LUTON History and Nostalgia
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Maybe it's an urban myth, but I've always been led to believe that (some of?) MON's 720s were actually older than their Britannias..."
it probably is a myth
the last Brittania was built in early 1960
the first 720 wasn't delivered until late 1960
it probably is a myth
the last Brittania was built in early 1960
the first 720 wasn't delivered until late 1960
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pure guess. I would say 1967? Were their Herald's ex BEA? Seem to remember they had 3 to replace the Vikings
Photo by Caz Caswell (Thanks Tom)
Photo by Caz Caswell (Thanks Tom)
Last edited by LTNman; 4th Feb 2015 at 14:02.
LTNman
Checked G-APWC and this airframe was certainly leased by BEA from the Ministry of Supply, and passed to Autair in 1966.
If I recall correctly, the other Autair machines were 'WA and 'WB which both came via the same route.
Checked G-APWC and this airframe was certainly leased by BEA from the Ministry of Supply, and passed to Autair in 1966.
If I recall correctly, the other Autair machines were 'WA and 'WB which both came via the same route.
LTNman's last photo of Autair's Herald and Viking G-AGRW is one of my all-time favourites. The corner of the top floor of the building (part of the hangar) behind 'RW' is where Autair Route Planning was - with Ian Barras-Smith and his team. The ops room proper was next door. Even back in those days (1967) we had a CCTV camera perched on the roof above us so that we could watch the arrivals and departures on the runway. Round about the time this photo was taken the ops department was moved down the hill behind the hangars next to the catering department. Very dark and dingy it was too and probably had rats tho' I must admit I never saw any. Incidentally the ops staff lavatories at Gulf Air Muharraq was the place to see rats but that's another tale.
Autair's two remaining Vikings spent their last years based in Templehof and operated daily to Schipol from where they freighted flowers to the Berlin Markets.
G-AHPB and G-AGRW were both retired during the Summer of 1968 and both aircraft were subsequently flown to Soesterberg in Holland.
www.vc10.net/History/vikings_of_soesterberg.html
The airframe of G-AGRW still survives today having been displayed in the vistors' area of Vienna Airport before being placed on a plinth at a Macdonald's nearby and more recently being re-assembled as such, at Voslau Kottingbrunn, Austria.
www.austrian-aviation-museum.com
Autair's two remaining Vikings spent their last years based in Templehof and operated daily to Schipol from where they freighted flowers to the Berlin Markets.
G-AHPB and G-AGRW were both retired during the Summer of 1968 and both aircraft were subsequently flown to Soesterberg in Holland.
www.vc10.net/History/vikings_of_soesterberg.html
The airframe of G-AGRW still survives today having been displayed in the vistors' area of Vienna Airport before being placed on a plinth at a Macdonald's nearby and more recently being re-assembled as such, at Voslau Kottingbrunn, Austria.
www.austrian-aviation-museum.com
Unfortunately I can't see the picture on my I-pad, but Autair did lease GAPWA for a short while, but the 3 they bought were WB, WC and WD.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The corner of the top floor of the building (part of the hangar) behind 'RW' is where Autair Route Planning was
donaldson 707
the name was Mikado
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
March '68 was the month I started visiting LTN frequently - don't remember any Vikings only saw one in '65 on a visit with an Uncle.
The picture seems to be taken where Ambassador 'LZV languished for most of the summer of that year. Were these proper stands parallel to the hangar or just an unidentified parking area.
The picture seems to be taken where Ambassador 'LZV languished for most of the summer of that year. Were these proper stands parallel to the hangar or just an unidentified parking area.
More than just an ATCO
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Up someone's nose
Age: 75
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re London EuropeanI flew once from AMS with them. Their big selling point was cheap duty frees, undercutting the airports. The CC was still dishing these out and taking payments during the landing and all the way up to the gate. The doors remained closed for about 5 minutes on stand until they'd finished.
