Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia
Kondair operated G-AVKZ PA23 Aztec for some years late '70s to the '80s. They lost a Trislander which crashed on approach to Schipol and nearly lost another when en-route EGSS over the North Sea, the pilot fell asleep and to quote the report " He was awoken by a bump, caused by the undercarriage that had struck the sea. He climbed back to 1000 feet and made a check for external damage. The right landing gear was missing. The aircraft landed at Stansted with little damage".
Kondair operated G-AVKZ PA23 Aztec for some years late '70s to the '80s. They lost a Trislander which crashed on approach to Schipol and nearly lost another when en-route EGSS over the North Sea, the pilot fell asleep and to quote the report " He was awoken by a bump, caused by the undercarriage that had struck the sea. He climbed back to 1000 feet and made a check for external damage. The right landing gear was missing. The aircraft landed at Stansted with little damage".
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My first visit to Stansted was in the early ‘80s. At the time I collected tails and recall the ASA DC-8s. Seem to remember a CAA Dove around somewhere on the fire ground amid numerous 707s (Air Berlin?). Best bit was the Young Cargo Britannias.
This was before the expansion and new terminal. Seems the place has lost a lot of its character.
This was before the expansion and new terminal. Seems the place has lost a lot of its character.
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Treaders is correct: it was in ASA livery.
Sadly I have no photos of the ‘8s but I’ll look into some old stuff - I’ve got quite a few of the ‘44s. Mostly down route though and not at STN.
ps I think the 2 TMAC DC-8s (G-BFHW and G-BTAC?) were ex KLM (-54 series, definitely P&W powered) but I’d always thought the ASA liveried one was ex Alitalia.
Sadly I have no photos of the ‘8s but I’ll look into some old stuff - I’ve got quite a few of the ‘44s. Mostly down route though and not at STN.
ps I think the 2 TMAC DC-8s (G-BFHW and G-BTAC?) were ex KLM (-54 series, definitely P&W powered) but I’d always thought the ASA liveried one was ex Alitalia.
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Don't think it's been mentioned but Rich International operated DC8's in mid 80's. I think one of my previous DC8-50 photos was this operator. Mostly silver with blue and red cheat lines but no titles. I have slide of DC8-62 from summer 1984 with similar livery but with "RI" on tail fin which confirms it.
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Don't know if it's true but I heard at the time that the AA JFK schedule introduced in 2007 was mainly aimed at taking market share from Maxjet and EOS who both went out of business soon after so maybe AA's plan worked helping towards their quick demise. AA then pulled the route.
American Airlines we're offering some decent fares on New York JFK to London Stansted Airport and the business cabin did well as the airline was targeting the financial sector in the City of London and Canary Wharf.
Immediately after EOS and Maxjet went under American Airlines discontinued New York JFK to London Stansted Airport.
If you search online there are several articles from the time explaining the reasons behind American Airlines starting New York JFK to London Stansted Airport in June 2007 and why it ceased less than a year later in April 2008.
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This is a well documented story regarding American Airlines starting New York JFK to London Stansted Airport in 2007 as a spoiler to both EOS and Maxjet.
American Airlines we're offering some decent fares on New York JFK to London Stansted Airport and the business cabin did well as the airline was targeting the financial sector in the City of London and Canary Wharf.
Immediately after EOS and Maxjet went under American Airlines discontinued New York JFK to London Stansted Airport.
If you search online there are several articles from the time explaining the reasons behind American Airlines starting New York JFK to London Stansted Airport in June 2007 and why it ceased less than a year later in April 2008.
American Airlines we're offering some decent fares on New York JFK to London Stansted Airport and the business cabin did well as the airline was targeting the financial sector in the City of London and Canary Wharf.
Immediately after EOS and Maxjet went under American Airlines discontinued New York JFK to London Stansted Airport.
If you search online there are several articles from the time explaining the reasons behind American Airlines starting New York JFK to London Stansted Airport in June 2007 and why it ceased less than a year later in April 2008.
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My first visit to Stansted was in the early ‘80s. At the time I collected tails and recall the ASA DC-8s. Seem to remember a CAA Dove around somewhere on the fire ground amid numerous 707s (Air Berlin?). Best bit was the Young Cargo Britannias.
This was before the expansion and new terminal. Seems the place has lost a lot of its character.
This was before the expansion and new terminal. Seems the place has lost a lot of its character.
Two Air Berlin Boeing 707's at fire dump in the early eighties along with an Aeropa Boeing 707 and Young Cargo Britannia.
There were five Air Berlin Boeing 707's stored at London Stansted Airport in the early eighties with these two eventually scrapped at the old fire dump.
African Safari Airlines DC8-63 HB-IBF at London Stansted Airport during July 1989. African Safari Airlines were using the airport at the time for their charter flights to Mombasa, Kenya via Zurich.
TransMeridian DC-8-33 G-BETJ, purchased from African Safari Airlines as 5Y-ASA on the 09 May 1977. This aircraft was bought as spares as mentioned up thread and she was eventually broken up in July 1985.
Young Cargo Britannia OO-YCG at London Stansted Airport on the 05 June 1977. It was XM498 in RAF service. After OO-YCG it became EL-LWG then 9Q-DCT before being broken up in Kinshasa, Zaire.
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Am I the oldest Stanstead user on the forum?
Departed there in Feb 1954 for Cyprus. Was scheduled for a York but we were told it had an engine fire. The eventual replacement was a brand new Hermes. With Nose Landing Gear!!
The "terminal" was a shed, with duckboards laid across the mud to the hard standing where the aircraft awaited. In the rain. And dark.
