BMA Viscount & DC9 aircraft
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BMA Viscount & DC9 aircraft
Is there anyone out there who can help solve a query or two re; Viscount and DC9 aircraft and operations. In particular:-
BMA Viscount operations from Bournemouth Hurn in 1972 (following Channel Airways demise)
and
early DC9 series 10/15 operations in the late 1970's?
I can forward the specifics by PM if anyone has memories that long!
Thanks
airsmiles
BMA Viscount operations from Bournemouth Hurn in 1972 (following Channel Airways demise)
and
early DC9 series 10/15 operations in the late 1970's?
I can forward the specifics by PM if anyone has memories that long!
Thanks
airsmiles
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I have access to ABC Schedules guides going bacK that far but you would have to be specific, they are *very* deeply buried in the archives.
If non-sked then sorry, can't help.
If non-sked then sorry, can't help.
BMA VC8 and DC9-15
i was duty traffic officer at LHR in ops for BMA 1977-1985
i cannot help you re VC8 ops 1972 although i lived near SEN and channel airways was my local airline but i dont know what happened to them at BOH re BMA picking up their flights...
re BMA DC9's -15's
when i joined we were just getting the the leased Finnair a/c still with its finnish regn op'g LPL-LHR OY-LYB
and our own N reg a/c then became G-BFIH/G-BMAA a/c op'g LHR-MME
we had about 9 viscounts operating LHR-LBA IOM MME EMA BHX LPL
Friday nights was all viscounts at LHR as the DC-9's went off to op the Jerseys because at weekends in the summer the DC-9's op'd out of EMA and LTN and almost everywhere else we went from to Jersey !
(along with alot of the viscounts too, so Jersey was a major player)
with the DC-9 we also did MME-PMI on friday nights and RMI too, sometimes we did LPL-Tarbes, LPL-ALC,PMI,GRO and some other charter places too.
we did LHR-PMI occasionally with the DC9.(charter)
we also with the viscount did LPL-PMI, BHX-MAH in the summer on night charter flights. a 5 hour trundle through the night lol
6 x DC9 -15's were op'g during my time eventually,
G-BMAA/B/C G/H/I
85 then 90 pax seats
2 x DC 9-32 came in too before i left
G-BMAK/M
105 seats i think
i think thats all i can remember,
sometimes when british rail went on strike we used the 707's as well on domestic flights.
and they dropped into LHR on fog diversions on early mornings if EMA,MAN or BHX was closed...all holiday charters.
all sun tanned punters and the cabin smelled of ambre solaire !
GLA/EDI and BFS came later on whilst i was there.
all DC9 services.
although the viscount went to BFS sometimes.
Photos: Douglas DC-9-15 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-262529.html
viscounts in my time were
G AZNA/B/C
G AZLP/R/S/T (T BECAME G BMAT AFTER LBA ACCIDENT)
G AYOX
G BFLH was youngest viscount ever flying
G BAPF/G
i cannot help you re VC8 ops 1972 although i lived near SEN and channel airways was my local airline but i dont know what happened to them at BOH re BMA picking up their flights...
re BMA DC9's -15's
when i joined we were just getting the the leased Finnair a/c still with its finnish regn op'g LPL-LHR OY-LYB
and our own N reg a/c then became G-BFIH/G-BMAA a/c op'g LHR-MME
we had about 9 viscounts operating LHR-LBA IOM MME EMA BHX LPL
Friday nights was all viscounts at LHR as the DC-9's went off to op the Jerseys because at weekends in the summer the DC-9's op'd out of EMA and LTN and almost everywhere else we went from to Jersey !
(along with alot of the viscounts too, so Jersey was a major player)
with the DC-9 we also did MME-PMI on friday nights and RMI too, sometimes we did LPL-Tarbes, LPL-ALC,PMI,GRO and some other charter places too.
we did LHR-PMI occasionally with the DC9.(charter)
we also with the viscount did LPL-PMI, BHX-MAH in the summer on night charter flights. a 5 hour trundle through the night lol
6 x DC9 -15's were op'g during my time eventually,
G-BMAA/B/C G/H/I
85 then 90 pax seats
2 x DC 9-32 came in too before i left
G-BMAK/M
105 seats i think
i think thats all i can remember,
sometimes when british rail went on strike we used the 707's as well on domestic flights.
and they dropped into LHR on fog diversions on early mornings if EMA,MAN or BHX was closed...all holiday charters.
all sun tanned punters and the cabin smelled of ambre solaire !
