Photographs of Heathrow, circa 1965?

[Argonautical]

Here are a some black & white photos I took as a kid with my 120 roll camera on a visit to Heathrow around the mid sixties, I think.
Tridents, Vanguards, VC-10s, 990s sigh......

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/vc-10_3.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/vc-10-1.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/vc-10_2.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/vanguard.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/tridents.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/electras.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/electra.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/caravelles.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/727.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/990_2.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/990_3.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/heathrow/990.jpg

[BEagle]

Oh dear - I've just had what Clarkson calls a 'trouser moment'!

Superbly nostalgic piccies - and not a single yellow road-diggers jacket in sight!

I'll bet the owner of the Ford (is it a Zephyr, Zodiac or Consul?) thought he had a cool set of wheels!

[PaperTiger]

Superbly nostalgic piccies - and not a single yellow road-diggers jacket in sight!No chainlink, barbed wire or machine pistols either. Why, those people on the roof could be up to anything :eek: .
Gone forever alas :{

[treadigraph]

Fantastic PT, thank you very much!:ok:

[ATNotts]

Just a couple of years before my time, but still some great pics / memories.

Surely the Iberia CV990 was leased from Spantax - it looks like their logo on the lower forward fuselage. I cannot recall ever having picked up on Iberia using 990s.

Have you got any more pic to put up? I'm sure we'd love to see 'em!

Andrew

[gruntie]

The MEA VC10 puts it at about 1967 or 68, I think.

[YQB]

Hello and thank you for these beautiful pictures. It remember me old TV series from the 7o's like «the Saint» and «Chapeau melon et bottes de cuir» !
Caravelle's with their triangle windows and so...

Skyservice in YQB next week...

[PaperTiger]

Didja get the reggie of that DC4/6 though ?

Didja, didja ?

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Wonderful! VC10s, Carvelles, Tridents, Coronados....Reminds me of Ringway in me yoof. :)

SSD

[thetexpat]

Speechless Two!
via refuelling stops at - if I remember correctly - Kuwait, Colombo and Bombay.
And what about that wonderful little island of Gan? Another popular tech-stop!
EVen though I laboured at the northern end of the BRITISH EAGLE line (Liddypool) I remember Heathrow with fond memories, especially the staff parties! MAGIC;) !

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Totally mind-blowing. Thanks indeed for all those. There are many more "Heathrow Nostalgia" pics available on the Air Britain site. Try this:
http://www.abpic.co.uk/results.php?q=heathrow&fields=all&sort=most_popular&limit=50

You have to quickly scroll through the A380s and other jets but there are some real gems in there.

A few of my very old Heathrow snaps are among the pics at:
http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/c748822.html

[GBALU53]

Nice to see some old photos appearing. If only we could turn back the clocks by forty years or so when aircraft were aircraft and you could go down the pub with the CAA inspectors and they would buy the first round of drinks.:ok:

No it is not a pipe dream. The jobs were done without agro and unions involved and everyone had a satisfying day at work. Stuff pollution, bring back the Convair 880 and 990, the real smokies, and the sound of all radials and Darts and Tynes.:ok: :ok: :ok: :ok:

Well that the dream finished (Modern Stuff Boring):sad: :sad:

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

GBALU53.. I'd drink to that. I was at an ATC party once and a couple of aircrew arrived... The Captain hollered: "Where's the ^&*($£ who sent us round this evening?" When the culprit appeared he was shaken warmly about the throat accompaned by threats of more extreme violence if it happened again..... then they repaired to the bar and got smashed together!! Much better than all the form-filling... but those days are gone for ever.

[Sultan Ismail]

Cars in Argo's Pix
I like the 'planes as much as I like the cars, regularly flew in the Swissair Coronado and Caravelle to visit the in-laws in Geneva.
The cars are a '66 Vauxhall Victor, a Ford Anglia van of similar vintage and a 1955 Ford Zephyr 6.

[EGBE0523]

Fantastic nostalgic photos

The Swissair Caravelle reminded me of how business travel used to be, no club class proper First Class in those times. And I think I spotted a Pan Am 707 taxiing out, now there was a top notch airline, many happy hours across the pond on various Clippers.

[MReyn24050]

Didja get the reggie of that DC4/6 though ?
Didja, didja ?
You mean the one way across by Hunting's hangers? Great pictures those were the days.

[treadigraph]

My apologies Argonautical, for some reason (a lack of a retentive memory most likely!) I thought Paper Tiger had posted the pics!

