Luton Airport, days of old

[EZYramper]

Never even knew this part of the forum existed.

Anyway I've just started working at Luton Airport, like all airports it is constantly changing and being updated. Luton is special for me as it is where me and my family always used to fly out of to go on holiday and where my love of aviation was born, I still live in Luton now. I grew up staring out of the window at the Britannia 757's in complete awe.

Does anyone have any photos of Luton through the ages, or even just memories they wish to share? Airliners.net has a lot of photos but mostly just of the aircraft and not the actual airport itself. Although I'd love to see a photo of the Concorde at LTN or any other unusual types like the BA777 that took the football team out for the world cup.

I loved the old terminal and it's still good to go for a cuppa' at gate 11 every so often.

It's a shame they got rid of the spotters area as well by the alpha link, a great place to spend an afternoon.

Hope there are others out there who wish to share my nostalgia of this gem of an airport!

[Mike Echo]

If you go into Smiths and Waterstones (or whatever it is now called) and find the local history section. There are several books on Luton which do include old pictures of the airfield. I also have a book on Percival Aircraft that I seem to remember contains several pictures. I'll have to check when I get home. Central Library used to have some books in the Reference Section
Mike Echo

[Mark22]

From the album of Sqd/Ldr Tony Cooper.
PeterA
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Album%203/MagisterL82-2CollectionTonyCooper00.jpg

[merv32249213]

Old Luton Airport, have I got memories from 1960-1974.
First five years with McAlpine Aviation, fitter then supervisor on Maintainence. The rest of my time, was with Britannia , fitter, then line charghand on the ramp. Flew out of it in June this year, hell, how it has changed, but I did notice some of the old buildings have survived .

Mac's old hanger when next to Helicopter Services,
The old Britannia Hanger ,
The later one(we worked out of the line hut next door ,a little portacabin) , now in red paint.
I am sure there were more, as Google Earth reveals
I have vivid memories of the rise of Luton Airport and could ramble on, ( and at 72 years of age ,I can be forgiven). I will be only to glad to help anyone who is interested in its history,
Merv Tew

[dc9-32]

"I grew up staring out of the window at the Britannia 757's in complete awe"

I grew up with Luton too, and worked there for many years on & off. In those days I was watching the likes of Air Spain DC8's, Invicta & Air Bridge Vanguards, Court Line 1-11's and all across a fence that was about 4ft high :bored:

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/andy757/0351478.jpg


http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/andy757/abcvanguard.jpg

[King Pong]

If anyone wants more pictures like this then PM me
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7868/aerialphotolate40slp9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Note the Italian prisoner of war camp in the background
I can remember Luton when there was no fence!!!
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4141/disusedbritannia2ns9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8174/mcalpineskz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)