Heathrow - Your first flight
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Yes, was there any truth in the rumour I heard some years ago that up until the 1980s Heathrow was so quiet on Christmas Day that PPLs could visit, even in light singles ('glide clear' rules nothwithstanding) ? I am sceptical, but........
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My first Heathrow arrival and departure.
First landing 5 September 1957 BOAC DC7C G-AOIB from Prestwick.
First take off 9 September 1957 BOAC B377 Stratocruiser G-AKGL back to Prestwick via Burtonwood.
The good old piston engine days!
Fascinating stuff for an impecunious apprentice! (A bit less than a weeks wages for the round trip!)
First take off 9 September 1957 BOAC B377 Stratocruiser G-AKGL back to Prestwick via Burtonwood.
The good old piston engine days!
Fascinating stuff for an impecunious apprentice! (A bit less than a weeks wages for the round trip!)
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First Flight
First flight from LHR was in 76 in a BA 1-11 (G-BBMG I think) to JER. Since then many many flights. Most unusual was a familiarisation flight in a Merchantman in the late 70s to VIE and STR, took off at about 10:00 and as we lumbered out over South London the Captain was looking out his side window and telling me how he had grown up in Wimbledon and pointing out a few places. I looked round and both the F/O and F/E were out of their seats and all of us were looking out . Also flew on the last BA Viscount in and out of LHR. I had been trying to fly on one for a few weeks the last route was INV but every day I was off they subbed it with a 1-11.The day I finally managed to fly as we walked out to the a/c we were piped on board and also greeted by the Mayor of Inverness, it was only when I asked the cabin crew that they said it was the last Viscount service. Spent a few hours in INV then flew back to LHR again with the piper.I think we operated them out of BHX for a while after but no more LHR services.
D
D
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So many Viscount stories. Must have been the staple diet of LHR in the good old days. I don't think I have flown on one since about 1961 to Lisbon.
I think we have heard more tales of prop flights than jets, but then this is "History & Nostalgia"!
I wonder what types we are missing? Perhaps should not go there.
Have we had a Breguet Deux Ponts
Never recalled seeing a Curtis C-46 there, but bet someone has! Convair 440 - 580?
I think we have heard more tales of prop flights than jets, but then this is "History & Nostalgia"!
I wonder what types we are missing? Perhaps should not go there.
Have we had a Breguet Deux Ponts
Never recalled seeing a Curtis C-46 there, but bet someone has! Convair 440 - 580?
A Runyonesque Character
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Got bumped off the first flight I stood by for - was told that there was enough space for me but not my bags.
Easter time-ish I think. Returned south from Teesside to Luton on Autair Herald calling in at Hull (Brough) for about £6. Only 4 pax on board ! But am now guilty of thread drift as not mentioned LHR.
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Sptting Image
.....thread drift - understatement!
Mind you, I flew into LHR on SIA's inaugural 747-200 service and then got on a Midland Herald to Birmingham. Talk about extremes and I don't mean the aircraft. Collected by bags from some system outdoors at BHX
Prehistoric and it was only as far back as the '70's.
.....thread drift - understatement!
Mind you, I flew into LHR on SIA's inaugural 747-200 service and then got on a Midland Herald to Birmingham. Talk about extremes and I don't mean the aircraft. Collected by bags from some system outdoors at BHX
Prehistoric and it was only as far back as the '70's.
8th October 1953 for the start of the London to Christchurch (New Zealand) air race.
As a sideshow one could take a trip over the Thames and Hampton Court in a DH Rapide for 15/-, which I did.
I have a photo taken at the time which can be seen here:
http://groups.msn.com/TonyHawesRAFSe...to&PhotoID=726
Tony
As a sideshow one could take a trip over the Thames and Hampton Court in a DH Rapide for 15/-, which I did.
I have a photo taken at the time which can be seen here:
http://groups.msn.com/TonyHawesRAFSe...to&PhotoID=726
Tony
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First LHR flight
My first experience of LHR was in late May 1963, aged 11, landing at death 'o' clock in the morning on a BOAC Britannia after a somewhat eventful trip. The flight had originated in Singapore (but we had to turn back due to the outer right side engine problems necessitating a wonderful 3 days in the Raffles hotel) which then went via Calcutta (which shortly after takeoff a sudden and violent drop in altitude), then Karachi (crew change and delay due to the aircraft having to have all the loaded fuel drained and new fuel put on board also necessitating a short stay in a hotel), then on to Istambul the flight being very adventurous to my boyish outlook with the most spectacular thunderstorms at night all around us (at Istambul we were escorted off the aircraft by a lot of army guys all with machine guns and held for an hour before being escorted again by the army back on board) finally arriving at LHR to find that all our luggage had to be opened and searched by HM Customs & Excise. What a great plane the Britannia was. You had a real sense of takeoff being pushed into the seat. And of course it flew through the weather rather than above it thereby producing vomiting adults all around causing me to wonder what was wrong with them and why they didn't enjoy the rollercoaster of a ride, particularly Calcutta-Karachi. And of course the Junior Jet club and log book for the captain to sign and my wings badge! Oh those were the days. We even had a captain who had a bad stutter. Totally incomprehensible announcements but it all added to the sense of adventure. And separate gents and ladies toilets as well, each having a separate room to wash up in. Fantastic caring service by the cabin crew too.
