The Lulsgate Cowboy - Myth or True Story?

[OLNEY2d]

I am trying to get to the bottom of the story of the 'Lulsgate Cowboy' - and to determine whether its an apocryphal aviation myth or is in fact true (which I sincerely hope it is)

For those who don't know - the story goes something like this:

An African operated B707 freighter is impounded at Bristol - Lulsgate. The reason being non-payment of something or other I believe.

The aircraft then languishes on a corner of the airfield for quite some time, the owners unable or refusing to settle their dispute.

Early one morning the duty ATC and Ops staff arrive for work and the bl*ody thing has vanished ! Further inspection reveals damage to grass and taxiways where the aircraft has clearly been taxied aithout the benefit of airfield lighting and, far more worryingly, a/c inflicted damage to the fencing at the Westerly end of the runway.


This is one of my favourite stories - the question being, is it true? Any Lulsgate ATC staff out there? is this part of Bristol lore? Where did it end up? What about ATC enroute? etc etc - so many questions !


I do so hope its true...

[Boss Raptor]

I too have heard this one from many years ago and I believe (it or not) the reg. according to the story was 9Q-CRY

[forget]

'Could' be wrong on the registration. 9Q-CRY was an Electra, below.


http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b270/cumpas/Untitled-932725.jpg

[OLNEY2d]

Am fairly certain the incident involved a B707F - so probably wasn't that reg.

[forget]

It certainly did happen. No doubt. I remember it had some trouble climbing and the CAA went on record as saying it had 'dragged itself across three counties. Things you remember!

[airsmiles]

Absolutely true. It was 9Q-CRY but this was a false registration. It started off at Lasham then ended up at Lulsgate when Dan-air wanted paying.

One day it took off for Kuwait, way overweight ,and took the approach lights down in the process. It did about 3 months adhoc charters in the Middle East before being impounded by Turkish authorities at Ankara. It eventually was registered TC-JCF (or similar) but never flew again I believe.

It was covered by an article in Flight International at the time, mainly using testimonies from a flight engineer who had the dubious privelege of flying with the 'cowboys'.

airsmiles

[OLNEY2d]

You guys have just made my day.


I'd also heard it was handled and fuelled in Perpignan in the South of France - no questions asked.


It's got everything this story hasn't it?

[055166k]

Remember reading about it, couldn't retract left main u/c if it wasn't done within so many minutes of start-up or something. I'll try to find the report.

[Lon More]

I seem to remember that the only licence held by any member of the crew was a Pakistan PPL; also something about it having been refuelled twice, after the first time the fuel was transferred to bladders in the fuselage

[Avalon]

Lulsgate Cowboys???? = Australian Bank!!!!
:*

[Heatseeker]

OLNEY

The storey appears to be a true one. I used to have a copy of the article that appeared in Flight Magazine. It made interesting reading.

H

[GOLF-INDIA BRAVO]

Try looking around late 1979 early 1980
I remember hearinga bout it and seem to remember seeing a photo of one of the landing lights after being clobbered

G-I-B