LUTON History and Nostalgia

[Level bust]

I did some great jump seat rides on the 720. Coming back from Athens we were offered FL430, out came the tables and they worked out we could, but only just, so up we went but not much above the stalling speed.

Coming out of Ibiza we got direct climb to FL390, it didn't takes us long to get there either.

In the good old days when we were allowed to use our initiative, it was common to try and get direct climb to anything London would give us in the middle of the night. Off 08 they only climbed to 3000, this particular night 720 airborne, rang London to see what they could give him. They were most impressed when I cleared him direct to FL 370 and route direct Midhurst, you could here the cheering in the background!

[pppdrive]

Have replied to your PM

[LTNman]

Another of Britannia's 707's. Did they actually operated from Luton and if they did where did they fly?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/11096460_536078066533552_7560568369639111538_o_zpstgmwllxq.j pg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/11096460_536078066533552_7560568369639111538_o_zpstgmwllxq.j pg.html)

[22/04]

Britannia 707s did operate from Luton. Certainly did some ABC (advanced booking charters) to the US including I think Los Angeles which required a tech stop outbound, although these were also (more usually?) operated from Stansted. Also ad hoc charters- I certainly remember one of them operating to Kuala Lumpur (direct so probably empty given take off weight restrictions) and a regular Tenerife ex LTN, probably on a Saturday in 71/72.

Remember on cross-windy day when the 707 went around although a MON 720B on approach ahead of it landed.

[vintage ATCO]

For a time, the BAL B707 use to go to and from KLAX. Can't remember why now. Obviously not direct there but they often came back direct.

We rarely got an inbound FPL, the first we would know is when London rang with an estimate or the acft called us for the wx.

[22/04]

BTW looks like the Court Line Navajo in front of the hanger (G-AYEI) in the photo

[compton3bravo]

Yes, mostly group affinity charters to and from the US - Los Angeles etc. and Canada - you had to be a member of the South East Bedfordshire Bowling Club - join at check-in! to get round the strict rules in those days. Also flew to Hong Kong and if my memory serves me correctly did some IT flights for Thomson. G-AYSI was another B707-323C operated by Britannia. I am sure other colleagues on hear will be able to enlighten us further. Sorry 22/04 did not read your post before posting about flying to LAX apologies all round.

[22/04]

The pedant in me wants to point out that G-AYSI was a 707-373C - ex World Airways customer designated aircraft. ('YEX was a 355C)

[rog747]

yes YSI was an ex world a/c 373C and YEX a 355C from Cale

BY did some IT's for Thomson's Skytours Riviera holidays with the 707's
Palma Tenerife Las Palmas springs to mind and some subs for BCAL

[cj241101]

I wasn't sure if my memory was at fault, but now someone has also flown at FL430 on a Monarch 720 maybe it isn't. Zurich-Luton on G-AZNX 18/5/78 - I thought were came back at FL430 but wasn't sure if they really could make that level. Only my 2nd flight on the type. And the only true "greaser" landing I have experienced, where you realise you're on the ground only from the rumble of the wheels - the customers (mainly Swiss nationals) broke into spontaneous applause. Same skipper as the 0-FL330 in 4½ minutes related yesterday.

[oldandbald]

The Monarch 720Bs were my favourite and I certainly recall, again if my memory serves me, that going down to Tenerife at FL410, me on the jump seat, I forget why but think it was head wind the Capt asks for 430 and we "creep up" to that level, however Flt Engineer not happy and we go down again after only a short while . Lucky to have had a number of splendid trips with Monarch and Britannia at that time

[cj241101]

1970 and what I believe was the first international scheduled service (discounting the BMA brief flirtation with Dublin in 1967). Skyways Coach Air started a twice each Saturday and Sunday summer only schedule to Ostend on 16/5/70. The airline ceased operations the following January but soon reformed as Skyways International and again operated the Ostend service in summer 1971. From memory this was 3 flights Saturday and one Sunday. Poor quality photo I'm afraid using a Kodak Instamatic.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/7720G-ARMW20Luton20160570_zpsqftfeiwl.jpg?t=1432034746
G-ARMW 16/5/70

[lotus1]

Great pictures please carry on posting I do have a good couple in the loft I must find them safair herc instone b170 on the same day I remember landing at Luton in the early hours of the morning from ibiza flew in on Britannia 737 having to wait for coach back to kings cross so I decided to walk up to the old spectators area it was pitch dark then suddenly the whole area was lit up in brightness by a abc vanguard believe reg was g apes comming in to the apron this was around 1982 when the Falklands punch up was on I had to laugh the government sold off all Belfast fleet and when this flared up had to charter these in along with tradewinds 707 to asention Islands i also believe Abc also did a couple of runs they where the days

[cj241101]

Probably not, but it seems topical at the moment. This Fournier RF-4D took part in the Daily Mail transatlantic air race in May 1969, which was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Atlantic crossing by Alcock and Brown in 1919. It stopped at Luton en route to Biggin Hill on 11th May. It was accompanied by a rather rare type (in Europe at least) in the form of Aero Commander 100/Lark Commander N3622X, which I inexplicably failed to get a photo of.






http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/1920N170020Luton20110569_zpshpv0jaxn.jpg?t=1431939110
N1700 11/5/69


The pilot Mira Slovak flew an aircraft like this (an RF-4 with the same registration) from Germany to the US in May 1968; for an interesting account of that flight see:- Fournier RF4D N1700 Mira Slovak, Twirty-Six Horsepower Over the Atlantic (http://www.cfiamerica.com/Mira_Slovak-RF-4D-1700.html)


The aircraft pictured above ended up in the Seattle Boeing Museum of Flight at Everett. Very recent reports (15th May) indicate it is now in the UK at Gloucestershire, officially registered N1700G. See:-https://twitter.com/egbjdh
(link doesn't work, so need to copy and paste into browser window. That works!).


Have corrected some of the above, with thanks to Dave Reid for providing the additional correct information.

[cj241101]

variable quality as usual, best I could do with my trusty Kodak Instamatic.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/1120G-APDL20Luton20080469_zpsxqmj8h3h.jpg
G-APDL 8/4/69, shortly after Dan Air based a Comet at LTN late in March 1969.
The Eagle Britannia in the background (old light aircraft park) I believe was G-AOVK which was stored at LTN (along with G-ARKB) early in March 1969, finally getting broken up Feb 1970.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/2820G-AVYB20Luton20310569_zpsjdxbj6yh.jpg?t=1431943737
G-AVYB 31/5/69
Channel Airways operated 2 Palma flights on Sundays during summer 1969.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/2920G-AVHK20Luton20210669_zps7lyznbaz.jpg?t=1431944477
G-AVHK 21/6/69
Channel Airways again with G-AVHK operating the "Scottish Flyer" "bus-stop" service.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/3820G-ATBE20Luton20210769_zpsqgfxsew9.jpg?t=1431944718
G-ATBE 21/7/69
Operated by Handley Page this aircraft was a regular sight until being sold in Canada as CF-CQT 1/4/70.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/5320N1639920Luton20270969_zps1isocdzl.jpg?t=1431945102
N16399 27/9/69
Somewhat rarer, this ex-Air France DC-3 (ex F-BEFN) was en route to the USA. N16400 (ex F-BFGT) followed it on 3rd Oct.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/0920G-ARKA20Luton20230369_zpsfzuglemt.jpg?t=1431949930
G-ARKA 23/3/69
Shown just before delivery, ex-Eagle G-ARKA saw service with Tellair for only a few months before being ferried to Coventry on 31/10/69, where it remained until being broken up in October 1971.

[DaveReidUK]

The pilot Mira Slovak flew this aircraft from Germany to the US in May 1968; for an interesting account of that flight see:- Fournier RF4D N1700 Mira Slovak, Twirty-Six Horsepower Over the Atlantic (http://www.cfiamerica.com/Mira_Slovak-RF-4D-1700.html)

The aircraft ended up in the Seattle Boeing Museum of Flight at Everett. Very recent reports (15th May) indicate it is now in the UK at Gloucestershire, officially registered N1700G.

Mira Slovak was nearly killed, and his Fournier destroyed, when he crashed at the end of his Germany-USA flight in 1968. The following year a newer RF-4D inherited the registration N1700 and that's the one that went to the Museum of Flight and was recently noted at Staverton.

[Pain in the R's]

Didn't know Handley Page which was based just down the road at Radlett operated their own DC3. I wonder why they needed a DC3? They went bust in March 1970 which I guess why this aircraft was sold a month later.

Plenty of HP Heralds in my younger days at Southend

[cj241101]

Dave, thanks for the correct info. Have amended my original. Colin Jones.

[cj241101]

I remember 1980 as the year of the DC-8. Apart from the usual Scanair invasion plus the Finnair DC-8's flying for Kar Air, 3 DC-8 operators new to the airport started flying in. Aeral flew an extensive programme using their own (leased from Overseas National) aircraft N9110V, with a few flights on Kar Air's OH-KDM. Bursa operated once a week as did CP Air.

In spite of this, the overall airline count was well down on 1979. Condor and Hapag-Lloyd , both regular for a number of years, (including their Bavaria and Germanair incarnations) disappeared never to return. No Air Malta, Trans Europa, Maersk Air, Royal Air Maroc, Itavia or Middle East programmes. J.A.T combined the Pula and Dubrovnik flights into 1 rotation each week. Tarom only managed a short series in April. Here's what we did have:-

Sterling Airways Caravelle 10B/12 all year, Caravelle 6R’s had all been sold or scrapped by July 1980; 727’s summer only. Basic programme only around 5 flights each week with the usual extras Jun-Aug.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/OY-SBE20Luton20100880_zpslmndxeud.jpg?t=1431963408
OY-SBE 10/8/80

Austrian DC-9-32/51 late Sun evening all year
Tarom1-11 500 Bucharest Sat Apr only
Bursa Hava Yollari DC-8-21/50 Istanbul Mon 21/4-3/11
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/0820TC-JBV20Luton20120580_zpssfethxaq.jpg?t=1431962248
TC-JBV 12/5/80. Still in the basic livery of its previous operator Hamerein Air. Their later aircraft TC-JBY and TC-JBZ were in a more attractive green and blue scheme, of which I failed to get a picture.