Paxing All Over The World
Was talking about colonial flights home to Heathrow with a friend this weekend. When did the Comets stop the Nairobi run? Did the VC10 take over directly from them? Year??
Thanks.
Thanks.
First trip was in the early 60s in a BEA Vanguard from London Airport to Gibraltar. Something to do with the currency limits in those days; the UK was being run by an incompetent Labour government and you were only allowed to take so much money out of the country. But going via Gibraltar and thence to Spain via the ferry was apparently OK.
The flight was delayed due to technical reasons. Whilst waiting, BEA generously allowed us either a coke or tea/cofee and either a ham or cheese sandwich. But not a coke and a ham sandwich as that was 3d over their limit....
My mother had bought 200 cigarettes from the duty free shop and opened a packet whilst waiting. Some customs nerd appeared from somewhere and demanded that the packet be resealed and the appropriate duty paid. Petty minded little people like that were the bane of travelling in those days; immigration was a breeze and security checks unknown - 'Customs' was the only bar to straightforward travel.
Eventually we were allowed to board the Vanguard; the flight was uneventful and I spent several minutes in the cockpit being shown the route chart and various instruments etc by the BEA captain, smartly attired in uniform complete with hat!
The flight was delayed due to technical reasons. Whilst waiting, BEA generously allowed us either a coke or tea/cofee and either a ham or cheese sandwich. But not a coke and a ham sandwich as that was 3d over their limit....
My mother had bought 200 cigarettes from the duty free shop and opened a packet whilst waiting. Some customs nerd appeared from somewhere and demanded that the packet be resealed and the appropriate duty paid. Petty minded little people like that were the bane of travelling in those days; immigration was a breeze and security checks unknown - 'Customs' was the only bar to straightforward travel.
Eventually we were allowed to board the Vanguard; the flight was uneventful and I spent several minutes in the cockpit being shown the route chart and various instruments etc by the BEA captain, smartly attired in uniform complete with hat!
Last edited by BEagle; 22nd Aug 2009 at 22:37.
If you were on British United (who did Nairobi from Gatwick via Entebbe in those days, somewhat infrequently), then their VC-10s took over from Britannias at the same time.
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WHBM
What can I say - you did not love BUA?
Flew in Britannias to East Africa with BUA in '62 and '63. Then the old man flew me to Entebbe in the VC.10 in '64. The 7.5 hour flight sure beat the 11-12 hr flog in the Britannia.
And just to make you happy WHBM.....we got offloaded in Entebbe
BEagle
I was also taken to Gib at about the same time, but in a BUA 1-11 from LGW.
What was it a £25 or £50 limit on taking sterling abroad for exchange? Made Gib very popular and my mother bought more than 200 back and I remember a good deal on three bottles of spirits.
No Cirrus/Maestro and holes in the wall.
Had American Express even been born?
What can I say - you did not love BUA?
Flew in Britannias to East Africa with BUA in '62 and '63. Then the old man flew me to Entebbe in the VC.10 in '64. The 7.5 hour flight sure beat the 11-12 hr flog in the Britannia.
And just to make you happy WHBM.....we got offloaded in Entebbe
BEagle
I was also taken to Gib at about the same time, but in a BUA 1-11 from LGW.
What was it a £25 or £50 limit on taking sterling abroad for exchange? Made Gib very popular and my mother bought more than 200 back and I remember a good deal on three bottles of spirits.
No Cirrus/Maestro and holes in the wall.
Had American Express even been born?
Last edited by GK430; 10th Apr 2007 at 13:28.
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BEagle;
Try telling that to the kids of today! 
1960's passport below. Round the World trip on 15 quids worth of US$. Mind you, I seem to remember a ball in San Franciso, and much the same in Hotel Street, Honolulu.
Something to do with the currency limits in those days; the UK was being run by an incompetent Labout government and you were only allowed to take so much money out of the country.
1960's passport below. Round the World trip on 15 quids worth of US$. Mind you, I seem to remember a ball in San Franciso, and much the same in Hotel Street, Honolulu.
1983 on an Air Malta 737-200 en-route to Libya. My most memorable Heathrow experience was arriving in the last Libyan Arab Airlines 727 before the sanctions / embargos stopped the direct flights. We werer not allowed onto a stand with a jetway. Police surrounded the aircraft, all flashing lights and Heckler & Kochs dangling around their necks. The captain (Brit) pulled a great fast one. He asked the Police if he could disembark the passengers with hand baggage only. Much to the Senior plod's surorise 98% of the passengers headed for the stairs in the tail. Nobody with any sense took hold baggage through Tripoli! I now avoid the place like the plague.