GLA/EDI and BFS came later on whilst i was there.
all DC9 services.
although the viscount went to BFS sometimes.
Photos: Douglas DC-9-15 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-262529.html
viscounts in my time were
G AZNA/B/C
G AZLP/R/S/T (T BECAME G BMAT AFTER LBA ACCIDENT)
G AYOX
G BFLH was youngest viscount ever flying
G BAPF/G
Last edited by rog747; 31st Jul 2009 at 19:39.
i forgot to mention that of the pilots were aces and friends
tony belcher
kevin hunt
ian gilmore
pat cunningham
nas tatalias
helmut popp
ian smallwood
and many many more nice people
wot fun days they were
tony belcher
kevin hunt
ian gilmore
pat cunningham
nas tatalias
helmut popp
ian smallwood
and many many more nice people
wot fun days they were
oh yes those too as well
the names keep coming lol
Photos: Douglas DC-9-15 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
the names keep coming lol
Photos: Douglas DC-9-15 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
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Thanks rog747 in particular.
Re; the baby DC9's, a friend and I both saw G-BGWP at LHR on separate dates in August 1979. This was ex- OH-LYB, but according to Air Britain the UK registration was allocated but not taken up (in 1979 anyway). It subsequently carried on operating as OH-LYB for a while longer. However, we both know we saw it at LHR as G-BGWP. I wondered if anyone could clear up that long running mystery.
As for the Hurn Viscounts, I have a copy of BG Cramps excellent book which gives some detail of the 1972 operation, but was subsequently passed over to Dan-Air sometime later in 1972. I wondered if anyone had more detailed information of schedules, dates of operations and aircraft used. The latter is partly because my first ever flight was on a BMA Viscount [Hurn-Jersey 2.4.1972 and returning Jersey-Hurn 9.4.1972. To complete my flying log I was hoping to fill in the specific aircraft flown. This could been the time the ex-South African viscounts were being introduced into service.
airsmiles
Re; the baby DC9's, a friend and I both saw G-BGWP at LHR on separate dates in August 1979. This was ex- OH-LYB, but according to Air Britain the UK registration was allocated but not taken up (in 1979 anyway). It subsequently carried on operating as OH-LYB for a while longer. However, we both know we saw it at LHR as G-BGWP. I wondered if anyone could clear up that long running mystery.
As for the Hurn Viscounts, I have a copy of BG Cramps excellent book which gives some detail of the 1972 operation, but was subsequently passed over to Dan-Air sometime later in 1972. I wondered if anyone had more detailed information of schedules, dates of operations and aircraft used. The latter is partly because my first ever flight was on a BMA Viscount [Hurn-Jersey 2.4.1972 and returning Jersey-Hurn 9.4.1972. To complete my flying log I was hoping to fill in the specific aircraft flown. This could been the time the ex-South African viscounts were being introduced into service.
airsmiles
Dc-9 G Bgwp ?
oh lord
i don't remember G-BGWP at all, i am sure it was never used but i am foggy on that one.
i sort of now remember something but i cant help you more.
i dont think the reg'n was ever used on OY-LYB but you state you saw it...?
perhaps it was applied but we were still using 'YB'
aug 1979 i may have been on holiday...lol
1972 was the year that MR Bishop popped down to SAA at JNB and bought all 7 of their viscounts and the old sim for a very tiny amount of cash !
btw in the mid 70's before i joined, the BMA viscounts operated the LHR to NQY and LHR-Strasbourg routes.
also LGW-BFS was ongoing in my time op'd by viscount.
re the Bournemouth ops try posting in the Bournemouth pprune post.
i don't remember G-BGWP at all, i am sure it was never used but i am foggy on that one.
