Gatwick - Heathrow Islander and S61 Questions
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I strongly suspect that the Islander rarely had to queue for take off at Heathrow. Thinking how we used to handle the Link - and even the SABENA F27 for that matter - I expect it got whizzed off sharpish from an intersection between departures if the weather was reasonable. I know for a fact that it had been known to circle just south of 28L and plonk into a convenient gap in the landers.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dunnunda & Godzone
Age: 74
Posts: 4,275
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ahhh. Fond memories of the Bongo Van aka BN2 Islander. TO, climb and descend 65 kts.
Take off power 190 decibels, cruise power 189 decibels.
And the other wonderful variant, the BN2A MkIII Trislander........ "Would the rear passengers please alight before the crew........"
Britain's revenge on the Empire!!!
Take off power 190 decibels, cruise power 189 decibels.
And the other wonderful variant, the BN2A MkIII Trislander........ "Would the rear passengers please alight before the crew........"
Britain's revenge on the Empire!!!
Just another number
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK
Age: 76
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe that one of the reasons for the demise of Westward Airways was the accident to one of their Islanders at St Mary's on 23/2/70 which necessitated the leasing in of replacement aircraft at considerable cost. In July 1970 the LHR-LGW route was sub-contracted to Southend Air Taxis but they pulled off the route after only a few weeks. Westward ceased operating on 16/10/70.
Airclues
Airclues
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<One reason I heard for the failure of the Westward Airways route was the number of freebies they gave to Heathrow and West Drayton ATC staff>>
Nah.. where did you hear that?? What actually broke the bank was the limo and 1st class accommodation at each end, to which Heathrow and WD ATCOs were entitled!!!!
Nah.. where did you hear that?? What actually broke the bank was the limo and 1st class accommodation at each end, to which Heathrow and WD ATCOs were entitled!!!!
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Surrey, Uk
Age: 72
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jan '70 I was an ATCA on D watch, LATCC.
I did a trip after a morning shift. Flew over to Gatwick, had a couple of pints in the bar and then flew back. It was an ideal way of killing a few hours between the AM shift and the start of the night shift. We were on a 4 watch system then.
It was my first flight in an Islander. I remember not being impressed !!
Clint.
I did a trip after a morning shift. Flew over to Gatwick, had a couple of pints in the bar and then flew back. It was an ideal way of killing a few hours between the AM shift and the start of the night shift. We were on a 4 watch system then.
It was my first flight in an Islander. I remember not being impressed !!
Clint.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the wireless...
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did one 9 Aug 69 KK-LL-KK in G-AXHE as the only passenger (both ways) but with 2 crew. I vividly remember the PA began "Good afternoon, Sir, we at 1500 feet" etc..........
(Hey, Chevvron, you're not Frank Ifield, are you?)
(Hey, Chevvron, you're not Frank Ifield, are you?
)
I used the LGW/LHR S61 airlink many times in the early eighties. Seem to remember that it parked/boarded on the south side of pier 1 at LGW adjacent to the taxiway leading to the hangars. While at LHR I can remember taxiing to a stand next to a tunnel. But I thought this was the cargo tunnel leading to LHR's southside? Anyway the operation was a joint venture between British Caledonian and British Airways. BA provided the helicopter and engineering support and BCal put in the crews and ground handling, may have been the other way round, long time ago now. The S61 used to overnight in the hangar next to the Beehive at LGW which entailed a quick hop across the A23 after the last service of the day.
When the service was terminated one of the main drivers was that with the completion of the M25 section to link LGW and LHR a luxury coach service would take the helicopter's place. This was used as argument by the various parties in opposition to the airlink and while a coach service certainly did start, it was far from luxurious, was, and still is, very expensive and journey times are a joke. 15mins on the airlink compared to 2hrs+ by M23/M25 (on a good day).
When the service was terminated one of the main drivers was that with the completion of the M25 section to link LGW and LHR a luxury coach service would take the helicopter's place. This was used as argument by the various parties in opposition to the airlink and while a coach service certainly did start, it was far from luxurious, was, and still is, very expensive and journey times are a joke. 15mins on the airlink compared to 2hrs+ by M23/M25 (on a good day).
