LUTON History and Nostalgia
In the late 1960s I attempted to learn to fly in the Cessna 150s of The Luton Flying Club. I flew my first solo off R/W 24 and circuits were flown to the south not to the north. I greased my landing on this occasion but was a little disappointed that my father, with whom I had left my wave band radio and was watching the proceedings, hadn't realised that I had soloed.
My second solo was pretty dreadful - attempting to land on 36. I think I had three goes at it - bouncing all over the place. I remember frantically twirling the trim wheel as I heaved the stick back and went around on a left turnout. Finally a call from ATC prior to the third approach -"Your instructor insists that you make a full stop landing." I thought "If only you knew!"
I hung up my flying goggles after this tho I still have a pole from time to time.
It was all quite exciting. Spin recovery high over the fields of Bedfordshire was exhilarating. Then there was the time when we got mixed up with a bunch of Spitfires during the filming of The Battle of Britain over Cambridgeshire. One really hairy moment came about when we were inbound to R/W 24 on top of cloud. As we slipped off the cloud what should we see about a hundred feet immediately below us - a bloody great big Monarch Britannia also inbound. All this was of course years before the Luton zone was established. Phew!
My second solo was pretty dreadful - attempting to land on 36. I think I had three goes at it - bouncing all over the place. I remember frantically twirling the trim wheel as I heaved the stick back and went around on a left turnout. Finally a call from ATC prior to the third approach -"Your instructor insists that you make a full stop landing." I thought "If only you knew!"
I hung up my flying goggles after this tho I still have a pole from time to time.
It was all quite exciting. Spin recovery high over the fields of Bedfordshire was exhilarating. Then there was the time when we got mixed up with a bunch of Spitfires during the filming of The Battle of Britain over Cambridgeshire. One really hairy moment came about when we were inbound to R/W 24 on top of cloud. As we slipped off the cloud what should we see about a hundred feet immediately below us - a bloody great big Monarch Britannia also inbound. All this was of course years before the Luton zone was established. Phew!
Still plenty of GA at BOH 22/04
A shame indeed to see the demise of the former Speccys.....Some great memories......the smell of burnt jet fuel on warm summer evenings as aircraft passed by and the sound of the pings on the airband radios from the nearby radar dish echoing around the place!
A shame indeed to see the demise of the former Speccys.....Some great memories......the smell of burnt jet fuel on warm summer evenings as aircraft passed by and the sound of the pings on the airband radios from the nearby radar dish echoing around the place!
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The secret of visiting the spectators area was to get your timings just right. Pick the wrong time and there was next to no movements but pick the right hour and there was always a nice trickle of aircraft. I always remember the screaming Viscounts. It was the only aircraft where I had to put my fingers in my ears as it passed by. It was also the only aircraft I can remember where you could see the passengers shoulders as well as their heads thanks to their large windows.
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22/04
Yep, "clear to land rwy 24, in the event of a missed approach remain north of the main". 06 was more interesting as they had to go through the 08 approach on left base, and then cross 08 again on final approach, unless you could persuade them to remain north of the main all the time
I once had a C172 doing pleasure flights (from the speccys area) who was doing this all Sunday afternoon.
I once had Dave Huges (LFC CFI) on final 24 and a BY B737 on final for 26. I issued the "in the event of a missed approach etc" when the B737 said grumpily "Just like Heathrow".
I once went off rwy 24 four up in the back of a Tri-Pacer . . . we went round the fire station.
Yep, "clear to land rwy 24, in the event of a missed approach remain north of the main". 06 was more interesting as they had to go through the 08 approach on left base, and then cross 08 again on final approach, unless you could persuade them to remain north of the main all the time
I once had a C172 doing pleasure flights (from the speccys area) who was doing this all Sunday afternoon. I once had Dave Huges (LFC CFI) on final 24 and a BY B737 on final for 26. I issued the "in the event of a missed approach etc" when the B737 said grumpily "Just like Heathrow".
I once went off rwy 24 four up in the back of a Tri-Pacer . . . we went round the fire station.
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Seem to remember that there was some sort of aircraft banner towing operation at Luton. Can't remember though if the aircraft took off with the banner behind it or picked it up on a low pass.
aceatco, retired
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You would not be able to take off with the banner attached. The pick up rope is draped between two poles with the banner laid out ahead of the poles, the front being nearest the poles. The aircraft runs in with a grappling hook trailing and snags the rope between the poles. A lot of power is applied and the aircraft climbs away picking the banner up as it goes. We still do this at Old Warden.
I remember the banner towing at Luton but not what they were advertising.
I remember the banner towing at Luton but not what they were advertising.
A nice bit of old footage featuring a Court 1-11 and a couple of general views (including an Aviogenex TU-134 on the Pond)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYna0T-0VEs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYna0T-0VEs
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luton airport 90s youtube video
Just come across this on youtube may be of interest to some.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INohU3u6-iI
Hope the link works of not maybe someone can please past it as it should be. thanks richard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INohU3u6-iI
Hope the link works of not maybe someone can please past it as it should be. thanks richard
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Wow, another great find on youtube. I don't remember Ryanair having their name over a Luton Hangar. Also good to see the old airport logo and the green and yellow terminal interior.
The Ryanair signage was due to the tie-up with London European. It would have gone around 1991 when FR were enticed over to STN.....
After that Allied Signal took over the hangar
After that Allied Signal took over the hangar
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That hangar must have had more operators and users than any other hangar at Luton. Was it built for Autair?
Autair
Courtline
Ryanair
Allied Signal
Signature
Any more?
I can remember it being used for 146's but can't remember the Luton based airline that operated services to Newcastle, Copenhagen and that airport just outside Paris.
Autair
Courtline
Ryanair
Allied Signal
Signature
Any more?
I can remember it being used for 146's but can't remember the Luton based airline that operated services to Newcastle, Copenhagen and that airport just outside Paris.
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Yes Debonair!!!
My one and only Air Cadet photo that I took at Luton. Taken in the car park during some sort of parade. Maybe Level bust can guess the year and what the event was as I haven't a clue
We used to go to the spectators bar (Jim's Inn) after Air Cadets on a Monday and Thursday night. In the summer it would take you 20 minutes to get a drink it was so crowded!
My one and only Air Cadet photo that I took at Luton. Taken in the car park during some sort of parade. Maybe Level bust can guess the year and what the event was as I haven't a clue
That's got me thinking, the US flag is there so must have been early 80s as we had a strong link with Chicksands about then. I'll have a good look on Sunday when I can see it on a bigger screen.
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I think this is Iraq 607 f/f Luton 27.10.64, delivered to Iraq AF via Dijon 12.11.64. from a batch of 20 Jet Provosts T.52 (Mk 4s) 1964-65, the last being delivered via Dijon 28.4.65. These were the last Jet Provosts to have been built at Luton. End of an era.
Credit: BAE Systems Heritage Centre Warton Photo Archives
Credit: BAE Systems Heritage Centre Warton Photo Archives
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Ryanair hangar
The recently demolished hangar 62. G-AZUK had flown for Mediterranean Express in 1987. Ryanair bought it on 1/3/89 but it spent most of its time out on lease to Loganair then British Air Ferries / British World before getting sold to Oriental Airlines in Nigeria May 1996. It was one of only a few series 475's built.
G-AZUK 25/11/89
G-AZUK 25/11/89