i sort of now remember something but i cant help you more.
i dont think the reg'n was ever used on OY-LYB but you state you saw it...?
perhaps it was applied but we were still using 'YB'
aug 1979 i may have been on holiday...lol
1972 was the year that MR Bishop popped down to SAA at JNB and bought all 7 of their viscounts and the old sim for a very tiny amount of cash !
btw in the mid 70's before i joined, the BMA viscounts operated the LHR to NQY and LHR-Strasbourg routes.
also LGW-BFS was ongoing in my time op'd by viscount.
re the Bournemouth ops try posting in the Bournemouth pprune post.
dc 9 32
ah ok thanks
i knew they messed around with 85/90 then 85 again on the dc9 rocket
i knew they messed around with 85/90 then 85 again on the dc9 rocket
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Definitely saw G-BGWP land in 27R at LHR and there was another sighting by another at LHR about the same time. I can't explain it, and I agree the registration was officially applied to the Bo105 helicopter, but Air Britain agree it was originally intended for the BMA DC-9. If only digital cameras were around then!
I'm involved with the Bournemouth scene so have pretty much exhausted that source I think.
airsmiles
I'm involved with the Bournemouth scene so have pretty much exhausted that source I think.
airsmiles
G-BGWP DC-9 15 nee OY-LYB/G-BMAH
i also found a Douglas c/n and fleet list too with (g-bgwp) in brackets as being allocated to YB's c/n and history,
then it became G-BMAH eventually.
so yes i think it was maybe applied to the a/c in paint but very quickly un-allocated,
as far as i can tell from memory we never called the a/c 'WP' at any time,
Photos: Douglas DC-9-14 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
shown in 9/79
then it became G-BMAH eventually.
so yes i think it was maybe applied to the a/c in paint but very quickly un-allocated,
as far as i can tell from memory we never called the a/c 'WP' at any time,
Photos: Douglas DC-9-14 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
shown in 9/79
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HELMUT POPP !!!
What a legend !
It was always a joy to do his loadsheets. True gent.
Although I remember the nasty incident in BRU, I think, when he fell out of the service door and broke his arm.
Used to see him walking his dogs up and down Park Lane towards the Hall.
Other names for you.
Geoff Goodchild, Rod Brears, Tony Blades, Chas Anderson (although he was on the ATP....)
Remember Roger Markwick, LHR skipper. Could be fierce, but a cuppa aways sorted that out !
Seeing a mixture of 9's on the EMA ramp on a saturday afternoon, all heading off to JER was a guarantee of a very sweaty load controller, cos the ramp car was ALWAYS in MT getting fixed !
Happy happy days !
What a legend !
It was always a joy to do his loadsheets. True gent.
Although I remember the nasty incident in BRU, I think, when he fell out of the service door and broke his arm.
Used to see him walking his dogs up and down Park Lane towards the Hall.
Other names for you.
Geoff Goodchild, Rod Brears, Tony Blades, Chas Anderson (although he was on the ATP....)
Remember Roger Markwick, LHR skipper. Could be fierce, but a cuppa aways sorted that out !
Seeing a mixture of 9's on the EMA ramp on a saturday afternoon, all heading off to JER was a guarantee of a very sweaty load controller, cos the ramp car was ALWAYS in MT getting fixed !
Happy happy days !
Capt Popp was unmistakable on the R/T.
I once cadged a jump seat ride with him. After a sporting departure off 05 at MME, (with a left turn that seem to take us almost directly over the rail halt), he proceeded to talk to me about mutual friends all the way to just before the MCT, allowing the young F/O to sweat away with everything. He then turned to the panel, and said "now, where are we...?" :-)
Ramp cars? My dad, stalwart of MT at Castle Don. until 1984, did miracles with bits and bobs of engines and bodies, as the management were too tight to spend any money. Scrapheap challenge. The pump-out bowser in the hangar belonged in a museum,
The ramp at EMA was positively humming in the summer. I had a summer job on traffic, and once had the dubious pleasure of leading passengers off an inbound 707 from way over on the northern edge stands, halting an inbound F27. 211 sauntering "bucket and spaders" stopped everything for ten minutes. No nose-in parking or coaches in 1982. Happy days indeed. The place is unrecognisable now, and infested with lo-co riff-raff, hen parties sloshed at 0630, carrying inflatable male bits, etc.
