Heathrow - Your first flight
Paxing All Over The World
If I still had my J.J.C. log book, it would show 5th December 1965. on a VC-10 to JNB. We called at CIA + NBO (disembarking only at the latter. If memory serves, the former was not origincally scheduled for our route but not a diversion.)
I was nine years old and stepping out onto the tarmac at NBO, and into the African night, at about 02:00 local - was a sound that I have not forgotten. My big sister (14) said to our parents that the sound was, "Just like the soundtrack of Daktari"!!!
There were a number of other times through EGLL in the next years (living in South Africa and then studying in Bristol) until 1979, when I moved to London and EGLL became my local field. Although I have lived near LTN, there is only one field I call 'home'.
I was nine years old and stepping out onto the tarmac at NBO, and into the African night, at about 02:00 local - was a sound that I have not forgotten. My big sister (14) said to our parents that the sound was, "Just like the soundtrack of Daktari"!!!
There were a number of other times through EGLL in the next years (living in South Africa and then studying in Bristol) until 1979, when I moved to London and EGLL became my local field. Although I have lived near LTN, there is only one field I call 'home'.
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Just like the soundtrack of Daktari
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Daktari and The Troubleshooters both had great theme tunes!
By 8 I was familiar with 707s and DC8s then had my first flight in a BOAC Super VC 10. It was like going from a bus to a Bentley.
By 8 I was familiar with 707s and DC8s then had my first flight in a BOAC Super VC 10. It was like going from a bus to a Bentley.
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The first ever flight from Heathrow was to San Francisco
Christ, my glasses!
Not the first flight into Heathrow but almost the most memorable.
BEA Trident from Lisbon to LHR, some other airline from Lima to Lisbon. Late sixties.
At LHR, remote stand. Vicious wind blowing. On descending the rear stairs my glasses flew off, landed on the tarmac and just skidded along at high speed as if on an ice rink. Back then, of course, the lenses were glass so the ensemble must have landed on the frame, no damage ensued. Ably stopped by ground crew boots twenty feet away.
Never forget that. Nor the following landing and that one's aftermath, which coincided with Staines. THAT was memorable.
BEA Trident from Lisbon to LHR, some other airline from Lima to Lisbon. Late sixties.
At LHR, remote stand. Vicious wind blowing. On descending the rear stairs my glasses flew off, landed on the tarmac and just skidded along at high speed as if on an ice rink. Back then, of course, the lenses were glass so the ensemble must have landed on the frame, no damage ensued. Ably stopped by ground crew boots twenty feet away.
Never forget that. Nor the following landing and that one's aftermath, which coincided with Staines. THAT was memorable.
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I was 17 on my first flight into LHR as a passenger, it was on a BOAC VC10 in Feb 1968, at the time a wonderful aircraft for passengers and I guess crews as well.
As a pilot I first landed there in a PA31 with Air Anglia on a schedule flight from NWI in Feb 1977.
My last landing as a pilot into LHR was from SYD via HKG, that was in Mar 2012 in a Qantas B747 as the aircraft type was withdrawn from the route. For me it was a sad day, but at least I'm still flying!
As a pilot I first landed there in a PA31 with Air Anglia on a schedule flight from NWI in Feb 1977.
My last landing as a pilot into LHR was from SYD via HKG, that was in Mar 2012 in a Qantas B747 as the aircraft type was withdrawn from the route. For me it was a sad day, but at least I'm still flying!
Last edited by Offchocks; 14th Aug 2013 at 06:18.
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My first flight ever was at London Heathrow airport in the 1950s when short joyride flights were possible that lasted around 30 minutes. All I recall is boarding the 6 to 10 passenger, tail-wheeled aircraft and returning to Heathrow following an aerial view of the airfield and surrounding area.
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My first was from Brussels on a British Midland 737 in 1997. The flight had been delayed as there was a security alert due to a phoned 'hoax' warning from the PIRA. That weekend there'd been issues with suspect vehicles under elevated sections of the M5/M6 and M1 and also on that Monday morning Waterloo had been evacuated. As we came in over London, you could see the crowd milling around waiting to be let back in.
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Heathrow 1946
Aerofilms photos of the infant Heathrow
Britain from Above | Rescue the Past
from
Britain from Above | Rescue the Past
Britain from Above | Rescue the Past
from
Britain from Above | Rescue the Past
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1983 aged 8 on a BA Trident 3 to Budapest via Prague. I was so excited that I didn't sleep a wink the night before. In those days they invited kids to go into the cockpit and that was amazing. I remember that the FE had a bright ginger beard and let me listen to his headset 
. Shame this isn't allowed anymore.
