British Airways/Aer Lingus 747 - 'Paddy Zulu'
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
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Must have been PZ...?
Ah, nostalgia!
I saw this beast many times back in the day whilst spotting at LHR, but can't say I ever noticed the 'bump' just after the main hump joins the fuselage. What was inside ? These days such protrusions are commonplace, but back then they were somewhat rare.
Aslo, thread-drifting, that TMA 747 reminded me that I'd forgotten that they had the type at all, MEA yes, but I only remember seeing TMA 707's. Perhaps I'd discovered girls and had taken my eye off the ball ;-)
I saw this beast many times back in the day whilst spotting at LHR, but can't say I ever noticed the 'bump' just after the main hump joins the fuselage. What was inside ? These days such protrusions are commonplace, but back then they were somewhat rare.
Aslo, thread-drifting, that TMA 747 reminded me that I'd forgotten that they had the type at all, MEA yes, but I only remember seeing TMA 707's. Perhaps I'd discovered girls and had taken my eye off the ball ;-)
T'graph.
Yes thats the colour scheme I recall for sure. .Why i remember the engine noise as different I am not sure but as I said living in Stanwell for may years as kid you could tell pretty much what was coming next off of 27/28L just from the sound. .
Some time in the late 70s while walking from Ashford station to my home a very noisy and different sounding 747 .caught my attention. It was TWA 100 series and was really climbing out aggressively on a westerly departures from 09/10R when a big sheet of flame shot from one of the engines on my side together with a heavy whoompf sound. Really frightened me as I thought it must be really serious although the 74 immediately leveled out and carried on to the west with no apparent problem. I did worry me though and as I was literally passing a call box phoned LHR and got put through to ATC who politely explained what it was I had seen and said all was Ok and the crew were deciding what to do in terms of carry on or return but thanked me for calling anyway. Was the second time isaw falmes on an airliner the first was the BOAC 707 which lost an engine (literally )out of LHR) and I had a really clear view of its emergence return onto 05 . Unfortunatley my firnd and I also saw the huge column of black smoke behind a row of houses and knew that something very serious had happened . Itwas probably that experience that worried me about the TWA flight.. More traumatic was my sister's experience of being in Staines High Street when Papa India crashed. I asked if she saw anything and her resply was no but we felt it. A very sad day where i lived our immediate neighbours were Staines police officer , Ashford hospital nursing sister and BA fireman . and BEA Maintenance engineer who all ended up at the site. My dad was BEA Maintrol and knew both Capt Key and the supernumerary captain quite well. A very sad day
Yes thats the colour scheme I recall for sure. .Why i remember the engine noise as different I am not sure but as I said living in Stanwell for may years as kid you could tell pretty much what was coming next off of 27/28L just from the sound. .
Some time in the late 70s while walking from Ashford station to my home a very noisy and different sounding 747 .caught my attention. It was TWA 100 series and was really climbing out aggressively on a westerly departures from 09/10R when a big sheet of flame shot from one of the engines on my side together with a heavy whoompf sound. Really frightened me as I thought it must be really serious although the 74 immediately leveled out and carried on to the west with no apparent problem. I did worry me though and as I was literally passing a call box phoned LHR and got put through to ATC who politely explained what it was I had seen and said all was Ok and the crew were deciding what to do in terms of carry on or return but thanked me for calling anyway. Was the second time isaw falmes on an airliner the first was the BOAC 707 which lost an engine (literally )out of LHR) and I had a really clear view of its emergence return onto 05 . Unfortunatley my firnd and I also saw the huge column of black smoke behind a row of houses and knew that something very serious had happened . Itwas probably that experience that worried me about the TWA flight.. More traumatic was my sister's experience of being in Staines High Street when Papa India crashed. I asked if she saw anything and her resply was no but we felt it. A very sad day where i lived our immediate neighbours were Staines police officer , Ashford hospital nursing sister and BA fireman . and BEA Maintenance engineer who all ended up at the site. My dad was BEA Maintrol and knew both Capt Key and the supernumerary captain quite well. A very sad day
Interestingly, Paddy Zulu and its sister ship lost the bumps a few years after the BA lease.
On a serious note (albeit slightly left of thread), there must have been considerable trade links between UK and Lebanon at that time, as LHR would receive a steady flown of MEA and TMA aircraft on any particular day in the late 70's, early 80's. MEA and TMA 747's were pretty regular.
Thanks for the replies chaps. I probably saw the external protuberance , but just didn't register it/remember it.
Why did TMA get rid of their 747's after such a short time ?\
That sounds ALL too familiar!
Why did TMA get rid of their 747's after such a short time ?\
That picture stirs memories of salmon paste sandwiches, a flask of tea, Golden Wonder crisps and a Penguin biscuit in my pack lunch, high up on the Queens Building terrace....kids of today don't know what they've missed.
TMA pranged a 747 in an over run at ATH in 1975, they had only just got it from AA - It was repaired and sold to PAA.
They only had 2 747's.
For two short years from May of 1975 until June of 1977, Trans Mediterranean Airways (TMA) of Lebanon operated two or the most colourful Boeing 747s flying. The aircraft, both 747-123SFs originally delivered to American Airlines, initially retained their U.S. registrations (N9675 and N9676), before being re-registered as OD-AGM and OD-AGC respectively.
They only had 2 747's.
For two short years from May of 1975 until June of 1977, Trans Mediterranean Airways (TMA) of Lebanon operated two or the most colourful Boeing 747s flying. The aircraft, both 747-123SFs originally delivered to American Airlines, initially retained their U.S. registrations (N9675 and N9676), before being re-registered as OD-AGM and OD-AGC respectively.
Definitely Satcom, the bump was large enough to house a steerable dish aerial
TCU and Springheel,, the packed lunch sounds familiar. Coming from south of LHR the Central Area was just too far so for me it was the Cains Lane A30 spot in Bedfont, the next road down to the now well known Myrtle avenue i think. , They were good days for variety and 'surprises' with no ADSB to tell you whats 20 mins out.. A good spot for me too was between the rivers in Stanwell -where I lived- before the Cargo terminal and the mini fuel farm took all the views away -nice in summer , winter with the whole open space of LHR to the North east a little bit more challenging