I once cadged a jump seat ride with him. After a sporting departure off 05 at MME, (with a left turn that seem to take us almost directly over the rail halt), he proceeded to talk to me about mutual friends all the way to just before the MCT, allowing the young F/O to sweat away with everything. He then turned to the panel, and said "now, where are we...?" :-)
Ramp cars? My dad, stalwart of MT at Castle Don. until 1984, did miracles with bits and bobs of engines and bodies, as the management were too tight to spend any money. Scrapheap challenge. The pump-out bowser in the hangar belonged in a museum,
The ramp at EMA was positively humming in the summer. I had a summer job on traffic, and once had the dubious pleasure of leading passengers off an inbound 707 from way over on the northern edge stands, halting an inbound F27. 211 sauntering "bucket and spaders" stopped everything for ten minutes. No nose-in parking or coaches in 1982. Happy days indeed. The place is unrecognisable now, and infested with lo-co riff-raff, hen parties sloshed at 0630, carrying inflatable male bits, etc.
rog747
The 'youngest ever Viscount flying' to which you refer was G-BFZL, not G-BFLH, which was a PA-34!
Had 2 spells flying her and her sisters out of LPL, then EMA/LBA. Nice old machine.
The 'youngest ever Viscount flying' to which you refer was G-BFZL, not G-BFLH, which was a PA-34!
Had 2 spells flying her and her sisters out of LPL, then EMA/LBA. Nice old machine.
good ol helmutt !
tony belcher was superb at whizzing down the Bravo cul-de-sac T1 LHR, in the DC9, turned the engines off and just coasted into B2 or B4
maybe he did leave one on... lol...would be frowned upon now i suppose
happy days!
ian smallwood did jump seat with him friday night EMA-PMI
flying time 1 hr 35 mins !
(wheels off/on time.)
tony belcher was superb at whizzing down the Bravo cul-de-sac T1 LHR, in the DC9, turned the engines off and just coasted into B2 or B4
maybe he did leave one on... lol
...would be frowned upon now i supposehappy days!
ian smallwood did jump seat with him friday night EMA-PMI
flying time 1 hr 35 mins !
(wheels off/on time.)
rog747
The 'youngest ever Viscount flying' to which you refer was G-BFZL, not G-BFLH, which was a PA-34!
Had 2 spells flying her and her sisters out of LPL, then EMA/LBA. Nice old machine.
YES!!! you are quite right !! i was thinking purely from memory,
i knew there was L and F in it LOL!!!
yes she was nice thing, had a quirky rear door arrangement too
The 'youngest ever Viscount flying' to which you refer was G-BFZL, not G-BFLH, which was a PA-34!
Had 2 spells flying her and her sisters out of LPL, then EMA/LBA. Nice old machine.
YES!!! you are quite right !! i was thinking purely from memory,
i knew there was L and F in it LOL!!!
yes she was nice thing, had a quirky rear door arrangement too
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The ex-Finnair DC9's AH/AI were -14's. They were two of the first built DC9's originally with Air Canada. The remainder AA/AB/AC/AG and N48075, leased for 7 months in 1978 from Southern, were -15's.
AA operated with registration N65358, from August 76 to April 78, before being British registered as G-BFIH.
OH-LYD (-14) was leased from Finnair for four months in 1983.
AA operated with registration N65358, from August 76 to April 78, before being British registered as G-BFIH.
OH-LYD (-14) was leased from Finnair for four months in 1983.
Last edited by IB4138; 1st Aug 2009 at 13:58.
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Excellent photo of OH-LYB landing. About time BMI (as they are now) did the decent thing and brought out an A320 retroject scheme in 1970's livery.
If anyone's still with BMI please suggest it!
airsmiles
If anyone's still with BMI please suggest it!
airsmiles