We have not given up on Plymouth Airport yet
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Coventry
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Phileas,
Those twotters are a lot of fun
But as we know, the airline business isn't about fun, it is about taking people where they want to go, and generating suitable yields in the process. Sorry, even that is the wrong way round!
Those twotters are a lot of fun
But as we know, the airline business isn't about fun, it is about taking people where they want to go, and generating suitable yields in the process. Sorry, even that is the wrong way round!
Join Date: Jul 2004
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jabird,
Twotters are not fun if one is trying to hold a conversation nor have a sleep nor when transitting thru cloud nor when an engine disintigrates and the Captain makes mention of something like "Mayday" before doing a dirty dive in to RAF Odiham
But it was quite fun, in the old days, riding around in the RHS's of Brymon Twotters, I recall one summer's afternoon, still air conditions, some 12 fare paying pax down the back, the Captain needed to bounce us to a condition of airborne off the old ISC grass runway that had a hump in the middle, then we did a low level flyby past my uncle & aunt's cream teas cafe on the Helford river, and basically did a tour of the beaches all the way to PLH where the Captain disregarded the tarmac strip in favour of the grass'.
The fare paying passengers loved it
And then there was an incident involving the PLH firemen, the 'steam rollering' of the PLH tarmac and the tail of a, dry leased to Brymon, Loganair Twotter ... Bill Bryce was on crutches after surgery at the time, the gear stick of the roller came off in the fireman's hand, he jumped for his life, as the steam roller chimney went clean through the underside of the Twotter tail, Bill Bryce went so ballistic he jumped up, forgetting he was meant to be on crutches, and promptly fell ass over tit.
And we got paid for this entertainment.
Twotters are not fun if one is trying to hold a conversation nor have a sleep nor when transitting thru cloud nor when an engine disintigrates and the Captain makes mention of something like "Mayday" before doing a dirty dive in to RAF Odiham
But it was quite fun, in the old days, riding around in the RHS's of Brymon Twotters, I recall one summer's afternoon, still air conditions, some 12 fare paying pax down the back, the Captain needed to bounce us to a condition of airborne off the old ISC grass runway that had a hump in the middle, then we did a low level flyby past my uncle & aunt's cream teas cafe on the Helford river, and basically did a tour of the beaches all the way to PLH where the Captain disregarded the tarmac strip in favour of the grass'.
The fare paying passengers loved it
And then there was an incident involving the PLH firemen, the 'steam rollering' of the PLH tarmac and the tail of a, dry leased to Brymon, Loganair Twotter ... Bill Bryce was on crutches after surgery at the time, the gear stick of the roller came off in the fireman's hand, he jumped for his life, as the steam roller chimney went clean through the underside of the Twotter tail, Bill Bryce went so ballistic he jumped up, forgetting he was meant to be on crutches, and promptly fell ass over tit.
And we got paid for this entertainment.
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They are one of the few aircraft where pax can see right through the cockpit and enjoy the view ahead. When landing on a postage stamp like SAB, that is a pretty major bonus. But even if that route does attract a few spotters, its main reason for existence seemed to be to serve locals jumping between the two islands so they could save on their car tax!
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jabird,
Yes I don't fault the Twotter for less than 800m and/or unpaved strips and in the old days, with PLH's then 2,500ft (ish) or less runways, they needed DHC products.
But PLH has long since been a longer runway and able to accommodate the likes of ATR42's, Do328's, Do228's and so on.
Trouble is that ASW stuck with DHC 50 seaters, probably because the beancounters figured they were cheaper, per seat, to operate hence the combined PLH/NQY services ... if only the beancounters had listened to the public grumbles of the last 25+ years, to the effect, that they'd rather take the train than route, as applicable, via PLH or NQY en-route.
Yes I don't fault the Twotter for less than 800m and/or unpaved strips and in the old days, with PLH's then 2,500ft (ish) or less runways, they needed DHC products.
But PLH has long since been a longer runway and able to accommodate the likes of ATR42's, Do328's, Do228's and so on.
Trouble is that ASW stuck with DHC 50 seaters, probably because the beancounters figured they were cheaper, per seat, to operate hence the combined PLH/NQY services ... if only the beancounters had listened to the public grumbles of the last 25+ years, to the effect, that they'd rather take the train than route, as applicable, via PLH or NQY en-route.
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Yes, but a smaller frame still takes up one slot on LGW's busy runway, and there is still the journey into central London to consider. Less of a concern at other UK / IE airports, but I'm not sure PLH could have survived without LGW?
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I fly on a twotter several times a year, going on it again soon and it doesn't need any runway at all! It could easily land at Plymouth, don't need the airport. Oh and it could land in the middle of Cardiff, do a service to Pembroke, maybe St Catherine's Dock in the centre of London.... etc etc....
Now that is my kind of airline.....
Now that is my kind of airline.....
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jabird,
In the old days LGW was served by Brymon Twotters, not only from/to PLH/EXT but also from/to BHX and EMA.
I recall being in the RHS on finals for LGW one day, we had a screaming headwind, it seemed to take us ages just to fly past the staff car park ... but we were able to do a PDQ exit at the 2nd turn off after landing.
Just as an example, Scot/Suckling Airways seem to do very well with 30 seaters in/out of LCY, KLM were operating F50's in/out of LHR on the RTM route and I'd suggest a 50 seater at LHR to be more outrageous than something like a 19 seater at LGW.
In the old days LGW was served by Brymon Twotters, not only from/to PLH/EXT but also from/to BHX and EMA.
I recall being in the RHS on finals for LGW one day, we had a screaming headwind, it seemed to take us ages just to fly past the staff car park ... but we were able to do a PDQ exit at the 2nd turn off after landing.
Just as an example, Scot/Suckling Airways seem to do very well with 30 seaters in/out of LCY, KLM were operating F50's in/out of LHR on the RTM route and I'd suggest a 50 seater at LHR to be more outrageous than something like a 19 seater at LGW.
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A problem I see now are too many amateurish individuals and or groups hoping and expecting PCC to hand them the lease with council support on a plate, it's not going to happen. We need less unsupported proposals and a big support for a realistic supported and well funded proposal.
If PLH is going to be saved, let's save it for the long term future.
If PLH is going to be saved, let's save it for the long term future.
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The second sentence of Jabird's post 42 is spot on.
I can think of several 'airports' that are quite profitable with barely any movements at all...the airport and any airline based or flying into there are not the same thing at all.
I can think of several 'airports' that are quite profitable with barely any movements at all...the airport and any airline based or flying into there are not the same thing at all.
