LUTON History and Nostalgia
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Luton
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Up until around 1975 I think, not sure if they had all their own ground equipment, although the ground power unit looks to be in their house purple colours. In 1967 they had 3 check-in desks at the right hand end of the desks when they were located in a line from left to right as you entered the terminal.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't recall when those desks disappeared but they were there into the 70s I think. Midland woke up an otherwise sleepy late morning on Saturdays in '68 and maybe '69 with Channel Islands flights and a Dublin IIRC - I'm sure cj will know when Dublin ceased - it didn't last long.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Luton
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't recall when those desks disappeared but they were there into the 70s I think. Midland woke up an otherwise sleepy late morning on Saturdays in '68 and maybe '69 with Channel Islands flights and a Dublin IIRC - I'm sure cj will know when Dublin ceased - it didn't last long.
Not sure about 1969 flights.
IIRC the Midland desks went in 1975 and Dan Air took over the handling. Monarch when they started had 2 desks between Britannia and Midland, also Channel had a single desk at the right hand end for their short-lived Scottish Flyer service in 1969. Invicta also had their own check-in desks in the early 70's.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Luton
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re Midland Dublin schedules - I have a few clippings from the local paper in 1969 - Saturday Telegraph I think - where they used to print the planned movements for the airport. These mostly covered weekends and I only have a few of them but I can find no sign of anything looking like Dublin scheduled flights.
Paxing All Over The World
- In the picture of Comet G-ALYP diverted to LTN in 1952, they caption it 'York Peter'.
- They highlight a Derby Airways craft and make no ref to the Connie that is in front of it.
- The check in area with Marty Feldman filming for TV has an arc lamp in clear view. It is a Mole-Richardson 'Brute' that (natch) ran on DC power and my maternal grandfather was one of the key designers of it.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No mention that the Comet landed on a grass runway. Maybe the first grass runway landing of a passenger jet anywhere in the world seeing that there was only the Comet.
I am assuming Hatfield had a contrete runway it this time.
I am assuming Hatfield had a contrete runway it this time.
the first comet or 2 had large single wheel main gear with almost agricultural tyres
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the picture of Comet G-ALYP diverted to LTN in 1952, they caption it 'York Peter'
Hatfield had a concrete runway from the late 1940s - if I can find the right book I put the date on here.
Many pictures as you say that I haven't seen before and quite accurate for the press.
Last edited by 22/04; 17th Jul 2018 at 09:15.
Hatfield had a concrete runway from the late 1940s - if I can find the right book I put the date on here.
Hatfield Runway
My favorite was Nan, as in George Able Nan Baker Easy. Only the Brits could have come up with that.
Further to those superb images from The Mail:
Luton Airways ceased operations in December 1959 having been founded by Messrs Jarvis and Fisher in December 1957. They had three Dragon Rapides; G-AHLF, G-AIBB and G-ALGC with an additional Dragon Rapide G-ALBC leased from McAlpines who also hangared and maintained Luton Airways' fleet. The Rapide in the photograph is G-ALGC. Luton Airways operated Pleasure Flights and Charters across the UK and near continent.
Luton Airways ceased operations in December 1959 having been founded by Messrs Jarvis and Fisher in December 1957. They had three Dragon Rapides; G-AHLF, G-AIBB and G-ALGC with an additional Dragon Rapide G-ALBC leased from McAlpines who also hangared and maintained Luton Airways' fleet. The Rapide in the photograph is G-ALGC. Luton Airways operated Pleasure Flights and Charters across the UK and near continent.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 19th Jul 2018 at 08:23.
http://www.airteamimages.com/de-havi...ays_98205.html
https://www.na3t.org/images/photos/air/BSX00311.jpg
https://www.na3t.org/images/photos/air/BSX00326.jpg
This last image shows the remains of Dragon Rapide G-AFOI said to have been purchased by Luton Airways for spares. Previously with Handley Page as the company hack.
https://www.na3t.org/images/photos/air/BSX00326.jpg
This last image shows the remains of Dragon Rapide G-AFOI said to have been purchased by Luton Airways for spares. Previously with Handley Page as the company hack.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 17th Jul 2018 at 19:28.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 3 miles short of 08
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
http://www.airteamimages.com/de-havi...ays_98205.html
https://www.na3t.org/images/photos/air/BSX00311.jpg
https://www.na3t.org/images/photos/air/BSX00326.jpg
This last image shows the remains of Dragon Rapide G-AFOI said to have been purchased by Luton Airways for spares. Previously with Handley Page as the company hack.
https://www.na3t.org/images/photos/air/BSX00326.jpg
This last image shows the remains of Dragon Rapide G-AFOI said to have been purchased by Luton Airways for spares. Previously with Handley Page as the company hack.