LUTON History and Nostalgia
Gnome de PPRuNe
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That would have been 1966/67. Keegan sold it to Peter Masefield and it eventually became Bill "Tiger" Destefani's first Reno Racer "Mangia Pane". Still going strong with a US owner.
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N6356T was based for the winter 1966/7, last record I have for it is on 18/3/67, not sure exactly when it returned to its previous home of Biggin Hill. Abpic has numerous photos in a variety of schemes:-
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/search?...ch_type=simple
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/search?...ch_type=simple
I first saw that Mustang overflying Kidlington in the summer of 1968 when it was owned by Charles Masefield
I was being shown over Menno Parson's "Mustang Sally" at Rand Airport in South Africa a couple of years ago and suddenly realised from a cockpit inscription regarding the King's Cup that it was the same aircraft . 44-7494.
I was being shown over Menno Parson's "Mustang Sally" at Rand Airport in South Africa a couple of years ago and suddenly realised from a cockpit inscription regarding the King's Cup that it was the same aircraft . 44-7494.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Oops, missed the South African bit!
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As I remember it was kept on the hard standing to the north of McApine's hangar. I never saw it fly. At the time Keegan was involved with the production of The Riley Dove at McAlpines.
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Thanks for the reply OUAQUKGF. That would fit in with the earlier photo, with the Britannia Brit behind parked on the hangar side of the apron. Looks to be roughly where the minitower stands now. It only seems to have flown a dozen or so times in 4 months. Still can't trace when it departed back to its usual base at Biggin. The Keegan logo - presumably a sticker - seems to have gone by the time of the Biggin Air Fair in May 1967. Wikimedia has a similar picture :-
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...081991650).jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...081991650).jpg
Last edited by cj241101; 28th Jul 2019 at 13:12.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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I heard a story that Masefield was just starting up the Mustang at the Biggin Air Fair when a wayward parachutist had his canopy settle in the prop arc. Fortunately Masefield killed the mags instantly! No turnin', no burnin' during drops!
I think it was also displayed at Paris by Bob Hoover when based in Belgium several years earlier.
I think it was also displayed at Paris by Bob Hoover when based in Belgium several years earlier.
Treadigraph,
I remember seeing the Biggin Hill incident, 1967 or 68 I think.
It was quite windy and the Red Devils miss calculated their drop and most of them ended up in the crowd or car park. The only one to land air side was the one who tangled with the Spitfire's prop. I believe he got away with a broken finger.
The announcer was telling everyone to stand still and the paras will miss you. Are you really going to stand still with a pair of size 12s about to land on you?
I saw one car with a big dent in the roof.
Happy memories!
I remember seeing the Biggin Hill incident, 1967 or 68 I think.
It was quite windy and the Red Devils miss calculated their drop and most of them ended up in the crowd or car park. The only one to land air side was the one who tangled with the Spitfire's prop. I believe he got away with a broken finger.
The announcer was telling everyone to stand still and the paras will miss you. Are you really going to stand still with a pair of size 12s about to land on you?
I saw one car with a big dent in the roof.
Happy memories!
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Nice view of Luton's former wooden terminal which was increased in size a few times over the years before it was replaced .
Published by Steve Roberts
Published by Steve Roberts
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That view above has radically changed compared to now. The wooden terminal ended its life after being used by Britannia Airways. Even the “modern” concrete Britannia operations building hasn’t survived.
I can count 5 additions to the terminal but being made out of wood it would have been a simple task.
Noted how smart people were in those days.
I can count 5 additions to the terminal but being made out of wood it would have been a simple task.
Noted how smart people were in those days.
Last edited by LTNman; 7th Aug 2019 at 04:57.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Noted how smart people were in those days.
Dixi188, thanks, I read the story somewhere, nice to see it confirmed - quite a hairy moment!
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Incidentally, my office was the portakabin left of hangar 9.
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A bit of a long shot. Back in 1965 after Euravia/Britannia replaced their L.749 Constellations with Britannias, L.749 G-ANUR was leased to ACE Freighters at Gatwick. When that company folded, the aircraft was brought back to Luton on 14/9/66 and stored until departing to Coventry on 1/3/67, having been sold in the USA on 23/2/67. Does anyone have any recollections of where it may have been parked while it was stored, or even better have a photo? Only colour photo I can find is this one:-
Looks like it retained its basic Euravia scheme with no titles, just the ACE logo on the tail.
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The last engineers in Hangar 60 move out next week. Who knows if it will ever be used again for aircraft maintenance? several bids for the site were from car parking companies.
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Who owns the lease for the ex-Monarch hangars? https://www.primelocation.com/to-ren...ZIju3BVImZL.97