Couple of other aeroplanes parked on the far side in the T1 shots - there used to be an Air India hangar there in the 70s as I recall, now the new VAEL one. Looks like one is a British Eagle Britannia. Also is there an HS125 parked to the left of the Hunting hangar in the first KLM Electra pic? If so must have been one of the earliest based there.

[Globaliser]

FWIW, airliners.net has some old LHR photos, too. I had a bit of a trawl to find the following.

One from the 1950s
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0080474/L/

A few from the 1960s
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0794108/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0794107/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0503402/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0080473/L/

And rather more from the 1970s
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0722598/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0540873/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0540771/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0489714/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0483765/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0414328/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0398459/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0362953/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0344545/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0342137/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0340992/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0339891/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0337704/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0333974/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0316106/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0303060/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0298723/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0295153/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0287673/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0286298/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0282438/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0264802/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0239644/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0136627/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0067561/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0067560/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0066851/L/

(Change the L to M in each URL if you're operating on a slow connection.)

[Jhieminga]

The MEA VC10 puts it at about 1967 or 68, I think.
I agree with that. Can you see the registration on the end of the fuselage below the rudder on the original photo perhaps? It will be either 9G-AGP or OD-AFA. If it is OD-AFA then the photo was most likely taken in 1968.

[PaperTiger]

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0503402/L/Aha ! I spy the Duke's Pants.

[Duckbutt]

Was that type often seen at Heathrow PT? I spent many a day out on the Queens Building in the early 60's and cannot recall ever seeing ine of those there.

[BEagle]

Doesn't that BEA Comet look as elegant as the AF Duck Pond looks ugly!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Duckbutt... yes they sure operated into London Airport. I logged several as a spotter around 61-62.

TWA: Hey what kinda airplane is that? It looks like a cow.
AF: It may look like a cow but it flies like a bird.

Has to be said that although it might have flown like a bird, it did not descend like one!

[Kieron Kirk]

Happy memories of AF "Duck Ponds" charging(staggering?) out of Heathrow, heading for EPM, quick lean out of the window at home to read the registration letters as it passed overhead.
Did the same with AF Super Connies!

[Duckbutt]

Thanks for that, the only AF planes at Heathrow around 1960 my rapidly fading memory can bring to mind were Viscounts which were superceded by the Caravelles.

Can't recall ever seeing any AF Super Connies there either.

[Talkdownman]

those people on the roof could be up to anything......at 'The Waving Base'

[Tiger_mate]

The 'Vauxhall' is a Cresta not Victor:
http://classiccarfair.com/1970_vauxhall_cresta_4_left_535x265.jpg

[gruntie]

Having been driven many miles in my Uncle's Cresta, I disagree: it's a Victor 101.
http://i14.tinypic.com/49ae9nb.jpg

[spekesoftly]

I agree that it's a Victor. The long chrome trim strip along the wings and doors matches the LHR photo, and the Cresta had a hint of 'coke-bottle' styling near the base of the C-pillar, not evident on the 101.

[Sultan Ismail]

and the Victor is
the giveaway is the chrome strip

AF Connies
Well I can verify existence of the AF Connies, I flew in one Heathrow to Orly in July 1958, when still at school and doing an exchage visit with a French kid.
I particularly remember the lack of passengers, outnumbered by Cabin Crew.

In those days the City Air Terminal was on the site of the '51 Festival of Britain, and we were bussed out to Heathrow with a bus carrying the Paris name in the destination board.

A couple of years later the City Terminal moved to Gloucester Road in Kensington.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Yup - Air France used Constellations and Super Constellations into London Airport as my old spotters log reveals.. Also Daks, DC4s and Viscounts, all of which had the registration in monstrously huge letters!

[The SSK]

According to the ABC guides, AF were not scheduling Deux Ponts into LHR on passenger services in 1967. Going into our cellar archive is a bit like deep-sea diving, you can only stay down there for so long, so I didn’t get a chance to check earlier timetables.

I do remember occasionally seeing DPs at LHR as I cycled into work there, which would almost certainly make it 1968. They were on Northside in the mornings so I guess freighters whose early-early departures had been delayed.

But here’s a puzzle for the sixties spotters: the Summer 67 AF schedule London-Paris included several daily rotations with a Convair 990.

[Tiger_mate]

But here’s a puzzle for the sixties spotters: the Summer 67 AF schedule London-Paris included several daily rotations with a Convair 990

Assuming "AF" to be Air France:

Leased from 'Modern Air' (USA) in 1967. Believed to have had full AF stencilling over a natural metal bodywork. Photos of it exist but are as rare as chickens teeth.

