LUTON History and Nostalgia
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Thanks to cj241101 for forwarding me a list of movements for 1969 so here is a sample. It would appear that in 1969 Luton was a long haul airport.
So on Monday 3rd February there was a Britannia aircraft departure to Paramaribo. Where the hell is that I asked myself. After a quick Google it is in the country of Suriname. Well I have never heard of that country either but it is in South America after another Google search. Well it does beggar the question why a Britannia from Luton would be going there?
This time there is a Britannia off to Adelaide, again I wonder why? Also a flight was due in from Canada.
In June Channel Airways seemed to have Trident G-AVYB based at Luton. Didn't know Channel ever based an aircraft at Luton. By this time Autair's domestic scheduled services had come to an end.
So on Monday 3rd February there was a Britannia aircraft departure to Paramaribo. Where the hell is that I asked myself. After a quick Google it is in the country of Suriname. Well I have never heard of that country either but it is in South America after another Google search. Well it does beggar the question why a Britannia from Luton would be going there?
This time there is a Britannia off to Adelaide, again I wonder why? Also a flight was due in from Canada.
In June Channel Airways seemed to have Trident G-AVYB based at Luton. Didn't know Channel ever based an aircraft at Luton. By this time Autair's domestic scheduled services had come to an end.
Last edited by LTNman; 29th Mar 2015 at 18:47.
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Channel Airways + Luton 1969
The Trident first appeared on Easter Sunday 6th April, operating a double Palma. That one was G-AVYE. The original plans were for 6 flights each week until the main charterer went out of business in March.
Channel also operated the ill-conceived Scottish Flyer "bus-stop" service from 20th January, which operated SEN-STN-LTN-EMA-LBA-MME-EDI-ABZ and back again each day. Viscount G-AVHK was dedicated to this service, and was painted with "Scottish Flyer" titles. A 2nd daily rotation operated the opposite way during the summer, but the venture was highly unprofitable and was abandoned after 10 months. Probably good for plane-spotting but not for getting anywhere in a hurry!
Dan Air were the big new operator in summer 1969 with a Comet and 2 One-Eleven 400's based. The first Comet (G-APDN) arrived from Gatwick on the 29th March, and the first 1-11 (G-AXCP) on 3rd April. Dan Air kept their base at Luton until late 1979.
The Autair scheduled services to Carlisle/Blackpool/Dundee/Tees-side were switched to LHR from 1st April, then ended completely on 31st October.
Channel also operated the ill-conceived Scottish Flyer "bus-stop" service from 20th January, which operated SEN-STN-LTN-EMA-LBA-MME-EDI-ABZ and back again each day. Viscount G-AVHK was dedicated to this service, and was painted with "Scottish Flyer" titles. A 2nd daily rotation operated the opposite way during the summer, but the venture was highly unprofitable and was abandoned after 10 months. Probably good for plane-spotting but not for getting anywhere in a hurry!
Dan Air were the big new operator in summer 1969 with a Comet and 2 One-Eleven 400's based. The first Comet (G-APDN) arrived from Gatwick on the 29th March, and the first 1-11 (G-AXCP) on 3rd April. Dan Air kept their base at Luton until late 1979.
The Autair scheduled services to Carlisle/Blackpool/Dundee/Tees-side were switched to LHR from 1st April, then ended completely on 31st October.
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I flew out on Boxing Day on a school skiing trip back in 1972 from Luton. I vaguely remember that Dan-Air had their own check-in desks that backed onto the normal check-in area probably so they could share the baggage belt.
I think it was in a Comet as I faced the "wrong way" as I was by an emergency over wing exit.
I think it was in a Comet as I faced the "wrong way" as I was by an emergency over wing exit.
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After Court Line closed down a pink Tristar was parked for ages on the airport. When vis was not so good it was a great navigation aid for "VFR" flights transiting the area!
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rear facing seats
Monarch 1-11's certainly had the rear facing seats in front of the emergency exits which must have been to increase the space in the event of an evacuation.
I believe the RAF transports (VC10, Britannia) had an all rear-facing seat configuration, I understand this was believed safer in the event of an accident.
I believe the RAF transports (VC10, Britannia) had an all rear-facing seat configuration, I understand this was believed safer in the event of an accident.
