LUTON History and Nostalgia
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Yes of course, I thought they had another route too but couldn't think what it was a. So, Virgin, Capital & Ryanair all operated to DUB at at the same time for a while? In the days before Ryanair switched its ops to STN, we must have had a hell of a lot of DUB flights departing each day from LTN
aceatco, retired
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When Capital went bust they owed the airport a six figure sum. We had liens ready to nail to the masthead of any of the former BAe.146s that may have landed.
It was said, probably apocryphal, that they had a notice on the flight deck along the lines of 'Except in an absolute emergency, do not land this aeroplane at Luton!'.
It was said, probably apocryphal, that they had a notice on the flight deck along the lines of 'Except in an absolute emergency, do not land this aeroplane at Luton!'.
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VIRGIN OPS
When Virgin operated there Dublin route besides using the Vickers Viscount they used two Boeing 727s from Club Air of Ireland. The aircraft, ex-Eastern were flown by US flight deck crews and Virgin cabin crew. They were both had rather garish colour schemes and the rumour goes when Richard Branson first saw the 727 land (the one without the turtle on the tail - it had been leased to Cayman Island Airways) at Luton while he was sat out on the balcony next to the Virgin office above what was the restaurant he is said to have muttered - Jesus Christ - and of course it became known as Jesus Christ as long as it was flying for Virgin. The cabin crew also tried to serve a full breakfast on the morning rotations but with flying time around 45 minutes they struggled somewhat!
Certainly Britannia ran troopers all through my time. (80-94). Usually as a double, so 4 sectors instead of our usual out and back. Gave rise to the riddle
" What's got 4 legs and F*cks the cabin crew? A double trooper. "
They were later linked to a Belfast schedule, as level bust says, but I am sure that was not until the early 90's.
The Belfast schedules were always full, and it seemed to me that Brit missed a golden opportunity to expand on that. In 93/94 they got rid of their 737's at knockdown prices and paid a lot of money to a lot of pilots (me included) to accept redundancy.
With the ecomonies of scale they had, if they had used those pilots and aircraft to expand into lo-co schedule Ryanair would not have grown as it did, and Easyjet probably would never have started. As it was, Easy started with two ex Brit leased in 732's, and Ryanair had the 6 newest of the Britannia fleet.
" What's got 4 legs and F*cks the cabin crew? A double trooper. "
They were later linked to a Belfast schedule, as level bust says, but I am sure that was not until the early 90's.
The Belfast schedules were always full, and it seemed to me that Brit missed a golden opportunity to expand on that. In 93/94 they got rid of their 737's at knockdown prices and paid a lot of money to a lot of pilots (me included) to accept redundancy.
With the ecomonies of scale they had, if they had used those pilots and aircraft to expand into lo-co schedule Ryanair would not have grown as it did, and Easyjet probably would never have started. As it was, Easy started with two ex Brit leased in 732's, and Ryanair had the 6 newest of the Britannia fleet.
I'm a bit late in replying but I flew Luton-Belfast Harbour on Capital's Short 360 G-OLGW on 21 March 1989. I also did Luton-Amsterdam on Netherlines Jetstream 31 PH-KJB on 3rd April 1990. I hope that helps with the dates. I seem to remember the Shed came back at around FL100 which led to some ear-popping on descent.
More than just an ATCO
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Thanks for confirming that Vintage ATCO. I wasn't sure if my memory was playing tricks. 1967 was overshadowed by the G-AVGW accident on Dec. 23 and i had my own (G-ASSO IIRC) when a piston collapsed on take off on 36. Quite a spectacular trail i was told.Thank God not alone but with Phil Jeffrey. At one time we were going to put down on the LGS playing field which might have ruined the first XI's cricket but made a wide gentle turn and landed on 18,
Wonder how many others from LGS ended up in ATC?
Martyn Cooper
Steve le Vien (sp?)
"Chum" ? On the same watch at LATCC. I used to give him a lift back to Luton often but cannot for the life of me remember his name
I often used the Virgin to Maastricht but from Gatwick. Was that before or after the Luton operation?
Wonder how many others from LGS ended up in ATC?
Martyn Cooper
Steve le Vien (sp?)
"Chum" ? On the same watch at LATCC. I used to give him a lift back to Luton often but cannot for the life of me remember his name
I often used the Virgin to Maastricht but from Gatwick. Was that before or after the Luton operation?
Last edited by Lon More; 20th Feb 2015 at 08:03.
I often used the Virgin to Maastricht but from Gatwick. Was that before or after the Luton operation?
If my memory serves me correctly (and there's no guarantee of that) the route started at Gatwick and then moved to Luton, but I have no idea why!
If my memory serves me correctly (and there's no guarantee of that) the route started at Gatwick and then moved to Luton, but I have no idea why!
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Now on tv true entertainment old advengers show John stead has just boarded a herald possible ex bea great shots of Britannia Brits also a couple of dc3 parked up belive show around either67 or 68 great old entertainment
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LTNman, I'm guessing they are sub-manufacturing parts for Handley Page, those stabilisers might just be Jetstream, the spinner could be Herald.
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I think the photo was taken too early for the Jetstream. Also as far as I am aware most of the subcontracting was done by Scottish Aviation and Northwest Industries in Canada.
I am thinking maybe it was parts for the English Electric Canberra bomber which I think set an altitude record at Luton.
I am thinking maybe it was parts for the English Electric Canberra bomber which I think set an altitude record at Luton.