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Stockport
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had pleasure in flying in the Link one day from Gatwick
just had a look at the photos and we look so young only seems like 5 minutes ago
It made such a change from that dreaded bus service which I`m sure used to go via Scotland as it took so long
G-I-B
just had a look at the photos and we look so young only seems like 5 minutes ago
It made such a change from that dreaded bus service which I`m sure used to go via Scotland as it took so long
G-I-B
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LGW-LHR Air Links Overview
After some thought and having oiled the memory over the past couple of weekends with Harveys Best Bitter. I have knocked together a draft article based on what remains of my memory from that era and the factual information posted in this thread:
DRAFT PDF Replaced by the 'production Version' 07 August 2006:
http://www.cue-dih.co.uk/aerospace/a...ks_lgw_lhr.pdf
So Link and associated comments in italics below are obsolete:
The draft in PDF Format is here: LINK Removed Overview of Past Air Links between Gatwick and Heathrow[/URL] currently text only. I will try and get permission for some 'good pictures' from the copyright holders to be inserted.
The working title is 'unwieldy' but will do for now.
I was going to PM only those mentioned at the foot of the article, but decided as three links to PPRuNe are included, maybe the Mods would let is go 'public' so that anyone can comment on what I have written (which would be appreciated).
I have noted there is at least one spelling mistake and I guess more will be picked up :-)
DIH
DRAFT PDF Replaced by the 'production Version' 07 August 2006:
http://www.cue-dih.co.uk/aerospace/a...ks_lgw_lhr.pdf
So Link and associated comments in italics below are obsolete:
The draft in PDF Format is here: LINK Removed Overview of Past Air Links between Gatwick and Heathrow[/URL] currently text only. I will try and get permission for some 'good pictures' from the copyright holders to be inserted.
The working title is 'unwieldy' but will do for now.
I was going to PM only those mentioned at the foot of the article, but decided as three links to PPRuNe are included, maybe the Mods would let is go 'public' so that anyone can comment on what I have written (which would be appreciated).
I have noted there is at least one spelling mistake and I guess more will be picked up :-)
DIH
Last edited by Opssys; 7th Aug 2006 at 14:29. Reason: Draft PDF replaced by Production PDF
Guest
Posts: n/a
Interesting article, I think it would be greatly enhanced with a map showing the approximate route. You cold also include the route of the Green Line bus to show what a trek it had to make.
However it did, in passing, touch upon a couple of things which would be at least as deserving of commentary - the arrival of the 'other' US carriers at LGW, which is probably reasonably documented, and the enforced move of some of the Europeans from LHR, which I suspect is not as well documented (I vaguely remember Iberia and TAP being forced out of Heathrow for a couple of seasons until diplomatic pressure let them back in again). They would certainly make interesting appendices to the story.
However it did, in passing, touch upon a couple of things which would be at least as deserving of commentary - the arrival of the 'other' US carriers at LGW, which is probably reasonably documented, and the enforced move of some of the Europeans from LHR, which I suspect is not as well documented (I vaguely remember Iberia and TAP being forced out of Heathrow for a couple of seasons until diplomatic pressure let them back in again). They would certainly make interesting appendices to the story.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Responses and Update 29th July 2006
Update 29th July 2006
I have posted an updated Draft and this has been submitted to picture copyright owners with requests to include their Photographs.
After some additional research which was frustrating to say the least, I eventually only lightly edited the Comments on the HMG Plan to Ease Congestion.
There are more hopefully interesting links added to the foot of the draft.
Whilst I would welcome more comments, there will be no more drafts, once permission to use pictures has either been given, or refused I'll release the Article for better, or worse :-).
Original Post 18th July 2006
Reference responses so far:
Speechless: Many thanks for your kind remarks. I will update the BCH(L) Entry with your additional information. By the way 'despicable' is probably an understatement!
SSK: A Map showing the various Routings and a 'Road Map' of how to get from Gatwick to Heathrow until the Motorway is a Great idea. Unfortunately I don't have either :-(
Re the US Carriers and the effort by HMG to ease congestion by moving flights on a Countyr/Region basis to Gatwick. Whilst I am now considering slightly expanding that section, to do either justice would require two separate articles. Especially as is the US case, one would have to cover the fact that Pan Am was already showing symptoms of decline before the new entrants arrived and the impact on TWA (both of whom did charters through LGW in the summer, whilst keeping their schedules firmly at LHR). From purely Gatwick perspective my knowledge is limited to Delta and Braniff as other agents dealt with the other carriers.