I worked the summer holidays (1966?) as a loader/cleaner and remember being sent with a broom to sweep the pigeon crap out of what was to become the Monarch hangar just prior to their arrival
Luton Corporation (IIRC) operated double deckers down there at one time. I was one of several doing my Flying Scholarship at the time and one of the instructors regularly scared the crap out of us by taking the cotrols and trying to bounce off the roof.
Looks like Pooley's Flight Guide. Still have a copy somewhere.
I once got my photo on the front page of the Times. The Coal Board Dove, GARUM was hangered in the Flying Club hangar and Always had to be pushed out first and back last every evening. All done by hand. The Chairman was giving a press conference on the apron prior to flying out to the Aberfan Enquiry. There was me in the background slouching across the tarmac
Happy days
I worked the summer holidays (1966?) as a loader/cleaner and remember being sent with a broom to sweep the pigeon crap out of what was to become the Monarch hangar just prior to their arrival
The photo shown here is Eaton Green Road taken in the early 70's with the airport boundary to the right
No idea but in the late 60's the airport looked like this.
I once got my photo on the front page of the Times. The Coal Board Dove, GARUM was hangered in the Flying Club hangar and Always had to be pushed out first and back last every evening. All done by hand. The Chairman was giving a press conference on the apron prior to flying out to the Aberfan Enquiry. There was me in the background slouching across the tarmac
Happy days
Last edited by Lon More; 10th Feb 2015 at 13:18.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I used to count the passengers off their Viscount when they first started, their loads seemed very good. They ended up will a BAC-1-11 and were taken over by Ryanair who I think wanted their license.
More than just an ATCO
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Up someone's nose
Age: 75
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I remember hearing of a 1960s Vauxhall Sports Day at Luton when army paras were dropped onto the field. Everybody thought somebody else had co-ordinated the drop with ATC and it ended up with a Br31 flying through the paras.
Maybe LTN man can confirm?
Maybe LTN man can confirm?
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Age: 66
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Para drop
"Everybody thought somebody else had co-ordinated the drop with ATC and it ended up with a Br31 flying through the paras."
I couldn't help laughing at this, but it could easily have led to a tragedy.
I couldn't help laughing at this, but it could easily have led to a tragedy.
aceatco, retired
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: one airshow or another
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
All true, I'm afraid.
I started work in June 1967 and one of my first jobs was to compile a transcript from the RT tape (none of this impounding malarkey!
)
There had been a briefing beforehand but the RT went something like:
Luton Twr: "Do not drop, do not drop. Oh dear, I see you have."
The next call was to the MON Britannia on final (rwy 08) to which the pilot replied "It's OK, I was at Arnhem." He then weaved around the parachutists.
A couple landed outside the Vauxhall sports field, one broke an ankle. However, there was no huge witch-hunt, no Dail Mail headlines. I could name the ATCO but won't!!!
The pilot of the Coal Board Dove was Basil Allum. Really nice bloke.
I started work in June 1967 and one of my first jobs was to compile a transcript from the RT tape (none of this impounding malarkey!
)There had been a briefing beforehand but the RT went something like:
Luton Twr: "Do not drop, do not drop. Oh dear, I see you have."
The next call was to the MON Britannia on final (rwy 08) to which the pilot replied "It's OK, I was at Arnhem." He then weaved around the parachutists.
A couple landed outside the Vauxhall sports field, one broke an ankle. However, there was no huge witch-hunt, no Dail Mail headlines. I could name the ATCO but won't!!!
The pilot of the Coal Board Dove was Basil Allum. Really nice bloke.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,618
Received 294 Likes
on
162 Posts
"Do not drop, do not drop. Oh dear, I see you have."
aceatco, retired
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: one airshow or another
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Hmmm, yes, you're right. I remember the first MON (or OM in those days ) Brit and it was 1968. Must have been Britannia I guess.
Memory is not what it was
) Brit and it was 1968. Must have been Britannia I guess.Memory is not what it was