Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia

[Sotonsean]

EDIT.....since starting this thread the title has been changed from "Scandinavian Invasion" to something that better reflects the various topics and discussions. The new title to this thread is now named "Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia".

I appreciate everyone's contributions.

​​​I thought that I would start a thread regarding the Scandinavian Invasion that occurred on Sundays at London Stansted Airport during the late 1970's and 1980's long before the low cost airlines and the new terminal that opened in 1991.

During that period London Stansted Airport was more of a ghost airport except for a few seasonal charters by the likes of Air Malta, Austrian Airlines, Aviogenex, Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, JAT Yugoslav Airlines, Transeuropa, a few scheduled flights from Jersey European Airways and Air UK. There was also the summer only weekly Viscount service from British Midland Airways to Jersey.

London Stansted during the mid eighties also saw for a limited time the Highland Express B747 to Newark via Prestwick. Wardair operated a weekly B747 to Toronto plus the Caribbean Airways (Lionair) B747 charter to Barbados and the occasional American Trans Air TriStar. Towards the end of the eighties STN also saw regular visits from the Canadian airlines Air Transat with their B757's and Tristars and Crown Air DC8-52's. There was a short lived scheduled flight by Aer Lingus to Dublin with B737. Air France flew to Paris CDG with a SAAB 340 along with KLM to Amsterdam with a F27.

The maintenance areas always had something of interest with regular visitors such as Air Guinea B707/ B727, Air Liberia B737, Air Mali B727, Somalia Airways B707, TAAG Angola Airlines B707, ZAS "Airline of Egypt" B707 and many more.

TransMeridian CL-44's, DC8's, Shorts Belfasts, IAS Cargo Airlines DC8's. TransMeridian Cargo merged with IAS Cargo Airlines in 1979 to form the short lived British Cargo Airlines. Other cargo movements by U.A.S. Cargo B707, Uganda Airlines B707 and Hercules, the odd Flying Tiger Airlines DC8.

There was of course the dedicated Ford flights with their BAC1-11's and Gulfstream 1's and aircraft on crew training flights from various airlines but on the whole there wasn't many movements especially compared to today.

But the real highlight of the week was on a Sunday when London Stansted Airport saw many movements from various Scandinavian airlines that we're otherwise not seen in the United Kingdom. The only time you would probably see those airlines would be in their respective countries or in European sun destinations and in particular Greek or Spanish resort airport's.

On a Sunday at London Stansted during the late 1970's upto the late 1980's you could see regular and multiple movements by the following airlines although some eventually moved to London Gatwick Airport as in the case with Finnair and Kar Air Finland. Sterling Airlines briefly moved to Luton Airport but eventually moved back to London Stansted Airport. Scanair was sold off by SAS and became Premair.

Braathens SAFE...B737, B767
Busy Bee...B737
Conair...B720, A300, A320
Finnair...DC8, DC9
Kar Air Finland...DC8
Linjeflyg...F28
Mearsk...B720, B737
​​​​​​Premair...A300, DC10
SAS Scandinavian Airlines...DC8, DC9, D10
Scanair...A300, DC8, DC10
​​​​​​Sterling Airlines...B727, DC8, Caravelle
Transair Sweden...B727
Transwede Airways...B737, Caravelle

I'm sure that there are many members on here who can remember the Scandinavian Invasion at London Stansted Airport during that period.

I would be interested to read about other people's memories from that period as well as sharing photos.

The Luton Nostalgia thread over the years has always been a fairly active thread with some great posts and some excellent photos. Let's see if we can do justice to the past history at London Stansted Airport.

I look forward to reading your comments

Sean

​​​

[Musket90]

Here's a few.

MAOF ...B720 ...Tel-Aviv
Intercontinental...DC8-50... Lagos (the airline that struck the tail of a parked Flying Tigers DC8 in the cargo apron during a go around due fog)
AEI...CL44... JFK (cargo)
Fedex...Started with B727-100...Memphis via Goose Bay or Gander
Air UK...Bandeirante...Paris CDG
Algerian...Hercules (cargo)
Tradewinds... B707 (cargo)

Instone...Bristol 170

[GAXLN]

Originally Posted by Sotonsean

I thought that I would start a thread regarding the Scandinavian Invasion that occurred on Sundays at London Stansted Airport during the late 1970's and 1980's long before the low cost airlines and the new terminal that opened in 1991.