Concede ref the Victor, I didnt realise the 101 had "Victor" attached to it as well. I must be too young;)

[gruntie]

But here’s a puzzle for the sixties spotters: the Summer 67 AF schedule London-Paris included several daily rotations with a Convair 990.
Oh golly gosh, I remember spotting it myself, from - probably - the window of a BOAC standard VC10 as it taxied to the "Oceanic Terminal". In full AF colour scheme, but on a bare metal hull - so, possibly, also leased from AA?
Much more of this & I'll have to call for nurse......

Found a pic, though tiny:

http://i13.tinypic.com/2rwpchx.jpg

[Kieron Kirk]

I flew in CV990 N5605 from EGLL to LFPO on 1st June 1967.
My first and so far only visit to the Paris Air Show.
Back from LFPB to EGLL in Trident G-ARPJ on 5th June.

Think N5605 was leased from Modern Air.

The photo of the "Duck Pond" was taken on 5th June 1967.
Too difficult to see the C-121.J from NAF Memphis on the south side.

Ahh those were the days.

I am suffering serious symptoms of getting old!

[chevvron]

Last Deux Ponts I saw at Heathrow was the early morning mail/freight flight in mid to late 1970. Watched and heard it depart from an intersection (rather than full length) through a window in the canteen at the old radar unit where Compass Centre now stands; no slowly opening the throttles, it was just taxy power to wide open and go; seemed to take ages to accelerate though.
Can't recall it after this; the BEA Argosy service finished about the same time; both were cleared to Paris via Amber 1 East climbing to FL60, to be level by the FIR boundary,and sometimes they failed to make even that!

[treadigraph]

Definitely born ten years or so too late... I can recall FrAF Noratlases regularly grumbling out of Northolt and over my school just north of MID at about tea time on Tuesday afternoons in the mid to late 70s (and probably for a while after that too!) but I wish I'd seen the hey-day of the Connies, Deux-Ponts and the like. Comets meant one airline to me - Dan-Air (Airtours had already gone to 707-436s)! Cv990s were two: Swissair (flew on one back from Zurich in '72 I think) and of course Spantax.

By the time I really got interested in 1974, BEA and BOAC were rapidly turning BA and losing those superb schemes.:{

[The SSK]

Definitely born ten years or so too late...
:{

Everybody's born too late for something.
At Easter in my lower-sixth year at school, I got a place on a 'careers course' at BOAC, a week visiting various parts of the airline. Dotted around the Hatton Cross aprons were the odd Britannia, Comet and DC7F, still in service or just-retired. A year and a half later I joined the Corporation, and all were gone, all that was left were boring old 707s and VC10s.

[Mr_Grubby]

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/SAHARA502LeBourget63smaller.JPG
Hope this is not too much thread drift !
Le Bourget 1963
Clint.

[DCDriver]

Lovely DP pic, Mr G.
A few of mine from the mid to late 60's. They are scanned from 35mm half-frame, so plse excuse the poor resolution
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR04.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR06.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR01.jpg

[Mr_Grubby]

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/CL44N126SWLhr64small.JPG
CL-44 N126SW Heathrow 1964
Clint.

[Mark22]

LHR - Schoolboy - Queen's Building? - circa 1957.
PeterA
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Album%203/ViscountLHR-01-001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Album%203/DC-4-LHR-01-008.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Album%203/Convair-LHR-01-001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Album%203/S6b-LHR-03-001.jpg

[plinkplanky]

Having been driven many miles in my Uncle's Cresta, I disagree: it's a Victor 101.
http://i14.tinypic.com/49ae9nb.jpg


also, the tail lights run horizontally wheres the Cresta/Viscount tail lights run vertically. Sorry for being an anorak!!!!

[Sultan Ismail]

Seaboard World Airlines
we regret a delay in disembarking passengers as we are unable to find the Gate, correction, we are unable to find the Terminal Building.

[WHBM]

Air France types at Heathrow :

Air France didn't use the Breguet Deux Ponts on passenger flights into Heathrow, though they did operate them into Bristol Lulsgate a couple of evenings a week into the late 1960s in a combi configuration (never more than a handful of pax). But a night freighter using the type went into Heathrow for many years.

In the late 1940s it was mostly Languedoc's , with a few DC-4s as well. AF were an early tenant at Heathrow, when BEA were still at Northolt.

By the early 1950s, all DC-4s.

By the mid 1950s they had moved on to Viscounts (a fleet they later passed down the line to Air Inter).

By the late 1950s the Caravelles came, and at the same time the Super Constellations were being displaced on long-haul and found a place (doubtless most inefficiently) on London hops as well.

