Heathrow - Your first flight
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Heathrow - Your first flight
Millions have flown in & out of Heathrow, so whether pax or pilot, do you remember the first flight into or out of Heathrow?
When, what airline and what type?
I have some interesting airfields in my logbook - but never EGLL, but my first flight in and out was on a delivery flight to Transcontinental. Who on earth were they....go on - you tell me
Mods - hope suitable in this section?
When, what airline and what type?
I have some interesting airfields in my logbook - but never EGLL, but my first flight in and out was on a delivery flight to Transcontinental. Who on earth were they....go on - you tell me
Mods - hope suitable in this section?
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December '69 - BOAC VC-10 to Embakasi. May have stopped en-route, but I was only five and don't remember more than that - and I lost my Junior Jet Club log book! 
If I can find the exact date (still have passport somewhere with Nairobi entry stamp!) I'll bet one of you illustrious lot could find out the reg, Captain, etc...
If I can find the exact date (still have passport somewhere with Nairobi entry stamp!) I'll bet one of you illustrious lot could find out the reg, Captain, etc...
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R.A.F. Trooping flight.Feb 14 1964 [co-incidence, or what?] ATA 0 it's dark and flippin' COLD...just back from Borneo [wearing a Singapore Special Lightweight suit], via British Eagle Britannia from Payar Lebar [Singapore], Colombo and Kuwait.
We flew out from Gatwick, on a Caledonian [Super, so said the Hostie] DC7C
watp,iktch
We flew out from Gatwick, on a Caledonian [Super, so said the Hostie] DC7C
watp,iktch
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Not Changi, Chiglet? That was a long way in a Brit from SIN
Were you sat facing aft, like in the BUA 1-11's for trooping flights?
Transcontinental flight was into Heathrow from Filton - in a Brit, either LV-PPJ or PPL.
You thought it was cold in the U.K.
The flight ex EGLL (it was December 1959) went to...Idlewild via Goose Bay and that was sooooo cold.
Treadigraph - was headed to Embakasi in '64 but from LGW in one of the light blue & gold 10's. Old man flew it to Entebbe and then family on staff travel - flight full and we got offloaded
Took forever to get to the beach!
Were you sat facing aft, like in the BUA 1-11's for trooping flights?
Transcontinental flight was into Heathrow from Filton - in a Brit, either LV-PPJ or PPL.
You thought it was cold in the U.K.
The flight ex EGLL (it was December 1959) went to...Idlewild via Goose Bay and that was sooooo cold.Treadigraph - was headed to Embakasi in '64 but from LGW in one of the light blue & gold 10's. Old man flew it to Entebbe and then family on staff travel - flight full and we got offloaded
Took forever to get to the beach!
Last edited by GK430; 14th Feb 2007 at 22:33.
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From logbook 2 of 5 -
19Jun70, VH-EBX, B707-338C, BAH-IST-FRA-LHR
I can recall the holding [at whatever the aid near LAM was then] and having to write down all the levels/freqs/hdgs as the "simple" cockpit had no reminder/flip-flop stuff in those days.
AND, then to go out for a drink with the crew, you had to wear a suit in LON town or they wouldn't take you. [Around the same era, one of our F/E's was told by the Capt. "You're not an Officer of the crew and therefore we won't be socialising with you in London."......different age.] OTOH some [considerable!] time later, the S/O on my 1st command trip to LHR had two pairs of jeans; he wore the blue ones everywhere else and saved the white ones for LON!!
Amazing stuff when you think back.
G'day
19Jun70, VH-EBX, B707-338C, BAH-IST-FRA-LHR
I can recall the holding [at whatever the aid near LAM was then] and having to write down all the levels/freqs/hdgs as the "simple" cockpit had no reminder/flip-flop stuff in those days.
AND, then to go out for a drink with the crew, you had to wear a suit in LON town or they wouldn't take you. [Around the same era, one of our F/E's was told by the Capt. "You're not an Officer of the crew and therefore we won't be socialising with you in London."......different age.] OTOH some [considerable!] time later, the S/O on my 1st command trip to LHR had two pairs of jeans; he wore the blue ones everywhere else and saved the white ones for LON!!