During that period London Stansted Airport was more of a ghost airport except for a few seasonal charters by the likes of Air Malta, Austrian Airlines, Aviogenex, Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, JAT Yugoslav Airlines, a few scheduled flights from Jersey European Airways and Air UK. There was also the summer only weekly Viscount service from British Midland Airways to Jersey plus during the mid eighties for limited time the Highland Express B747 to Newark via Prestwick. Wardair operated a weekly B747 to Toronto plus the Caribbean Airways (Lionair) B747 charter to Barbados and the occasional American Trans Air TriStar.

The maintenance areas always had something of interest with regular visitors such as an Air Mali B727, Air Guinea B707, Somalia Airways B707, TAAG Angola Airlines B707 and many more plus the TransMeridian CL-44's and Shorts Belfasts.

There was of course the dedicated Ford flights with their BAC1-11's and Gulfstream 1's and aircraft on crew training flights from various airlines but on the whole there wasn't many movements especially compared to today.

But the real highlight of the week was on a Sunday when London Stansted Airport saw many movements from various Scandinavian airlines that we're otherwise not seen in the United Kingdom.

I look forward to reading your comments

Sean

​​​

At the risk of slight thread drift, one date which saw a depleted operation from Stansted was Sunday, January 21st. 1979. The whole of the south was covered in fog but Cardiff remained pretty fog free as, I believe, did Bournemouth. Cardiff’s day started early with the diversion from Gatwick of GK64 a Laker Airways DC-10 and, as well as a rugby airlift back from Scotland, the airport handled over twenty diversions. A mid-afternoon appearance was made by three Sterling Airways Caravelles diverting in quick succession from Stansted. Where Stansted’s other flights that day ended up I have no idea, but for Cardiff it was an amazing day still etched in my memory with a good selection of aircraft. Somewhere at home I still have my log of the movements that took place and some pictures too of a pretty unusual day for Cardiff. Apologies for the thread drift, let’s return to Stansted!

[TCU]

I grew up in the village of Stansted Mountfitchet and spent many, many happy hours spotting at Stansted airport during this period.

Normal hang out spots were the old terminal, the grass area to its immediate left (where Stansted Aviation Society eventually had a temporary building) or cycling around various in airport or perimeter vantage spots (low or no fences in those days). Kindly ATEL folk would let you peek into hangar 4 if you were well behaved.

The Scandi invasion was largely two pronged, with an early morning fleet and then a repeat in the late afternoon/evening. The Sterling flights were normally the last to arrive and depart, normally after dark (season varying of course)

I seem to recall Busy Bee also operated occasional F27's. Nor-Fly and Fred Olsen would also pitch in with ancient Convair 340/440's.

Other regulars were the CAA/CAFU HS748 pair of G-ATMI and G-ATMJ and Eric Thustons PA-23 G-ASMY, training aspiring pilots. I took my first ever flight on G-ATMJ in 1977 as part of a programme organised by the CAA for Essex school children.....imagine that today?

The ATEL Hangar 4 would, as noted by the OP, attract amazing exotica from around the world, mostly in the form of 707's and DC-8's but occasionally other types, including the Turkish Air Force Viscounts, Britannias, CL-44's and Hercs

A few memories from that era. All the below circa 1983

[Alsacienne]

Lovely to share these memories .... can't provide images but enjoyed the Skyvans and Fokker F27s! Plus the joys of a good walk from home to the airport for a strong mug of tea in the portakabin. Also wonderful moments driving over the end of the runway (when the lights were green!).

[Sotonsean]

TCU

Many thanks for your contribution to the topic plus your excellent set of photos from that period. I have a few photos hidden away somewhere but there are many photos on Flickr showing the Scandinavian visitors plus the variety of visitors to the ATEL maintenance facility.