Here are the Air France Heathrow departures on a Summer 1963 Friday, to Orly unless stated:

0500 - Caravelle (Nice)
0800 - Caravelle
0900 - Caravelle
1020 - Caravelle (Nice)
1050 - Super Connie
1100 - Caravelle (Nice)
1400 - Super Connie
1600 - Caravelle
1610 - Caravelle (Nice)
1700 - Caravelle
1730 - Caravelle
2000 - Super Connie
2110 - Super Connie
2155 - Caravelle
2300 - Super Connie
2359 - Caravelle (Nice)
0100 - Deux Ponts (freight)

What a racket with those midnight and 5 am Caravelle departures ! Let alone the Deux Ponts which always needed its throttles firewalled to get any rate of climb. Just to help sleep along Swissair also had Caravelle departures at 0140 and 0350. What would HACAN have said about all that :}

By the late 1960s it was Caravelle's and the leased Convair 990, which operated for Air France only on the London route. Goodness knows why they went for such a solution. And the Deux Ponts was still on the night freighter. The Convair went when the first of the Air France 727-200s arrived. Maybe it was a deal with Boeing ? Modern came from Seattle.

Final bit of trivia ... we had a Victor 101 when I was a kid. CHF109D. Who noticed the Victor Estate of the previous body design in the foreground of the Pan Am 707 picture above.

[plinkplanky]

Id love to see one of those super fuellers for real!

[KeMac]

Truly magnificent pictures Argonautical (and everyone else) and thank you for sharing them.
Were the 2 x KLM Electras both for Amsterdam or would one have been going to Rotterdam? I was surprised to see 2 together although I remember checking the old timetables and Amsterdam was a busy route in the 60s. I also remember running from the bus once to catch the reg of a Swissair CV990 as it was taking off once.
Grand days

[Amos Keeto]

Just a couple of years before my time, but still some great pics / memories.

Surely the Iberia CV990 was leased from Spantax - it looks like their logo on the lower forward fuselage. I cannot recall ever having picked up on Iberia using 990s.

Andrew

Andrew - that Iberia CV990 makes these photos taken in 1967. Spantax leased two CV990s to Iberia for three months (May-August) in 1967. This one just had Iberia titles, but the other one was repainted in full Iberia livery.

[WHBM]

For the limited number of Convair 990s built (only 38) you could probably see more scheduled airline operators at Heathrow in the late 1960s than anywhere else.

I reckon it was Air France, SAS, Swissair and Iberia. Wonder if they were all together at Terminal 2 anytime ?

[possel]

Seaboard World Airlines
we regret a delay in disembarking passengers as we are unable to find the Gate, correction, we are unable to find the Terminal Building.

"Correction, I forgot we are only carrying freight!"

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Seaboard guys were really great to work with. Middle of the night I was alone in Heathrow Tower when an American voice came up on the GMC frequency: "1,2,3" he said. I responded with "4,5,6," and quicker than lighning he said: "We'll be picking up sticks in a minute". Yes, it was a Seaboard CL44...

[helen-damnation]

What on earth is that thing at Le Bourget? :confused:

Looks like an over-inflated Shorts 360 :E

Great photos :ok:

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

helen, baby, you must read the first pages of this thread and there you shall become privy to the details of that most glorious of flying machines the Breguet Deux-Ponts.

[chevvron]

They tried to copy the Beverly and failed!!

[shack]

If you should come to my adopted country and take the route from Rouen to Orleans, look left as you pass the FAF base at Evreux and you will see a lot of Transall's tails but more importantly a Breguet Deux-Ponts sitting there in all it's glory.

[tinpis]

Concur great stuff Only the Comet missing

Mk1 Zephyr not Zodiac. Zodiac had factory two tone paint job (had one)

[Mr_Grubby]

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/COMETVPKRLLHR63small.JPG
Just for tinpis, a Comet VP-KRL. LHR '63

Clint.

[gruntie]

Only the Comet missing
There are two - one of MEA peeking above the top of the SVC10 in the first pic, and another of Sudan Airways beyond the El Al 707 on this page.

[Mr_Grubby]

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/Britannia9GAAGLHR64small.JPG
Britannia 9G-AAG, LHR '64
Clint.

[Tiger_mate]

That Brittania was at Liverpool for some time. It is either ex-British Eagle (& repainted there) or was serviced by them.

[pax britanica]

Going back to LHR in the 60s I agree the Breguet DP was a real classic- from where I watched them-Stanwell they barely seemed to make it above the hedge line that ran along the side of the village nearest Heathrow as they lumbered away from 28L as it was.

