LUTON History and Nostalgia

[treadigraph]

GAROI was definitly not a Riley conversion

Yes, a reg that seems to have stuck in my head better than most for the last thirty five years or more! 'SUW was the one I meant and I do now recall G-BDHD with the swept fin. G-INFO does aid the little grey cells.

Airfields were all interesting then...

[DCBOE]

BDHD

G-BDHD was a BA DC10

[Groundloop]

G-BDHD was a BA DC10

Eh, no it wasn't.

GINFO Search Results

But G-BHDH was!

[LTNman]

I think these 3 aircraft were bought from BEA but where did they go when Autair sold them in 1969? I seem to remember they were used on Luton to Blackpool, Hull and Dundee routes.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by LTNman

I think these 3 aircraft were bought from BEA but where did they go when Autair sold them in 1969?

They went to La Urraca in Colombia. One crashed in May 1972, one in November 1973 and the third was broken up in 1982.

AFAIK, BEA never owned them but leased them from the Ministry of Supply for use on the Scottish Highlands & Islands routes from 1962 to 1966.

[vintage ATCO]

All three were sold to Colombia in 1970.

I use to visit rellies in Lancashire, staff rate 19/- return.

There was a famous flypast of all three in formation just before Autair sold them. Anyone got a photo?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

The only photo that I have seen of the three Heralds' farewell formation (led by Capt Jimmy Gross) is on page 68 of 'Colours in the Sky' (pub 1997).

[LTNman]

Poor quality sorry to say

[Level bust]

The 3 Heralds were re-sprayed and re-registered at East Midlands, my Dad worked for BMA in 1970 and 71 and they were 3 of many exotic a/c that Fields used to get there. I may have a picture of them somewhere in the loft, I'll see if I can find it!

[cj241101]

Autair Heralds

One day in November 1970, listening to Luton Tower (120.2 back then) on my airband radio, I heard an aircraft flying circuits with the callsign Hotel Kilo 718. I think the pilot was English so it didn't occur to me it might be something interesting - probably just a flight number. It was after school and getting dark so I didn't venture up to the airport to investigate. Subsequently discovered of course it was G-APWB having been re-registered in Columbia as HK-718, flying in (so I was told at the time) full La Urraca colours.

This is G-APWC taken at the airport open day on 1/11/69, just after Autair withdrew from the scheduled service market. Hangar 89 is still under construction behind.

[Wageslave]

HP Heralds "exotic"!

Strewth, your dad must have had a slow old job.

[Airbanda]

They went to La Urraca in Colombia. One crashed in May 1972, one in November 1973 and the third was broken up in 1982.

The one that survived until 1982 was G APWA. Was on my evening vigil as a spotter at LBA on 11/08/1976 watching the usual Air Anglia etc stuff when 'PWA dropped onto runway 15. First thought seeing it on approach was that it'd be a BMA example filing in for a sick AQ F-27

UK registration but in basic colours of Sadia do Brasil.

Refuelling stop on delivery to BAF,

[Level bust]

Not sure it would have been GAPWA as The 3 that went to Colombia were GAPWB, C and D, which were the three operating up until Autair ceased schedule services.

[Airbanda]

Level Bust - you're quite right. Although 'PWA was operated by Autair it wasn't one of their machines - HP's demonstrator. Probably leased pending delivery of 'PWB/C/D.

It was though the last survivor of the series 100 Heralds and wasderelict at Sothend by 1982/3 but (I think) subsequently restored and now displayed a t Woodley in BEA colours.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Airbanda

It was though the last survivor of the series 100 Heralds and was derelict at Southend by 1982/3 but (I think) subsequently restored and now displayed at Woodley in BEA colours.

Indeed it is.

[LTNman]

According to my Herald book Autair also leased G-ASKK from August to December 1963 while G-APWA saw service from April to August also in 1963.

One of the Heralds in the hangar at Luton in Au Urraca colours before its departure to Colombia

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

G-APWA and G-ASKK were both leased pending the arrival and introduction of Autair's Ambassadors in 1963. Autair's Ambassadors came from Globe Air who were part-exchanging them with Handley Page for Heralds. However delivery of the Heralds to Globe Air was delayed by manufacturing problems and thus the release of the Ambassadors from Globe Air was also delayed. Hence the lease of the Heralds to Autair as a stop gap.

G-APWB/C/D were purchased by Autair in 1966. Incidentally I spent several very happy hours joy-riding in the cockpits of these three aircraft on training details - ferrying AOG spares etc - before their introduction to passenger services with Autair. Happy Days!

[ZeBedie]

HP Heralds "exotic"!

Strewth, your dad must have had a slow old job.

His point that Fields, in the 70s had all sorts of exotic visitors is very valid.

[Level bust]

Indeed I did, Cameroun DC3 and a Zaire DC4 to name just 2. Compared to todays a/c that all look the same I would call the Herald exotic now! Lovely a/c to fly in, big windows and a clear view with no wing in the way.

[HZ123]

This is one of the best threads and I thank all the contributors. In my 42 plus years in aviation only went to LTN a handful of times but do recall Court Line and Britannia. I flew on a BIA Herald to GCI one January after a snowfall and was able to observe the clearance of same from above the wings and fuselage.

A chap climbed on top of the a/c with a large broom and swept it clear, wonderful days!