LUTON History and Nostalgia
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Originally Posted by OUAQUKGF
Ops;9859081whilst telling his young Jewish First Officer Joe 'Foreskins' Foster to "Sort it all out!"
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Would this be the self same Joe Foster who went on to be a Dan Air 748 skipper?
Possibly so - quite a few of Court's pilots found jobs at Gatwick when the airline went bust and I think Elizabeth Overbury and Kurt Lang were amongst those who went to Dan Air.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 12th Aug 2017 at 12:46.
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YVRLTN.
Yes, the Autair Helicopters that you saw down at Panshager was owned by the original Autair from Luton in the 50's and 60's.
The helicopters were over in the "blister " hangar next to the flying club at Luton, then when Court Line went under they moved their offices to the old Court Line Cabin trainer which was located behind Halcyon House and moved all there old and stored helicopters to Panshanger. At on time in the 90's there were a number of old S-55 helicopters, as well as an S-55 from Court Line South Africa.
It was all owned by Bill Armstrong who was the main original founder of Autair Airlines and Helicopters.
Yes, the Autair Helicopters that you saw down at Panshager was owned by the original Autair from Luton in the 50's and 60's.
The helicopters were over in the "blister " hangar next to the flying club at Luton, then when Court Line went under they moved their offices to the old Court Line Cabin trainer which was located behind Halcyon House and moved all there old and stored helicopters to Panshanger. At on time in the 90's there were a number of old S-55 helicopters, as well as an S-55 from Court Line South Africa.
It was all owned by Bill Armstrong who was the main original founder of Autair Airlines and Helicopters.
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With regards the Autair Helicopters, they are still going in South Africa although the name Court was dropped in 1990.
COURT HELICOPTERS (PTY.), LTD.: South Africa (1964-2000)
Photos here https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=co...iw=960&bih=463
COURT HELICOPTERS (PTY.), LTD.: South Africa (1964-2000)
Photos here https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=co...iw=960&bih=463
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The last Constellation to visit Luton? Looks like a Courtline generator have been placed by the nose with Dan-Air steps at the rear.
unknown photographer
unknown photographer
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F-BHMI was the last Connie I saw at Luton which was operating a rugby charter on 28/2/71 along with Trans Union DC-6 F-BNUZ, Europe Aero Service Herald F-BLOY and S.A.T.A. Convair 640 HB-IMM. Also the day Britannia took delivery of their 1st 707 G-AYSI which arrived from Oakland in part World Airways colours.
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In the final years British Midland operated only at weekends into Luton on the Jersey and Guernsey routes using F27's, Viscounts and I think DC9's. Before that they used to operate to other destinations in the week but what were they?
When the raised offices above the baggage belt were being knocked down so to move the check-in desks from opposite the entrance to either side of the entrance a large BM route map in plastic that must have been attached to a wall was dumped in a skip. Sorry to say I was not brave enough to take it.
When the raised offices above the baggage belt were being knocked down so to move the check-in desks from opposite the entrance to either side of the entrance a large BM route map in plastic that must have been attached to a wall was dumped in a skip. Sorry to say I was not brave enough to take it.
i was at BMA LHR 1977-1985 and as I recall in those years we only flew in and out of LTN at weekends to JER and GCI -
same as with those flights to/from SEN and CVT to the CI's
out of LTN the Viscounts were used on the GCI and both DC-9's and Viscounts on the JER
all the LTN (and SEN & CVT) - Channel islands flights were flown on a W pattern originating from either EMA BHX MME or GLA (maybe LPL too)
cannot think of any weekday flights in/out of LTN during my years but going back to late 60's and early 70's there were plenty
(including the use of VC8, Heralds and the new 1-11 523's) i think to JER GCI EMA LBA DUB and GLA plus the IT charters
popular routes were OST PMI BCN BSL
shame about the sign in the skip
same as with those flights to/from SEN and CVT to the CI's
out of LTN the Viscounts were used on the GCI and both DC-9's and Viscounts on the JER
all the LTN (and SEN & CVT) - Channel islands flights were flown on a W pattern originating from either EMA BHX MME or GLA (maybe LPL too)
cannot think of any weekday flights in/out of LTN during my years but going back to late 60's and early 70's there were plenty
(including the use of VC8, Heralds and the new 1-11 523's) i think to JER GCI EMA LBA DUB and GLA plus the IT charters
popular routes were OST PMI BCN BSL
shame about the sign in the skip
Last edited by rog747; 27th Aug 2017 at 13:49.
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The sign had been abandoned and dumped below the airline offices for many years as there was a void behind the baggage belt. From memory it was a BM route map from Luton. It would have made a nice addition to my garage wall.
Another thing I missed out on was a red light that used to sit on the edge of one of the three WW2 hangars that were located behind Monarch's old hangar. The hangar in question was re-clad and the light which looked as old as the hangar disappeared.
The light in question was a square lantern type fixture.
Another thing I missed out on was a red light that used to sit on the edge of one of the three WW2 hangars that were located behind Monarch's old hangar. The hangar in question was re-clad and the light which looked as old as the hangar disappeared.
The light in question was a square lantern type fixture.
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Probably a different light but I recall one on what I think were then English Electric Offices. It flashed green and was the visual identification beacon. Wasn't used after around the sixties I think.
Midland operated Dublin from the late sixties and the routes to Glasgow via Leeds and EMA briefly in the early 70s- the via Leeds route was I think then operated by Dan Air 748s again fairly briefly. A variety of aircraft were used on the CI route including Heralds,F27s and on occasion Short 360s London City Dash 7s.
Midland operated Dublin from the late sixties and the routes to Glasgow via Leeds and EMA briefly in the early 70s- the via Leeds route was I think then operated by Dan Air 748s again fairly briefly. A variety of aircraft were used on the CI route including Heralds,F27s and on occasion Short 360s London City Dash 7s.
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Guess this must be around 1967 as there is a Autair HS748 in the photo. When did British Midland change its livery? I guess this is a Canadair Argonaut. Looks like a DC4 to me but were they different?
Published by Andrew Sharp
Published by Andrew Sharp
Argonaut was BOAC's name for the Canadair North Star.which, although referred to as DC-4M in some cases, was more than just a RR Merlin-engined DC-4 as a significant proportion was DC-6 and there was some C54 contribution - if geriatric memory is to be trusted!
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadair_North_Star
The Midland "BM" tail was replaced in 1969.
The DC-3 in the background is G-AMSN, still in the colours of the defunct Mercury Airlines. The HS125 is the ill-fated G-AVGW that crashed on to Vauxhall during a training flight on 23/12/67.
Last edited by cj241101; 28th Aug 2017 at 18:45.
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Luton seemed like a special place up until the more recent years. I can't imagine the latest generation getting nostalgic in 30 years time over a Wizz and EasyJet dominated airport with its Airbuses.
Like a great many airports today, the homogenisation of fleets and aircraft types have rendered variety a thing of the past. LTN has an ever changing biz-jet quotient, but as you say the 'good old days' are long gone. Probably the mid 90's was the last period where interesting types were regular visitors. Oh well, be thankful that you were able to witness, see, smell, feel the nostalgia back when it was the day to day.
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I don't know what it's like at Luton, but at most airports these days, especially my local Newcastle, you can't even get to 'see, smell, feel' anything without parking 'illegally', clambering over hedges or walking down roads where you have a nagging feeling in the back of your mind that you're probably breaking some law or other. 