LUTON History and Nostalgia

[LTNman]

Behind the hangars was always an interesting place to visit over the years but as the years past so the aircraft decreased. This 707 was the last aircraft I can remember behind Britannia's hangar before it became a car park. I have no idea what brought it to Luton for scrapping.

[oldandbald]

N751TA

A little bit of researchfor interest - originally American Airlines N7522A First Flight 16Sep59sold to Tiger AirMay 78 Lsd to Aeroamerica same month. Aeroamerica’sop. certificate revoked by FAA in November ‘79. Returned to Tiger Air March ’80 and stored at Luton. Re registered N751TAMay ‘80. Reg. cancelled November ‘81 and noted at Luton January ‘82 without tail, had been used as cabin trainer by Monarchfor a while declared “scrap” February 82.

[LTNman]

Monarch also used to have an old Briatannia minus its wings as a crew trainer that was parked by the side of its hangar. Wonder if this was its replacement?

[SpringHeeledJack]

You'd wonder why whomever would want to store a large aircraft(s) at an airport that had minimal spare space compared with Stansted for example, where if I remember in the 70's and 80's there was masses of space. Obviously the two engineering home bases would attract airframes but space was/is limited.


SHJ

[LTNman]

There used to be an old 707 parked up in the run up bay stripped of most of its paint for what seemed like years in I think the 80's.

[almost professional]

N7201U, B720 prototype, broken up in the run up bay, rumour has it the scrap disappeared before the contractors could take it away!

[vintage ATCO]

True, allegedly. I was on the weekend all these trucks turned up to take the scrap away. The owner then claimed it had been nicked.

[lotus1]

Rumours also was that the 707 parked at the end was going to be used as restaurant but as we all know this never happens remember visiting Luton around 86 still parked there but a lot of people in a coach turned up and was seen cutting plane up?

[LTNman]

This was the 707 in question.


Origin of photo unknown

[EGGW]

No, that was the ex Conair B720 that was under overhaul at Monarch, I think for a VIP operation. But during the overhaul severe corrosion was found, and work was stopped. Hence the primer paintwork.This was ex OY-DSK.The aircraft was stored in the run up bay for a couple of years, and then scrapped.
N7201U was the prototype B720, that was also stored, it was white with a Red stripe. See the link

The Starship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.johnnypowell.net/ Photo Keywords: N7201U

There were also 2 x B707, N751TA which I remember being scrapped and N752TA, which was stored for a while, but I remember seeing it fly out after storage.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Boein...65bbe0619b34d9

EGGW.

[SpringHeeledJack]

The Starship was perhaps the most infamous of the early jet Boeing stable, save for the odd VC-137 painted white and blue. I remember reading about it in Rolling Stone magazine years ago and it sounded pretty 'Rock and Roll lifestyle' with all the goings on whilst on tour for the various artists. It ate through money and some ended up having to do extra dates to offset against the higher costs A shame that it didn't end up in some spacious music hall of fame in the US, rather than scrapped in Luton….(With all due respect to Luton).


SHJ

[Lon More]

Back in the 60s IIRC the wall of the Flying Club hangar had "Derby Aviation" writ large across it. There was also a Provost (?) airframe rotting away next to the Autair Helicopter Hangar

[vintage ATCO]

This one, Lon?



WV624 Provost T.1. To 23 Group Comms Flt, Cranfield 26.5.54. Crashed Cranfield 30.12.57 when US Navy pilot dived into ground after t/o probably due to instrument panel coming adrift. Pilot killed.

[Haraka]

The infamous Provost hingeing instrument panel accident. It came open post take off- jamming the control column back.

[Lon More]

could well have been. There wasn't much there by then, just the fuselage. Just enough to do a bit of wenching behind

[LTNman]

Manston based Invicta brought several aircraft types through Luton over the years. In 1973 a Vanguard that was positioned from Luton to Bristol crashed while landing at Basel-Mulhouse killing 104 passengers and 4 crew, there were 37 survivors.


vintage ATCO

[cj241101]

old airport schedules

Back in 1969 I remember the local newspaper (Saturday Telegraph I think) used to print planned movements at the airport. Being a compulsive hoarder, I have kept a few of these; some have dates, some don't. If anyone is interested, let me know. Or give me a head-up in adding images, which, as a (very) infrequent user of PPRuNe, I don't think I can do at the moment.

[LTNman]

cj241101 I have sent you a message with some options

This photo was taken in the 1980's when coaches could park in the dry and marks the first stage of terminal expansion before the rear departure lounge was built. Later on the coach lane closed as the arrivals area was expanded and at the other end a new set of check-in desks were build. I can only ever remember them being used by Capital Airlines. This old check-in area is now in part the location of the airport chapel.

This frontage will disappear over the next 2 years as the extension to the new terminal will cover the existing bus station.

[Falcon666]

Those check in desks were used by Debonair when they started ops.
It was a very narrow check in area-some six check in desks if I remember correctly.
I used to fly to Munchengladbach regularly and on some occasions the queue went outside the doors because you couldn't get everybody in !!

Can anybody remember which flags were flown on those poles?

Nice pic

[LTNman]

Yes you are spot on, I forgot about Debonair. I think the extension was actually built for them.