On the subject of rare and exotic-for LHR freighters does anyone remember the following -or am I going back too far-I am guessing 1963-65

Fairchild Packet c119? in TWA colours

C46s never common at LHR operating Lufthansa? charters-I remember the noise and thinking what the heck is that before it sailed slowly intio view

Dougles Globemaster-the Mk 1 non double deck C124 version- that I think flew race horse charters. It was a huge 4 piston monster DC7 on steroids with a massive upright red tail and a tiny almost fighter style canopy sitting on top of the front fuselage

Loved this thread- happy memories

[treadigraph]

Yep TWA operated a Packet, a C-82 if memory serves; they used it for carrying spare engines around I think.

There were three C-74 Globemasters - Panamanian registered I think - one crashed and another became moribund at Turin. Ever see "The Italian Job? The Chinese freighter in that was it. There's also mention in one of James Herriot's books, he flew as accompanying vet on one or two race horse charters on these aircraft.

Sadly I don't remember these from real life, just film, magazine and book... :{

[Halcyon Days]

The TWA packet was N9701F "Ontos". Frequently seen at LHR but was based in Paris to carry spare engines around Europe.
I last saw her in Santa Monica (see picture below) in the 70`s still in semi TWA colours but believe its been moved recently to a museum somewhere.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b67/Maybee123/N9701FC-119OntosSantaMonica.jpg

[Mr_Grubby]

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/C82PACKETONTOSN9701FOrly63small.JPG
N9701F 'Ontos' in 1963.
C.

[PaperTiger]

Halcyon Days

N9701F wound up with Hawkins & Powers (firefighters) at Greybull, Wyoming ostensibly for parts. It was never tanked but put in a small static display area for a number of years. Earlier this year when H&P's assets were disposed of, it was purchased by a museum, restored to airworthy condition and flown to Hagerstown, Maryland where it was originally built.
http://www.hagerstownaviationmuseum.org/

[Amos Keeto]

You guys should look at the Avion Video site as there are now TWO DVDs covering Heathrow 1960s & 70s and 1950s & 60s, which feature all these aircraft mentioned above. My photos appear on the covers and I edited the scripts:

http://www.avionvideo.com/products.asp?action=display&ch=dvd&sel=W035&id=Current%20Programme

[DCDriver]

Back to the thread....here's the Sudan Airways Comet mentioned earlier, plus a 4b getting airborne on 28L. Sorry about the grain - taken with an old camera when I were a boy!
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR03.jpg

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Ohhh Tigermate.. it's BRITANNIA.....

I'll see VP-KRL and that Sudan Comet and raise you:

http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p22381791.html

and

http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p23196304.html

And to be truly sneaky...

http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p23196299.html

Bren

[wayoutwest]

g/day all.what some photos thanks very much.i didnt know that sabena flew 727s and in one shot there appears to be a 1 11.i did a tour of LHR with the school from bournemouth about 1961-2 we went round the BOAC hangers and BEA as well a great day out.sorry BEagle cant find an icon for a trouser moment but AHAA i remember it well.PLEASE keep it coming.:ok::ok::ok:

[pulse1]

Some fantastic nostalgia here for an old fart like me. If the original photographs were taken in the mid 60's, then the Ford Zephyr/Zodiac on the apron would have been about 10 years old.

When I was at school, a black Zodiac with white-wall tyres was my ultimate bird pulling fantasy car. There had been two more Zephyr developments by 1965.

The other brilliant nostalgia was the C119 Packet in which I had a flight as an ATC cadet. We dropped about 30 TA para's on an exercise over Fairwood Common in 1957ish.

[treadigraph]

Wayoutwest, Sabena had three 727-100s which transferred to the Belgian Air Force when the 737s stated to arrive.

Pulse1 was that the C-119 used by Farnbrough for a bit in the late 50s? I brought a DVD of the 1950s airshows recently and some of the air to airs of the participants were taken from it (a boom and tail fin would occasionally drift into shot!).

Please keep pics and memories coming!

[PaperTiger]

g/day all.what some photos thanks very much.i didnt know that sabena flew 727s and in one shot there appears to be a 1 11.http://www.al-airliners.be/s/sabena/sabena3/sn1-11-51.jpg

[pulse1]

treadigraph,

was that the C-119 used by Farnbrough for a bit in the late 50s

No. It was a flight of three USAF ones. Two dropped troops and the third dropped a Landrover. We formated on the third one to watch the vehicle drop. Fantastic!

