Court Line
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G-AVGW
Dear Lynne,
I have just come across your post. My father David Boothman was co-pilot in G-AVGW, and killed in the same crash as your father. I have never known much about the accident, and wondered what you had been able to discover.
Best wishes,
Adam
I have just come across your post. My father David Boothman was co-pilot in G-AVGW, and killed in the same crash as your father. I have never known much about the accident, and wondered what you had been able to discover.
Best wishes,
Adam
Join Date: Dec 2009
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G-AVGW
Adam, my wife Lynne is in usa at present, so i am replying on her behalf, but im sure when she gets back she will want to put her bit in. I have done all the work i can about her father, it was the only way i could get to know the father in law i had never met. One of the items i did come across was the accident investigation report. These were carried out by the board of trade at the time. A copy can be obtained from the british national library, i think it was about £21 including delivery. Details are; TITLE REPORT-ACCIDENT COMPENSATION CO... YEAR 1969. VOLUME/PART CAP 326. SHELFMARK 2116.66 The report is very detailed, but comes to no firm conclusion, well, not to me anyway, apart from the fact that both engines had been shut down, when the intention was to shut only one engine. I suspect there was a communication error between the pilots, and they shut an engine each, without the others knowledge, (your father was being tested on the hs 125, and total engine failure was simulated). It seems almost inconcievable that two pilots with so much experience between them should make such an error, but this was just a blip compared to the kegworth disaster, and in that context, it make's the hs 125 incident entirely believable. I often think of harold and david, and am both angry and saddend, angry with them for not getting it right, and sad for those left behind. However, i've never sought blame, just understanding. I hope this has been some help, best wishes, Ray.
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I believe that the AAIB are pretty good at sending out free of charge copies of old reports... Try them through the contact details on their website. Much better than lining someone's pockets...
I've enjoyed reading this thread about Courtline. Sounds like a nice bunch of folk, doing what they enjoyed, without the bean counters' intervention. Happy days for the most part, I would think.
Condolences to those who lost loved ones...
I've enjoyed reading this thread about Courtline. Sounds like a nice bunch of folk, doing what they enjoyed, without the bean counters' intervention. Happy days for the most part, I would think.
Condolences to those who lost loved ones...
Lear Jets.
I was lucky enough to be given a ride in one of these pocket-rockets when it was air-tested. Our departure from Luton resembled that of a Lightning and we were at 40,000 ft in the twinkling of an eye. Five or ten minutes later we were turning for Luton over The North Sea. A rapid descent saw us roaring for home fast and low over the flat-lands of Cambridgeshire (a bit bumpy if I remember rightly!).
These two aircraft were operated by Autair on behalf of KLA for The Royal Flight of King Idris. As tea-boy ops runner I was sent to Heathrow in a van to pick up spares for these jets - I think they were elevators or elevator components as the early Lear Jets had problems in that department!
One of the Captains was Peter Parrot, who it transpires fought in the Battle of Britain. In those days most chaps didn't talk too much about their war service.
These two aircraft were operated by Autair on behalf of KLA for The Royal Flight of King Idris. As tea-boy ops runner I was sent to Heathrow in a van to pick up spares for these jets - I think they were elevators or elevator components as the early Lear Jets had problems in that department!
One of the Captains was Peter Parrot, who it transpires fought in the Battle of Britain. In those days most chaps didn't talk too much about their war service.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 26th Feb 2011 at 16:19.
Colours in the Sky
Good morning all, it is springtime in New England.
I just received a pristine copy of Colours in the Sky from a used book specialist, Soldridge Books, Ltd, Alton, Hants. I've had it on my "wants" list at abebooks.com for several years. Once in awhile a copy shows up. This one was about $40 plus shipping.
Pictures of Jaqui and Stella everywhere plus one of a young Len Prudence. Gosh, what a lot of water under the bridge since then.
