More BBMF & LHR Nostalgia
hey HD,
In days of yore (i.e. the 1980s) it was generally considered by ATC at LHR that the most expeditious manner in dealing with zone transit raffic that was remotely of historical or technological significance, or of any military connection, was for them to carry out a low approach and go-around. This was definitely approved of by those of us humble types scraping a living as Checker or Seagull, but not by every visitor to the airfield.
I was once escorting a reporter, Chris Searle, a keen aviation enthusiast. He was making a radio documentary about some aspect of our job airside. We were in the middle of the 27L holding area, well out of the way as this was the landing runway. As he was doing his stuff, suddenly I noticed 3 a/c in formation, a 4-engined piston type flanked by a couple of singles (you can guess what they were). I drew Chris's attention to this and he started enthusing about this wonderful apparition, holding the mic high as they thundered by at around 100'.
The whole thing was completely spoiled by the lady director who was in charge of the sound equipment, who complained that she would now have to edit out this unseemly interruption and start the piece all over again. Chris and I were scandalised!
I was also lucky enough to be out on the airfield when the Space Shuttle/747 combo made an approach & go-around on 09L in its way to Stansted - was that 1982 or 3???
Cheers,
TheOddOne