. Shame this isn't allowed anymore.
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Perhaps my earliest memory is crawling around the cabin floor of a BOAC Comet flying some or all of the way between London, Rio de Janero and Montevideo, probably 1957 or 1958.
Then six years 1964-1968 doxzens of flights between London and New York or Washington DC on BOAC/Cunard Super VC 10s, Pan Am 707s and TWA DC 8s. Often flew in Lockheed Electras with Flamethrowers for engines between NY and Dulles.
Favourite plane by far: Vickers Super VC 10.
At London I loved the open air roof viewing terrace, those lovely BEA AEC Regent airport coaches with 4 windscreens and a poop deck, and those stylish fuel tankers with high windscreens. The variety of planes and vehicles on show there was fantastic, but Dulles Airport was my favourite for its fine terminal building and mobile lounges.
Then six years 1964-1968 doxzens of flights between London and New York or Washington DC on BOAC/Cunard Super VC 10s, Pan Am 707s and TWA DC 8s. Often flew in Lockheed Electras with Flamethrowers for engines between NY and Dulles.
Favourite plane by far: Vickers Super VC 10.
At London I loved the open air roof viewing terrace, those lovely BEA AEC Regent airport coaches with 4 windscreens and a poop deck, and those stylish fuel tankers with high windscreens. The variety of planes and vehicles on show there was fantastic, but Dulles Airport was my favourite for its fine terminal building and mobile lounges.
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Christmas dinner on Concorde in '88. I won a competition for one of those pleasure flights that they did. As it turned out they served Crimbo dinner while we were still on the deck. A great experience, managed to get up to Mach 2.02 and FL600 (!) and you really can see the curvature of the Earth through slightly champagne fogged eyes.
Have flown from there many times since but I thought it was a pleasant introduction to Heathrow.
Have flown from there many times since but I thought it was a pleasant introduction to Heathrow.
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10 July 1953 outward BOAC Comet 1 to Singapore inward 12 September 1953 BOAC Comet 1A. Remember: it was London Airport North in those days - terminal was WW11 huts. Still to be seen in early '70s.
British Eagle Britannia on a trooping flight to Singapore in March 1967. Route was Kuwait - Columbo - Paya Lebar - a tad under 24 hours.
Think we checked in at West London Air Terminal and drove to Heathrow in one of those typical airport buses of the period.
Think we checked in at West London Air Terminal and drove to Heathrow in one of those typical airport buses of the period.
My first flight into LHR was in an Air UK Handley Page Herald G-BAZJ, from Guernsey. My first flight out of LHR was in Sikorsky S61 G-LINK to Gatwick, jointly operated by the BAA, BA & BCAL if I remember correctly.
Last edited by Jerbourg; 22nd Dec 2013 at 19:32.
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Visited Heathrow viewing gallery in 2000 and spent most of the day there seeing various airlines and aircraft that are either no longer with us or no longer fly to LHR.
As a passenger, my first flight was to LHR on a BA A320 from EDI in 2004. My first flight from LHR was 2 days later back to EDI on a BA 757 (G-BPEI)! That 757 would turn to be the only BA 757 I ever flew in, as I used the same one back from BUD-LHR 2 years later and then twice more on the EDI/LHR/EDI run in 2007!
As a passenger, my first flight was to LHR on a BA A320 from EDI in 2004. My first flight from LHR was 2 days later back to EDI on a BA 757 (G-BPEI)! That 757 would turn to be the only BA 757 I ever flew in, as I used the same one back from BUD-LHR 2 years later and then twice more on the EDI/LHR/EDI run in 2007!
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First flight from 'London Airport' was aboard a BEA Elizabethan "Night Tourist" service to Naples in the summer of 1956. Lovely aeroplane, with great views afforded by the large windows and high wing. Took off over from one of the "28" runways, climbing out over west London. Still remember overflying Nice and the PSP metal apron at Naples.
First ever flight was three years previous, a BEA DC-3 in 1953, from Northolt for a family summer holiday in Jersey. Favourite aircraft, without a doubt, was the Viscount - huge windows and the sound of Darts!
First ever flight was three years previous, a BEA DC-3 in 1953, from Northolt for a family summer holiday in Jersey. Favourite aircraft, without a doubt, was the Viscount - huge windows and the sound of Darts!