I remember getting my father to drive me and a few buddies all the way from Southampton to Stansted one Sunday morning in 1980 and when we arrived we were surprised to see a few diversions from London Gatwick which was fog bound. They included a Braniff International Boeing 747 N601BN "the original Big Orange", a Wardair Boeing 747, British Airways B747. It was quite a shock to see three Boeing 747's on the ground together at the same time at Stansted back then. With the only other movement by a Braathens SAFE Boeing 737 my father got bored so we persuaded him to drive us to Luton to do some biz spotting. There wasn't much going on there either so off we went to Heathrow where there was obviously much more to see and my father was much happier.

My father is 83yo now and only the other week he said to me, "do you , remember when you made me drive you and your friends all the way to Stansted all those years ago, I wasn't expecting to do an all dayer dragging you around the airport's". And that was before the M25 was fully completed, it must have been hell for him.

But looking back at it now I'm so thankful that he did and I rightly told him so. I jokingly said "well that's what dad's are for, are you expecting the petrol money now" 😂

[HZ123]

I was a PC in the British Airports Constabulary at STN from 72-75, living at the Chequers Ugly. I recall the Saturn Airways stretch DC8 and the Indian Air force Connies. I recall TMAC refurbishing a CL44 which had sat on its belly for a number of years closeby the TMAC Hangar. additionally the Carvairs, the Ford fleet a number of the crews drunk in the Chequers and the BAA Ops Manager was a guy called Frank Quick who had been a fighter pilot in WW11, he used have a Cessna 150 and would fly to LGW to pick up a twin to do lighting check at LGW and LHR. I accompanied him a couple of times and I recall landing back in the dark as it was practice to switch off the runway lights, saving monies and he new it like the back of his hand.

My first introduction was to go there for a couple of days to guard Donaldson's 707 that was in ELAL livery, the former having gone broke. Nothing changes in UK aviation.

Some of you may also remember the armed robbery at the terminal Nat West Bank, originally blamed on the IRA, then turning out to be a BAA Duty Officer and an Airport fireman. Such happy memories of the airport and its surrounds

[Musket90]

DC8's at Stansted during this period

[Sotonsean]

Musket90

Many thanks for your contribution with those excellent photos of DC8's at London Stansted during that period, it's much appreciated.

London Stansted definitely saw some rare aircraft during the 1970/80's.

Do you have any more to add, maybe a selection of B707's.

I might have to change the title to "Stansted, History and Nostalgia", similar to the Luton equivalent which has lots of information and photos from a bygone era

I look forward to many more contributions.

[TCU]

Musket 90. Wonderful pics. Up until the late 70's, possibly early 80's that area in front of hangar 4 and back westerly to the GA park was ridiculously accessible, with nothing more than a 4ft picket fence between self and the heavy metal

Living in Stansted village, one could often hear the engine runs into the baffles, shown in the Aerocaribbean DC8 picture, late at night....I always loved them but I guess the folk in Burton End might have been less impressed

[rog747]

Cough Ahem - STN early 1970's we must add Lloyd International 707's plus BMA 707's too, both regulars based out of STN, along with the USA Affinity charters of Saturn AFA ONA Universal with their DC-8's
Of course we must not forget the based airline Channel AW with their Trident OneE's and BAC 1-11's followed with the fleet of tired ex Olympic and BEA Comet 4B's that struggled to keep revenues afloat until the demise.

https://www.bishopsstortfordindepend...tures-9056709/

[GAZIN]

Some Scandi Boeings.

[GAZIN]

A Scandinavian freighter.

[Sotonsean]

Originally Posted by rog747

Cough Ahem - STN early 1970's we must add Lloyd International 707's plus BMA 707's too, both regulars based out of STN, along with the USA Affinity charters of Saturn AFA ONA Universal with their DC-8's
Of course we must not forget the based airline Channel AW with their Trident OneE's and BAC 1-11's followed with the fleet of tired ex Olympic and BEA Comet 4B's that struggled to keep revenues afloat until the demise.

https://www.bishopsstortfordindepend...tures-9056709/

Rog

Although I initially opened this thread about London Stansted Airport during the mid 1970's to the late 1980's and in particular the Scandinavian Invasion on the Sunday I purposely omitted any aircraft or airline's prior to that including those that you have listed which I'm personally aware of.

Due to the fact that London Stansted Airport has a great history in regards to the variety of aircraft seen at the airport prior to the mid 1970's I think that this thread should actually be called London Stansted Airport, History and Nostalgia similar to the popular Luton thread as their is so much to cover.

