LUTON History and Nostalgia

[LTNman]

You can download the report from here https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/13-1...f-21-june-1974 The report also stated that the aircraft took out the ILS localiser aerial which was located 168m (550ft) from the end of the runway.

[wallp]

Originally Posted by LTNman

You can download the report from here https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/13-1...f-21-june-1974 The report also stated that the aircraft took out the ILS localiser aerial which was located 168m (550ft) from the end of the runway.

What a fascinating read, the accident report makes. I recall seeing numerous 727's take off successfully from Luton - this one certainly seems lucky to have survived.

[LTNman]

Yes indeed, I have just read the report fully again which states that approach lights 305 metres (1000ft) from the end of the runway were also damaged. The approach lights to 08 were not the full standard length due to falling ground so I would think the aircraft took out part of the first row before descending into the valley.

The report stated that the take off distance available (TODA) was approximately 178ft below the end of the runway.

[compton3bravo]

Not surprisingly, the captain did not fly any more for Dan-Air.

[Rob Courtney]

Boeing 727's always seemed in my eyes to need more of Luton's runway to get airborne. In fact it was a Dan-Air 727 that took out some of Luton's approach lights and ILS. I seem to remember when reading the accident report that the aircraft then dropped into the valley before climbing away to head for Gatwick for a emergency landing.

Didnt a DHL flight have the same issue, if I remember correctly they loaded the containers in the wrong order making the aircraft nose heavy and the only reason it got airborne was because it dropped into the valley.

[no butz]

These photos show the 727 damage. Firstly the lights at the end of the pavement, the wooden fence and then the localiser. The ground drops away sharply thereafter.

[LTNman]

I have never seen those photos before. The pavement in the first photo was the end of the stopway and not the runway, the smashed light was 200ft from the end of the runway and was only 1ft above the ground.

[vintage ATCO]

I was in the approach room that morning, just finishing a night duty, when all the localiser alarms went off! The crew wouldn't have it at first that they had hit anything. The rolling of the aircraft was due to the damage to the undercarriage doors which stopped when they dropped the gear. I thought they lowered the gear quite early on but the report doesn't seem to say this.

We handed over to the oncoming watch and slid off home to bed!!

[Spiney Norman]

I was a member of the oncoming watch and went out in the Land Rover with another ATCO, (FB). In the remains of the LLZ we found and recovered the 'tail bumper' of the 727! I think we actually tried to lift it and put it in the Landie but no suprises that we couldn't lift it and it wouldn't fit. We recieved a report later, (whether true or not I'm not sure) that parts of the LLZ structure were still embedded in the aft fuselage and some had penetrated the pressure hull.

Just a note. I haven't read the AIB report since it was originally published in case my memory is faulty here.

[Spiney Norman]

Just to add....As I walked in through the door of the VCR all the night tower staff were staring towards the climb out and the remarks being made were of the nature best described as 'expletive deleted'. For a second or two I couldn't see anything then, trailing a dirty exhaust trail, the 727 appeared from behind the MacAlpine hangar slowly climbing away!

[LTNman]

With the airport's departure lounge marque in the background an interesting day for the airport but what year was the photo taken?


Probably from the Dave Gearing collection

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

A click on the photo shows 19751215 Diversions. No Court Line Aircraft or Court Line ground equipment visible.

[22/04]

Was OY-APU the previous G-BBZG of Monarch? CAA show de-reg date as 5.12.75 so that is additional evidence

[PAXboy]

What type is the KLM?

[cj241101]

Originally Posted by OUAQUKGF Ops

A click on the photo shows 19751215 Diversions. No Court Line Aircraft or Court Line ground equipment visible.

15/12/75 is correct. From memory, the quoted number of diversions for the day was 47, beating the previous highest which I believe was 34 on 4/1/69. A few bizjets and other GA aircraft were probably included in this figure. I have a list of most of them if anyone is interested. I believe Heathrow was fogbound all day, with LTN staying 7-10km, which didn't happen too often. I suspect the photo was taken in the morning as the KLM DC-8-63 wasn't there when I visited early afternoon. The Germanair 1-11 was a regular on Mondays and Fridays.

Yes, G-BBZG became OY-APU with Maersk Air.

[LTNman]

Pointing nose out is a BEA Trident. I thought they had autoland abilities.

[PAXboy]

Thanks, I was confused by the KLM type, as the angle of the picture hides the #3 engine neatly behind the #4.

[22/04]

I assume what is now mid-term was car park then. But look how empty it is? This is when the loss of Court Line and the highly seasonal nature of traffic meant the airport would I guess be not very in busy in the winter. What is the 732 in front of hangar 89?

[cj241101]

Originally Posted by LTNman

With the airport's departure lounge marque in the background an interesting day for the airport but what year was the photo taken?

I seem to remember the marquee's days were numbered, with a more permanent extension to the departure lounge replacing it early in 1976.

[cj241101]

Originally Posted by 22/04

I assume what is now mid-term was car park then. But look how empty it is? This is when the loss of Court Line and the highly seasonal nature of traffic meant the airport would I guess be very in busy in the winter. What is the 732 in front of hangar 89?

VR-BEH the Niarchos exec one which was maintained by Britannia. Replaced by VR-BEG in 1980.