LUTON History and Nostalgia
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Courtline scheme really did look good. Never saw it in the flesh...
During the overhead footage, behind the pink Court TriStar there appeared to be either an RAF Beverley, or the french equivalent (Breguet 763 ??) on the apron. Parked sort of where a lot of the biz jets are parked past the taxiway and before the hangars. Any info ?Loved the video, the people all looked like Sid James in a sartorial sense ;-)
SHJ
SHJ
aceatco, retired
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Court Line acquired Beverley XB259/G-AOAI with the idea of flying spare engines out should one of the TriStars go AOG. Don't think it was ever used and it sat around for a couple of years. Following Court Line's demise it finally flew out to Paull Airfield on 30 Mar 1974. It was subsequently dismantled.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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It's the ex A&AEE Beverley bought by Courtline to ferry RB-211s around if needed. Now with Beverley Association at Fort Paull.
Paxing All Over The World
Fabulous video no butz. Apart from the great clothing and the cars, I liked that thte TriStar was being loaded through THREE sets of steps. Also notable is how many chairs there are - now they rely on 'paid for' chairs at eating joints. CourtLine was long gone before I moved to the area in 1984.
Last edited by PAXboy; 14th Jun 2016 at 12:23. Reason: typo
One of the customer options on the TriStar, taken up by many operators including Court Line (and BA), was to replace the rear emergency exit with a full-sized passenger boarding door to give maximum flexibility for quick turnarounds.
I don't think I ever saw all four in use at once, but it doesn't surprise me that Court Line would use three when they could get enough steps..
I don't think I ever saw all four in use at once, but it doesn't surprise me that Court Line would use three when they could get enough steps..
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That was the engine test bay seen in the photo on page 74 post 1480.http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...ml#post9395480
You missed the other one seen here that I think was used for helicopter engine testing but then I can't remember helicopter engines being made at Luton so maybe I am wrong.
You missed the other one seen here that I think was used for helicopter engine testing but then I can't remember helicopter engines being made at Luton so maybe I am wrong.
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Re the helicopter test rig believe this was for the Percival P.74 helicopter. The rotor blades were tested there using a Derwent engine mounted in a rig March to December 1955. 40 hours of test running had been completed. Source David Gearings excellent book "On The Wings Of A Gull" Percival & Hunting Aircraft.
The Tiger Moth G-AMTO by the tower was owned by Farm Aviation, Rush Green.
Indeed! IIRC and the photo seems to support it , weren't they converted to single seat configuration?
I recall that they had blue fuselages..but it was many years ago..
Indeed! IIRC and the photo seems to support it , weren't they converted to single seat configuration?
I recall that they had blue fuselages..but it was many years ago..
the Percival P.74 helicopter.Ron Gellatly ( Fairey Rotodyne etc,) was brought in to initiate the P.74 into flight test
Apparently it frightened him to death. He needed both hands (and arm muscles) on the control ( cyclic) column to attempt to stop it flailing around,leaving him little spare capacity for anything else. It just wouldn't fly.
At the end it was towed back by tractor across the airfield to the factory ,with the design team walking behind as if in a funeral cortege. As a kid I saw it in the factory and remarked upon the fact that it looked like a Prince fuselage on short legs...
Apparently it frightened him to death. He needed both hands (and arm muscles) on the control ( cyclic) column to attempt to stop it flailing around,leaving him little spare capacity for anything else. It just wouldn't fly.
At the end it was towed back by tractor across the airfield to the factory ,with the design team walking behind as if in a funeral cortege. As a kid I saw it in the factory and remarked upon the fact that it looked like a Prince fuselage on short legs...
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