligiulia Oct 1985 to Jun 1986. WFU and stored EMA Aug 1986. Bought by Channel Express Jul 1987 and reregistered G-CEXP 29 Oct 1987. WFU and placed on display at Gatwick Mar 1996. By 25 Aug 2006 seen near the runway at Gatwick used as a fire trainer. Broken up Oct 2022.

 

Soc. Columbia was headquartered in Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. This explains the airline's name, and the tail logo, which is a stylized representation of the Santa Maria, the ship on which Columbus set out to discover America.

 

Registration details for this airframe:

www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/I-ZERC/889997

 

This airframe as 4X-AHO ex-Arkia at EMA in March 1978 (basic Arkia colours):

www.flickr.com/photos/131806380@N05/19269138063

 

This airframe as G-BFRJ with Express Air Services (EAS) at DUS in July 1979 (Arkia cheatline):

abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1280136

 

G-BFRJ with Express Air Services, leased to Air Ecosse, at GLA ca. late 1970s (Arkia cheatline):

www.flickr.com/photos/jimbav/4520066377

 

I-ZERC still in Aligiulia colours at EMA in July 1987:

www.flickr.com/photos/190105067@N03/50324164717

 

This airframe as G-CEXP with Channel Express in July 1988 (basic Columbia colours):

www.flickr.com/photos/guidojet/52436238111

 

C-CEXP with Channel Express at BOH in 1992 (full colours):

www.flickr.com/photos/baettig/52247389506

 

G-CEXP on display on the viewing balcony at LGW in August 1999:

www.flickr.com/photos/coptercrazy/10038792145

 

C-CEXP derelict at LGW in May 2017, September 2017 and March 2019 (Skyview colours):

www.flickr.com/photos/vlk77/34192240594

www.flickr.com/photos/niallsaviation/36744103903

www.flickr.com/photos/38016434@N05/51578030551

 

 

Scan from medium-format (6x6 cm) Kodak slide, cropped to 3:2 aspect ratio.

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Uploaded on October 23, 2025
Taken on July 9, 1985