Charlie Marks
OU and GF
I just received a pristine copy of Colours in the Sky from a used book specialist, Soldridge Books, Ltd, Alton, Hants. I've had it on my "wants" list at abebooks.com for several years. Once in awhile a copy shows up. This one was about $40 plus shipping.
Pictures of Jaqui and Stella everywhere plus one of a young Len Prudence. Gosh, what a lot of water under the bridge since then.
Charlie Marks
OU and GF
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REUNION
The next reunion is 8th OCTOBER 2011 @ Harpenden House Hotel. We have had to change the date from September to October if you would like details please just let me know.
Jaqui
Jaqui
Last edited by Jaqui Maschera; 13th Aug 2011 at 17:02.
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Bob Ashley Haskins and Courtline Pax Services
Have joined the forum because I worked during my university vacs (Summers of 72 and 73 and Christmas 72 and Easter 73) as a passenger services assistant at LTN and was recruited by Bob Ashley Haskins (Manager Passenger Ground Services?). Bob was an absolute gentleman and apparently told the lady who also interviewed me 'hire him..... but God knows what we're going to do with him'. I met Bob again at the Grand Spa Hotel Clifton in 1975 and he handed me an Initial Cleaning Services business card with another name on it and explained that he had changed names. I forget the name of the recruitment lady but she ran the very effective and informative Ground Staff Training Courses for recruits in a rather wet and dingy hut behind a hangar off the main apron. The course also included a full history of Autair and the design evolution of the Vickers Viking (some head scratching on that one from the raw recruits). I had the advantage of having flown in Autair G-AHOY Viking 1B some years earlier on a school trip to Holland and thanked heavens that our familiarisation flight was in a BAC 111 500 relocating from Castle Donnington. We had a written test at the end which we had to pass (but we were re-assured that no one failed). She was always knitting on shift even when things where frantic in the terminal building, much like Madam Pompadour. So for two years during my vacations I checked in drunks, TV stars, old ladies who left the tickets at home, vicars, a bishop, Villa Owners, Football Supporters and stroppy lawyers who quoted verbatim the Warsaw Convention when their flights were delayed or cancelled. And who could blame them as we often had to bus them down to the Thistle in Luton to get them out of the terminal!! Best moments? (Far too many to bore you with but Checking in Corporal Jones and family of Dad's Army and then keeping them company for 12 hours during a delay was fun. It must have passed quickly as everyone in the terminal got his autograph. Worst moment. When the line of passengers I boarded for Munich got mixed up with a Britannia fight to Ibiza. Half on each flight!! I thought it was the end of my holiday job!!! Oh. Yes. Then there was the night Captain Williams burst all those tires on the Tristar in Spain and all the 1-11's were used to ferry people back. Chaos. But...but I had the time of my life!! Which is why I hope you'll excuse the long trip down memory lane.
Boarding The Ark.
The previous post reminds me of an earlier day on the ramp at Luton when in pouring rain our gallant passenger services staff led a long crocodile of passengers to embark up the rear steps to a Dan Air Comet only to disembark them 10 seconds later from the front of the aircraft and proceed in a completely unflustered and orderly manner to another Comet which was parked next door. Thus the first passengers were eventually boarding the right aircraft while the tail-enders were still boarding the wrong aircraft. The Herd Instinct worked very well on that occasion. Did we larf? Not 'alf!
Kurt Lang
Hi I Have not read this thread for a while and today I have been catching up I am saddened to here about Elizabeth overbury, But I do see and talk to Kurt In waitrose In Horley every now and again last time was I think In March, I have many of his Photos In my house of various Aircraft that Dan-Air had. He Is a great Photogapher, I used to also fly with Fred Sheldrick on the HS 748 A true gent.
Waitrose
When next you see Kurt in Waitrose please send him all the best from Tom who still remembers having a ride with him in an Auster at Denham years ago. Another Gent was Capt Geoff Cole - what has become of him? I remember him on the Ambassadors and 748s. After leaving Court Line I worked for Air Anglia. We chartered a 748 from Skyways and who should turn up at Norwich but Geoff with one of the Court Line 748s on lease.