I appreciate your contribution to this thread and with your expertise and knowledge of the aviation industry from that era I thoroughly welcome your input.

As you have mentioned London Stansted Airport saw many affinity charters from several US carriers during that period plus those from British Midland Airways with their B707's.

Lloyd International of course which were based at the airport with their fleet of Britannias and B707's. Donaldson International Airways Britannia's and B707's. It was Donaldson International Airways who famously flew the first Ugandan refugees into London Stansted Airport from Entebbe after the dictator Idi Amin expelled them from the country after his coup, there is footage of the event on YouTube.

Other than the US airline's that you have already mentioned such as,

AFA American Flyers...DC8
ONA Overseas National Airlines...DC8
Saturn Airways...DC8
Universal Airways...DC8

London Stansted Airport during that period also saw other US airlines on affinity charters such as,

Capitol Airways...DC8
Trans International Airlines...DC8
World Airways...B707/DC8

London Stansted Airport first came to my attention as a 7yo when my grandfather gave me his flight ticket which I used to collect and it was a World Airways flight from New York JFK to London Stansted Airport on a DC8-63 in 1972. I still have it as part of my collection and I can remember asking my grandfather at the time "where is Stansted" never having heard of the airport prior to that.

Regarding American Flyers Airline AFA, their Boeing 727-100's made history by being the first airframe of the type to operate transatlantic flights from mainland USA to London Gatwick and Manchester and also to Frankfurt obviously with a couple of fuel stops.

Saturn Airways absorbed the assets of the defunct Universal Airlines in May 1972.

Saturn Airways was absorbed by Trans International Airlines TIA in December 1976 making Trans International Airlines the largest cargo and affinity charter airline in the world at the time.

Channel Airways although having a base at Southend Airport also used London Stansted Airport as a base for their Trident 1E's which weren't fully capableof using the runway at Southend on IT charters although they had initially used the airport with their Tridents. Although Channel Airways purchased five former BEA DHC-COMET 4's the "clapped out" DHC-Comet 4's purchased from Olympic Airways I believe were never flown by the airline but used for spares instead for the rest of the Comet fleet. A further example was also purchased from the Mexican airline Mexicana for spares. Neither the former BEA or Olympic Airways aircraft wore the full ChannelAirways livery just the airline's titles and and cheat line's from their former operators.

Channel Airways had initially purchased the Comets in 1970 for flying operations on behalf of Lyons Holidays along with winning a very lucrative travel contract by a consortium of three West German tour operators to fly from Berlin Templehof Airport to the Mediterranean.

In January 1971, Channel Airway received UK, US and Canadian permission to operate transatlantic affinity charters. A pair of Boeing 7O7's were to be purchased to commence North Atlantic operations to the USA and Canada later that year which didn't materialise.

Channel Airways failure to enter the transatlantic affinity charter market was followed by an unsuccessful attempt to establish itself as the UK's third scheduled domestic trunk airline in addition to BEA and British Caledonian Airways. Partial approval of an application to the UK Air Licensing Board (ATLB) in early 1971 to fly from London Stansted to Belfast Glasgow Newcastle resulted in the ATLB to provisionally license Channel Airways to fly between London Stansted and Glasgow from May 1972 which was ultimately reversed due to pressure from the state owned BEA.

The airline was successful but soon sold their pair of Tridents to BEA and in return purchased two former American Airlines BAC1-11-400's to add to their existing fleet of 1-11's for IT work. Soon after Channel Airways lost their lucrative Berlin contract to Dan Air and with costs rising the airline found itself in financial difficulties and with no potential buyers and with work drying up for their fleet permanent cessation of operations was followed by the withdrawal of the airline's AOC at the end of March 1973 and the airline ceased trading.

A sad end to what was at the time a very pioneering airline, very similar to the demise of British Eagle Airways which went into liquidation in 1968.

[Sotonsean]

GAZIN

Great photos especially the one with four Conair Boeing 720's on the ground at the same time at Stansted, excellent catch.

I can't quite make out the tail of the other aircraft in that photo, it appears to be a DC9.

​​Maybe an Austrian Airlines!

Do you know what airline it belongs to?