J.A.T. B707-320C Fri 2/5-26/9
Aeral (Italy) DC-8-55 from 3/5 - early Sep variable programme, up to 3 flights some days peak summer
Inex Adria DC-9-30 Mon Pula 5/5-6/10 Pula Fri May-Sep
Scanair DC-8-62, DC-8-63 (S.A.S.) A300B (S.A.S.) June-Aug
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/SE-DFK20Luton20220780b_zpsivdt0kq6.jpg?t=1431987013
SE-DFK 20/7/80

Transair Sweden 727-100 10/6, 1/7, 8/7 (Linjeflyg F-28), 5/8 x2 (1 by S.A.S. DC-9-41), 12/8
CP Air DC-8-40 Wed Toronto via Prestwick Jun-15 Oct


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/1920CF-CPM20Luton20030980_zpsvdith3x3.jpg?t=1431962620
C-FCPM 3/9/80 (think it was still carrying CF-CPM actually, 5 years after Canada officially changed their registration prefix to C-)

Kar Air DC-8-50 DC-8-62 (Finnair) Caravelle 10B (Finnair) Jun-Sep DC-10-30 (Finnair, 3/7 only)
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/OH-LHA20Luton20030780_zpscmezmiij.jpg?t=1431962912
OH-LHA 3/7/80

Linjeflyg Fokker F-28 probably only 3 flights Thu 21/8-4/9
Minerve Caravelle 6R several ad-hoc flights Jul/Aug

Aer Turas Britannia CL-44
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/EI-BGO20Luton20030480_zpscmakn88f.jpg?t=1431965002
EI-BGO, EI-BBH 3/4/80 (their entire fleet at the time).

Geminair Britannia



Laker operated DC-10-10’s during the ski season Jan-mid Apr; Milan-Malpensa Thu 1235/1450, Turin Fri 1220/1450
Orion based a 737-200 at the airport from May
Redcoat introduced CL-44 G-BRED in August, replacing Britannia G-AOVS
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/G-BRED20Luton20010781_zpsyy46sh5j.jpg?t=1431986814
G-BRED 1/7/81

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/G-AOVS20Luton20121080_zpshsfdcgw3.jpg?t=1431964379
G-AOVS Luton 12/10/80. Used by the BBC for their series "Buccaneer" about a fictitious cargo airline Redair, screened summer 1980. Aircraft was then used for fire training; The fuselage still exists somewhere near the fire training ground (still there 21/5/15)

Air Ecosse started late night mail flights with Bandeirantes, 3 flights each weekday night
Skyways Cargo continued with their 6 nights a week newspaper flights to Amsterdam with FH-227's, unfortunately going into receivership on 16th October.
Air Bridge were still operating their 6 nights a week newspaper flight to Glasgow with a Vanguard Merchantman.

[LTNman]

See post 69 for other photos

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/10854277_695439290583068_796452190295326193_o_zpskrxrqcxl.jp g (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/10854277_695439290583068_796452190295326193_o_zpskrxrqcxl.jp g.html)

Origin of photo unknown

[dc9-32]

Superb photos CJ, and memories are flooding back. I remember as a young boy sitting down the side of the BY hangar watching the likes of Germania 1-11's taxi past.

Some years later, I'd be bashing out loadsheets for a whole variety of machines including Caravelles, 1-11's, 737-200's, DC9's..........happy days.

[LGS6753]

In reply to an earlier question, the Britannia 707s operated to KL and to Georgetown, Guyana IIRC.

I was thinking that Summer 15 was shaping up to be an interesting summer with around 13 operators - I hadn't realized the variety on view in 1979/80!

[cj241101]

quote:-

"I was thinking that Summer 15 was shaping up to be an interesting summer with around 13 operators - I hadn't realized the variety on view in 1979/80!"

In spite of 24 airlines with regular flights summer 1979, many of the foreign carriers were only operating 1 flight a week, and the total passenger numbers were only around 2.8 million (can't find the book that would tell me exactly). 1981 saw most of the Scandinavian flights return to STN, coinciding with Monarch reducing their based fleet to just 3 aircraft after opening bases in LGW/MAN and GLA with consequent redeployment of some of the LTN fleet. Annual passenger figures dropped to around 1.6 million in the early 1980's as a result. They did begin to recover with the arrival of a certain Irish airline in 1986.

[LTNman]

9,530 1961
43,417 1962
127,297 1963
174,545 1964


419,885 1967/68
799,152 1968/69
1,594,010 1969/70
2,050,775 1970/71
2,897,506 1971/72
3,145,658 1972/73
3,140,175 1973/74
1,920,275 1974/75
1,868,753 1975/76
1,858,952 1976/77
2,003,714 1977/78
2,082,966 1978/79
2,230,568 1979/80
2,086,082 1980/81
2,017,737 1981/82
1,806,171 1982/83
1,735,706 1983/84
1,795,541 1984/85
1,635,116 1985/86
2,017,502 1986/87
2,681,158 1987/88
2,911,493 1989/89
2,694,794 1990
1,961,351 1991
1,963,345 1992
1,863,927 1993
1,816,054 1994
1,796,685 1994/95
1,907,193 1995/96
2,642,038 1996/97
3,405,596 1997/98
4,387,739 1998/99
5,466,128 1999/00
6,337,752 2000/01

[cj241101]

Thanks LTNman, were they from Dave Gearings book? (that's the one I can't locate). My 2.8 million came from the LLA 75 year anniversary book which I thought was very over-optimistic.


While I'm here, here's something from 1967 (15th July to be precise).
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/3120G-ALHY20Luton20Airport2015076720probably_zpst3zh8dip.jpg?t=143 2245221
Anyone else as old as me might be able to identify the 2 aircraft outside the Autair hangar, both of which were based at the time, disappearing for different reasons by the end of that year.

[LTNman]

The stats came from an old spreedsheet I used to update. They were from different sources including old year books.

As for the photo looks like a Viking and HS 125. Just a guess without checking but the HS125 crashed on the roof of Vauxhalls after doing a simulated engine failure while the Viking was scrapped?

15th July 1967 was a Saturday so would the BM DC4 being a Jersey flight or had they no started yet?

[cj241101]

Spot on with the HS125, it is indeed G-AVGW which sadly crashed on to Vauxhall during a training flight on 23/12/67.

The DC-3 behind it was G-AMSN, still in the basic colours of Mercury Airlines who had ceased ops in Oct 1964. It was registered to a Lord Peter Calthorpe of Jersey on 22/11/65. I never saw it fly, and have no idea how long it had been at LTN. It was sold in the USA as N3455 on 28/12/67, then in Egypt as SU-BFZ and Ireland as EI-BSI before being restored to G-AMSN for Aces High on 13/11/89 (was still N3455 at North Weald Aug 1995). It moved briefly to Sandtoft in 1998. It was then back at North Weald and used in the TV series "Band of Brothers" in 2001. After being moved to Redhill on 24/6/04, it then went to the D-Day museum at Carentan, France in October 2004. Currently reported as being converted to a flight simulator.

The BMA is DC-4M G-ALHY and was operating the evening Jersey flight. This aircraft was withdrawn from use at East Midlands later in 1967, getting broken up there during 1970.

Not sure whether the Autair HS748 is G-ATMI or G-ATMJ.

Here's another one

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/2920G-ANBI20Luton20Airport2015076720probably_zpschvpicrv.jpg?t=143 2282465
G-ANBI 15/7/67
This is the view from the original spectators area to the left (south) of the terminal. Apart from the aircraft, it shows the area that became a grass (mud!) spectators car park in the summer of 1968.

[cj241101]

Looks like Monarch's colour scheme, maybe that's why Apron Control parked it on stand 4 with a Monarch Boeing 720B behind it. A Morane-Saulnier MS760 Paris 2B.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/3720N587820Luton20190579_zpshdibvjw1.jpg?t=1432284275
N5878 19/5/79

[Lon More]

Going back a couple of pages Didn't the 727 Greenline start at Luton then went to Watford, Maple Cross, Heathrow and finally Gatwick?

I used to catch it at Park Square if both ny car and bike were off the road together. Took about 1 hr 15 to West Drayton then a 10 minute walk to LATCC. OK when going on an afternoon but didn't work for other shifts.

There was an RF4 hangared in the club hangar in the mid 60s; sorry can't remember more about it

[cj241101]

Luton Flying Club had RF-4 G-AVNY registered to them from 2/11/67 to 4/6/71 according to G-INFO. Privately owned G-AVLW was also around late 1967 at least. The same owner had RF-5 G-BACE based in 1972.

[cj241101]

A relatively quiet year for foreign airlines compared to the previous 2 summers. After 5 years AT LTN, Sterling decided to return to Stansted at the end of March. Scanair likewise defected, with the only Scandinavian representative being Kar Air. First MD-80's appeared with Austrian and Inex Adria:-

Sterling Airways until end March then they moved to Stansted, Caravelle 10B Fri evening Arlanda 2030/2125, B727-200 Fri evening Billund 1830/1930

Austrian DC-9-32/51/MD81 Sun evening all year 2000/2045 (summer) 2005/2050 (winter)

Air Malta B720B, B737-200 (Transavia) Mon evening 6/4-26/10 2110/2200, Fri evening 29/5-23/10 2015/2105, Thu evening 2/7-29/10 2035/2125
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/PH-TVE20Luton20030781_zpsr4hnunq6.jpg?t=1432739192
PH-TVE 3/7/81

Tarom 1-11 400/500 Sat Bucharest April only 0920/1020

Kar Air DC-8-50 DC-8-62 (Finnair) Caravelle 10B (Finnair) 15/4-25/8 various days, 13 flights total


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/OH-LSD20Luton20230681_zpsye63mrxj.jpg?t=1432738534
OH-LSD 23/6/81

J.A.T. DC-9-32 Fri 1/5-30/10, Pula , Dubrovnik, 2 rotations with same aircraft, 1045/1145 and 1715/1815


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/YU-AJL20Luton20130583_zps6wjgc4he.jpg?t=1432739333
YU-AJL 13/5/83

Inex Adria DC-9-30/727-200 (Yugoslav Govt YU-AKD Jun-Aug pending MD81 delivery), MD81 from 17/8, Mon morning Pula 11/5-5/10 1020/1105

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/YU-AKD20Luton20080681_zpsydnlji5v.jpg?t=1432736887
YU-AKD 8/6/81, same aircraft operated summer 1979 for J.A.T.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/YU-ANC20Luton20060683_zps8v2ahbv3.jpg?t=1432738787
YU-ANC 6/6/83