[WHBM]

Two dropped troops and the third dropped a Landrover. We formated on the third one to watch the vehicle drop. Fantastic!
TV programme about 10 years ago featured a large auction of redundant army vehicles. Among the substantial number of time-expired Land Rovers were two, maybe three which had been through drops where their parachute did not deploy. No reserve canopy for them ! They were of course just heaps of squashed scrap but it was obviously worthwhile to auction them for whatever undamaged parts remained ! This must not be a unique occurrence - after all there were several vehicles at this one auction. And seeing that happen would indeed be Fantastic (unless you are the Chancellor).

[DCDriver]

wayoutwest,
a couple of Sabena 727's,to see what you missed. Taken around 1970.
smoky JT-8's
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR11.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR13.jpg
and I'm sure Heathrow Director remembers this one.....OO-SCA
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR14.jpg

[wayoutwest]

g/day everybody.thanks for the photos.if dcdriver tried to take that boundry shot now he would be surounded by armed police which is why that era was so romantic about 5 years before plane hijacks and mugging and suicide bombers where unknow words and sutch a variety off aircraft.

[Argonautical]

Quote: "If the original photographs were taken in the mid 60's, then the Ford Zephyr/Zodiac on the apron would have been about 10 years old."

From previous posts it would appear that I took the photographs in 1967 as I remember seeing the Air France C990. Could of sworn I took a photo of it but can't find it anywhere.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Oh woweee!! SABENA 'CA! Thanks very much for the memory-jog. Amazing rapport existed between the crews of 'CA and Heathrow ATC. They were the best pilots in the entire Universe and what they couldn't do with the F-27 isn't worth mentioning. As a result of the extraordinary lengths they went to to help us they invariably got 28L for arrival and departure irrespective of the airfield configuration as that runway was just a few metres from their regular gate.

When the service stopped we presented them with a huge photograph of 'CA signed by all the Heathrow ATCOs. In return they presented us with an F-27 turbine blade on a plinth bearing a brass plate inscribed: "To London ATC with sympathy. The SABENA F-27 pilots OO-SCA March 70-October 72". I've often wonder where those guys went to and if they realised how very much we all appreciated them and their very kind gesture at the end.. No other airline or crews ever did anything like that...

[The SSK]

When the service stopped we presented them with a huge photograph of 'CA signed by all the Heathrow ATCOs. In return they presented us with an F-27 turbine blade on a plinth bearing a brass plate inscribed: "To London ATC with sympathy. The SABENA F-27 pilots OO-SCA March 70-October 72".

I'm curious, my first-ever visit to what is now my adopted country was in a Sabena F27 (LHR-Antwerp) but it was in December 1969.

[WHBM]

Don't know about the crews but the aircraft was sold to Pakistan International. Finished its life in a training accident at Gilgit in June 1981.

http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19810605-1&lang=en

[DCDriver]

if dcdriver tried to take that boundry shot now he would be surounded by armed police
...so a bit like going through crew security in the UK at the moment then?:) :)

[treadigraph]

what they couldn't do with the F-27 isn't worth mentioning

They didn't go on to fly (and display) the Troopship for the RNethAF did they?!!! Still ranks amongst the best flying displays ever...

[plinkplanky]

They didn't go on to fly (and display) the Troopship for the RNethAF did they?!!! Still ranks amongst the best flying displays ever...


I see that display at southend airshow one year. I was amazed with what they were able to do with it! Fantastic!

[Sultan Ismail]

Pedant mode again.

In DCDrivers post #41, 3rd pic shows a 1962 Ford Zodiac III, recognisable by the horizontal twin headlamps. The colour is probably dark green.

This was the last derivative of the Zodiac, it was replaced by the Granada.

But the 'plane pics are good and bring back many memories. Thank you all.

[gruntie]

This was the last derivative of the Zodiac, it was replaced by the Granada.
Sorry, but anorak mode again. Don't forget the Mk 4 "aircraft carrier"!
http://i15.tinypic.com/29n6q1s.jpg

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Pictures of Dagenham Dustbins have no place in a thread about beautiful old Heathrow aircraft.

Mr Moderator PLEASE remove them!!

[hemswell]

Superb photos. Just like I remember Heathrow back in the good ol' days.

I think the ground engineer pushing back the BOAC VC10 is my Dad (Bert Jones). Any chance of a copy of this image?

[Tiger_mate]

There is more to aviation heritage than the aircraft themselves. There is already too much moderating going on around these parts, and discussion or thread creep is perfectly acceptable IMHO. It is what would happen over a pint in any public house in UK, which I believe form the basis for any internet forums.

[Argonautical]

Hemswell

quote : I think the ground engineer pushing back the BOAC VC10 is my Dad (Bert Jones). Any chance of a copy of this image?

Simply right-click the picture and choose "save picture as" from the drop down menu.