I flew with him as a pax on this trip which involved landing in freezing fog at Esjberg - no problem!
I flew with him as a pax on this trip which involved landing in freezing fog at Esjberg - no problem!
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Boarding the Ark for Southern Italy
I believe Courtline may have achieved many firsts in its short but eventful life but few match for hilarity the very hot night in July 1973 when a one off charter from and to Southern Italy (either Naples or Salerno) came very close to the operating limits of the 1-11 500. The Duty Officer that night warned us to check baggage weights carefully and not permit anything over 20Kgs.
Needless to say when the Mamas and the Papas turned up they had all travelled with kitchen sinks (and had clearly acquired a bath whilst in the UK), and as the Duty Officer pointed out the standard weights used for the pax (male and female) could be thrown out of the window at 30,000 ft. They had all spent a lifetime on Pasta and Vino Rosso and many were as broad as they were long. The deafening cacophony that arose in the Terminal building when word got around that 20 kg was the limit and no argument just added to the difficulty of communication between monoglot Brits and monoglot Italians.
The Duty Officer took umbrage at one passenger who he thought had called him a b******d until the tour leader defused the situation by explaining 'Basta' was Italian for 'we've had enough'. So we had 119 'overweight' pax with a lot of baggage (the contents of some was actually left on the terminal floor to reduce weight). What happened next I've dined on for years.
The Night Duty Officer called us in and in hushed tones said 'we're going to board them as normal...and then...we're going to weigh each passenger at the foot of the forward steps and then reboard them through the aft. OPs have sent a guy home to get his bathroom scales. Once on Board Pax Services will not be required.(Sigh of relief)' You could have heard a pin drop.
That night a cluster of Court, Britannia and Monarch Ground Staff in the know watched discreetly (but many with tears in their eyes) as Courtline Flight Operations weighed 119 Italians of assorted shapes and sizes at the foot of the forward steps. Many looked more confused than angry when asked to step onto the scales. As a final idignity they were made to circumnavigate a stewardess under the wing tip on their way back to the aft entrance. The question on everyone's lips was 'What did the Captain say to the Pax?'
Needless to say when the Mamas and the Papas turned up they had all travelled with kitchen sinks (and had clearly acquired a bath whilst in the UK), and as the Duty Officer pointed out the standard weights used for the pax (male and female) could be thrown out of the window at 30,000 ft. They had all spent a lifetime on Pasta and Vino Rosso and many were as broad as they were long. The deafening cacophony that arose in the Terminal building when word got around that 20 kg was the limit and no argument just added to the difficulty of communication between monoglot Brits and monoglot Italians.
The Duty Officer took umbrage at one passenger who he thought had called him a b******d until the tour leader defused the situation by explaining 'Basta' was Italian for 'we've had enough'. So we had 119 'overweight' pax with a lot of baggage (the contents of some was actually left on the terminal floor to reduce weight). What happened next I've dined on for years.
The Night Duty Officer called us in and in hushed tones said 'we're going to board them as normal...and then...we're going to weigh each passenger at the foot of the forward steps and then reboard them through the aft. OPs have sent a guy home to get his bathroom scales. Once on Board Pax Services will not be required.(Sigh of relief)' You could have heard a pin drop.
That night a cluster of Court, Britannia and Monarch Ground Staff in the know watched discreetly (but many with tears in their eyes) as Courtline Flight Operations weighed 119 Italians of assorted shapes and sizes at the foot of the forward steps. Many looked more confused than angry when asked to step onto the scales. As a final idignity they were made to circumnavigate a stewardess under the wing tip on their way back to the aft entrance. The question on everyone's lips was 'What did the Captain say to the Pax?'
