LUTON History and Nostalgia
The Hornet Moth is `AFDG,reg28/3/38-`40; nothing after that..
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I think this was 1998 but was this aircraft in BA colours on the Isle of Man service? The ATP was using the temporary taxiway as the second half of the tunnel was being built.
Origin of photo unknown.
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BA City Express
According to my (not infallible!) anorak log, BA City Express used the ATP as well as the CityFlyer ATR-42's on their Paris-CDG service in the summer of 1995, which is probably when the photo was taken. Tunnel opened March 1996. BA ATP's also appeared regularly on the Manx Belfast City services during summer 1997.
In 1995 bral/Manx and Cityflyer were still completely seperate companies. They wernn't bought by BA until 2001 and 1999 respectively
BAcitiexpress didn't exis until 2002 and Cityflyer was not part of it
BAcitiexpress didn't exis until 2002 and Cityflyer was not part of it
Last edited by bean; 24th Dec 2015 at 06:01.
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British Airways Express
CityFlyer, although not actually bought by BA until Nov 1998, were the first franchise operator on behalf of British Airways Express as long ago as 1993. The BA Express route LTN-CDG, which ran from March 1994 to October 1995, operated with CityFlyer ATR-42's in British Airways Express colours, using BA flight numbers commercially but CFE ("Flyer") callsigns for ATC.
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Now I can't ever remember that passengers could walk to the hangar line from the old terminal to catch their flights but clearly they could at some point. So trying to date this photo what year did BEA bring out its new livery seen on the second Vanguard?
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Skyways! now that is a name from the past. I think they overturned one of their 748's when landing at their base at Lympe in Kent when the airport still had a grass runway. Soon afterwards a new concrete runway was built but soon both the airport and the airline were no more.
I might be able to date that photo (post #1111) precisely. My log book shows I was an F/O on Merchantman GAPEP ex GLA that diverted into LTN due LHR fog on 1st Feb 1973 (arr LTN 0025 on the 2nd). I remember at least one other VC9 there too - possibly the other one in the photo. If so the photo can be dated 2nd Feb 1973 - the day they returned to LHR.
The 'new' BEA paint scheme first appeared in 1968 on the Trident fleet - the jokers said it looked like the Union flag was being sucked into the intake of the centre Spey. Vanguards and Merchantman were gradually repainted over the next few years.
The 'new' BEA paint scheme first appeared in 1968 on the Trident fleet - the jokers said it looked like the Union flag was being sucked into the intake of the centre Spey. Vanguards and Merchantman were gradually repainted over the next few years.
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Thanks Discorde That date seems to line up nicely.
I found this photo of one of Skyway's 748's when it was in a hybrid livery from the Tom Singfield collection
I found this photo of one of Skyway's 748's when it was in a hybrid livery from the Tom Singfield collection
It's certainly a Merchantman, you can just discern the "BEA Cargo" titles.
If indeed it was G-APEP, it was one of only a few Merchantmen that survived long enough to be later painted in the Negus & Negus BA livery (and is now at Brooklands, of course).
If indeed it was G-APEP, it was one of only a few Merchantmen that survived long enough to be later painted in the Negus & Negus BA livery (and is now at Brooklands, of course).
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Skyways
The HS748 in the photo is in Skyways International livery. Their predecessor Skyways Coach Air ceased operations in January 1971, with Skyways International starting up a month later. They were taken over by Dan Air in April 1972, operating as Dan Air Skyways for a while before being fully integrated into Dan Air. I would suggest the photo therefore dates from late 1971 when there were a number of diversion days, nearly all while I was at school (yes, I really am that young!). See post #620 page 31 on this forum for a newspaper cutting and photo dated 7/10/71 which may have been the day in question. The Merchantman is certainly parked in the same place, what looks like a Court Line1-11 behind it.
Last edited by cj241101; 30th Dec 2015 at 15:54.
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Direct link to that post http://www.pprune.org/8935102-post620.html
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That HS748 in the photo four posts back crashed in 1981 killing all on board as it was on approach to East Midlands Airport. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan-Air_Flight_240
Last edited by LTNman; 31st Dec 2015 at 05:38.
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Going back to post #1107 BAe ATPs operated BHD-LTN in the 90s - I remember flying on one. They had a little sticker on the nose stating "operated by Manx" and for a time British Regional as a franchise. Again Landor BA livery, BA flight number and BA uniformed flight attendants.
I think the trip was when England did well in Euro competition- that would make it 1996.
Guess the route was killed by Easy flying LTN-BFS - certainly used them in 2003. Flew the route with Britannia even earlier as discussed here- 1991?
Not sure they ever operated a CDG - remember that being always an ATR 42.
I think the trip was when England did well in Euro competition- that would make it 1996.
Guess the route was killed by Easy flying LTN-BFS - certainly used them in 2003. Flew the route with Britannia even earlier as discussed here- 1991?
Not sure they ever operated a CDG - remember that being always an ATR 42.
Last edited by 22/04; 31st Dec 2015 at 08:33. Reason: correction/spelling
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22/04 I think that's right - I only ever remember the CDG flights being operated by an ATR42.
I well remember the first Manx BHD flight arriving into Luton. Did it stop after easyJet started flying to BFS? I thought there was a gap though may well be wrong. Wasn't there plans for Jersey (British) European to serve BHD after they started GCI/JER services but for whatever reason it never happened?
Interesting how BFS is the most served domestic today which makes me wonder if a BHD route could ever be made to work again alongside EZY to BFS?
I well remember the first Manx BHD flight arriving into Luton. Did it stop after easyJet started flying to BFS? I thought there was a gap though may well be wrong. Wasn't there plans for Jersey (British) European to serve BHD after they started GCI/JER services but for whatever reason it never happened?
Interesting how BFS is the most served domestic today which makes me wonder if a BHD route could ever be made to work again alongside EZY to BFS?
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Jersey European and Luton
My records show a Belfast-BHD service starting Nov 1993 with a 146-300. It obviously wasn't a success, quickly getting downgraded to an F27 with the last flight on 5/1/94.
Summer 1998 saw them operate daily to Jersey and Guernsey with an F27, and a 146-200 on Saturdays. The daily F27 (JER+GCI) continued through winter 98/99 and summer 1999, with the 146 again on Saturdays. Jersey only was operated winter 99/00 with a 146 on Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun, back to daily again during summer 2000 with the Dash Eight being used Mon, Wed. Fri. No Guernsey flights, though. Rebranded as British European around May 2000.
Something I had forgotten was that British Airways ATP's operated a weekly (Sat) charter from/to Jersey during summer 1997.
Summer 1998 saw them operate daily to Jersey and Guernsey with an F27, and a 146-200 on Saturdays. The daily F27 (JER+GCI) continued through winter 98/99 and summer 1999, with the 146 again on Saturdays. Jersey only was operated winter 99/00 with a 146 on Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun, back to daily again during summer 2000 with the Dash Eight being used Mon, Wed. Fri. No Guernsey flights, though. Rebranded as British European around May 2000.
Something I had forgotten was that British Airways ATP's operated a weekly (Sat) charter from/to Jersey during summer 1997.
Last edited by cj241101; 1st Jan 2016 at 19:11.