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Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia

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Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia

Old 19th Apr 2020, 12:47
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Some 80’s transatlantic.





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Old 19th Apr 2020, 15:40
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Originally Posted by Sotonsean
Come on now keep up, I've already uploaded Transwede photos yesterday on post 291 🤗
Oops slipped the net, thanks for those photos. What ever happened to Mr Murphy, the Transwede rep ?
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Old 19th Apr 2020, 16:55
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Some more photos. The Karair and TAC DC8-50s are

at Gatwick Late 70's early 80's. The rest at Stansted mid-80's.



Looks like a Wardair DC10 in the background



Algerian L100 Hercules

Algerian AN12 which rarely replaced the Hercules

Air UK's Bandeirante operated a Paris CDG schedule for a time

G-BISU with Atlantic Air Transport and Instone titles

G-BISU with Air Atlantique title
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Old 19th Apr 2020, 22:50
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Musket90

Great photos, thanks for sharing them here on the Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia thread.

Transmeridian Air Cargo (TMAC) merged with IAS Cargo Airlines on the 15 August 1979 to from British Cargo Airlines, which began trading under it's new name five days later.

By 1983 Air UK had withdrawn the EMB -110 Bandeirante from their fleet. London Stansted Airport to Paris CDG was operated by the Fokker F-27s from 1982.

I was contemplating uploading a Karair Finland DC8 taken by myself at London Gatwick Airport in the early eighties but decided not to because I wanted the thread to remain London Stansted Airport centric.
​​
Hopefully you have some more photos from London Stansted Airport from the same era to share with us.

Last edited by Sotonsean; 21st Apr 2020 at 00:43.
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Old 19th Apr 2020, 23:20
  #325 (permalink)  
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GAZIN

Those photos are excellent, I'd go as far to say that they are my favourites so far uploaded ☺

​​​​​​I know that Worldways Canada used London Stansted Airport during the 1980's but I never saw any personally. I've never even seen any photos of Worldways Canada at London Stansted Airport before either, so your photo is like gold dust 🤗

You don't have any other photos of Worldways Canada at London Stansted Airport by any chance? Perhaps a photo of one of their DC8-63's. I saw them many times at London Gatwick Airport but would love to see one taken at London Stansted Airport.

The Arrow Air photos are also excellent. Can you remember if these were one off flights or a regular summer charter series of flights into London Stansted Airport. Arrow Air we're regulars at London Gatwick Airport during the same period.

Great shot of the Wardair DC10-30, again I never personally saw one at London Stansted Airport as it was usually scheduled as a Boeing 747.

Looking forward to more photos taken from the same period at London Stansted Airport.

Although London Stansted Airport has always been a favourite of mine from the 1970's onwards it wasn't frequented as often as London Gatwick Airport or London Heathrow Airport were which were my playground's every weekend and summer holidays.

I'm not touching either London Gatwick Airport or London Heathrow Airport in the Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia thread thread as both airport's are well documented. I started this thread to try and document the history of London Stansted Airport and the airline's that previously used the airport.

I was hoping to start a discussion during the week about London Stansted Airport and it's history with trans-Atlantic flights and in particular those flights from American Airlines, Continental Airlines, EOS, Highland Express, Maxjet and Premair.

As I've already mentioned in a previous post, we've more or less touched on the subject regarding American Airlines and Highland Express but I feel that there is so much more to add.

We've already discussed the affinity charters by US airline's during the seventies on page 1 of the Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia thread.

​​​​​​I don't feel the need for photos taken at London Gatwick Airport to be added to the London Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia thread. It's photos taken of aircraft at London Stansted Airport that counts towards the thread.
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Old 20th Apr 2020, 09:13
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Originally Posted by treadigraph
Absolutely cracking scheme, really suited the DC-8, the 727 and the 747. Them was the days...

Is that a Seneca in the background of the 747, can't ever recall seeing light aircraft over on that side of the airfield.
This used to reside outside the BCAL Maintennance hangars on the south side of LGW in the late 1970s, I believe it was privately operated by someone with an affiliation to BCAL.


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Old 20th Apr 2020, 09:48
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We went on holiday with Jet2 a few months ago from Stansted, and were checked in extremely efficiently (as Jet2 always seem capable of doing) by a more senior gentleman. I don't know how we managed, in just a few sentences, to get from checking in the family hold baggage to discovering that he had been at Stansted all his career and went back to Mike Keegan's days there at Transmeridian Air Cargo. A pleasant discussion. I hope the crew there are not suffering unduly during the shutdown.
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Old 20th Apr 2020, 09:56
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How about some photos (ppruner shot ;-) ) of the terminal, various Mx buildings, ground engineering etc etc of this period ? A setting of the scene as it were. Fantastic array of aircraft photos btw!
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Old 20th Apr 2020, 19:23
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Couple of CL44's

9Q-CQS

9Q-CQU
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 04:15
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In post 311, I mentioned that I will bring up the topic of London Stansted Airport and it's history regarding "scheduled" trans-Atlantic flights to the USA with American Airlines, Continental Airlines, EOS, Highland Express, Maxjet and Premair.

I thought that we would start the discussion with Highland Express who were the first airline to start scheduled trans-Atlantic flights to the USA from London Stansted Airport in June1987.