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Learjet Test Flights
I too had the pleasure of being "invited ballast" on one of these test flights after maintenance. Was in the Autair days in the late 60s, pretty sure it was 5A-DAD and the pilots were Mike Ellis and Len Prudence who hadn't flown it before, but we still enjoyed a triple barrel roll at 20,000 feet! I remember sitting there, pinned to my seat, hoping that the crates of engine oil sitting on the floor in front of me didn't move around too much... The subsequent "touch and goes" back at Luton were something else as well, seem to recall being told afterwards that the performance was somewhat better than a Hawker Hunter!
Oh happy days. It was not at all unusual to tag along on training flights too. This was pretty interesting on the Ambassador and even the 748, when engines were actually shut down and props feathered. All scary stuff, particularly when the weather was a bit iffy. Lots of tales to tell......
Whatever happened to Dave Williams??
Oh happy days. It was not at all unusual to tag along on training flights too. This was pretty interesting on the Ambassador and even the 748, when engines were actually shut down and props feathered. All scary stuff, particularly when the weather was a bit iffy. Lots of tales to tell......
Whatever happened to Dave Williams??
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My First Flight
Hi All,
Just joined this forum, and just had to mention that my very first flight in an aircraft was by Court-Line in April 1973 on a school skiing trip from Luton to Clemont-Ferrand flew out on G-AXMH and returned in G-AYOR, three months later it was a family holiday to Yugoslavia, and G-AXMI was the outward flight and G-AXMF was the return from Pula, I just remember as a 12 year old just what a fantastic airline they were.
Happy Halcyon Day's
Just joined this forum, and just had to mention that my very first flight in an aircraft was by Court-Line in April 1973 on a school skiing trip from Luton to Clemont-Ferrand flew out on G-AXMH and returned in G-AYOR, three months later it was a family holiday to Yugoslavia, and G-AXMI was the outward flight and G-AXMF was the return from Pula, I just remember as a 12 year old just what a fantastic airline they were.
Happy Halcyon Day's
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1960s memories
My first ever flight was in 1968 when it was still Autair, on a Clarksons Holiday from Luton to Genoa, we then flew with Court Line in 1972 Luton to Alicante another Clarksons Holiday then 1973 Bham to Venice and 1974 July Bham to Malaga
The only company I ever wanted to work for was Clarksons, never made it, but did start in the Travel Industry in 74, unfortunatly still in it today, but the fund has gone out of it, and the operators and charter airlines feel they own the insustry, They should look back and see how it should be done.
If any one has any info on the holiday side during those years would love to receive it
Thanks to staff who are left for changing my outlook on life
The only company I ever wanted to work for was Clarksons, never made it, but did start in the Travel Industry in 74, unfortunatly still in it today, but the fund has gone out of it, and the operators and charter airlines feel they own the insustry, They should look back and see how it should be done.
If any one has any info on the holiday side during those years would love to receive it
Thanks to staff who are left for changing my outlook on life
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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I never worked for Court Line, but my earliest memories of flying are being taken to Cardiff Airport (then universally called Rhoose) to get on the 1-11 to Alicante for holidays. I always preferred the orange ones, I used to get grumpy, as a five year old 
if we had a lilac one or a green one!
Was always a bit fed up that Lego didn't make the right coloured bricks, so all my aircraft had to be in Britannia or BOAC colours
Our last flight with Court Line was in 1974 - the flight from CWL to ALC had been cancelled and we were transferred onto AA, the biggest thing I'd ever seen, out of Luton. Happy it was gold!
There was en extremely lovely stewardess who saw me pressed against the glass in LTN, and asked if I wanted to go out and have a look. Sadly I was a little too shy to take her up on the offer.... Happy days!
TA
if we had a lilac one or a green one!Was always a bit fed up that Lego didn't make the right coloured bricks, so all my aircraft had to be in Britannia or BOAC colours
Our last flight with Court Line was in 1974 - the flight from CWL to ALC had been cancelled and we were transferred onto AA, the biggest thing I'd ever seen, out of Luton. Happy it was gold!
There was en extremely lovely stewardess who saw me pressed against the glass in LTN, and asked if I wanted to go out and have a look. Sadly I was a little too shy to take her up on the offer.... Happy days!
TA