Joey heads for new home at Oatlands via Le Val des Terres
AURIGNY’S iconic Trislander G-JOEY made his final journey yesterday, as he headed to his new home at Oatlands.
Members of the public gathered and rushed to take pictures, as Joey, on the back of a trailer, made his way from Aurigny’s hangar, through St Martin’s, down Le Val des Terres and along the seafront.
Due to the size of Joey a special escort was given and he had to be taken in two trips.
The wings were transported in the morning, then the fuselage in the afternoon.
On arrival at Oatlands, Joey was unloaded and moved into the newly-constructed play barn, where the wings, landing gears and engines will be reattached.
He will then be suspended from a specially engineered steel structure in the roof.
Plane enthusiasts Nigel and Lesley Le Page who had flown in G-JOEY when he was still operational, followed the aircraft on its journey to Oatlands, and were there to see him lifted into his new home.
‘We have come to see Joey’s last flight,’ said Mr Le Page.
‘We have flown in him before, and there was nothing quite like it, it’s proper flying,’ added Mrs Le Page.
Members of the public will be able to visit Joey when the play barn opens later this summer.
Aurigny’s Technical Director John-Paul Williams said a large amount of effort went into moving the aircraft and it must have been a great sight for the public to see.
‘There had been a lot of planning involved in this move to make sure that Joey arrived at Oatlands safe and sound and I would like to thank Bob Froome’s team for their expert support,’ said Mr Williams.
‘I’m sure members of the public had a bit of a surprise when they saw Joey heading down Val des Terres and through the seafront.
‘It is not every day that you will see one of our Aurigny aircraft on the road.’
Mr Williams added that the public also had the chance to see a restored Joey in his vintage livery as he went passed.
Before the move, Aurigny engineers had given the Trislander a retro revamp, with the classic logo and Alderney lion fitted.
The aircraft was retired from service in 2015, after serving the islands, Southampton and Dinard, for almost 40 years.
