LUTON History and Nostalgia
I remember seeing the first six or so Jet Provost Mk.1 variants in formation overhead for a photo sortie c.1956.....
Then, a couple of years later, Barry (?) Radley (CTP) coming in low and fast over our house in Stopsley and pulling up in to a loop. Didn't realise at the time that Haraka Snr. was in the RHS.
Radley subsequently retired to S.A.(Cape town) I believe, anybody perchance know any more?
Then, a couple of years later, Barry (?) Radley (CTP) coming in low and fast over our house in Stopsley and pulling up in to a loop. Didn't realise at the time that Haraka Snr. was in the RHS.
Radley subsequently retired to S.A.(Cape town) I believe, anybody perchance know any more?
Last edited by Haraka; 26th Dec 2014 at 13:35.
Barry Radley
Vampiredave.
Many thanks indeed!
Got it , and also noted many other names on that site to follow up.
Sad to see that he had passed away 10 years before my arrival in S.A.
Compliments of the season,
Haraka
Many thanks indeed!
Got it , and also noted many other names on that site to follow up.
Sad to see that he had passed away 10 years before my arrival in S.A.
Compliments of the season,
Haraka
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Haraka:
You are welcome.
It would be good to see more references to the Jet Provost because of Luton's association with Hunting Percival?
Season's greetings to you, also.
DW
You are welcome.
It would be good to see more references to the Jet Provost because of Luton's association with Hunting Percival?
Season's greetings to you, also.
DW
Lovely story about Edgar Percival ( and there are many!)
Apparently he was so incensed about the silly rules regarding suppliers of "authorised components" that he basically ignored some of them ,locally purchasing many aeronautical latches and catches from 'Gibbs and Dandy' in Luton.
Apparently he was so incensed about the silly rules regarding suppliers of "authorised components" that he basically ignored some of them ,locally purchasing many aeronautical latches and catches from 'Gibbs and Dandy' in Luton.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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de Havilland Albatross?
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I believe the photo was taken on 16th July 1938 when the airfield was officially opened.
I have looked up the de Havilland Albatross and I would say it is definitely that aircraft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q_zNrj0GpM
I have looked up the de Havilland Albatross and I would say it is definitely that aircraft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q_zNrj0GpM
Nice movie of the opening day, including a take-off and flypast by that Albatross (the prototype) and the Short Mercury separating from the Maia:
East Anglian Film Archive: Luton Airport, 1938
East Anglian Film Archive: Luton Airport, 1938
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In 1955 I made my qualifying cross country flight for the PPL, from White Waltham to Cambridge, with the require intermediate stop at Luton. Back then is was just a large grass airfield with a tower that looked like a lighthouse. What a difference in the later photographs in this thread! And how nostalgic is the post of the opening day video!
Edgar Percival came up with some fine aircraft. I once flew with a friend in his Proctor, and enjoyed it very much. I also remember the prototype Prospector being demonstrated by the late Harold Best Devereaux, who flew it into White Waltham.
Edgar Percival came up with some fine aircraft. I once flew with a friend in his Proctor, and enjoyed it very much. I also remember the prototype Prospector being demonstrated by the late Harold Best Devereaux, who flew it into White Waltham.
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mmm don't think so. The photo shows the engine exhaust in the middle of the engine while the photos I have just looked up show the exhaust of the Warwick coming out of the bottom of the engine.
Judging by the shape of the tailfin, the nose and the under-fuselage pannier, it is almost certainly a Warwick Mk. 3. Napiers had a Flight Development set up at Luton, so my money is on a Warwick being used as a flying test bed, which would explain the engine looking "wrong".
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Looks like it's a Warwick C3 with Napier Sabres.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2images/6903545381/
(oxenos wins by a short head!
)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2images/6903545381/
(oxenos wins by a short head!
)