Olympic Airways A300B Sat evening Athens 9/5-31/10 2115/2230

Minerve Caravelle 6, 18/5 and 1/6, 3 flights each day, 29/7 2 flights, 19/8 1 flight

Maof B720B Tel Aviv Sun from 1/11, Tue from 10/11, Thu from 12/11 1315/1430
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/4X-BMA20Luton20170182_zpszcuhztpk.jpg?t=1432740735
4X-BMA 17/1/82

Aer Turas Britannia, CL-44, Sat night newspapers to Dublin plus usual horse flights

Geminair Britannia


Although the planned foreign operators were down on previous years, several days of industrial action by UK air traffic services (N.A.T.S.) between 7/5 and 30/6 brought a large influx of (mainly) Heathrow diversions, during which time I recorded the following airlines and types:-

Sobelair (Sabena flights) B737-200


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/OO-SBQ20Luton20210581_zpsz1wbn5bi.jpg?t=1432740216
OO-SBQ 21/5/81

Sabena Beech 99, B707-320C, FH-227B, B737-200

K.L.M. DC-9-32, DC-8-63

N.L.M. Fokker F-28

British Caledonian1-11 500

British Airways Trident 3, Tristar 1


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/G-BBAE20Luton20190681_zpsfs3tqydl.jpg?t=1432739601
G-BBAE 19/6/81

Aer Lingus B737-200

Austrian DC-9-32

T.A.P. B707-320B

Finnair DC-9-51

J.A.T. B727-200, DC-9-32

Olympic A300B
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/SX-BEC20Luton20190681_zpskbv9qfyu.jpg?t=1432739828
SX-BEC 19/6/81

Swissair DC-9-51, DC-8-62, MD81

Icelandair 727-200

[LTNman]

Once there was just the original terminal but before the new terminal was built an extension and additional check-in area was built at a right angle. Later when the new terminal was built this area was changed to form a link between the new terminal and the old terminal which was being used as the departure lounge with limited shopping. Later still it became the arrivals hall with security lanes added above it. I don't have any photos of the check-in desks or remember which airlines used them but this is what I do have taken over the years.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P1010006_zpsogzfbekd.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P1010006_zpsogzfbekd.jpg.html)

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P1010005_zpsrllprmmm.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P1010005_zpsrllprmmm.jpg.html)

With the original extension still visible in the background
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P1010001_zps0t8ttijs.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P1010001_zps0t8ttijs.jpg.html)

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/12150005_zpsswt6qfos.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/12150005_zpsswt6qfos.jpg.html)

The final picture was taken a few months ago as ground samples were taken to allow the bus station to be built over as a terminal extension. Last week saw arrivals move to a temporary location to allow yet another use for the ground floor when it will become passenger security as they pass to airside.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P1010578_zpsiu60khuf.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P1010578_zpsiu60khuf.jpg.html)

[LynxDriver]

Had several pleasant flights on Tristar G-BBAE pictured above when it was in service with British Airtours in the mid 80s.

[cj241101]

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/G-BBAE20Luton20130286_zpsbfndddfg.jpg?t=1433196011
G-BBAE 13/2/86
Based for the ski season

[DeepC]

Does anyone have a photo of the LTN arrivals gate (viewed from the pick-up side) as it was in June 1999?

I'd much appreciate seeing it.

Perhaps it's already been posted in the many pages of this thread but I couldn't find it.

Thanks,

DeepC

[LTNman]

The new terminal opened in 1999 and used for a few years the link building which had the arrivals hall in the old check-in area. The picture I posted a couple of posts back with the large crowd and the Whistlestop shop was taken there but I am not sure if this is what you are after when you refer to the arrivals gate?

[Double Hydco]

Lovely picture of G-BBAE cj241101.

As a yoof, our next door neighbour (a CAA flight ops inspector) arranged for me to ride on her the jump seat to FAO when my family travelled on our summer holidays in 1984.

From that moment I wanted to fly airliners for a living......

[wallp]

I love seeing all these old photos from a time when LTN had such a diverse mix of airlines and planes visiting. Takes me right back to my childhood days as a spotter there.

[cj241101]

here's a couple of ad-hocs then
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/I-TIGI20Luton20120480_zpsoe2jonqr.jpg?t=1433281913
I-TIGI 12/4/80


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/HA-MOI20Luton20140880_zpsxsl3mwyt.jpg?t=1433282167
HA-MOI 14/8/80


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/OO-ABB20Luton20030480_zpsl9yplecq.jpg?t=1433282460
OO-ABB 3/4/80. This aircraft spent 1979 on lease from Gulf Air to Britannia as A4O-BG


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/2020A4O-BG20Luton20180479_zps8azawqxf.jpg?t=1433282848
A4O-BG 18/4/79. Identified from the rest of the fleet by a pale grey painted underside rather than the usual polished metal

[DeepC]

Hi LTNman,

Your picture, I believe, is inside the ground floor link building which led to arrivals/departure gates once the new terminal building was opened.

I am looking for a photo of the arrivals gate just before the new terminal opened. So it was in the building opposite the new terminal entrance I believe.

Thanks and kind regards,

DeepC

[LTNman]

How about this. I can only remember that after this photo was taken the extra check in area was built so passengers passed through Arrivals to get back into the terminal. It was only when the new terminal opened that arrivals moved into the link building. Originally for arriving passengers to get back into the old terminal they had to go outside. There were green chairs and carpets in here if I remember correctly.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/arrivals_zps3mtadrvq.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/arrivals_zps3mtadrvq.jpg.html)

[DeepC]

Hi LTNman,

Thanks for this photo LTNman!

Yes that is how I remember it, if anyone has a photo showing further into the arrivals exit then this would be much appreciated.

Kind regards,

DeepC

[LTNman]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/IMG_0007_zpsonskefrk.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/IMG_0007_zpsonskefrk.jpg.html)

[wub]

Very interesting read this thread. I was particularly interested in the photo of the Autair Herald G-APWC in post 177, since it was the first aircraft I ever flew in, when it was operated by BEA. The flight was from Turnhouse to Renfrew and cost 13/-.

I have passed through Luton flying 'Smith Air' a few times. The last time I flew from there was in 1995 on an ex-Brittania 737, flown by Sabre Airways. They were transporting an ATC Summer Camp's-worth of cadets and staff to Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri. I found it strange that we didn't fly direct to Akrotiri but instead refuelled at Athens. They never came back for us and a Monarch 757 did the honours instead. I do recall one one flight seeing the IL-76 referred to here, parked up.

In 1974 I was based at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire and used to watch with interest the Monarch Britannias from Luton seemingly staggering across the sky loaded with holidaymakers. The unit was involved with radio engineering and I was selected to complete a course on the Plessey AR-15 airfield radar which the RAF had just ordered. By lucky chance, Luton had just had an AR-15 installed, the first in UK if I remember correctly, and we were invited along to the airport to see it in operation.

I have a vivid memory of our group being briefed at the radar head and one curious (or bored) individual deciding to see what was inside one of the cabinets. Unfortunately he chose one which had an interlock on it and when he pulled the door open, that radar ran down. The engineer who was briefing us went crazy, he shouted "This isn't the bl**dy RAF, there are thousands of real people up there!".:uhoh:

[Discorde]

I found it strange that we didn't fly direct to Akrotiri but instead refuelled at Athens.

If the Sabre 737 was a Basic model (as opposed to Advanced) with JT8D-9 engines (as opposed to -15) its max range would have been inadequate for LTN to AKT.

[cj241101]

All the Gulf Air 737's were delivered through Luton, starting with A4O-BC on 1/7/77, ending with A4O-BK on 20/4/79. I believe they all night stopped.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/2120A4O-BK20Luton20210479_zpspwlgcbj9.jpg?t=1433360142
A4O-BK 21/4/79

[DeepC]

Hi LTNman,

Thanks for the second photo of the arrivals area.

Kind regards,

DeepC

[LTNman]

Hope it was what you was looking for. In the days before digital cameras sometimes I have to dig out old airport year books and these are the only photos I can find.

[paulmcmillan]

Re Post 31


Date....


Photo was taken before July 3rd 1939 as L8259 written on this date

[LTNman]

World's Highest Plane - British Pathé (http://www.britishpathe.com/video/worlds-highest-plane/query/luton+aerodrome)

World record set at Luton in 1957

[Haraka]

Pure Nostalgia. As a kid one day from our garden in Stopsley, I watched the Canberra doing some high angle climbs and wing overs. Haraka senior confirmed on coming back from work that filming had been going on. (ISTR post the actual event).

[LTNman]

So what are the two aircraft in the background on the film? At the 26 second mark there is a partial view of a large twin prop and what the hell is that at the 48 second mark? Looks like a passenger aircraft is carrying a jet engine under each wing.:eek::confused:

[oncemorealoft]

I think the twin prop is a Vickers Valetta while the mystery jet is an Avro Ashton - a jet version of the Avro Tudor.

[oxenos]

1. ? Varsity
2. Avro Ashton

[oxenos]

OMA - you just beat me. however, 1 is not a Valetta, which had a tail wheel.

[asw28-866]

LTNman

Might be an Avro Ashton, Nene powered development of Avro Tudor?

'866

Well done OMA, first in!

[vintage ATCO]

This would be Ashton Mk2 (and the second airframe) WB491 which was converted by Napier and Son in 1954 as a universal engine test-bed for National Gas Turbine Establishment. It flew with a RR Avon in a ventral pod but in 1955 the pod was replaced by a RR Conway for the Boeing 707-420.

I think what is seen at 26s is the Ashton (look at the tail) and there is just some equipment next to it that looks like propellers.

[LTNman]

Thanks for the info everyone.

[Wander00]

Surprised to see the Canberra taxying on grass - did it take-off and land on grass too?

[vintage ATCO]

It had to, Luton didn't get its hard runway until 1960.

[vintage ATCO]

On reflection, with better specs on and prompted by a PM . . . , I think what appears at 26s in the Pathe film is a Varsity. It therefore could be VX835 Napier's engine test bed. According to Putnam's Vickers Aircraft since 1908 it would have been fitted with a Napier Eland NE16 on the starboard wing. A bit before my time but I do remember the Convair N340EL.

