Mephismo - that brings back lots of memories for me. We used to cycle to the 06 end, on Altrincham Road near the 'level crossing gates' across the road that were closed for 06 arrivals. The road was along a concrete 'taxyway' in those days, probably dating from WW2 but then (early 60s) outside the airport boundary. It's part of the airport's taxyway system again these days.
The Winter Hill crash was a Bristol Wayfarer - passenegr version of the Freighter. And the dreaded Smallmans also held the contract for school dinners at our school in Hale Barns - and it was absolutely inedible! I suspect they did rather better for the airport.
My first ever flight was in an Auster from Ringway - a birthday present I think. It changed my life - I sat behind the pilot and marvelled that he could move the stick and the whole world tilted over. "I'm going to do that one day" I promised myself. "Move a stick to tilt the world". Been flying aeroplanes for 30 years this year.
SSD