History of Luton Airport
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: hertfordshire
Age: 49
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
History of Luton Airport
Could anyone provide details (web links) of the history of Luton Airport ?
I did have a search around the web to find only scant information.
There doesnt seem to be a detailed web site about the history of Luton.
From what I have been able to find out :-
The airfield opened before WW2 with Percival making planes.
Then at the outbreak of WW2 the RAF took over (not sure what it was used for then).
After the war Percival / Hunting took over and made planes like the jet provost etc.
From this point on its not clear if Hunting closed or moved out of Luton and then Luton Council then decided to make it a full airport ( as we know of today) in the 50's
This is what I was able to find out, searching various web sites, etc.
If I am wrong then please correct me.
Thansk in advance.
I did have a search around the web to find only scant information.
There doesnt seem to be a detailed web site about the history of Luton.
From what I have been able to find out :-
The airfield opened before WW2 with Percival making planes.
Then at the outbreak of WW2 the RAF took over (not sure what it was used for then).
After the war Percival / Hunting took over and made planes like the jet provost etc.
From this point on its not clear if Hunting closed or moved out of Luton and then Luton Council then decided to make it a full airport ( as we know of today) in the 50's
This is what I was able to find out, searching various web sites, etc.
If I am wrong then please correct me.
Thansk in advance.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Luton
Luton was a grass airfield until 1958; as a schoolboy with a PPL we visited the Percival factory, saw Pembroke's and Jet provosts being made, walked round the mock up of the P107 (which later became the BAC1-11)
Civil but of RAF origin. I flew a Tiger moth there that day in the summer of '58!
db16
Civil but of RAF origin. I flew a Tiger moth there that day in the summer of '58!
db16
A book was published in 1998 or thereabouts to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the opening of the airport. It may be available somewhere....
The decision to open an airport was taken by Luton Corporation, and it opened in 1938. It has always been owned by the municipality, although in the late 1990s it was effectively leased to the current operators for 30 years (with a break clause after 15).
Percival Aircraft were based there and built Proctors, Prentices, Provosts, etc in their factory, which was behind the current hangar line. The runway was laid in 1960, later extended. The first jet movement was a Comet, which landed on the grass
in 1952!!
The decision to open an airport was taken by Luton Corporation, and it opened in 1938. It has always been owned by the municipality, although in the late 1990s it was effectively leased to the current operators for 30 years (with a break clause after 15).
Percival Aircraft were based there and built Proctors, Prentices, Provosts, etc in their factory, which was behind the current hangar line. The runway was laid in 1960, later extended. The first jet movement was a Comet, which landed on the grass
in 1952!!
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are ten years out. The Story of Luton International Airport was published in 1988 to mark fifty years of licenced flying. The book can be found in Wigmore Library, which is in sight of the airport.
If you PM me with an email address I will send you some aerial shots taken over the years from the late 30's
If you PM me with an email address I will send you some aerial shots taken over the years from the late 30's
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
...and one of my own - the Hunting Percival P.74, c1958.
The 'Scrappie' gas-axed the control column off for me while I waited and I strapped it to the cross bar of my bicycle.
I donated it to Newark Air Museum in the early 1970's
PeterA
The 'Scrappie' gas-axed the control column off for me while I waited and I strapped it to the cross bar of my bicycle.
I donated it to Newark Air Museum in the early 1970's
PeterA
Luton-H-P P74
Obviously a helo, but anyone got any more gen on it ?Did my PPL at Luton in `60, so a bit of a soft spot for it..then, not now ....Syc.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Dunstable, Beds UK
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sycamore,
You no doubt had the pleasure of the Fred Pitchin B&B
Ahh those breakfasts lovingly cooked by Fag Ash Lil
When Autair moved in 1960 there was a new hangar just built by Macalpines - which is the current Harrods hangar.
Autair had 1/3 fenced off at the non Runway end
No mains electricty but power from a rather magnificent RR diesel Generator.
This was when I learned how to bleed diesels after the run out of fuel
Of course we had the Napier Lanc with the wing section on top for de-icing.
It went into the hager sideways on little rail cars
You no doubt had the pleasure of the Fred Pitchin B&B
Ahh those breakfasts lovingly cooked by Fag Ash Lil
When Autair moved in 1960 there was a new hangar just built by Macalpines - which is the current Harrods hangar.
Autair had 1/3 fenced off at the non Runway end
No mains electricty but power from a rather magnificent RR diesel Generator.
This was when I learned how to bleed diesels after the run out of fuel
Of course we had the Napier Lanc with the wing section on top for de-icing.
