LUTON History and Nostalgia

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

Monarch only had two 767-300s on order. They were diverted to startup EVA Air when Monarch decided to go with the Airbus A300-600R instead.

[cj241101]

D-BEBE

Originally Posted by Luton Anorak

D-BEBE arrived at Luton from Tel Aviv via Venice 26/3/70 where it had been on lease to Arkia since 16/11/67. The German registration was cancelled on 31/03/70 as sold abroad after a check 2 had just been carried out by Israel Aircraft Industries, and was allowed a ferry flight only as a complete overhaul was required. It departed to Blackpool for British Island Airways 23/10/70 still registered as D-BEBE (without a new permit to fly as such???)

Luton Anorak, thanks for filling in the gaps in the information. Having seen D-BEBE was still at LTN on 22/10/70, it came as a bit of a disappointment to find "another" ex-Bavaria Herald at Blackpool 4 days later was actually the same aircraft that had sat at LTN for 7 months.

[LTNman]

As far as I recollect, it was built to that size and not with a view to enlarge it.

This really is in the distant past but I remember steelwork being erected where the main body ran approximately where the airside frontage of the cargo terminal is and then at either end it was angled at 45 degree angles. This structure was never finished and was around for a good year or two and maybe more than that before it was taken down. It was quite narrow but had a large frontage. One of the wings was located where London Aviation was before that structure was itself knocked down to provide a new home for Harrods.

What I am struggling to remember was whether London Aviation was built after the steelwork was taken down or whether London Aviation's hangar was a part conversion of the angled wing.

I wish I had taken a photo of the abandoned steelwork as I have never seen a photo of it.

[hatters united]

LTNMAN,


Trying to think back in the past when I worked next door to that hangar and now you mention the steelworks. I have a feeling that there was going to be a second hangar ( never built ) but you might well be correct in that the steelwork perhaps was erected.


I am certain that the hangar was originally built for the newly formed company London Aviation Centre but now thinking back maybe the offices either side was added on a little later when L.A.C. ceased and there was a need for more offices on the airport.


As said earlier, there was a company importing Mooneys based in the hangar and I think perhaps Delta Helicopters also relocated into the hangar/Offices.

[KeMac]

Many thanks indeed to all who helped pin an approximate date down for my visit. I lived in Scotland at the time and this trip for me was like a night at the opera. If nobody minds I just wanted to show what I saw that day. My friend and I were allowed to look around a couple of hangars provided we didn’t touch anything and stayed out of the way. It was a great day, so in addition to what I mentioned in my earlier post I logged:
Comet G-APDO
Jetstream G-ATXJ
HS 125 G-AXPU
HS 125 G-AWUF
1-11 G-AXMJ
1-11 G-ATPL
1-11 G-AXMJ
1-11 G-AXMI
1-11 G-AXCK
1-11 G-AXLM
B737 G-AWSY
Britannia G-ANCH
Britannia G-AOVN
Britannia G-AOVH
Britannia G-ANBA
Britannia G-ANBF
Britannia G-AOVI
Britannia G-AOVT
Britannia 5X-UVH
Britannia G-AOVF
Britannia G-ANBO
Britannia G-ARXA
Britannia G-ANBJ
Jet Ranger G-AWUC
Cherokee G-ASFL
Cherokee G-AXRL
Aztec G-ASRE
Aztec G-AWXW
Aztec G-ATXG
Apache G-ARBN
Apache G-ASDI
Apache G-ASMO
Comanche G-APUZ
Dove G-ARUM
Dove G-AVHV
Dove G-ATGL
Dove G-ATGJ
Bell 47 G-AWRZ
Bell 47 G-ASOL
Messenger G-AJKL
DC-3 G-AMCA
Horizon G-ASJY
Cessna 172 G-ATLR
Cessna 172 G-ASZW
Cessna 150 G-ASSO
Cessna 150 G-ARZF
Cessna 150 G-ASVF
Cessna 150 G-ASUE
Cessna 150 G-ATRK
Cessna 150 G-ASTV
Cessna 310 G-ATCS
Islander G-AXWO
Tri-Pacer G-ARDT
Tri-Pacer G-APUT
Tri-Pacer G-ARCG
Fournier G-AVNY
Fournier G-AVLW
Jet Ranger G-AVTE
Piaggio 166 G-AVSM
Piaggio 166 G-APWY

[LTNman]

12 Britannia's, now that would have been a sight to behold.

[Luton Anorak]

KeMac - I think the date you were at Luton may have been 31/03/1970 (which was a Tuesday) - as most of your list ties up with this date - LN-FOL Douglas Dc-6A Fred Olsen was in that day from/to Brussels, Islander G-AXWO was parked up outside the McAlpine hangar with G-51-154 inside being painted, 5X-UVH African Safari Brit was inside the Monarch hangar on a check, G-ANBA & G-AOVF (ex British Eagle) were stored - most of the rest of your list were based at the airport.

