LUTON History and Nostalgia
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I took this photo just before the new tower opened.
Today the airport has a constant flow of passengers but when this photo was taken I could not see any passengers. The photo also shows work has just started on expanding arrivals under the old covered coach lane.
Today the airport has a constant flow of passengers but when this photo was taken I could not see any passengers. The photo also shows work has just started on expanding arrivals under the old covered coach lane.
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boeing_eng thanks for your post #951 with the YouTube link, it kind of brought back memories of G-AXMG as I flew her when I was a young lad, but with Monarch not Court.
Percival Garden Party, Luton Airport - 1945.
This I realise is a long-shot...
Just after the end of the war, in late summer 1945, there was a Percival Aircraft Co.Ltd Garden Party at Luton Airport, complete with a comic act and bonfire. I'm looking for photographs of this event and especially the aircraft that was burned on the bonfire.
Can anyone help....?
GQ2.
Just after the end of the war, in late summer 1945, there was a Percival Aircraft Co.Ltd Garden Party at Luton Airport, complete with a comic act and bonfire. I'm looking for photographs of this event and especially the aircraft that was burned on the bonfire.
Can anyone help....?
GQ2.
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The only photo is what you have already seen in post 76 http://www.pprune.org/8431097-post76.html
Info quoted from the book Percivals Aircraft by Norman H Ellison
According to https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...G-ACND&f=false G-AFAA was actually burnt in 1946 as a fire-fighting exercise by Luton Fire Brigade.
Also here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Mew_Gull that G-ACND was burned at the same time as G-AFAA at the Field Day in 1945 so someone is wrong here.
Percivals Aircraft club house in Luton was located at Castle Street. The site is now a car park where the inner ring road cuts through to Stuart Street.
The sports and social club also organized most of the inter office and inter departmental sports championships, as well as the annual outdoor Field Day. This was a family affair, with competitive sports for all ages. Track and Field events were surrounded by carnival booths, including Punch and Judy shows, rifle (.22) targets and sideshows. It was during the 1945 Field Day that the remains of Capt Percivals famous Mew Gull was burnt.
The sports and social club also organized most of the inter office and inter departmental sports championships, as well as the annual outdoor Field Day. This was a family affair, with competitive sports for all ages. Track and Field events were surrounded by carnival booths, including Punch and Judy shows, rifle (.22) targets and sideshows. It was during the 1945 Field Day that the remains of Capt Percivals famous Mew Gull was burnt.
According to https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...G-ACND&f=false G-AFAA was actually burnt in 1946 as a fire-fighting exercise by Luton Fire Brigade.
Also here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Mew_Gull that G-ACND was burned at the same time as G-AFAA at the Field Day in 1945 so someone is wrong here.
G-AFAA
The one-off Type E.3H (the so-called "Super"-Mew ) was Edgar Percival's personal mount. While looking very much the same as the E2H, this was actually a completely new design, powered by a Gipsy Six Series II. It first flew in 1937 and was raced by Percival in 1937–1939. On loan for propeller trials at Hatfield during the war, G-AFAA was written off in a landing accident by a de Havilland pilot. The remains of this aircraft were burned with those of G-ACND at a Percival Aircraft garden fete at Luton Airport immediately after the war.
The one-off Type E.3H (the so-called "Super"-Mew ) was Edgar Percival's personal mount. While looking very much the same as the E2H, this was actually a completely new design, powered by a Gipsy Six Series II. It first flew in 1937 and was raced by Percival in 1937–1939. On loan for propeller trials at Hatfield during the war, G-AFAA was written off in a landing accident by a de Havilland pilot. The remains of this aircraft were burned with those of G-ACND at a Percival Aircraft garden fete at Luton Airport immediately after the war.
Last edited by LTNman; 25th Aug 2015 at 10:53.
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Some great shots taken inside and around the old terminal and a good selection of old cars as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG0g...ature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG0g...ature=youtu.be
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Some great shots taken inside and around the old terminal and a good selection of old cars as well.
Percival Bonfire Aircraft Burning.
Thanks to LTNman for Post 967.
I think this incident was in summer '45. I've only ever seen one very poor photo of the pantomime with the backdrop of the 'German' aircraft, which was of course G-AFAA painted black with crude crosses in white.
Still looking for more details and photos of this event....!
I think this incident was in summer '45. I've only ever seen one very poor photo of the pantomime with the backdrop of the 'German' aircraft, which was of course G-AFAA painted black with crude crosses in white.
Still looking for more details and photos of this event....!
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Memories
I can remember Luton from the 70s. Things were so much more relaxed then. As a young kid, I asked one of the Britannia Airways staff if I could go into the hangar and see the 737. he let me in, and I remember thinking the plane was massive and so cool. Compared to all the Britannias and Ambassadors, it appealed to me much more.
I'm glad I witnessed the end of the prop era. Much as I have affection for Viscounts and Vanguards, the jets always impressed me. Even if some of the Court Line jets were painted in questionable colours.
Happy days!
I'm glad I witnessed the end of the prop era. Much as I have affection for Viscounts and Vanguards, the jets always impressed me. Even if some of the Court Line jets were painted in questionable colours.
Happy days!
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Courtline Tristar arrives as Luton after delivery flight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUcE3ulyhOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUcE3ulyhOE
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...and not a high vis jacket in sight as there is a big turn out to have a look at the Tristar from the apron. Only a few years later that was to all change.
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Yes, it looks like it. It survived some 40 odd years. In the next couple of weeks the hangar next door will meet the same fate. That will be the 4th hangar to bite the dust in the last couple of years
LTNman,
Nice video of the Court TriStar delivery. From the film, it looks as though it taxied in via the eastern taxiway (now Charlie). Anyone know why it didn't use Bravo?
Nice video of the Court TriStar delivery. From the film, it looks as though it taxied in via the eastern taxiway (now Charlie). Anyone know why it didn't use Bravo?
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There is another youtube video of the same arrival from 14 minutes and 22 seconds. Is that a Canadian Pacific DC8 in the background? I seem to remember they operated to Toronto from Luton for one summer season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh9hPobkTiA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh9hPobkTiA
tis an air Spain DC-8
a LTN regular 1971-74
a LTN regular 1971-74
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Luton's old wooden terminal was extended a few times over its life. See post 962 for a 1960's view
Photo vintage ATCO
With later extension
Then in 2003 it was no more
Photo vintage ATCO
With later extension
Then in 2003 it was no more
Last edited by LTNman; 7th Sep 2015 at 16:47.