[LTNman]

Pathe at 26 seconds

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/3fe67821-b299-4c8e-a500-51c78930810b_zps7moupume.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/3fe67821-b299-4c8e-a500-51c78930810b_zps7moupume.jpg.html)

[vintage ATCO]

Napier's Varsity

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1544570_10153318264593257_4655592768439768243_n.jpg?oh=52c0b dbac4d336c8b6c21d131d3b823f&oe=55F9BCCF

[LTNman]

Another question for the experts here. What is the type of helicopter seen landing at Luton as it is a new one on me

Business Only Jets - British Pathé (http://www.britishpathe.com/video/business-only-jets/query/luton+aerodrome)

[treadigraph]

Brantly 305.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brantly_305#/media/File:Brantly_305_G-ASXF_Kidlington_29.10.66_edited-2.jpg

[LTNman]

18 minutes for an answer.:ok: Cheers

[treadigraph]

Would have been quicker if the office IT had been working quicker!

Don't think I've ever seen a Brantly 305 in the flesh - mind you, haven't seen many of its little sister.

[LTNman]

Must be around 1969 which was an interesting period at Luton as jets started to replace props.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/11050801_691985994261731_8288822340930546614_n_zpsdmvnsjuj.j pg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/11050801_691985994261731_8288822340930546614_n_zpsdmvnsjuj.j pg.html)
Origin of photo unknown

[DaveReidUK]

Origin of photo unknownComing soon to a fridge near you:

Autair International BAC 111 G-AVOF - 40th Anniversary 2015 Calendar F ? airobilia (http://www.airobilia.com/collections/calendar-fridge-magnets/products/autair-international-bac-111-g-avof-40th-anniversary-2015-calendar-fridge-magnet)

[dixi188]

Am I missing something?
40th anniversary? 1974-2004 = 30 years.

[DaveReidUK]

Am I missing something?
40th anniversary? 1974-2004 = 30 years.

Yes, I think you've missed the fact that it's a calendar produced in 2014 for the following year. :O

[cj241101]

Quote:-
"Must be around 1969 which was an interesting period at Luton as jets started to replace props".

Delivery dates for the Autair 1-11's were 8/2/68 (G-AVOF), 19/3/68 (G-AVOE), 11/5/68 (G-AWBL), 12/68 (G-AVGP ex Channel Airways, leased from BAC - anyone know the exact date?) and 20/3/69 (G-AWXJ). So it COULD be 1968....Hard to tell which aircraft the last one is - looks like G-AW.. something which is absolutely no help anyway.

[DaveReidUK]

Hard to tell which aircraft the last one is - looks like G-AW.. something which is absolutely no help anyway.

Definitely G-AWBL.

AUTAIR INTERNATIONAL BAC 111 G-AVOF OF and G-AWBL at Luton - 6 x 4 Pri ? airobilia (http://www.airobilia.com/products/autair-international-bac-111-g-avof-of-and-g-awbl-at-luton-6-x-4-print)

[cj241101]

The absence of either of the 2 later aircraft probably favours 1968 but not, of course, conclusively.

[LTNman]

Taken from a Viscount?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/11329970_726022524191411_4580285495253392134_n_zpsagkxnwmm.j pg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/11329970_726022524191411_4580285495253392134_n_zpsagkxnwmm.j pg.html)
Origin of photo unknown

[compton3bravo]

I´d guess a British Midland or could it be an Alidair Viscount with those yellow tips on the props taxing round to stand 9L to park nose out but the Monarch Brit is nose out and could be on 9L already. Vintage ATCO may be able to verify.

[vintage ATCO]

There wasn't a 9L in those days, stand 9 was a nose out stand.

[22/04]

Think most things had yellow prop tips in those days. The there was a phase where there was a move to increase visibility with black and white stripes IIRC.

Where was the Viscount heading to - seem to remember those mostly parked nose out in those days. Vintage ATCO will know- was stand 8 also generally nose out with 7 being the last nose in one?

I guess the photo was around 1970, possibly 71 with the mix of aircraft there - the Court Line One Eleven looks short enough to be a 400 in which case good old 'BL again and 1970.

[YVRLTN]

Long time lurker, had to sign up after enjoying this amazing thread - keep up the great memories everyone.

Sadly I dont have any photos from my LTN days, but many memories mostly from late 80's up to 2005 when I emigrated. Appreciate any photos or info on any of these:

IL-76's - Inversija, Air Foyle / Khors Air and Aeroflot
AN12 - Bright Aviation & others
French 732 - Emerald something
LTU Sud 752
Eurocypria A320
BA Cityflyer ATR42
Southern L100 Herc
Air Bridge Merchantmen
Hunting Electra
Manx 360 - always remember G-ISLE
Cypriot 721 was a regular, registered to AIMES
Netherlines Saab
Air Ops Tristar
Airtours DC10
MK / Cargo D'Or DC8
Ambassador 752 parked there for a while
Alitalia 767 with G- reg, OIT?
French Navy N262 Fregate
BAe owned J31 was also a regular
European 1-11's, mostly for FR before enough 732's came online at LTN
Streamline 330's & OCS Bandit's
Spanair MD83's
Swiftair & EAT / DHL CV580's / 727's
Ratioflug F27
Sabre 727

Also seem to remember an open day where I went on board an Air Antique Dak and RAF C130, not sure when they ended, but was the year the cargo terminal opened I think as Reeve were really pushing it

[LTNman]

BA Cityflyer ATR42

Yes, I remember them but what year did they start flying to Paris?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/IMG_zpschq5bkqo.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/IMG_zpschq5bkqo.jpg.html)

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/IMG_0001_zpsenizkqks.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/IMG_0001_zpsenizkqks.jpg.html)

[LTNman]

Also seem to remember an open day where I went on board an Air Antique Dak and RAF C130, not sure when they ended, but was the year the cargo terminal opened I think as Reeve were really pushing it

I have that on Video. Can't remember if it was just one day or over the weekend. On the day I took the camcorder there was plenty of snow on the ground. Coaches were taking visitors around airside with staff explaining airside operations.

[LTNman]

Eurocypria A320

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/03200002_zps42u4cjn1.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/03200002_zps42u4cjn1.jpg.html)
20th March 2003

[compton3bravo]

That is a Boeing 737-800 LTNman. Nice picture though.

[vintage ATCO]

Tut, tut, LTNman. Think we might have to take your anorak off you.

The open days were in 1992 and 1993 across Sat/Sun. The C130 was at the first but it wasn't a RAF one but one of the usual commercial ones that was a regular visitor. Some group wanted to tow it manually along taxiway Delta. I think the crew kept the brakes on.

The Luton Paris service was funded by he airport so effectively London Luton Airport ran an airline.

[LTNman]

Tut, tut, LTNman. Think we might have to take your anorak off you.

After getting the 757 lineup wrong a few weeks ago I have lost all credibility now :eek: Although I have to admit I did only look for the airline and not the aircraft type.

[LTNman]

The timetable shows a Saturday morning rotation to Paris yet I remember flying off to Jersey on a day return as it did a W pattern in Jersey. Maybe that was the following year.

Didn't Suckling take over the Paris link? Seem to remember they had 2 aircraft types from the same manufacture, one fast and one slow.

[boeing_eng]

I flew LTN-CDG-LTN on ATR42 G-BUEB in Sept 1994

Lots of interesting Russian visitors in those days.......I recall one IL-76 which ended up staying far longer than expected on the Pond. The rumour at the time was that some of the crew had been arrested shoplifting in the Arndale!

[cj241101]

I have British Airways City Express starting to CDG on 27/3/94. Suckling Airways began their Waterford route on 15/12/94 with their Dornier 228's (the slow one). They took over the BA CDG route on 29/10/95 with Dornier 328's (the fast one), with the last BA flight on 28/10/95. The Waterford route was suspended Jan 1997, returning on a peak season basis only. Last flights I have were over Christmas 1999. CDG continued until 26/1/01 (name change to Scot Airways on 31/10/99).


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/2720G-BVEF20Luton20160295_zpselclrd1u.jpg?t=1435781589
G-BVEF 16/2/95


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/7920G-BVTZ20Luton20210595_zpstvbf5k1j.jpg?t=1435782583
G-BVTZ 21/5/95


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/7144ea75-9437-40cf-8d3c-af95e6c7b20a_zps1u6yk9qz.jpg
CS-AZZ 16/2/95. This aircraft flew for Sucking as CS-AZZ on the Waterford route, becoming G-BWEX on 10/7/95.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/15920G-BWWT20Luton20060999_zpsniijvot7.jpg?t=1435785590
G-BWWT 6/9/99

[boeing_eng]

The original Sucking Do228 (G-BMMR) was a regular visitor back in the late 80's when it used to visit Mc'Alpine for maintenance at weekends..

[LTNman]

The name Scot Airways still to this day lives on at Luton if you know where to look.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P1010298_zpsnfum91qx.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P1010298_zpsnfum91qx.jpg.html)

[YVRLTN]

Re the CB D328 to CDG, I recall for a short while the flights flew a CBG tag, Im going to say in 96. They also used a D228 from City Airbus based in HUY, not many photos of that around.

I always assumed the IL-76's and Southern L100's were in for Vauxhall, was that the case?

[cj241101]

The Air Foyle/Khors Air IL76 that used to sit on the south apron (UR-78755) along with a Southern Air Herc were on standby for oil spills.
Some IL76's were bringing car parts in for Vauxhall, especially after the Vauxhall summer holiday in August.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/22020UR-7875520Luton20190194_zpso6pp85pc.jpg?t=1435942002
UR-78755 19/1/94


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/22120N901SJ20Luton20190194_zpsquvgu0ag.jpg?t=1435942317
N901SJ 19/1/94


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/CCCP-7644320Luton201201931_zps5f2hnwwe.jpg?t=1435943564
CCCP-76443 12/1/93

[boeing_eng]

I actually flew on a couple of the IL-76 beasts when they were transporting engines for AOG aircraft from LTN for my employer....an interesting experience to say the least!:}

On one flight I spent most of the time in the glazed nose next to the navigator. Although he had a shed-load of antique Russian navigation equipment whirring away, his pride and joy was a hand-held GPS!

[vintage ATCO]

I once arrived outside the old terminal early one morning and there were three IL76s on the south apron. The fuselages were shrouded in shallow fog with just the tails showing. It looked just like three whales diving. Of course, no camera, no phone with a camera in those days. Missed the shot!