It went into the hager sideways on little rail cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: It wasn't me, I wasn't there, wrong country ;-)
Age: 79
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thread spread. What happened to the aeroclub? Remember many happy nights there along with bad mornings after, when DA moved the Vomet & 1-11s in. Remember some great wall paintings (I think). Also parties down Brandon (I think) Ave.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Poland, Europe
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
aeral photos of LTN
LTNman,
I fly to LTN quite often those days - it would be great to see some aeral photos from the past. I don't stay at the airport more than 40min normally
:-) but I will try to find the book.
As far as a/c are concern - I'm looking for Tiger Moth wartime pics...
I fly to LTN quite often those days - it would be great to see some aeral photos from the past. I don't stay at the airport more than 40min normally
:-) but I will try to find the book.
As far as a/c are concern - I'm looking for Tiger Moth wartime pics...
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1934. Edit (2013 changed to 1936/7)
1946
1960
These photos have been on here before but are always worth a second look.
I have more if anyone is interested.
1946
1960
These photos have been on here before but are always worth a second look.
I have more if anyone is interested.
Last edited by LTNman; 25th Sep 2013 at 20:07.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep, the end of the trees is where the fire station is. The trees also mark the route of an old country lane that carries on from the crash gate on the south side of the runway. This country lane is now the existing approach road to the terminal. The apron shown is the second and third photos is now stands 10 and 11 which is outside Monarch.
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: canada
Age: 92
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Inquiry
Stumbled across your photos of Luton Airport whilst searching for info. on the Napier facility there. I worked for Napier's for two years from mid 1945 to mid 47.
I am particularly interested in your aerial photo taken in 1946 since I was employed by them at that time and perhaps you have more taken in the 1945-47 period.
If possible could you provide me with a print of the 1946 which I will gladly pay you for. Unfortuately I do not have any photographs which I could contribute but if it will help and armed with a clear photo I can identify many of the buildings and features shown including the Italian POW camp at the very top of the shot.
My thanks for taking the time and trouble to post these on the net. Regards, Anthony Marlow, 4 Corbett Ave., St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, L2N 5M4
E-mail. [email protected]
I am particularly interested in your aerial photo taken in 1946 since I was employed by them at that time and perhaps you have more taken in the 1945-47 period.
If possible could you provide me with a print of the 1946 which I will gladly pay you for. Unfortuately I do not have any photographs which I could contribute but if it will help and armed with a clear photo I can identify many of the buildings and features shown including the Italian POW camp at the very top of the shot.
My thanks for taking the time and trouble to post these on the net. Regards, Anthony Marlow, 4 Corbett Ave., St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, L2N 5M4
E-mail. [email protected]
Course the real Luton Airport was at Barton-in-the-Clay, just north of the town and home of the Luton series of light aircraft. You can still see some of the old buildings there from the car park of the industrial estate which now occupies the land.
Anybody know the history of this airfield?
Anybody know the history of this airfield?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: southern spain
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Diddy1234 regarding publications - there was an edition of Aviation News published in the summer 1988 to mark the 50th anniversary of the airport. I was production manager at the time and remember practically all of the content was taken up the article. It was written by David Gearing who was an ATCO at Luton at the time - sadly he is no longer with us. Unfortunately my copy has ''disappeared'' but you may be able to find one on ebay. If you want any more information please PM me.
Remember those flying club nights oh memories!
Cheers C3B
Remember those flying club nights oh memories!
Cheers C3B
What I have found irritating is the fact that the Google Earth images (present and 1940's) are not quite aligned, so it's difficult to see how the new and the old join together.
So, with the aid of Photoshop, I aligned the images so you can see how LTNmans photos above relate to the present day:
So, with the aid of Photoshop, I aligned the images so you can see how LTNmans photos above relate to the present day:
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: East Midlands
Age: 84
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did a Flying Scholarship PPL there in August 1957. Excellent QFI called Ted Sessions, two Tiger Moths G-AORA and G-ANPI, both of which are still around. Excellent Fred Pinchin B&B and nice young ladies from the offices who came up to the airfield to eat their lunches. Gillian Hooper - where are you now?
There was a Canberra with a Napier rocket engine in the bomb bay (Scorpion?). One day it was taking off uphill and on very wet grass and had to fire the engine to get airborne, instead of a test firing planned for some rather higher level!
There was a Canberra with a Napier rocket engine in the bomb bay (Scorpion?). One day it was taking off uphill and on very wet grass and had to fire the engine to get airborne, instead of a test firing planned for some rather higher level!
My father did his basic flying training for the Fleet Air Arm at Luton in 1940 on Miles Magisters. He once told me that his abiding memory of Luton was being machine gunned by the Luftwaffe as he went to lunch one day! My dad survived the experience only to be blown up in the Blitz in Portsmouth in late 1940. Ironically it saved his life as he was subsequently invalided out of the service. He was the only survivor of his flying course.