Derby Aviation/Airways

[darleydale1961]

As an ex air hostess I still keep in touch with 2 chief pilots of the time, Eric Lines and Tom Pike. Are there any other PPRuNe readers who are ex Derby who can provide further names ?

[tempilot]

David (Jock) Adams?

[Midland 331]

Capt Belcher is probably from the later BMA days. He occasionally pops up on here, and may have contacts with other folks from that era.

There's also a quarterly get-together of "BMA Old-Timers" at the Sun Inn, Gotham (formerly run by my late uncle and ex-Midland engineering inspector, Dick Chester). The group consists mainly of engineers, with a smattering of crews.

Meanwhile, a couple of images that may be of interest...

burnaston | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28724139@N00/2673028757/in/photolist-55cYjH-6yJjYN-9294eo-dM1gA2-agUrAY-9rJTQi)


Derby Airways Dakota G-AMSX | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34476833@N04/3652170262/in/photolist-6yJjYN-9294eo-dM1gA2-agUrAY-9rJTQi)

G-ALHG Canadair C-4 Argonaut Derby Aws LPL 26MAR64 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenfielding/5562714380/in/pool-2039211@N24/lightbox/)

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Ah! Burnaston! That used to be a regular bimbling destination for us in the Chippy from Barton back in the '80s. Happy days!

Somewhere between those two airfield is a Chipmunk battery cover, a curved, oblong piece of alluminium. It was there before we took off, but had gone when we arrived at Burnaston.

And wasn't Hotel Golf the Argonaught that crashed in Stockport in the '60s?

[Hotel Tango]

Hey, I remember Capt Belcher from my frequent BMA Viscount SLF days. Those were the great BMA days.

[VX275]

And wasn't Hotel Golf the Argonaught that crashed in Stockport in the '60s?
It was.
I can remember coming home for Sunday lunch to be told by my father that an Argosey had crashed in Stockport (although we lived less than a mile from the end of the runway at Ringway my father was always usless at aircraft rec).
My brother, who was the real plane spotter in the family had already gone into Manchester to try and sell the photo of Hotel Golf he had to the newspapers.

[CSman]

Sweet memories, SX was the first aircraft that that I ever flew in, CWL to JSY.She and her sister aircraft G-AMSW were both owned by Cambrian Airways at the time having been obtained from Airwork Hamble in1954.They were both sold to Derby Aviation in 1959, great photo

[ZOOKER]

I worked in ATC flight briefing at East Mids' during 1975/'76. Other names I remember were, Dave? Moores, Helmut Popp.
Captains Hardy and Van Den Elst were on 707s and earlier in the '70s there was a Captain Austin on 1-11s.
I also remember Andy Bettison, Paul (with blonde hair) and Richard King from BMA flight dispatch.
In 1970-'72 a group of us spent many hours spotting at the airport. We gopt to know many of the staff there.
From BMA I remember several of the ground staff from the days of the bright orange uniforms.
There was Pat? Chappell, (drove a Ford Prefect), and 2 other ladies, Lavinia and Judy. Judy kindly gave me a whole pile of advertising material, including a bill-board sized 1-11 tail poster that covered my entire bedroom wall! I believe she came from Long Eaton, and for some reason, I still remember her car. It was a blue Ford Anglia, 635 XAL.

[The SSK]

A recent ex colleague of mine is daughter of a former BMI/Derby captain (possibly married to ex stewardess, not sure) who is still very much of this world. Family name is Moores.

[Midland 331]

Yes, to get back on track, their is a Yahoo email forum for "The Old Timers". It may be a good place to start. Please send me a PM if you need the address of the moderator.

I found some colour footage of Burnaston and a DC3 in the clip below. It's in the first couple of minutes.

The 'Ghost Bus' (http://www.bartonsplc.co.uk/index.php/2012-01-23-22-22-17/the-ghost-bus)

r

[speeedqn]

Anyone from Derby Aviation remember Peter Bennett, from around the late 1950's to around 1962? I think he was a flight engineer and would now be in his mid 70's? Any information would be welcomed.

Thank you, Paul.

[T-21]

Would welcome from log books any DC-3 registration/ movement dates at Sywell airfield Northampton. 1958 to 1965. As well as passenger flights to the Channel Islands they operated air freight for Avon Cosmetics.

[robstitt]

Wrote a history of Burnaston which I would be happy to send via email to anyone interested.

Robert

[T-21]

Hello ,I would be very interested . Please pm. thanks

[darleydale1961]

Fr om my logbook (I had one !!) 13/7/58 Derby/Sywell/Oxford/Jersey and back to Elmdon in GANTD, Captain Cramp. Turn around time Sywell 5 mins !! Next time -- 24/7/59 Marathon GAMGW (Captain Lines) Hurn/Sywell/Jersey, 30 mins. in Sywell.next time --DC3 GANTD---Captain Hardy - Cambridge, Sywell/Jrsey/back to Elmdon via Luton. Time on ground not noted. 10 sectors ! One more ---7/9/59, DC3 GANEG Captain Hall, Derby/Sywell/ Staverton/Jersey, return by Sywell to Elmdon. (7 sectors) I finished with Derby in late 1959.
Trust this is of help.

[Prangster]

Me somwewhere between 13 and 16 ATC Cpl. Uncle driving taking mum and dad to Burnaston for Derby Aviation flight to Jersey. DC3 off runway in what looks like a cabbage patch. Mum (never flown before) ...look at that aeroplane. Dad 'Don't you dare sunbeam..........'

[T-21]

Darleydale 1961, Many thanks interesting information for Sywell history . :ok:

[rog747]

does anyone have please the link for the yahoo groups the old timers?

cheers
there is a memories of British midland on Facebook too

https://www.facebook.com/groups/357374931017226/

[WHBM]

Derby Airways all the pages of 1963 summer timetable

Index of /ttimages/complete/bd63 (http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/bd63/)

Argonauts Bristol to Palma. DC3 Luton to Dublin via Derby. A whole different world.

[evansb]

She is almost beautiful..

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/convair640073/classgalhy_zps6310f5fc.jpghttp://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/convair640074/m-qW8fb4zUaFmlOUTgvo0rw_zpsce246dfa.jpg

[fdcg27]

She is beautiful.
Imagine how much fun it would be to fly on one of these on your next vacation trip.
A leg of maybe 1100 nm maybe with a second of about the same, depending on where you're headed.
I know I'd prefer that to another flight on a generic A or B, although my wife might find the DC-4 as perfected by Canadair a little noisy.