When I was a Responsible Person under the ANO with the power to prohibit flight (Ooer!) my attention was drawn to a particular IL76 whose tyres were showing vast amounts of canvas. After consulting Men from the Ministry it was considered 'tertiary' and the aircraft allowed to depart.

[Wander00]

What happened to Suckling. I always thought it was a brave attempt by the Sucklings.

[wub]

Suckling is now integrated into Loganair

[Wander00]

OK, many thanks


W

[LTNman]

Seem to remember it started life at Ipswich (maybe not). Did Cambridge-Amsterdam before starting services at Luton. I also think it got sold to that women who bought Manston.

[vintage ATCO]

Yes, started ops from Ipswich in 1986. had to move to Wattisham then Cambridge in 1988 when Ipswich closed. In 1999 Brian Souter and sister Ann Gloag bought a 90% stake in it and rebranded it ScotAirways. They sold their stake back to Roy and Merlyn Suckling in 2006. Roy and Merlyn were nice people although Merlyn had a fearsome reputation :-)

[boeing_eng]

Due to the grass runway at Ipswich there were issues with the Do228 damaging
the surface in very wet conditions which also caused disruption to the schedules in the early days there.....

The Russian transport types almost always had some tyres worn down to canvass....probably because they were low pressure and they didn't bother re-moulding......

[LTNman]

Heavy Lift Belfast.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/02030001_zpsntxxsyyy.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/02030001_zpsntxxsyyy.jpg.html)

[Double Hydco]

Any idea what year this was, LTNman?

I seem to remember that we subbed for the ABC Merchantman for some weeks on the DHL contract, after the Vickers suffered some sort of electrical fire?

I can't remember the schedule exactly, but think it started with a positioning flight to Heathrow?

DH

[LTNman]

The photo is recorded with the date 3rd February 2002 assuming I set the date correctly.

They seem to be operating in Australia now.

[Double Hydco]

That's much later than the DHL business.

Brought one in to do an AOG engine job for Monarch, but that was around 1999.

Good old Fox Tango is in one piece in Cairns, but hasn't flown for several years.

DH

[cj241101]

My anorak log has it present on 1st, 2nd and 3rd Feb 2002, departing from stand 16 each day.


Quote:-
I can't remember the schedule exactly, but think it started with a positioning flight to Heathrow?


BCS412 LTN-LHR Mon-Fri, STD 2015 I think, BCS412 LHR-BRU, BCS411 BRU-LTN STA 0355.

[Double Hydco]

Thanks for the detail cj241101.

BCS412 LTN-LHR Mon-Fri, STD 2015 I think, BCS412 LHR-BRU, BCS411 BRU-LTN STA 0355.

It's good to know I can still retain some of my past aviation trivia.

I must confess to being a Stansted man, having grown up locally and spent many a Saturday morning the watching Tmac CL44's and the like, but this thread has reminded me what a wonderfully varied place LTN was in the 60's, 70's and 80's.

My first taste was being posted to RAF Germany in the late 80's and enjoying regular Britannia troopers to Gutersloh from LTN.

[l.garey]

What an excellent thread this is! I remember that I posted on a previous thread called something like: Luton in the fifties - grass runway. As this thread has concentrated on the heavy side of Luton aviation, maybe I can reminisce about some of the lighter aviation that used to go on there.

My first memories of Luton are in August 1958 when I was doing my PPL at Marshalls, Cambridge. I was sent on a solo cross-country via Luton and White Waltham back to Cambridge in Tiger Moth G-ALTW. No problems with the grass, and no need to use the new control tower, as I had no radio anyway. Also a bit of time to look around. A few gems were the Scorpion-powered Canberra WK163, the silver fuselage of Rapide G-AFOI in a hangar, 2 other Rapides IBB and LBC, Jet Provost OBU, Lockheed 12A GTL, as well as some more "ordinary" stuff such as Apache PLJ (quite new at the time), the red Chipmunk PAC, the dark green Gemini KEK, red Tiger Moth OGS ("Miss 'Obbs"), and the Pegasus Viking HOY.
An excellent flight and a great day out. A hard day though, with 7 flights and about 6 hours logged.
Laurence

[LTNman]

Thanks l.garey and Double Hydco and to everyone else that has taken the time to enrich this thread. It is nice to read the stories, remarks and comments from people who don't have a close link to the airport and were occasional visitors and of course the people who almost lived at the airport.

Love this photo with the fuel pumps in the background.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/bampw_058_zpsz9uzvbcs.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/bampw_058_zpsz9uzvbcs.jpg.html)
From vintage ATCO's collection

[l.garey]

And there is Tiger Moth G-AOZH of Luton Flying Club at the pumps. I think it was in service with the club from 1957 to 1964, so I could almost have seen it that day in 1958, but didn't!

Laurence

[vintage ATCO]

Luton Flying Club had two DH.82As, G-AOGS and G-AOZH. G-AOGS was sold to the US in 1971 but G-AOZH has been restored and is now a regular at Moth Club events. It is yellow and in military markings whereas it was red and silver when LFC had it.

[l.garey]

Yes indeed. The day I flew in, G-AOGS was there: red and titled "Miss 'Obbs". Who was Miss Obbs?

Laurence

[DaveReidUK]

The day I flew in, G-AOGS was there: red and titled "Miss 'Obbs". Who was Miss Obbs?All is explained in a previous Luton thread: http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/412116-luton-fifties-grass-track-runway-2.html#post6145057

[l.garey]

I thought I had seen the explanation before. Thanks for the nudge.

Laurence

[vintage ATCO]

Stunning colour image of Luton Airport from 1959, from the David Gearing Collection but credited to Jim Hanna. Jim was a Borough Civil Engineer whose remit included Luton Airport and he was often there, fortunately with his camera. Lovely bloke.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/stevelevien/Old%20Luton%20AIrport/Luton%20Airport%201959.jpg

[vintage ATCO]

Line of Provost T.53s awaiting delivery to the Burma Air Force in 1956. The were delivered ex Croydon 12 Oct 1956. Photo Credit: BAE Systems Heritage Centre Warton.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/stevelevien/Old%20Luton%20AIrport/Provost%20T53s%201956.jpg

[LTNman]

Great pair of photos with the quite rare sight of McAlpine's original hangar, which has only recently been knocked down.

Looking at the Luton Corporation hangar I know it was extended at its rear, which can be seen in the second photo, as the roof is a different colour but was this hangar knocked down and rebuilt for Monarch when they moved in or was the hangar again modified as the present hangar, which Monarch eventually vacated has a much higher roof?

[vintage ATCO]

I don't remember it being knocked down before being rebuilt. I know it was re-clad at some point.

[LTNman]

Well Monarch would not have got the tail of a Britannia in that Corporation hangar. At some point the height seems to have doubled. Might be the case of stripping the roof off and adding to the framework.

[LTNman]

Another look at that hangar in the photos would suggest that there would have been supports running down the middle to support the 2 V shape roofs. Now it is one open area so it must have been an almost total rebuild unless I have got it all wrong?

[vintage ATCO]

You are probably right, I just don't remember it.

[cj241101]

This is ALMOST :O before my time but were the old Corporation hangars originally numbered 7 and 8, becoming hangar 7/8 winter 1967/8 when they were amalgamated into one hangar for Monarch/Airline Engineering? I think the basic structures were retained.

[LTNman]

Been looking at some modern aeriel shots. Looks like the hangar structure apart from the cladding is still original with a new late 1960's frontage added as the V shape roofs are retained further back. The 45 degree support beam coming out of the roof edge half way along it would support my view, which can just be seen in one of the photos from vintage ATCO

Even this recent photo has seen changes with the removal of the Britannia ops building and the original wooden terminal on the extreme middle right of the photo.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/4529052716_c80e07cf17_b_zpsjs9ymnyn.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/4529052716_c80e07cf17_b_zpsjs9ymnyn.jpg.html)
origin of photo unknown

[cj241101]

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/10920RA-7675520Luton20200795_zpsreww05n1.jpg
RA-76755 20/7/95


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/11320Luton20060895_zpsspd0mvx8.jpg
G-OITF 6/8/95. Leased to Alitalia by Ansett World Wide, became I-DEIF 20/11/96, sold to Omni Air in the USA as N351AX 11/8/09.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/11920F-GHXK20Luton20110895_zpspk5rtdof.jpg
F-GHXK 11/8/95 Leased from Europe Aero Service but only operated one flight for Emerald. Last heard of (2008) stored engineless at Lagos.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/20120G-SRJG20Luton20051294_zpscz7dwd0g.jpg
G-SRJG 5/12/94. Parked after the airline had ceased ops on 29/11/94


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/520SE-DPX20Luton20010594_zpsxdjqgf5w.jpg
SE-DPX 1/5/94

and this for anyone wishing to have a personalised registration on their Gulfstream 3:-
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/12220XA-TCO20Luton20150894_zpsxk6qndhd.jpg
XA-TCO 15/8/94

[cj241101]

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/D-AMUT20Luton20200287b_zpsgjjcoam2.jpg?t=1436189662
D-AMUT 20/2/87. LTS (LTU-Sud) operated 3 flights from/to Munich on 20/27 Feb and 6th Mar 1987.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/No.7120Luton20240189_zpspjoxg8pb.jpg?t=1436191512
No.71 24/1/89. The French Navy used to like Luton, sending a variety of aircraft over the years including the Nord 262 (above), DC-3, EMB-121 Xingu, PA-31 Navajo and the MS760 Paris.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/PH-KJK20Luton20310790_zpsp81zvexx.jpg?t=1436192706
PH-KJK 31/7/90. Netherlines began operating AMS-LTN-AMS in November 1985 using Jetstream 31 aircraft. They introduced the SAAB 340 on the service at the end of March 1990. PH-KJK above was ex G-HOPP of Manx. They officially merged with N.L.M. to become K.L.M. CityHopper on 1/4/91, although had been operating as such since late 1990. Their last LTN-AMS service operated on 30/3/91.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/PH-KSH20Luton20160291_zpsmfehfi71.jpg?t=1436194851
PH-KSH 16/2/91

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/OO-DHD20Luton20090791_zpsdnanibim.jpg?t=1436193038
OO-DHD 9/7/91


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/D-ADEP20Luton20200592_zpskkwxckkp.jpg?t=1436193273
D-ADEP 20/5/92

[SpringHeeledJack]

Great photos! Lot's of nostalgia for nearly everyone. I loved the ex-Hawaiian Airlines L1011 for some reason. Out of interest, why did the French Navy seem to come to Luton so often ? Was there a joint facility in the area perhaps ?


