Originally Posted by
treadigraph
That's a shame... glad I got to see it properly though...
Just looking at Google Earth, I hadn't realised that the South Pier had gone and been replaced by five new stands about 6 or 7 years ago. I assume the original pier was the same one the roof of which I recall walking out along as part of the spectator's area, during my first visit in 1974 - albeit subsequently modified over the years!
The south pier was extended by moving part of the north pier when the satellite was built in the early 1980s.
I remember walking along the roof of the piers in the late 1960s. I think there was a cafe somewhere. Also the roof gardens at Heathrow allowed you to get a good view of lots of aircraft. I especially liked the link to the T3 stands where there would be a line of 707s, DC8s and VC10s.
Those were the days.