Douglas DC7C 'TR-LQP' of Affretair/Air Trans Africa
Taking off from '06' at Salisbury during August 1972, Staying low to build up speed when heavily loaded.

I gather it was a fine balance using full power on take-off from an airport which is at relatively high altitude, Salisbury was 5,000 feet above sea level, and on a hot day, the pilots needed to be careful not to overheat the engines.

This aircraft is reported in the book, 'Shadows' (see book review), to be cn.45182 and to have previously been 'TR-LOK' when used for the Biafra arms flights, before that it was with Martin's Air Charter as 'PH-DSC'. It finally became 'TR-LQP' during July 1972. Air Trans Africa (ATA) as it was known in Rhodesia operated sanctions busting flights into and out of Rhodesia, its regular route took them to Amsterdam as final destination so we were told by ATA friends at the time.

Colour scheme was white topsides, dark green middle, natural metal (not polished) lower surfaces and wings. Registration on the undersurface of the port