[KeMac]

Luton Anorak - I am very grateful to you for the date. Many Thanks
Keith Mac

[Luton Anorak]

LTNman - This was taken 02/03/1988 by the late Dave Gearing - is this the additional structure you were thinking of?


19880302 - London Aviation Centre with PA-28RT I-AMCE, G-BBSV C421B & G-BNNW C210 - Dave Gearing.jpg

[LTNman]

Well done, yes that's it except it is in a straight line and I thought it was angled at the ends which clearly it is not. I though there was more of it than in this photo but I might be thinking of the plans rather than the actual build. Maybe there was a hangar planned at each end?

[cj241101]

31/3/70

Originally Posted by Luton Anorak

5X-UVH African Safari Brit was inside the Monarch hangar on a check.

KeMac thanks for submitting your list for this date. Always interesting to find out about airport movements from long ago. Didn't know the Fred Olsen was in - I didn't visit that day even though it was school holidays. Back of the Monarch hangar should have had Air Spain Brit EC-BFJ which was there the next day with EC-BFL in the front of the hangar.

[Luton Anorak]

Diversion days

Dated - 15th December 1975


19751215 - Night shot of apron with diversions - Dave Gearing Collection - [Slide 93].jpg

19751215 - North side apron full of diversions - Dave Gearing Collection - [Slide 103].jpg

19751215 - South side apron scene diversions PH-DEF Dc-8 KLM, OO-SDJ B737 Sabena and BA Trident .jpg

[treadigraph]

What's the other 737 above the wings of the KLM DC-8? Is it the Niarchos 737 VR-BEG?

[boeing_eng]

The 737 would have been VR-BEH at that time (A regular with BAL Engineering)

Great pics LTN Anorak...(more please!)...Looks like a magnificent VC10 climbing out in the second pic!

Interesting to see all the diverted Tridents...I presume the CAT IIIB capability didn't happen until after 1975?

[SpringHeeledJack]

Great pics LTN Anorak...(more please!)...Looks like a magnificent VC10 climbing out in the second pic!

Seconded! What a diverse selection of aircraft. Whose VC10 might that have been, BOAC ? EAA ?


SHJ

[Luton Anorak]

SHJ - The VC-10 was XR807 Royal Air Force on a trooping flight to Germany - this was a very busy day for diversions from Heathrow and Gatwick:
5 x Aer Lingus B737
3 x Northeast Viscounts
2 x Northeast Trident
2 x British Airways Trident 1C
3 x British Airways Trident 2E
8 x British Airways Trident 3B
2 x Cambrian BAC1-11
5 x British Midland Viscount
1 x Alitalia DC-8
1 x Alitalia DC-9
1 x SAS DC-9
1 x SABENA B737
1 x KLM DC-8-63
4 x KLM DC-9
1 x SATA Caravelle
1 x Dan-Air HS748
and an RAF Andover diverted from Northolt

[treadigraph]

Thanks boeing_eng, yes I recall now that BEG replaced BEH.


Anorak, thirded!


Continues to be a great thread!

[LTNman]

What looks like an Invicta 707 in the middle photo close to the NW corner.

[Luton Anorak]

LTNman - Yep, G-BCBA Boeing 720-023B Invicta International - it spent a lot of time at Luton - it was looked after by Airline Engineering Ltd (Monarch). Here are a few more photos of diversions -


19761229 - HB-ISP DC-9 Swissair and G-BBME BAC1-11 British Airways, Heathrow diversions - Dave G.jpg
Dated 29th December 1976


19781231 - Apron scene with diversions Lufthansa & Dan-Air - Dave Gearing - Side [15].jpg
Dated 31st December 1978

[LTNman]

Engine run up bay 1962 style. I guess that is McAlpine's hangar in the photo so the run up bay must be close to where Monarch's training school is today.

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