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Dan Air check in desks
The original terminal check in layout, which was retained until 1984, had all the check in desks facing the entrance doors, with Autair on the left, Britannia in the middle and British Midland on the right. I believe Monarch desks when they appeared in 1968 were between the Britannia and Midland desks. Dan Air check in was indeed located at the back of the Autair desks facing the other way until the collapse of Court Line (Autair), when they took over their check in desks. Channel Airways had a single check in desk at the right hand end during 1969.
A correction to my previous - Dan Air closed Luton as an aircraft base a few months before they closed it as a handling base in November 1979. Their limited programme during summer 1979 (3 flights a week if I remember correctly) was operated by Gatwick based aircraft on W-patterns. Most of their 3rd party handling business, plus their own flights, transferred to Monarch who became the main handling agent at the airport; Britannia being the other one. Also, the 1st Dan Air Comet to be based from 29/3/69 was G-APDO not G-APDN.
A correction to my previous - Dan Air closed Luton as an aircraft base a few months before they closed it as a handling base in November 1979. Their limited programme during summer 1979 (3 flights a week if I remember correctly) was operated by Gatwick based aircraft on W-patterns. Most of their 3rd party handling business, plus their own flights, transferred to Monarch who became the main handling agent at the airport; Britannia being the other one. Also, the 1st Dan Air Comet to be based from 29/3/69 was G-APDO not G-APDN.
Britannia to Australia
I seem to remember that it was a 26 hour cramped journey by MOD Eagle Britannia from Singapore to Gatwick in 1966 with two or possibly three stops. I went back out in a 707 ..... wonderful by comparison ....
After Court Line closed down a pink Tristar was parked for ages on the airport. When vis was not so good it was a great navigation aid for "VFR" flights transiting the area!
Just like the EZY hangar is now!
Just like the EZY hangar is now!
So on Monday 3rd February there was a Britannia aircraft departure to Paramaribo. Where the hell is that I asked myself. After a quick Google it is in the country of Suriname. Well I have never heard of that country either but it is in South America after another Google search. Well it does beggar the question why a Britannia from Luton would be going there?
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Monarch to Suriname
It is a long while ago but my recollection is that Monarch had a contract with the Dutch government to transport staff and families to and from Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana ) as until 1972 it was technically part of the Netherlands. Flights originated in Rotterdam and I think tech stopped at Dakar. Their Britannias went some fair distances including the Australia contract. Somewhere on the web is a photo of one at San Francisco.
1969 flying schedule
wonderful list of holiday flights there with some horrendous departure times like 0200 and 0300
seemed to remember autair had 0200 departures as did air spain with their dc8's for vistajet holidays from 1971
in 1969 new jets were appearing on IT charters from Luton
autair had 5 1-11 400's on stream for clarksons
dan air had 2 400's and 2 300's from Eagle plus their comets for lunn poly and everyman holidays
channel airways had 2 1-11 400's and 2 tridents for lyons tours
Britannia airways had the new 737-200 plus a large fleet still of Britannia 102's
for skytours
monarch was a new airline with up to 6 Britannia 300's for cosmos
seemed to remember autair had 0200 departures as did air spain with their dc8's for vistajet holidays from 1971
in 1969 new jets were appearing on IT charters from Luton
autair had 5 1-11 400's on stream for clarksons
dan air had 2 400's and 2 300's from Eagle plus their comets for lunn poly and everyman holidays
channel airways had 2 1-11 400's and 2 tridents for lyons tours
Britannia airways had the new 737-200 plus a large fleet still of Britannia 102's
for skytours
monarch was a new airline with up to 6 Britannia 300's for cosmos
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G-AVYE was a Trident 1E. We had to complete a return (a handwritten form) for each commercial departure. The CAA rang one day to say we had made a mistake as it was impossible to get 144/146 (I forget the exact number) on a Trident. Channel Airways could by taking out one set of toilets! It was the only departure I've seen kick dust up at the upwind end of the runway.
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I think all BAC1-11s had a set of rearward/forward facing seats by the overwing exits. I always use to opt for them for the extra leg room when flying Ryanair to and from Dublin when planning the new control tower (Aer Rianta being the project managers).
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I vaguely recall a trip on a Dan-Air 1-11 from Gatwick which has some rearward facing seats? Presumably one of their ex Courtline aircraft?
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G-AVYE was a Trident 1E. We had to complete a return (a handwritten form) for each commercial departure. The CAA rang one day to say we had made a mistake as it was impossible to get 144/146 (I forget the exact number) on a Trident. Channel Airways could by taking out one set of toilets! It was the only departure I've seen kick dust up at the upwind end of the runway.