33 years almost to the day, I would like to illuminate this incident with some photographs I have but there does not seem to be any image upload facility!
If anyone would like digital copies, please contact me via email on
[email protected]
As an employee of Dan-Air BRS at the time, I was watching this departure that day and a last minute runway change possibly saved my life as had I known the take off was to be on 09 I would probably have elected to take my photographs from the perimeter fence which in those days bordered the old A38, to capture the aircraft rolling down the runway and over my head.
As it was, ATC told me 27 was the expected departure runway so as it was not possible to get a photographic view down the runway from the western end I settled for a quiet spot adjacent to the 09 threshold. But then the r/w change happened and I had no time to get back to the other end. Therefore the action happened at the far end relative to where I was.
The quality of the photographs is not good, but remember they are 33 year-old colour prints which have been scanned and were taken in failing light conditions to start with. I believe they are of interest as at least you can see what went on.
The prints were impounded by the AAIB to assist their investigation and returned some time later.