SHJ

[LTNman]

Who did that 727 belong to seen on the background of RA-76755 20/7/95?

why did the French Navy seem to come to Luton so often ? Was there a joint facility in the area perhaps ?

Might have nothing to do with it but the US military had a large warehouse in Dunstable.

[Level bust]

Who did that 727 belong to seen on the background of RA-76755 20/7/95?

It belonged to Sabre Airlineswho were based at Gatwick, but did the odd charter from Luton.

[Luton Anorak]

The B727 in the background belonged to Sabre Airways

[Antek]

The French Navy movements were training flights AFAIK. The crew of some had a quaint (French?) custom once they disembarked, and headed straight for the nearest bit of grass....:hmm:

[boeing_eng]

Great colour pic from 1959......The houses in the Lalleford Rd area look newly completed! (no further properties were built off Eaton Green Rd heading East until the 1980's) I can recall as a kid riding down the road towards Breachwood Green in the 1970's and it became a pretty rough single track just past Lalleford with rows of Bedford trucks parked-up within the airport boundary...

[LTNman]

Eaton Green Road just past Lalleford with the airport boundary on the right.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/llal_zpsnvnrrwsg.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/llal_zpsnvnrrwsg.jpg.html)

[Offchocks]

Thanks for the picture of LTN in post #875, I worked for Monarch for nine years and the last time I saw it was in 1987 when I left for warmer climes. Most noticeable for me is the old tower has been replaced and lots of orange ...... planes and buildings!

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Mention of the French Military at Luton reminds me of the occasion when a Transall called in the mid to late sixties. The crew presented the handling boys with some extremely quaint magazines the like of which few of us had ever seen before!

[SpringHeeledJack]

Would they have been titled 'Oh la la!' or 'Great French military victories' ? :}


SHJ

[vintage ATCO]

Luton Airport 1938. From the David Gearing Collection but I would imagine originally by Aerofilms.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/stevelevien/Old%20Luton%20AIrport/Luton%201938%203.jpg

[LTNman]

Great shot of the Corporation hangar being extended at its rear.

[vintage ATCO]

Luton Airport, probably 1962 or 1963. From the David Gearing collection although originally prob Jim Hanna.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/stevelevien/Old%20Luton%20AIrport/Luton%20Airport%201962-63.jpg

[VictorGolf]

That's a cracking 1938 shot Vintage ATCO. What price seeing a Heston Pheonix and a Percival Q6 on the ramp at Luton today?

[LTNman]

I can see the airport firing range behind the T2 hangar in that 1938 photo.

[boeing_eng]

Somewhat more recent but a couple of interesting Convair types photographed in the late 1980's from my collection....I was always a great fan of the Convair 880 & 990!

http://i58.tinypic.com/90brja.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/11simtk.jpg

[YVRLTN]

Thank you cj241101, those are wonderful! Small correction on the French types, the EMB121 is the rare Xingu.

boeing_eng - what was the Britannia Cessna twin in the Convair photo? I remember PA28's ATHR & BTNT and Mooney OBAL.

[vintage ATCO]

CV990 . . . 160kt down the final approach :eek:

[Level bust]

The C421 is GBRIT, it was operated by McAlpine on behalf of Britannia to ferry crews around and other company business. McAlpines also had another 421 they operated, GBCBK.

[boeing_eng]

CV990 . . . 160kt down the final approach

A heavy 737-800/900 can get very close to that approach speed today!:}

[pppdrive]

Have sent you a PM

[cj241101]

A type rarely seen in Europe (Swissair briefly operated 2 in 1961/2), this Convair 880 was privately owned and paid a number of visits 29/8/78-8/10/78. The main distinguishing feature from the 990 was the lack of the fairings extending from the pylons above and behind the wings. Probably the only CV880 to visit LTN.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/N88CH20Luton20071078_zps9v7wsxpz.jpg?t=1436370225
N88CH 7/10/78


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/C-GRSC20Luton20070681_zpsc3kle1eh.jpg
C-GRSC 7/6/81. a CV580 owned by the Canadian Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/LN-KLK20Luton20181086_zpsszksprce.jpg?t=1436372790
LN-KLK 18/10/86. This ex Nor-Fly aircraft was bought by the Norsk Metropolitan Club on 9/3/84, subsequently preserved at Stavanger.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/SE-GTE20Luton20110478a_zpsmncypfhq.jpg?t=1436373287
SE-GTE 11/4/78. A CV340.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/EC-BZP20Luton20290784b_zps5pirkotb.jpg?t=1436373917
EC-BZP 29/7/84. In the original Spantax scheme, a replacement for a regular Aviaco DC-9 on Sundays for 3 weeks summer 1984.

[LTNman]

C-GRSC 7/6/81. a CV580 owned by the Canadian Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.


Don't recognize the background, where was this taken as it looks Stanstedish.

[cj241101]

North West Corner as it was then known, facing towards where Hangar 125 now is.

[LTNman]

OK, just don't recognize the building seen under the tail as it looks WW2ish.

[cj241101]

Thanks YVRLTN, have corrected my original mistake. Here's a picture.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/No.8320Luton20180189_zpsm1urjegx.jpg
No.83 18/1/89

[cj241101]

I don't recall the timescale of the original hangar 125, but I think the fence behind looks like it might be to cordon off the area pending building work. The "WW2" building looks like a portakabin, possibly for the contractors?

[cj241101]

LTNman you've got me thinking now. I think the aircraft is further forward than I originally thought and the building site is where the building behind the Xingu is (was it a Post Office sorting office?). The same building appears in this picture of an Oman Police Air Wing Buffalo taken the following March

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/A4O-CI20Luton20220382_zpsflycsoql.jpg?t=1436380098
A4O-CI 22/3/82

[boeing_eng]

Some more great oldies there CJ......I think you are right about N88CH:ok: If you didn't see one of these fly (or have forgotten how smokey those engines were) take a look at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isP1LVVZ6nU

Incidentally, there's quite an interesting blog at:

Aviation Feature ? Luton Airport 1978-1985 | GAR (http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/12/19/aviation-feature-luton-airport-1978-1985/)

It features quite a few pics of interesting visitors at LTN between 78-85 including N88CH and the outlandishly painted 1-11 N5LC!

[compton3bravo]

Flew on the Metropolitan CV-440 when it operated an enthusiasts flight from Luton on the date mentioned. Took my two daughters with me with my youngest glad to get off after it did a number of low passes at Luton and if I remember correctly Duxford as well. Remember Dave Gearing on board taking pictures from the cockpit door as we sped along Runway 26 at a very low height!
The gentleman who organised the flight Chris ? hit his leg on the tow bar and was never the same again unfortunately.
The Boeing 727 parked at the side of the Heavylift Belfast is VP-CZY which was a regular visitor to Luton and I think was based at Beirut.

[compton3bravo]

Anybody remember the above named airline which was set up by Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) in 1988 with its main hub at Brussels selling its cargo capacity to other companies. Operations commended at the end of March 1989 with three Belgian registered Convair 580s and a single Beech 99 but ceased flying at the end of July.I saw one or two late at night at Luton - has anyone got any photos of the Convairs in the all yellow scheme.

[cj241101]

Sadly no Convair pictures, only the Beech 99.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/OO-EEE20Luton20261090_zpsyhzz2pyz.jpg?t=1436473101
OO-EEE 26/10/90


Found a few pictures online, try https://www.flickr.com/photos/16172980@N07/15568187933

[cj241101]

This one a Convair 640, on delivery to Gambcrest on 26/10/90. Crashed into trees on approach to Kafoutine, Senegal 9/2/92.


http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/N862FW20Luton20261090b_zpsz2ghfv2u.jpg?t=1436691282

[LTNman]

Generally the Tristar was as big as it got at Luton. Here is one of Luton's more unusual Tristar visitors being used I believe as a biz jet. The photo is date stamped 7th September 2002 but that might well be wrong due to a lack of leaves on the trees.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/Tristar_zpswdaribki.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/Tristar_zpswdaribki.jpg.html)

[boeing_eng]

HZ-AB1 ex Jordanian Govt.

I have it as visiting on 12/10/01 (but that was probably its first appearance)....

[squeaker]

I remember the white painted wooden pegs by the turning circle at the end of the runway were there as a visual aid for the TriStar pilots.
They were still there for years after the last TriStar flight.

[LTNman]

If you know where to look Luton still has links to the distant past as this photo was taken today. Can anyone tell me what this was used for as I haven't got a clue but I do know where it faced.:) All I will say is it is attached to a lamp post.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P1030329_zpsg7oc7ffg.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P1030329_zpsg7oc7ffg.jpg.html)

[vintage ATCO]

100m visibility light attached to a lamp post near Luton Flying Club. It was aimed at the old control tower. There were others at 500m, 1000m and 1500m.

[LTNman]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/IMG_zpskoalgp4b.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/IMG_zpskoalgp4b.jpg.html)

[wallp]

Wow, fascinating to see these schedules which when compared to now show just how far the airport has come. Such big gaps in flights during the day and a limited destination list.

This must've been not so long after Ryanair switched most of their ops to Stansted hence only 3 flights a day.

I should know this but which carrier was VF, flying to Italy?

[DaveReidUK]

I should know this but which carrier was VF, flying to Italy?http://img.planespotters.net/photo/235000/640/G-AZUK-British-Air-Ferries-BAC-1-11-Series-400_PlanespottersNet_235809.jpg

[dc9-32]

ahhhh G-AZUK, Mediterranean Express series 475 pocket rocket :cool:

[wallp]

I'm confused, Listing shows M82 and D93 as operating aircraft.

I remember the BAF 1-11 but wasn't that their only jet type?

[DaveReidUK]

BAF certainly leased a couple of MD-82s from Adria, not sure whose the DC-9-30 would have been.