[GAZIN]

I have fond memories of growing up next to Stansted Airport in the 1970’s. There was a lot of crew training, I particularly remember the Lloyd Britannia’s, Invicta Vanguard’s, QANTAS 707’s, CAAFU Doves and 748’s, Thurston’s Apache, as seen above in TCU’s post and the magnificent CL44’s of TMAC. The road from Takeley ended a few feet from the taxiway, from there you could watch all of the above at close quarters, plus Channel Airways Comets, Saturn C130’s and other good stuff.



Canadair CL44 G-AZIN at STN.

[TCU]

GAZIN, those old country lanes around Burton End, Takeley, the Bury Lodge, Tye Green, Coopers End were rich with the sights and sounds of the old STN, where pistons, jets and turbofans could be heard in the same day.

Up until the late 70's "the dump" where many an aircraft ended its days was just the other side of a wire mesh fence in the Coopers End area. Many of those lanes were disrupted by the subsequent airport development

One could happily sit near the threshold of what was RW23 and watch the arrivals, near where the old African Safari "zebra" DC8 ended its days

A few ATEL 707/720 regulars that have flashed into my mind were AeroAmerica and Montana

Anyone remember the Young Air Cargo Britannia that sat next to Hangar 4 for years before meeting its end in "the dump"?

One other splendid memory was the rotating airport locator beacon that would flash across the adjacent Essex countryside deep in the night. It was located just behind the tree line shown in the pictures of the Emery DC8 and N2CC. I don't think at the time I quite realised what a transitional period this was for air transport and that before we knew it the fences were high, policeman would move you on and there was no where to park for free!

[GAZIN]

Originally Posted by Sotonsean

GAZIN

Great photos especially the one with four Conair Boeing 720's on the ground at the same time at Stansted, excellent catch.

I can't quite make out the tail of the other aircraft in that photo, it appears to be a DC9.

​​Maybe an Austrian Airlines!

Do you know what airline it belongs to?

I am not sure about the red fin, I had thought that it might have been a Sterling 727, but it does look DC-9’ish. On the same day I photographed 2 more Conair 720’s a Finair DC-9 and a Busy Bee 737. They were all football fan charters.

[Sotonsean]

Originally Posted by GAZIN

I am not sure about the red fin, I had thought that it might have been a Sterling 727, but it does look DC-9’ish. On the same day I photographed 2 more Conair 720’s a Finair DC-9 and a Busy Bee 737. They were all football fan charters.

The tail in question definitely looks like it belongs to a DC9 rather than a B727. Although from the photo it can be difficult to confirm one way or another.

Sterling Airlines received their first Boeing 727-2J4ADV on October 01 1973 having ordered three examples directly from Boeing in 1971. At the time their fleet consisted of of 22 Caravelle 10's and 7 larger 131 passenger Caravelle 12's.

Sterling Airlines also put in an order for two Airbus A300B aircraft in 1971 that were never taken up by the airline.

I have enlarged the photo as much as possible and although it's not clear enough to exactly identify the airline it does look as if it could be an Austrian Airlines DC9 going by the tail of the aircraft. Austrian Airlines made frequent visits to London Stansted at the time on IT charters. But having a closer look, the markings on the tail could well be that of Sterling Airlines which would make it being a B727.

But nonetheless it's a cracker of a photo to have four Conair Boeing Boeing 720's on the ground at the same time at London Stansted.

If you have any other photos to upload to the thread that are similar to this showing aircraft from that period at London Stansted it would be much appreciated.

There are loads of excellent photos on Flickr of aircraft taken at London Stansted during the 1970/80's but obviously due to copyright I can't upload them here on pprune.

Many thanks for your contribution to the London Stansted Airport, History and Nostalgia thread.

Sean

[rog747]

Originally Posted by Sotonsean

Rog

Although I initially opened this thread about London Stansted Airport during the mid 1970's to the late 1980's and in particular the Scandinavian Invasion on the Sunday I purposely omitted any aircraft or airline's prior to that including those that you have listed which I'm personally aware of.

Due to the fact that London Stansted Airport has a great history in regards to the variety of aircraft seen at the airport prior to the mid 1970's I think that this thread should actually be called London Stansted Airport, History and Nostalgia similar to the popular Luton thread as their is so much to cover.