[Willowbrooke]

Showing my age a bit here Guys but Heathrow and the Queens building viewing area was a bit of a day trip for us in the mid/late 1950's. The smell was particularly pungent and the noise from those screaming Vicounts well..

I also recall having a Pleasure Flight from Heathrow - try and fit one of those into the pattern these days - unfortunately, being only small, I was shoved down the back of what I think may have been a DeHaviland Dragon and didn't see a thing. Thanks Dad; he had a grand view!

Great pics

Thanks

[kala87]

Many thanks for all the nostalgic pics.

Willowbrooke: I believe the a/c in question was indeed a DH Rapide, probably flown by Monique Agazarian, which she used for pleasure flights at "London Airport" in the 1950's. I can't remember the name of the company though. She also wrote a well-known Instrument Flight Training Guide: I have a copy at home. She also instructed at Wycombe Airfield and for ATS, and also operated a flight simulator at Victoria Station of all places!

Regarding the dates of the pictures, I would say 1966 to 1968. The Iberia CV990 was definitely taken in 1967, and was used on the Madrid-London for the summer of 1967 only (I saw it enough times from the Roof Gardens at LAP!). In the summer of 1966, Iberia used DC8's on this route, and in 1968, their brand-new DC9-30's. I must have been quite an anorak in those days to remember all this stuff 40 years on!

Heathrow was indeed a wonderful mix of a/c types in the mid-1960's, with of course lots of turbo-props (Vanguards/Viscounts/Electras and the magnificent fleet of British Eagle Britannias), plus various piston types. I have fond memories of the Swissair and Sabena CV440's, KLM DC7C's, TMA DC6A's and the occasional Pan Am DC7C's on charters. Not forgetting those smoky old BKS Ambassadors!

Some airlines used their long-haul equipment on short European routes when traffic was heavy, or on charters, so KLM and SAS DC8's and Air France 707's were quite common sights as well.

It was a true golden age of aviation.

[tinpis]

It was a true golden age of aviation.

And a truly golden age for back axle suppliers for MK1 Zephyrs :mad:

[WHBM]

I believe the a/c in question was indeed a DH Rapide, probably flown by Monique Agazarian, which she used for pleasure flights at "London Airport" in the 1950's. I can't remember the name of the company though
Island Air Services. Miss Agazarian later became Mrs Rendall, having married a fellow director/pilot of Island.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

WHBM... Her husband wasn't Capt Rendall of BOAC by any chance??

[WHBM]

WHBM... Her husband wasn't Capt Rendall of BOAC by any chance??
All the info I have is that it was Ray Rendall, and that after Island closed down at the end of 1957 they both went on to fly for other airlines.

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

Heathrow Director: No, I don't recollect that she was married to Captain A.S.M. (Flaps) Rendall, who died earlier this year aged 92. Captain Rendall was the Flight Manager who saw the VC10 into service. He retired in 1968.

I am enjoying this thread greatly. I was at Heathrow the other day, a very rare occurrence nowadays. Having amazed myself at actually finding my way into the Central Area, it then struck me that it was 42 years almost to the day that I started work as a trainee with British Eagle Load Control in the Queen's Building.

I subsequently worked for BOAC Load Control, and then in their Flight Operations, which is how I know a little bit about Captain Rendall.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

OK friends... thanks. It obviously wasn't the same person. I had the pleasure of meeting Captain Rendall very early in my career whilst I was an ATCO in Tripoli when he was a VC10 captain with BOAC and was sorry to read earlier this year of his passing.

Yes, Heathrow has changed drastically since I was there! My wife and I were there yesterday to "spot" a Kenya Airways B737 on a delivery flight. Viewing the airfield from ground level had me totally baffled as to where aircraft were taxying!

[DCDriver]

view of the twr from a BOAC 707-436, March 1968
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR16.jpg
....carefully chosen so as not to include any Zephyrs or Zodiacs!

[Schiller]

The Sabena 1-11 was an EAAC aircraft on an ACMI lease.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Thanks DC Driver Reminds of one day I was on GMC... 707 taxiied from the H cul-de-sac on the inner taxiway for 28R. As it went round the corner just past the G stands one of the main gear legs collapsed and it tilted sideways on to a wingtip!! Looked like it would be delayed so we cancelled its' slot....

However, later when the engineers started work they offloaded the fuel tanks in the wrong order so the tail crunched back on to the ground! Sorry state - nose and one wing high in the air.

[arem]

<<view of the twr from a BOAC 707-436, March 1968>>

What date in March and what aircraft regn? I was a lowly second officer in those days on the dear old -436 and that pic brings back many memories!