Amazing stuff when you think back.
G'day
Into Heathrow , my first commercial flight , from Manchester in 1969 (?). Bealine Vanguard (GAPEB) student standby return Lstg5 !!!!! Back on one of the new 1-11s (GAVMJ) that evening . Funny how one remembers these things .
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First ever flight was on East African Comet 4 to Entebbe, 1st April 66, flight no EC717. My mum still has the ticket.........
Still have a perfect picture in my mind's eye of the Curtiss C-46 which followed us as we taxied out to the runway.
33 years later, and equally memorable - my wife & I in seats 1A & 1B on Concorde G-BOAG having won a long weekend in Barbados in a BA competition. Same runway too, but no C-46 this time.
Still have a perfect picture in my mind's eye of the Curtiss C-46 which followed us as we taxied out to the runway.
33 years later, and equally memorable - my wife & I in seats 1A & 1B on Concorde G-BOAG having won a long weekend in Barbados in a BA competition. Same runway too, but no C-46 this time.
Last edited by gruntie; 15th Feb 2007 at 18:14.
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Transcontinental eh? Brings back memories of a hurried spotting visit to London Airport on 18th January 1964 to cop one of their Brits on the north side in the fog.. Piccy here:
http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p22395895.html
My first ride out of Heathrow was on a Vanguard in June, 1967 en route to Malta, where I started my ATC career. Great flight. During the flight the captain came out and saw a lonely boy of about 12 years old, presumably heading to or from school, and beckoned him to the flight deck. I later went up and was amazed to see the boy in the captains seat! They were the days...
http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p22395895.html
My first ride out of Heathrow was on a Vanguard in June, 1967 en route to Malta, where I started my ATC career. Great flight. During the flight the captain came out and saw a lonely boy of about 12 years old, presumably heading to or from school, and beckoned him to the flight deck. I later went up and was amazed to see the boy in the captains seat! They were the days...
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4 nov 73. B/A vc10 G.ASGB.dhahran.dubai.dacca.singapore.darwin.brisbane.i dont think you ever forget your first flight.we were buzzed over india by an iaf hunter a couple of times.
05aug62 Britannia G-AOVJ BA632 Prestwick London
and back same day 707 G-APFE BA563.
Used to confuse immigation and customs no end as these were international flights and of course Prestwick passengers were travelling without passports.
and back same day 707 G-APFE BA563.
Used to confuse immigation and customs no end as these were international flights and of course Prestwick passengers were travelling without passports.
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Brendan,
That pic has brought a tear to my eye. Never ceases to amaze me how there is always someone else in the aviation world who can relate to others memories. Fabulous.
That pic has brought a tear to my eye. Never ceases to amaze me how there is always someone else in the aviation world who can relate to others memories. Fabulous.
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My first Heathrow departure was a familiarisation flight in a BOAC 707 which did a few circuits at Bedford before returning whence it came. Summer 1968.
First commercial departure was in a BKS Britannia to Newcastle, first international departure was a Finnair Caravelle to Helsinki. Possibly most unusual (for LHR) would be a British Island Herald operating a Sabena Antwerp service.
During a posting to Prestwick in 1969 I used to fly PIK-LHR on the BA606 coming through from Toronto. The domestic passengers - never more than ten or so - would be seated at the back and accompanied by a Customs man to make sure they didn't interact with the transatlantics. Then when everybody else was off the aircraft they would be led through bits of Terminal 3 which bypassed customs & immigration. In the other direction there were no problems.
First commercial departure was in a BKS Britannia to Newcastle, first international departure was a Finnair Caravelle to Helsinki. Possibly most unusual (for LHR) would be a British Island Herald operating a Sabena Antwerp service.
Renfrew - Used to confuse immigation and customs no end as these were international flights and of course Prestwick passengers were travelling without passports.
Starways Dak G-AMPY Speke-LHR Oct 1958. Later did the bus tour with my Dad and saw the unique Canadair C.5 in the BOAC maintenance area. A North Star with radials. And for HD's benefit and possibly envy if he never got the chance to fly in one, I later took a day trip to the Paris Air Show in a Starways DC-4.