The Iberian Peninsula plan where Iberia and TAP would move to LGW was either an example of incredible cunning (really p*ssing off the Spanish who were being extra bothersome over Gib and Portugal was just collatoral damage), or a shining example of non-joined up government (almost certainly the latter see below:-).
I suspect one of the reasons this 'plan' is not well documented, is because it was never thought through and therefore was a early example of 'great idea we will annouce it and put some spin on it' . I don't remember Iberia/TAP actualy moving (and I certainly cannot remember anyone else doing so)!
DIH
I have posted an updated Draft and this has been submitted to picture copyright owners with requests to include their Photographs.
After some additional research which was frustrating to say the least, I eventually only lightly edited the Comments on the HMG Plan to Ease Congestion.
There are more hopefully interesting links added to the foot of the draft.
Whilst I would welcome more comments, there will be no more drafts, once permission to use pictures has either been given, or refused I'll release the Article for better, or worse :-).
Original Post 18th July 2006
Reference responses so far:
Speechless: Many thanks for your kind remarks. I will update the BCH(L) Entry with your additional information. By the way 'despicable' is probably an understatement!
SSK: A Map showing the various Routings and a 'Road Map' of how to get from Gatwick to Heathrow until the Motorway is a Great idea. Unfortunately I don't have either :-(
Re the US Carriers and the effort by HMG to ease congestion by moving flights on a Countyr/Region basis to Gatwick. Whilst I am now considering slightly expanding that section, to do either justice would require two separate articles. Especially as is the US case, one would have to cover the fact that Pan Am was already showing symptoms of decline before the new entrants arrived and the impact on TWA (both of whom did charters through LGW in the summer, whilst keeping their schedules firmly at LHR). From purely Gatwick perspective my knowledge is limited to Delta and Braniff as other agents dealt with the other carriers.
The Iberian Peninsula plan where Iberia and TAP would move to LGW was either an example of incredible cunning (really p*ssing off the Spanish who were being extra bothersome over Gib and Portugal was just collatoral damage), or a shining example of non-joined up government (almost certainly the latter see below:-).
I suspect one of the reasons this 'plan' is not well documented, is because it was never thought through and therefore was a early example of 'great idea we will annouce it and put some spin on it' . I don't remember Iberia/TAP actualy moving (and I certainly cannot remember anyone else doing so)!
DIH
Last edited by Opssys; 29th Jul 2006 at 19:26. Reason: Update with additional Information
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-LINK as a Flying Crane
Whose of you who have looked at the updated PDF draft, may (if you got that far) have noted the paragraph on G-LINK as a flying crane. Well here is the evidence:
]
I have forgotten where I got these pictures (definitely off the Web), but a very a quick search last night did not reveal the source.
I seem to remember G-LINK performed another Crane Job (Cross on spire ?), but that could have been just a bad dream brought on by duff bitter.
]I have forgotten where I got these pictures (definitely off the Web), but a very a quick search last night did not reveal the source.
I seem to remember G-LINK performed another Crane Job (Cross on spire ?), but that could have been just a bad dream brought on by duff bitter.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Gatwick - Heathrow Air Links PDF with Pictures
After a gestation period rivaling that of a UN Resolution (and as about as useful :-)
The production version of the PDF is at:
http://www.cue-dih.co.uk/aerospace/a...ks_lgw_lhr.pdf
The draft will be removed (and the post containing the link updated).
Many thanks to everyone who increased my knowledge, jogged my memory and provided coments of changes, or support.
DIH
The production version of the PDF is at:
http://www.cue-dih.co.uk/aerospace/a...ks_lgw_lhr.pdf
The draft will be removed (and the post containing the link updated).
Many thanks to everyone who increased my knowledge, jogged my memory and provided coments of changes, or support.
DIH
Last edited by Opssys; 7th Aug 2006 at 14:31.