I appreciate your contribution to this thread and with your expertise and knowledge of the aviation industry from that era I thoroughly welcome your input.

As you have mentioned London Stansted Airport saw many affinity charters from several US carriers during that period plus those from British Midland Airways with their B707's.

Lloyd International of course which were based at the airport with their fleet of Britannias and B707's. Donaldson International Airways Britannia's and B707's. It was Donaldson International Airways who famously flew the first Ugandan refugees into London Stansted Airport from Entebbe after the dictator Idi Amin expelled them from the country after his coup, there is footage of the event on YouTube.

Other than the US airline's that you have already mentioned such as,

AFA American Flyers...DC8
ONA Overseas National Airlines...DC8
Saturn Airways...DC8
Universal Airways...DC8

London Stansted Airport during that period also saw other US airlines on affinity charters such as,

Capitol Airways...DC8
Trans International Airlines...DC8
World Airways...B707/DC8

London Stansted Airport first came to my attention as a 7yo when my grandfather gave me his flight ticket which I used to collect and it was a World Airways flight from New York JFK to London Stansted Airport on a DC8-63 in 1972. I still have it as part of my collection and I can remember asking my grandfather at the time "where is Stansted" never having heard of the airport prior to that.

Regarding American Flyers Airline AFA, their Boeing 727-100's made history by being the first airframe of the type to operate transatlantic flights from mainland USA to London Gatwick and Manchester and also to Frankfurt obviously with a couple of fuel stops.

Saturn Airways absorbed the assets of the defunct Universal Airlines in May 1972.

Saturn Airways was absorbed by Trans International Airlines TIA in December 1976 making Trans International Airlines the largest cargo and affinity charter airline in the world at the time.

Channel Airways although having a base at Southend Airport also used London Stansted Airport as a base for their Trident 1E's which weren't fully capableof using the runway at Southend on IT charters although they had initially used the airport with their Tridents. Although Channel Airways purchased five former BEA DHC-COMET 4's the "clapped out" DHC-Comet 4's purchased from Olympic Airways I believe were never flown by the airline but used for spares instead for the rest of the Comet fleet. A further example was also purchased from the Mexican airline Mexicana for spares. Neither the former BEA or Olympic Airways aircraft wore the full ChannelAirways livery just the airline's titles and and cheat line's from their former operators.

Channel Airways had initially purchased the Comets in 1970 for flying operations on behalf of Lyons Holidays along with winning a very lucrative travel contract by a consortium of three West German tour operators to fly from Berlin Templehof Airport to the Mediterranean.

In January 1971, Channel Airway received UK, US and Canadian permission to operate transatlantic affinity charters. A pair of Boeing 7O7's were to be purchased to commence North Atlantic operations to the USA and Canada later that year which didn't materialise.

Channel Airways failure to enter the transatlantic affinity charter market was followed by an unsuccessful attempt to establish itself as the UK's third scheduled domestic trunk airline in addition to BEA and British Caledonian Airways. Partial approval of an application to the UK Air Licensing Board (ATLB) in early 1971 to fly from London Stansted to Belfast Glasgow Newcastle resulted in the ATLB to provisionally license Channel Airways to fly between London Stansted and Glasgow from May 1972 which was ultimately reversed due to pressure from the state owned BEA.

The airline was successful but soon sold their pair of Tridents to BEA and in return purchased two former American Airlines BAC1-11-400's to add to their existing fleet of 1-11's for IT work. Soon after Channel Airways lost their lucrative Berlin contract to Dan Air and with costs rising the airline found itself in financial difficulties and with no potential buyers and with work drying up for their fleet permanent cessation of operations was followed by the withdrawal of the airline's AOC at the end of March 1973 and the airline ceased trading.

A sad end to what was at the time a very pioneering airline, very similar to the demise of British Eagle Airways which went into liquidation in 1968.

Spot on there with the Time frame = maybe we lived a parallel life ?? LOL (I'm from near Upminster, so SEN and STN airport spotty visits were also the norm)
I flew on a Channel Trident from STN with mum and dad 1971ish, 7 abreast front cabin, was fine - but I was 13 or 14 with my pal and mum and dad in a row of 4.