I don't remember the airline; it was a trooping flight. The only things I recall- jumping in the aisle to see if the aircraft would overtake me before I landed and the absolutely worst breakfast ever at RAF Luqa. Vile doesn't come near.
Departed there in Feb 1954 for Cyprus. Was scheduled for a York but we were told it had an engine fire. The eventual replacement was a brand new Hermes. With Nose Landing Gear!!
The "terminal" was a shed, with duckboards laid across the mud to the hard standing where the aircraft awaited. In the rain. And dark.
I don't remember the airline; it was a trooping flight. The only things I recall- jumping in the aisle to see if the aircraft would overtake me before I landed and the absolutely worst breakfast ever at RAF Luqa. Vile doesn't come near.
Thread Starter
Don't think it's been mentioned but Rich International operated DC8's in mid 80's. I think one of my previous DC8-50 photos was this operator. Mostly silver with blue and red cheat lines but no titles. I have slide of DC8-62 from summer 1984 with similar livery but with "RI" on tail fin which confirms it.
Capitol Airlines we're still frequent visitor's to London Stansted Airport in the early to mid eighties with this example taken in 1985.
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When Transmeridian introduced the DC-8 Mike Keegan bought an ex Aliatalia DC-8 (RR Conway powered) which only had 200 hours left on it. Bought very cheaply, it was used for crew training and then stripped of serviceable components and left by the fire station. Not before however a “company jolly” outing took place - a day trip to Ostend. TFK took the left hand seat himself IIRC.
The TMAC engineers reckoned it was in tremendous nick and had high praise for Alitalia engineering.
The TMAC engineers reckoned it was in tremendous nick and had high praise for Alitalia engineering.
But considering that there are not many photos of the Transmeridian Air Cargo (TMAC) aircraft at London Stansted Airport here on the Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia thread here is a fine example
And a few other examples.
Last edited by Sotonsean; 13th Apr 2020 at 23:16.
Thread Starter
American Airlines announced at the end of April 2008 that New York JFK to London Stansted Airport would cease.
The financial crisis had a huge impact on EOS Airlines and Maxjet with both declaring bankruptcy. With the lack of demand and the fact that two airline's serving the market from London Stansted Airport had completely disappeared there was no need for American Airlines to continue serving the airport.
Job done to a certain extent as the far stronger, far bigger, far richer airline won at the end of the day and did what it intended to do in the first place. There was a certain degree of dirty tricks in play but I wouldn't claim that it was totally down to that but it was due to the fact that American Airlines probably didn't see London Stansted Airport as part of their bigger plans at the time regardless of what they may have said publicly.
Hopefully once the world's economies pick up again we might even see American Airlines eventually return to London Stansted Airport at some point, a case of being third time lucky next time I guess 😉
Last edited by Sotonsean; 14th Apr 2020 at 00:04.
Thread Starter
Am I the oldest Stanstead user on the forum?
Departed there in Feb 1954 for Cyprus. Was scheduled for a York but we were told it had an engine fire. The eventual replacement was a brand new Hermes. With Nose Landing Gear!!
The "terminal" was a shed, with duckboards laid across the mud to the hard standing where the aircraft awaited. In the rain. And dark.
I don't remember the airline; it was a trooping flight. The only things I recall- jumping in the aisle to see if the aircraft would overtake me before I landed and the absolutely worst breakfast ever at RAF Luqa. Vile doesn't come near.
Departed there in Feb 1954 for Cyprus. Was scheduled for a York but we were told it had an engine fire. The eventual replacement was a brand new Hermes. With Nose Landing Gear!!
The "terminal" was a shed, with duckboards laid across the mud to the hard standing where the aircraft awaited. In the rain. And dark.
I don't remember the airline; it was a trooping flight. The only things I recall- jumping in the aisle to see if the aircraft would overtake me before I landed and the absolutely worst breakfast ever at RAF Luqa. Vile doesn't come near.
In 1960, Hunting Clan Air Transport merged with the Airwork group to form British United Airways (BUA).
Just to add and hoping that it's a typo but it's STANSTED never Stanstead 😉.
Here is a photo of an Airwork Airways Hermes G-ALDO at Blackbushe Airport in 1952.
American Airlines we're offering some decent fares on New York JFK to London Stansted Airport and the business cabin did well as the airline was targeting the financial sector in the City of London and Canary Wharf.
Those photos from the fire dump etc bringing back memories strongly, thanks!
I used this service during it's existence mainly due to the cheaper price (than LHR) and despite the faff of getting to STN on the then less than stellar train service, it was worth it. As I was already a member of AA's frequent flyer program, it made sense. The Maxjet and EOS seemed to be only for the 'City Boys' to flit between London and Wall Street, especially with their pricing structure.
Those photos from the fire dump etc bringing back memories strongly, thanks!
Those photos from the fire dump etc bringing back memories strongly, thanks!
Love the TMAC photos. Never saw that many -44s together on the ramp, but seeing the IAS sticker on the fuselage of the nearest one, I suspect this must have been taken when the company went bust. G-AZIN looking particularly grubby!
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Only saw Skymonster the once at Gatwick. TMAC had a great scheme...
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Sure this may have been mentioned before but G-AZIN is in a basic BAF colour scheme. I remember it operating from Stansted on a BAF flight probably in 1972. I think flights from there (IIRC the one I saw depart was to Ostend) only lasted a season.
There is BAF vehicle in the background together with what looks like a DC4 or DC6 forward section.
There is BAF vehicle in the background together with what looks like a DC4 or DC6 forward section.