The airline only operated for just under six months, their single Boeing 747-123 with it's excellent livery looked great at London Stansted Airport.

Boeing 747-123 G-HIHO was originally delivered to American Airlines on the 27 November 1970 as N9669 and was the 87th Boeing 747 off the production line.

After several delays Highland Express eventually began operations between London Stansted Airport and Newark Airport via Prestwick Airport on Tuesday 30 June 1987.

VY202/202 London Stansted Airport to Newark Airport via Glasgow Prestwick Airport operated four days a week.

The airline collapsed on the 11 December 1987 with debt's of GBP8.4 million including the trading loss of GBP6 million accrued between 31 March 1987 and 11 December 1987.

​​​​​​http://www.simpleflying.com/highland...s-airways/amp/






​​​​At the official launch of the airline it was initially intended to use the Lockeed L1011 Tristar.



​​​​​​The start up airline Highland Express eventually decided on the Boeing 747.



Several photos of Highland Express single Boeing 747-123 G-HIHO at London Stansted Airport in 1987.






Last edited by Sotonsean; 21st Apr 2020 at 14:39.
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 06:28
  #331 (permalink)  
 
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Superb thread and photos. Is it me or are there no shots of Air UK F27's (other than with gear collapsed), 146's, SH360's and the Air UK Leisure 737's ?
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 07:00
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Originally Posted by dc9-32
Superb thread and photos. Is it me or are there no shots of Air UK F27's (other than with gear collapsed), 146's, SH360's and the Air UK Leisure 737's ?
​​​​​​Air UK hasn't been mentioned in great detail yet. We've discussed the formation and the history of Air UK Leisure which I think that you were part of.

I wanted to cover the US Affinity charters along with the history of Channel Airways and the Scandinavian tour operators behind the Scandinavian visitors during the seventies and eighties which we did on pages 1 and 2.

Quite a few photos from the old fire dump, visitor's to ATEL although there are more to come. The incident involving the Flying Tigers DC8 and much more.
​​​​​​
I've started a discussion today regarding London Stansted Airport and it's history with "scheduled" trans-Atlantic flights starting with Highland Express. Next airline to be discussed will be American Airlines and it's history with London Stansted Airport.

As your aware I've recently uploaded quite a few photos of the Scandinavian airlines that visited London Stansted Airport during the seventies and eighties. (Including Transwede) 😉

Rather than mish mash the discussions and photos I thought that it would make more sense to concentrate on one topic at a time.

I will eventually get around to discussing Air UK as well as Air UK Leisure and their operations at London Stansted Airport at some point but not for now!

Obviously others can upload photos and discuss what ever they feel appropriate, it's not for me to set the rules but I think it's quite a good idea to focus on one topic at a time otherwise it can all get a bit confusing.

Hopefully your appreciate where I'm coming from 🤗
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 07:27
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I have no problem where you're coming from. As I said, superb thread. I was just asking....
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 07:29
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G-HIHO of HEX became Virgin's G-VMIA 747-123 Miami Maiden (then Spirit of Sir Freddie)
A very busy member of VS's fleet kitted out with 474Y and 14J seats. Always operated at MTOW's usualy to MIA or MCO but in her later years was seen on the BOS.
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 07:33
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Originally Posted by dc9-32
I have no problem where you're coming from. As I said, superb thread. I was just asking....
Don't worry the operation's of Air UK and Air UK Leisure at London Stansted Airport during the eighties and early nineties including photos will be covered in due course 😉
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 07:34
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Originally Posted by dc9-32
Superb thread and photos. Is it me or are there no shots of Air UK F27's (other than with gear collapsed), 146's, SH360's and the Air UK Leisure 737's ?
There's a pic of an Air UK Bandit also

Interesting handle that you have, one day our mid afternoon AMS/STN F27 had gone tits up, I got on to KLM, no F27 or F28 availabilty, I settled for sub-chartering a KLM DC9 on the route, commercial loved having a jet covering our flight, I joked with them that I would have gone up to B737 size to cover our F27
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 09:23
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Originally Posted by Sotonsean

I thought that we would start the discussion with Highland Express who were the first airline to start scheduled trans-Atlantic flights from London Stansted Airport in 1987.

The airline only operated for just under six months, their single Boeing 747-121 with it's excellent livery looked great at London Stansted Airport.
A small point: G-HIHO was a Boeing 747-123, built for and originally operated by American Airlines.
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 09:29
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Phileas Fogg

I remember when Air UK subbed our BAC111-475 to cover GCI/JER/SOU routes. Happy days taking a fully loaded 1-11 into and out of GCI

Not sure the locals were too impressed by the noise though !
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 09:37
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Originally Posted by pennypitstop22
A small point: G-HIHO was a Boeing 747-123, built for and originally operated by American Airlines.
Your absolutely correct, I should have known better when I typed it. Originally delivered to American Airlines on the 27 November 1970 as Boeing 747-123 N9669, it was the 87th Boeing 747 off the production line.

Serial 121 obviously being Pan Am whereas serial 123 being American Airlines.

I'm going to edit the photo details accordingly.

Many thanks for pointing it out 🤗
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Old 21st Apr 2020, 12:35
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I remember receiving the publicity manifesto from Highland Express when they were touting for investors. Fortunately my meagre salary didn't quite stretch to the minimum level required....., dodged a bullet there
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