[LTNman]

Freight Movements 21st August 1992

Types listed
SH6
BAC146
PAY
BE99
VGF
LOF
SH3

Airlines listed
LOG
NFD
UPA
CAX
EXT
ABR
BCS

Anyone care to put some names to the aircraft type and airline codes?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/IMG_zp****eqrmp.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/IMG_zp****eqrmp.jpg.html)

[Level bust]

SH6 - Shorts 360
BAC 146 - Bae 146!
PAY - Cheyanne 11
BE99 - Beech 99
VGF - Vanguard/Merchantman
LOF - Electra
SH3 - Shorts SD3-30

LOG - Loganair
NFD - TNT - German registered 146
UPA - Air Foyle (TNT)
CAX - see below
EXT - Executive (still going today but into Coventry)
ABR - Air Bridge Carries/Hunting Cargo
BCS - EuroTrans (DHL)

CAX was a Swiss operator with the Cheyanne 11, possibly HBLNL.

[lotus1]

Baf did lease a couple of MD88 also a YAk 42 BUt there was a problem with the Licences due to the Balken wars At the time this was around 94 /95 I Remember visiting manston in kent when suddenly a Lat charter tu134 turned up also Concorde was there on a goodwood charter and you could not guess which one was making the most noise again the134 was on a charter licence which I beleive was under BAf and they got there knuckles bashed by the CAA that was the days

[vintage ATCO]

Luton Airport late-ish 1950s. No hard runway yet. Is that an Avro Manchester I see before me?
(photo from the David Gearing Collection)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/stevelevien/PPRuNe%20Pics/Luton%20Airport%2050-60s.jpg

[Haraka]

I would put the photo at around 1953-4 with the Nomad Shackleton (VW131- the second prototype) at the far right.

[vintage ATCO]

Yep, good spot

[vintage ATCO]

Luton Airport 20 Nov 1951
(David Gearing Collection - Credit:Luton News)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/stevelevien/PPRuNe%20Pics/Luton%20Airport%2020%20Nov%201951.jpg

Avro York just visible out of the extant Hangar 9.

[LTNman]

I wonder when and why the fuel pumps between the Corporation hangars were removed?

[vintage ATCO]

They were there early 60s but gone by 1966-67.

[oftenflylo]

The York in #928 - Was that Eagle ??
despite being an antique - I am only guessing psentku


maybe G-AMGL ex argentina

[Haraka]

That line of markers alongside the bowser is where we used to stand as kids to look on to the pan. Autair Vikings and Euravia Connies come to mind........

[Noyade]

http://i57.tinypic.com/x2rml2.jpg

[LTNman]

Interesting photo. The nose on the Prince is longer than the standard model. Was this just to accommodate an observer? I assume he would have to lie on his stomach and would be somewhat uncomfortable after a while.

[DaveReidUK]

Looks like one of the two P54 Survey Prince aircraft (VR-TBC/TBD) that went to the Tanganyika Government:

http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac5/ROW%20Africa/VR-TBC.jpg

[LTNman]

The former Easyjet HQ is being knocked down at Luton to make way for a multistory car park. This great photo was taken in the early days of the airline when the spectators building was still open on the right hand side.

The photo shows that the spectators car park had been closed which would not have helped visitors to the cafe and bar. I would guess the photo was taken around 1995 and looks like the easyjet HQ was yet to open.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/11891216_10153412119522906_8076421236459565814_n_zpsrejnf26r .jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/11891216_10153412119522906_8076421236459565814_n_zpsrejnf26r .jpg.html)
Peter Ryan

[LTNman]

For those that visited Luton's spectators building up until the mid 90's when it was closed and incorporated into easyjet's HQ I have to report that it is no more. I spent many happy hours in there from the 70's onwards.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P1030677_zpsyoakyuvx.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P1030677_zpsyoakyuvx.jpg.html)


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/Concord3_zps5ksbbgbf.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/Concord3_zps5ksbbgbf.jpg.html)

[wallp]

Wow, what a brilliant Concorde photo :)

I too spent many happy days and evenings in and around the old spectators building in the 70's, 80's and 90's.

Shame such facilities have pretty much become a thing of the past at most airports.

[22/04]

In the UK they have become a thing of the past; but not Germany, Switzerland, Japan and the Netherlands.

A lot of time spent in and around that building too - remember those strange metal benches?

And runway 18/36 there too. Can't imagine even a 3 million pax pa airport operating with GA aeroplanes landing at right angles to the main runway- like Luton did in 1973. Not in the UK anyway.

[vintage ATCO]

18/36 wasn't a problem, being at right angles. 06/24 was more interesting with 'parallel approaches'! ;)

[Sheikh Your Bootie]

Ah shame, I spent many a day in that building in the 70's and 80s. Happy days.

SyB :zzz:

[Simtech]

Happy days indeed. Used to get fish and chips from the shop in Lyneham Road, then back to spend a few hours watching the aeroplanes. Even my wife enjoyed herself!

[22/04]

Vintage ATCO - had almost forgotten 06/24, though I don't remember it being used that often in my days (post 1968). Certainly use of 06 was very rare as I remember it.

Was it implicit that 24 traffic would remain north of 26 if there was a possibility of a go around. - or did you just "not go there" i.e. de-conflict.

It is amazing though how many airports running at not much more if anything than Luton's 3 million pax in 1973 shun or almost shun GA these days - Bournemouth for example.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

In the late 1960s I attempted to learn to fly in the Cessna 150s of The Luton Flying Club. I flew my first solo off R/W 24 and circuits were flown to the south not to the north. I greased my landing on this occasion but was a little disappointed that my father, with whom I had left my wave band radio and was watching the proceedings, hadn't realised that I had soloed.

My second solo was pretty dreadful - attempting to land on 36. I think I had three goes at it - bouncing all over the place. I remember frantically twirling the trim wheel as I heaved the stick back and went around on a left turnout. Finally a call from ATC prior to the third approach -"Your instructor insists that you make a full stop landing." I thought "If only you knew!"

I hung up my flying goggles after this tho I still have a pole from time to time.

It was all quite exciting. Spin recovery high over the fields of Bedfordshire was exhilarating. Then there was the time when we got mixed up with a bunch of Spitfires during the filming of The Battle of Britain over Cambridgeshire. One really hairy moment came about when we were inbound to R/W 24 on top of cloud. As we slipped off the cloud what should we see about a hundred feet immediately below us - a bloody great big Monarch Britannia also inbound. All this was of course years before the Luton zone was established. Phew!

[LTNman]

You seem a tad lucky that you are still around to tell the tales:eek:

[boeing_eng]

Still plenty of GA at BOH 22/04

A shame indeed to see the demise of the former Speccys.....Some great memories......the smell of burnt jet fuel on warm summer evenings as aircraft passed by and the sound of the pings on the airband radios from the nearby radar dish echoing around the place!

[LTNman]

The secret of visiting the spectators area was to get your timings just right. Pick the wrong time and there was next to no movements but pick the right hour and there was always a nice trickle of aircraft. I always remember the screaming Viscounts. It was the only aircraft where I had to put my fingers in my ears as it passed by. It was also the only aircraft I can remember where you could see the passengers shoulders as well as their heads thanks to their large windows.

[vintage ATCO]

22/04

Yep, "clear to land rwy 24, in the event of a missed approach remain north of the main". 06 was more interesting as they had to go through the 08 approach on left base, and then cross 08 again on final approach, unless you could persuade them to remain north of the main all the time :) I once had a C172 doing pleasure flights (from the speccys area) who was doing this all Sunday afternoon.

I once had Dave Huges (LFC CFI) on final 24 and a BY B737 on final for 26. I issued the "in the event of a missed approach etc" when the B737 said grumpily "Just like Heathrow".

I once went off rwy 24 four up in the back of a Tri-Pacer . . . we went round the fire station.

[LTNman]

Seem to remember that there was some sort of aircraft banner towing operation at Luton. Can't remember though if the aircraft took off with the banner behind it or picked it up on a low pass.

[vintage ATCO]

You would not be able to take off with the banner attached. The pick up rope is draped between two poles with the banner laid out ahead of the poles, the front being nearest the poles. The aircraft runs in with a grappling hook trailing and snags the rope between the poles. A lot of power is applied and the aircraft climbs away picking the banner up as it goes. We still do this at Old Warden.

I remember the banner towing at Luton but not what they were advertising.

[boeing_eng]

A nice bit of old footage featuring a Court 1-11 and a couple of general views (including an Aviogenex TU-134 on the Pond)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYna0T-0VEs

[boeing_eng]

I remember the banner towing at Luton but not what they were advertising.

Campari ?? ;););)

[LTNman]

Great youtube link. The old days just seem like the good old days. I see the mid term car park is in better condition then than now.

[richlit]

Just come across this on youtube may be of interest to some.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INohU3u6-iI

Hope the link works of not maybe someone can please past it as it should be. thanks richard

[LTNman]

Wow, another great find on youtube. I don't remember Ryanair having their name over a Luton Hangar. Also good to see the old airport logo and the green and yellow terminal interior.

[Level bust]

We used to go to the spectators bar (Jim's Inn) after Air Cadets on a Monday and Thursday night. In the summer it would take you 20 minutes to get a drink it was so crowded!

[boeing_eng]

The Ryanair signage was due to the tie-up with London European. It would have gone around 1991 when FR were enticed over to STN.....:} After that Allied Signal took over the hangar

[LTNman]

That hangar must have had more operators and users than any other hangar at Luton. Was it built for Autair?

Autair
Courtline
Ryanair
Allied Signal
Signature

Any more?

I can remember it being used for 146's but can't remember the Luton based airline that operated services to Newcastle, Copenhagen and that airport just outside Paris.

[LGS6753]

LTNman,

You're thinking of Debonair. And the airport just outside Paris was Pontoise (POX)

[LTNman]

Yes Debonair!!!

We used to go to the spectators bar (Jim's Inn) after Air Cadets on a Monday and Thursday night. In the summer it would take you 20 minutes to get a drink it was so crowded!


My one and only Air Cadet photo that I took at Luton. Taken in the car park during some sort of parade. Maybe Level bust can guess the year and what the event was as I haven't a clue
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/IMG_zpsxfeuitwr.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/IMG_zpsxfeuitwr.jpg.html)

[Level bust]

That's got me thinking, the US flag is there so must have been early 80s as we had a strong link with Chicksands about then. I'll have a good look on Sunday when I can see it on a bigger screen.

