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LUTON History and Nostalgia

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LUTON History and Nostalgia

Old 2nd Dec 2015, 18:34
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Couple of great photos there so thanks.

Percival House looked in better condition than in this photo taken from the other side just before it was knocked down to make way for what became Gulfstream's new hangar after Signature vacated it.

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Old 2nd Dec 2015, 18:44
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Me preflighting, instructor is Dave Duffy who was a Britannia engineer at the time, going for his commercial licences. I don't know if he made it.
Dave became a Captain on the Shorts Belfast with Heavylift. A great bloke to fly and socialise with.....

DH
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Old 2nd Dec 2015, 19:36
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That's great to know, thanks!
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Old 3rd Dec 2015, 01:35
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G-BKUY & Manx SH360

G-BKUY with the Air Foyle Executive sticker, photo taken 14/5/95. This aircraft was originally registered to McAlpine Aviation on 6/9/83 who used it on the Euroflite scheduled service to Brussels.

I remember this one well, it was a regular, but I never noted the Foyle sticker, I always assumed it was something to do with BAe at Hatfield - what did they use it for, crew positioning?

On a different note, when did Manx operate the 360? My earliest memories are of G-ISLE at lunchtime.
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Old 3rd Dec 2015, 08:02
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Originally Posted by YVRLTN
G-BKUY with the Air Foyle Executive sticker, photo taken 14/5/95. This aircraft was originally registered to McAlpine Aviation on 6/9/83 who used it on the Euroflite scheduled service to Brussels.

I remember this one well, it was a regular, but I never noted the Foyle sticker, I always assumed it was something to do with BAe at Hatfield - what did they use it for, crew positioning?
Not sure what crew(s) you can mean.
We had a Jockstream as an inter-factory shuttle aeroplane between Hatfield and Woodford but it wouldn't have needed to use Luton. We did sometimes use Luton as a Customs Airport at weekends when Hatfield had no coverage, but that was occasional, not regular use.
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Old 3rd Dec 2015, 09:38
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I did my first solo on G-ATRU, and flew G-ATHR lots. I did some lessons with Dave Duffy, and I would love top know where he is now. The Heavylft Belfast, has been sitting in Cairns, for a long while now.

G-OBAL was bought as a replacement for G-ATRU after it got bent. But lessons weren't a practical proposition on it.

EGGW.
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Old 3rd Dec 2015, 09:39
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If I remember correctly Air Foyle were going to use the Jetstream for charter work. They did do a few proving/training flights, because a few of us from ATC went along for the ride. One was in Aug 1994, and went Luton - Bristol - Exeter - Southampton - Luton. The second one we went on was in Nov 1994 and went Luton - Bournemouth - Luton - Leeds - Luton. I can't remember which one it was but on one of the flights the Captain was an ex BA Concorde captain being trained on the Jetstream. I don't think the proposed work got off the ground though. (Excuse the pun)

As far as GBKUY being used by McAlpine, it was also used for charter work, and was used once on the Mail on Sunday run to Manchester in October 1985, which I was fortunate to be on!
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Old 3rd Dec 2015, 16:18
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Tunnel

"Just for you seeing that you will have a love of mud is a photo I took by the Ibis of the new approach road as it heads for the under construction tunnel. Taken in I guess 1998."


Anorak log says tunnel opened on 8/3/96, with the rerouted approach road on 18/9/95. Evidenced by the photo below taken on 8/6/96 during the Euro96 football.



HB-IUH 8/6/96


or this one on 28/4/96



SE-DPM 28/4/96

Last edited by cj241101; 7th Dec 2015 at 20:01. Reason: correct registration for SE-DPM
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Old 3rd Dec 2015, 22:13
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Manx

"when did Manx operate the 360? My earliest memories are of G-ISLE at lunchtime"

My earliest records of regular Manx flights go back to 1984 when they were operating night mail flights with the SD3-60. According to Air Britain's "Airlines of the British Isles since 1919" the passenger schedules did not start until 1990, although I believe they actually started in June 1988 using the SD3-60. I first recorded their ATP's in March 1989 and the 146 in April 1990. Weekday flight numbers were JE881/2 and operated late morning, although I seem to recall the weekend flights were later in the day (JE883/4 Sat and JE885/6 Sun from memory).


G-OATP 2/9/89
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 13:53
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Re IOM: cj241101 You are correct. Weekdays were aimed at biz timings but the weekend flights were fitted around (in so far as I could learn) crew rosters. There was a limited service at the w'ends and it was down to how many sectors they could get one crew to do, just work your way around until time is up! (more or less). If I got the Friday evening out to see mother on Fraggle Rock I paid a lot of money. Then I had to get the Sunday back but that left around midday, so you did not get as much time for your money.
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 10:13
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Weren't the first Manx passenger flights operated by a Viscount? I may be wrong but I seem to recall seem to recall their Viscount at Luton in the mid to late 80's.

A much missed route
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 12:10
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Manx obtained first its viscount from BMA and so took over the BMA LHR-IOM twice daily operation inherited from BA (1980?ish)

I do not know if they operated the Viscount to LTN?
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Old 6th Dec 2015, 12:57
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Roland Carr
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Old 6th Dec 2015, 21:12
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interesting photo

Obviously 1973 or 1974. Court Lines HS125 G-AVRG in front of a Gulfstream 2 that MIGHT be N1624 of Texaco although I'm not sure the colour scheme is correct (seems to end in "24"). Presumably the Aer Turas DC-4 EI-ARS nose out on stand 9 with an unidentifiable Viscount between the 2 Monarchs. I stand to be corrected of course!
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Old 6th Dec 2015, 21:59
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G-OTUI was indeed owned privately by the then top man at the time. He then went on to get a Twinstar for the regular trips to Hannover.

Dave Duffy was a top guy...He worked on the Belslow in the RAF so always had a soft spot for them....
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Old 7th Dec 2015, 09:08
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SE-DPX L1011 looks more like G-CEAP to me (currently rotting at STN).
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Old 7th Dec 2015, 15:03
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SE-DPX??

OpsSix you are correct ! (well, almost). My anorak records show SE-DPM (clear enough if you zoom in on the nose gear doors), so where I got SE-DPX from, which never flew in these colours, I've no idea. SE-DPM became G-CEAP the following month then G-IOIT.


SE-DPM 30/5/94, 3 days after cancellation from the UK (G-BEAL). Still of course wearing basic Caledonian colours.

Last edited by cj241101; 7th Dec 2015 at 19:55.
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Old 7th Dec 2015, 15:56
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It's a shame to see it in its current state.

Is the Britannia fuselage still at LTN? I remember climbing inside when I was on work experience many moons ago.
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Old 7th Dec 2015, 19:58
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G-AOVS fuselage

Still present in May this year. Good view from the footpath that goes from the country park to the east end of the runway.
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Old 8th Dec 2015, 14:08
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A photo was put on here a few weeks ago of the hulk. http://www.pprune.org/9139235-post1007.html
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