A SECOND World War aircraft flew without wings as it began repair work at the Yorkshire Air Museum.

The 1944 Douglas C47 Dakota was donated to the Elvington museum at the end of last year and is currently being reassembled.

As part of the work the aircraft is being brought up to ground operational condition by members of the Aircraft Transportation and Recovery Flight, based in Wales. The fuselage is being hoisted on to the centre wing section and then the tailplane will be assembled. The wings are being left off so that essential work can be undertaken to connect electrics and ducting. The Dakota is only the second craft of its kind on view in the North of England.

It was donated to the museum by Air Atlantique, the air services operator based at Coventry Airport, and delivered by road before Christmas.

Updated: 11:39 Saturday, January 12, 2002