Hi Guys, what a brilliant thread this is, don't know why I missed it before.
Me and my mates went to the airport at every opportunity we could afford to in the early 70's. From Rochdale we used to bus it 3 or 4 times a month on the "Trans Lancs Express" No 400 operated by S.E.L.N.E.C. We once cycled there, I think it was 27 miles and on a new years day, it was freezing.
I remember we used to buy a monthly timetable that we used to scramble over to see if there was anything interesting due in the next 4 weeks or so.
I recall seeing the first visit of a 747, it was a Pan-Am 747-136 IIRC reg N652PA .
It was a great place then 35 years ago for us youngsters as keen spotters at the end of the Intl pier.
Regards
JSP