LUTON History and Nostalgia
Some good memories there CJ......I remember the Afrek Brits languishing at ATH in the summer of 1982 (in fact one of my mates got his collar felt by the Greek Police for trying to photograph them!)
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Thanks for the replies. Whilst that most probably is the aircraft I saw, I seem to recall someone telling me that Brittania had the mx contract with Kuwait Airlines and the fleet was being rotated through every few weeks for their C/D-checks. Is there any truth to that, or was someone spinning me a yarn back then ?
The Kuwait 737-200 fleet was only the 1 aircraft. It was involved in a hijack on 24/7/80 when it was forced to fly to Bahrain then Abadan, Iran and back to Kuwait. Hijackers then gave themselves up with no apparent violence or injuries. Kuwait Airways then sold the aircraft as VR-BOX in December that year.
Best thread on PPRUNE. Not surprised it's generated over a million viewings.
2 memories of Luton, for which sadly, I have no photographs. Back in the early 80's ('80, '81 or possibly'82) as a BY F/O, landed from a trooper to see, on one occasion a french registered Aero Commander, with 2 underslung, pylon mounted fan engines. On another, the BAE Mosquito, HT-E. Both were parked on the Ponderosa.
Back in those days (when such things were possible!) Hoof Proudfoot and I walked across from stands2/3 (outside what was then the Britannia hangar) to have a closer look at the Mosquito and had the chance to climb up into the cockpit.
Magic moments.
2 memories of Luton, for which sadly, I have no photographs. Back in the early 80's ('80, '81 or possibly'82) as a BY F/O, landed from a trooper to see, on one occasion a french registered Aero Commander, with 2 underslung, pylon mounted fan engines. On another, the BAE Mosquito, HT-E. Both were parked on the Ponderosa.
Back in those days (when such things were possible!) Hoof Proudfoot and I walked across from stands2/3 (outside what was then the Britannia hangar) to have a closer look at the Mosquito and had the chance to climb up into the cockpit.
Magic moments.
Absolutely! Brilliant pics. Log-book check shows landed back in to Luton at 1745 in G-BOSL, on the 15/5/80. If the Mosquito arrived the evening before you took your photo, I guess that would have been when Hoof and I visited.
And to think we made it across the taxiway without even knowing what a yellow tabard would look like! Having flown an Aero Commander 500 for a while, I gained a huge respect for the type. The one I flew (G-ASIO) was a little under-powered but a delight to fly, so I remember being intrigued by F-BXAS. A Turbomeca test bed I believe?
Many thanks.
And to think we made it across the taxiway without even knowing what a yellow tabard would look like! Having flown an Aero Commander 500 for a while, I gained a huge respect for the type. The one I flew (G-ASIO) was a little under-powered but a delight to fly, so I remember being intrigued by F-BXAS. A Turbomeca test bed I believe?
Many thanks.
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More information on the Astafan Commanders:
https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contr...67addition.htm
https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contr...hRon/11267.htm
https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contr...67addition.htm
https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contr...hRon/11267.htm
What is the 727 in the background of the Aero Commander pic?
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727 does look like Hapag Lloyd to me.
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D-AHLN 6/12/83
Last edited by cj241101; 26th Jun 2019 at 16:38.
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). Maybe another candidate for most unusual type?
And to think we made it across the taxiway without even knowing what a yellow tabard would look like!
In the 1980's there was a regular procession of BAL Engineers walking straight across the Taxiway between H89 & H61 (often towing toolboxes etc!) Makes me smile now just thinking about it!
In the 1980's there was a regular procession of BAL Engineers walking straight across the Taxiway between H89 & H61 (often towing toolboxes etc!) Makes me smile now just thinking about it!
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Ah, ASA, several of my siblings flew in one of their's from Stansted to Nairobi circa 1970/71 - not that they would be interested in such things. I remember it taxiing in at Embakasi with the zebra-striped fin.
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1977 ? Yes. What looks like the Eurafric Brit EI-BCI (registered 4/4/77) and the ex-Ghana DC-8 (9G-ACG, became N8038A Aug 1977, departing as such on 20/9/77) in the "graveyard" are a bit of a giveaway. The Eurafric sat around for the rest of 1977. My last record of 5Y-AYR was in June 1977, so photo probably April-June 1977. The Brit behind it looks like G-BEMZ of Air Faisel, registered 11/2/77. Their other Brit G-BDLZ never had the logo on the tail. Officially (I think) known as Air Faisal, both their Brits at some stage were painted with "Air Faisel" titles.
Last edited by cj241101; 9th Jul 2019 at 11:04.
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Converted Brit 300 to Engine Test Rig at Luton in the 70s?
Hope this is of interest to group have many other Luton pics if any would like to see? Not sure if posted correctly as can not see the pic I uploaded?