Location: ANR/EBAW

Photo: collection Skystef

Description: this factory fresh Cessna (build by Reims) of Sotramat was initially on October 12 1966 registered in the Netherlands as "PH-LES" and operated by J.G. Dijkstra. On January 3 1968 it went to J.J. Luysterburg with the same registration carrying "SFS" titles in the tail (of Sotramat Flying School). On October 20 1971 it came in the Belgian register, here seen such in a livery without titles. Sotramat itself stood for Société de Transports Aériens Maritimes et Terrestres and was established on May 7 1958 based at Brussels Airport and Antwerp airport with at first the core business being importer of propeller drives Cessna airframes for the Benelux, later operating also its own aircraft like for flying school activities as the depicted one with appropriate regi "OO-LES". In 1978 it migrated to private owners (J. Van der Heyden & G. Van Bergen) basing the aircraft at Schaffen airfield. From 1980 onwards it was at disposal of Diest Aero Club and on May 18 1989 it went to Aéroclub des Rièzes et des Sarts (established January 10 1974, Diest airfield). After a dispute with the owner the airfame was impounded at Diest airfield and on January 28 1994 it was over there damaged beyond repair when parked inside a hangar which collapsed due to a winter storm. Decades later, on February 3 2020, it was officially cancelled from the register.