[vintage ATCO]

I think this is Iraq 607 f/f Luton 27.10.64, delivered to Iraq AF via Dijon 12.11.64. from a batch of 20 Jet Provosts T.52 (Mk 4s) 1964-65, the last being delivered via Dijon 28.4.65. These were the last Jet Provosts to have been built at Luton. End of an era.
Credit: BAE Systems Heritage Centre Warton Photo Archives

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/stevelevien/JP%20Iraq%20607%201964.jpg

[cj241101]

The recently demolished hangar 62. G-AZUK had flown for Mediterranean Express in 1987. Ryanair bought it on 1/3/89 but it spent most of its time out on lease to Loganair then British Air Ferries / British World before getting sold to Oriental Airlines in Nigeria May 1996. It was one of only a few series 475's built.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah165/colin_jones5/G-AZUK20Luton20251189_zpsv3r0qnpe.jpg
G-AZUK 25/11/89

[LTNman]

I took this photo just before the new tower opened.

Today the airport has a constant flow of passengers but when this photo was taken I could not see any passengers. The photo also shows work has just started on expanding arrivals under the old covered coach lane.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/IMG_0001_zpsjsoez8pa.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/IMG_0001_zpsjsoez8pa.jpg.html)

[Offchocks]

boeing_eng thanks for your post #951 with the YouTube link, it kind of brought back memories of G-AXMG as I flew her when I was a young lad, but with Monarch not Court.

[GQ2]

This I realise is a long-shot...

Just after the end of the war, in late summer 1945, there was a Percival Aircraft Co.Ltd Garden Party at Luton Airport, complete with a comic act and bonfire. I'm looking for photographs of this event and especially the aircraft that was burned on the bonfire.

Can anyone help....?

GQ2.

[LTNman]

The only photo is what you have already seen in post 76 http://www.pprune.org/8431097-post76.html

Percivals Aircraft club house in Luton was located at Castle Street. The site is now a car park where the inner ring road cuts through to Stuart Street.

The sports and social club also organized most of the inter office and inter departmental sports championships, as well as the annual outdoor Field Day. This was a family affair, with competitive sports for all ages. Track and Field events were surrounded by carnival booths, including Punch and Judy shows, rifle (.22) targets and sideshows. It was during the 1945 Field Day that the remains of Capt Percivals famous Mew Gull was burnt.

Info quoted from the book Percivals Aircraft by Norman H Ellison

According to https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Z_w8BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT290&lpg=PT290&dq=G-ACND&source=bl&ots=fHXFZ2ANiD&sig=T5Rl1acIUOCZ8Cg-P0-MdOP3tis&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBGoVChMIweTx7ITExwIVSesaCh0zoAab#v=onepage&q=G-ACND&f=false G-AFAA was actually burnt in 1946 as a fire-fighting exercise by Luton Fire Brigade.

Also here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Mew_Gull that G-ACND was burned at the same time as G-AFAA at the Field Day in 1945 so someone is wrong here.

G-AFAA

The one-off Type E.3H (the so-called "Super"-Mew ) was Edgar Percival's personal mount. While looking very much the same as the E2H, this was actually a completely new design, powered by a Gipsy Six Series II. It first flew in 1937 and was raced by Percival in 1937–1939. On loan for propeller trials at Hatfield during the war, G-AFAA was written off in a landing accident by a de Havilland pilot. The remains of this aircraft were burned with those of G-ACND at a Percival Aircraft garden fete at Luton Airport immediately after the war.

[LTNman]

Some great shots taken inside and around the old terminal and a good selection of old cars as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG0gOD9JdJg&feature=youtu.be

[Offchocks]

Some great shots taken inside and around the old terminal and a good selection of old cars as well.


Not that I mind, but the clip seems to be more about Britannia than the airport as such.

[GQ2]

Thanks to LTNman for Post 967.
I think this incident was in summer '45. I've only ever seen one very poor photo of the pantomime with the backdrop of the 'German' aircraft, which was of course G-AFAA painted black with crude crosses in white.

Still looking for more details and photos of this event....!

[LTNman]

The site of the present terminal and the yet to be built northern and eastern aprons just after the new control tower was opened.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/IMG_zpscwjirtbn.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/IMG_zpscwjirtbn.jpg.html)

[DaveReidUK]

Thanks to LTNman for Post 967.
I think this incident was in summer '45.

Yes - July 7th.

[Andy Furlong]

I can remember Luton from the 70s. Things were so much more relaxed then. As a young kid, I asked one of the Britannia Airways staff if I could go into the hangar and see the 737. he let me in, and I remember thinking the plane was massive and so cool. Compared to all the Britannias and Ambassadors, it appealed to me much more.

I'm glad I witnessed the end of the prop era. Much as I have affection for Viscounts and Vanguards, the jets always impressed me. Even if some of the Court Line jets were painted in questionable colours.

Happy days!

[LTNman]

Courtline Tristar arrives as Luton after delivery flight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUcE3ulyhOE

[DaveReidUK]

Those were halcyon days indeed. :O

[boeing_eng]

Good stuff!......and well before the daft local regulation came in that anything bigger than a 767 had to be towed up Alpha past H89 onto the main apron!:ugh:

[LTNman]

...and not a high vis jacket in sight as there is a big turn out to have a look at the Tristar from the apron. Only a few years later that was to all change.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/luton106_zpsqrcm7qzx.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/luton106_zpsqrcm7qzx.jpg.html)

[boeing_eng]

I'm pretty sure at 3:02 part of the framework for Hangar 102 is visible (which is now being torn down as I type this!)

[LTNman]

Yes, it looks like it. It survived some 40 odd years. In the next couple of weeks the hangar next door will meet the same fate. That will be the 4th hangar to bite the dust in the last couple of years

[LGS6753]

LTNman,

Nice video of the Court TriStar delivery. From the film, it looks as though it taxied in via the eastern taxiway (now Charlie). Anyone know why it didn't use Bravo?

[LTNman]

There is another youtube video of the same arrival from 14 minutes and 22 seconds. Is that a Canadian Pacific DC8 in the background? I seem to remember they operated to Toronto from Luton for one summer season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh9hPobkTiA

[rog747]

tis an air Spain DC-8

a LTN regular 1971-74

[LTNman]

Luton's old wooden terminal was extended a few times over its life. See post 962 for a 1960's view

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/bampw_028_zps9cdjohid.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/bampw_028_zps9cdjohid.jpg.html)
Photo vintage ATCO

With later extension
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P7060013_zpstdhyw1el.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P7060013_zpstdhyw1el.jpg.html)

Then in 2003 it was no more

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P7060005_zpsnadbp41s.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P7060005_zpsnadbp41s.jpg.html)

[vintage ATCO]

Best thing that ever happened to it. That was my office, extreme right, behind the bush 92-99.

[ZeBedie]

I think the old tower has gone? Should it not have been listed, since it was of a fairly unique design?

[vintage ATCO]

It had served its purpose and was in the way.

[LTNman]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/GetImage%201972%20-2_zps6dkrdm0v.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/GetImage%201972%20-2_zps6dkrdm0v.jpg.html)
Photo source unknown

Abandoned
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/04050011_zpsdlqk12qe.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/04050011_zpsdlqk12qe.jpg.html)

Demolition
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/P7240002_zps6kg3tbah.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/P7240002_zps6kg3tbah.jpg.html)

[LTNman]

As a teenager I could not get this Monarch Crew trainer lined up through a small gap in the fence but I share this "half" a photo with you all today as this is the only photo on the net I have seen of this aircraft in its final role. Anyone know its reg?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/Photo0034_zpsbtnododm.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/Photo0034_zpsbtnododm.jpg.html)

[EGGW]

Can I share this on a Monarch Facebook group?? i may be able to get an answer for you!!

EGGW

[LTNman]

yes of course. I don't have any hang ups about my photos. It seems to have some sort of hook up through a window. Anyone care to speculate why?

[Simtech]

Possibly G-AOVH? (registration cancelled as destroyed 26-5-72).

[oldandbald]

I am reliably informed it was G-AOVH

[DaveReidUK]

Last operation for Monarch November 1971, broken up June 72, so its career as a cabin trainer was fairly short-lived.

[Simtech]

On closer inspection the "hook" through the window looks like trunking for an air conditioning system.

[YVRLTN]

Wonder if anyone can help - I logged DQ-FNL more than once, one such occasion was Sep 15 2000, but I can find no reference to any such reg on the net or in books.

I have it as a Citation, but my bizjet skills were not so good as they are now... I wonder if it was German and I got the Q wrong, but seeing as I logged it at least twice on different occasions Im curious. Appreciate any help.

[treadigraph]

YVRLTN, airframes.org shows OO-FNL to be a CitationJet that's been around since 1999. Seems a likely candidate.

[vintage ATCO]

OO-FNL was a frequent visitor.

[Dragaski]

I was an ATCA at Luton 1964/65. At that time Derby Airways operated to both Jersey and Guernsey with C47s in the summer with the occasional Argonaut to JER. Sometimes, the Herald, G-ASKK, turned up too. Some days in the summer those services originated at Cambridge.

They also operated a service to Belfast via Derby also with the Daks (they had about 7).

When the development of Castle Donington was announced Derby Airways then announced their name change to British Midland.

The terminal at that time was a collection of wooden huts and both of the resident operators, Autair and Euravia (who also used the Skyways of London name) had their offices in huts.

[Dragaski]

That Connie was probably G-ARXE which was the last to carry the Skyways of London livery. I think it was a L749, the rest being L049s or L149s (I say "I think" - it was 50 years and 2 strokes ago), those other 6 all wore Euravia colours.

I was an ATCA at Luton from 4/1964 to 3/1965 when I went to EMA when it opened. My claim to fame was that I was on duty when G-ANBB, the first of the Britannias, was delivered and the airline changed it's name.

[LTNman]

Welcome Dragaski I hope the last 50 pages have brought back some memories for you and as the person who started this thread it give me great pleasure to post the 1000th post

[LTNman]

In the days when Ryanair used to fly more interesting aircraft out of Luton but what year was it as I haven't got a clue?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c275/ksmithltn/16187987185_c6ccd5b48e_k_zpsvnzmux3k.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ksmithltn/media/16187987185_c6ccd5b48e_k_zpsvnzmux3k.jpg.html)

Colin Cooke Photo


Welcome Dragaski, I hope the last 50 pages have brought back some memories for you and as the person who started this thread it give me great pleasure to post the 1000th post

and the 1000th reply!

[vintage ATCO]

Welcome Dragaski, I started as an ATCA in 6/1967.

[Liffy 1M]

In the days when Ryanair used to fly more interesting aircraft out of Luton but what year was it as I haven't got a clue?

This was in 1988, I think.