[DCDriver]

Arem,
it was G-ARWD operating the BA696 to TXKF on 01/03/1968. Being pedantic, that would've made it a 707-465. Actually, I wasn't there but I gave my camera to my mother....the old girl did well; here's another to bring back your memories
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/dcdriver/LHR/LHR15.jpg
Don't those Boeings look wrinkled....you should have been on DC8's...;) ;)

[treadigraph]

Never mind memories its sheer bloody magic for those who are (just!) too young to remember the halcyon days, other than by well worn and oft over published pics.. More please, this is a superb thread... Even with the vintage Fords...

[wayoutwest]

g/day all.wasnt the BOAC colours destinctive as was PAN AM and other airlines of the time you knew where the aircraft was coming from unlike today when the airports are more like yellow pages.:{:{

[Midland 331]

For a pre-teen with aviation in the blood, these liveries were iconic.

Oh, plus the shape of the VC10...

http://static.flickr.com/98/233035504_8c84f1748a.jpg

That tail...

Somehow, I can't see an eight-year-old of today being "wowed" by a 777.

r

[KeMac]

I don't suppose anyone has a pic of a Seaboard DC8-63 at Heathrow. I always thought they were nice looking aircraft in the Seaboard scheme. I remember one landing one day which used up the whole runway, just managing to stop before the end. Talking of airlines and terminals I am sure I saw a Phillipine Airlines DC 8 at terminal 2 in 68 or 69.

[WHBM]

Talking of airlines and terminals I am sure I saw a Phillipine Airlines DC 8 at terminal 2 in 68 or 69.Quite possibly on a KLM flight. KL used to help out PR with their DC8s, several were leased backwards and forwards at this time. KLM did the same thing with Viasa in Venezuela. It was a two-way street, some Philippine-owned aircraft came over to KLM for a while as well.

[jabberwok]

It wasn't just Heathrow either..

http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/WebPix/PIC827.jpg

[bluesman666]

I agree with that. Can you see the registration on the end of the fuselage below the rudder on the original photo perhaps? It will be either 9G-AGP or OD-AFA. If it is OD-AFA then the photo was most likely taken in 1968.
Did Ghana Airways have a VC10 that was leased to MEA ?

[WHBM]

It wasn't just Heathrow either
I spy Liverpool, the old terminal (now a Marriott Hotel with a DH Rapide replica out front).

Probably on a football charter. PI-C827 moved from KLM to PAL in April 1970 so probably around then. Some football buff can doubtless identify the game !

[jabberwok]

A bit later than that. Photo was taken on 17/10/1970 - but it was still a KLM flight..

[bluesman666]

g/day all.wasnt the BOAC colours destinctive as was PAN AM and other airlines of the time you knew where the aircraft was coming from unlike today when the airports are more like yellow pages.:{:{
The best colours were BOAC blue and gold as shown in the VC10

[wayoutwest]

yes the were a class act.i flew to brisbane in GASGB in 1973 5 stops and when we landed at DACCA there were military tents along side the runway and half the town sat on the terminal roof a man emptied the ashtrays into an OXO tin and 2 or3 others swept the floor with dustpans and brushes.

[Jamie-Southend]

For KeyMac

http://www1.airliners.net/open.file/0413757/L/

http://www1.airliners.net/open.file/0981075/L/

[Mr_Grubby]

Ref the PAL DC 8 at Liverpool 17/10/70.

Liverpool played Dinamo Bucharest at Anfield on 21/10/70 in the Fairs Cup.
Could be something to do with that.
Liverpool won 3-0.

Now I do feel like a football nerd.

Clint.

[WHBM]

Only difficulty here is it was unlikely there would be enough foreign currency availably in Romania in 1970 to charter a KLM aircraft for the flight !

For such a game almost certainly they would have brought over a Tarom Il-18. Very full tanks on departure from Bucharest, minimal fuel uplift at Liverpool paid for in hard currency, possibly paid in cash by the crew, who might sleep in the aircraft to save their hard currency overnight allowance.

[jabberwok]

WHBM - Funny you should say that - see the Birmingham photo thread..

[Jhieminga]

Did Ghana Airways have a VC10 that was leased to MEA ?
Yes. Ghana Airways ordered three VC10s, only bought two and quickly leased one to MEA. This one (9G-ABP) was lost during an Israeli commando raid to Beirut Airport in 1968. MEA then leased OD-AFA (really G-ARTA) from BUA for a year. The other Ghana Airways aircraft flew on until 1980.

For more see here: http://www.vc10.net/History/other_operators.html