This Thread brings back memories!

My first flight in a jet in 1970 - we flew from Luton to Rimini in G-AXMH for a cruise around the Med.

A couple of years later flew again in G-BAAA from Luton to Pisa for a holiday in Elba.

My father made cine films of both trips, including footage on board during the flights.

Halcyon Days indeed!

FOK :)

Now that's something I'd like to watch on YouTube.

Reunion
 

The reunion went very well. The weather was glorious, those that had arrived on the Friday were sitting outside -- with a glass or 2 -- welcoming the Saturday night guests as they came, several only just made their rooms in time to change for dinner! The evening was great everyone got to talk & reminisce. Jimmy Webb thought it was a bit quiet; no-one disgraced themselves, but I did remind him we are all 'just a touch older'.
Crispin, after a few glasses of wine, gave a speech & read out messages from those who could not be there. It was then put to the vote if we should hold one every year, the answer was a very resounding YES. I am afraid as always the numbers were lower than I had signed the contract for, the hotel did help out a bit. Crispin had a few copies of 'Colours in the Sky' which he auctioned on the night to add to the kitty:).
So, everyone has pledged to source 'lost' Courtlin/Autair hands for the next one. We are looking at October 2010, as soon as I confirm the date with the Harpenden House Hotel I will broadcast it. We hope to see you all.

PS someone; whose name I can not remember was asking about a copy of 'Colours' as far as I know Crispin Maunder has a copy to sell

Tristar Airstairs
 

I was with Eastern Air Lines and at Lockheed's Palmdale factory in late 1971 and at Rye Canyon where they did the static testing. I saw them experimenting with an incredible set of airstairs, allegedly for Court Line. They were mechanically stowed in the C2 cargo hold. They swung out on an operating arm and then went through the most amazing set of gyrations to unfold and reach up to the R3 pax door and down to the tarmac. It certainly looked flimsy for the service intended and I wonder if they ever went into service?
PSA came up with a better way on their aircraft with a lower deck Pax entrance door on the port side and relatively short airstairs into what would be the C1 cargo hold. They had seating down there and a staircase up to the main deck. A lot better than the original folding monstrosity intended for the Court Line aircraft but it did block out any freight/baggage from the C1 bins.
I did see the Court Line aircraft at KJFK on their sad return to Lockheed.
If they had the airstairs then, they didn't use them so wonder if they were ever used at Courtline?

At the age of 11 (1972), the first time I ever flew was with Court Line. My dad worked for Southend United who were promoted from the old Div 4 to Div 3. As a reward we were all flown to Spain for a week's package in Salou. I think we flew in Halcyon Days. We flew to Reus? My brother and I were fascinated with everything about the aircraft and I thing we were given some kind of sticker book or magazine with pictures all the 'Halcyons' (No, haven't a clue before you ask). Though I didn't really get it at the time, some of the younger players were less than complimentary about the 'pink plane!' and appeared to enjoy a more comprehensive service from the FAs. I've just remembered, one player sitting directly in front of me, was probably irritated by my boyish "what's this?, what does that do?" when I innocently asked what he was drinking, he casually passed it back saying it was coke. Seems like 11 year-olds, light turbulence and drambuie don't mix.:yuk:

:O Hi. the reunion went very well, a bit short on numbers but everyone had a good time, and have elected to hold one again next year. It was great to see everyone and reminise about the good old days. Hope to see you next year. Ding

Lockheed Tristar Airstairs
 

There were no Airstairs fitted to either Tristar when they operated out of Gatwick and as Court Line attempted to save every kilo of weight for Payload/Range I am not surprised as the system as described sounds very 'clunky' and more importantly heavy.

Former employees.
 

Pete Barraclough; Catering/Cabin Services

Dave Jenkins; Captain.. Dan Air then EAAC?

I may be wrong and it is a while ago now but I recall that the Tristars had an internal baggage loading belt that could be deployed at destinations that were not prepared for such a large aircraft at the time?

I also remember that initially the turning circles at each end of Luton's runway were only about 50 m across so our Borough Engineers invented a row of pegs set in the grass so the crew knew when to make the turn, the cockpit being over the grass when the turn was made.

Fond memories of controlling two Tristars training in the visual circuit....

JB

Tony,
Bear in mind that CL were going to operate into airport as the first wide body charter aircraft so GSE was always a concern as well as runway strength.
So the airstairs were requested from Lockheed and magnificent they were !!:eek:

They were developed and tested at Rye Canyon and later on the aircraft. I have some pics somewhere !!
With the RR collapse the aircraft was delayed for over a year so the problem re aiports became less acute.
They were not used in service and I dont know what happened to them.:)

Olde,
Basic airline Tristar had a container baggae loading system in C1 and C2 ( C3 was bulk).
Because of the logistics problem - lots of destinations that did not have container facilities CL had no loading systems but was bulk loaded. As in fact also was LTU

As are many others, presently.
Cheap ground handling labor works wonders....:}

Air Stairs
 

Tshirt
Thanks for the info on the airstairs. I knew they were intended for charter work to off-line destinations. They were pretty terrifying though and I really think, considering all the troubles with other airstairs I dealt with, would have been pretty unreliable. They had to be the longest I ever saw. I think the previous record would have been the ones on the Vanguard which were pretty stalky in their own right.

we flew back on the last flight to the uk from marjorca the plane was seized when we got off at Luton, got some nice pics of it

cheers

Mike

nope they used normal stairs , flew on last one back to uk

cheers

Mike

a pic of the stairs for the last flight to uk for halycon breeze from Majorca

http://img4011.photobox.co.uk/018433...99bb8e0dff.jpg

http://img4011.photobox.co.uk/851842...3fecd06b66.jpg

some pics
 

leaving Luton for majorca
http://img4011.photobox.co.uk/261200...f94c31def7.jpg

a wet Luton view from arrivals when we returned on the last flight

http://img3012.photobox.co.uk/467043...37445db3c4.jpg
cheers

Mike

It also led to the first run on a Building Society - Northern Rock wasn't the first :hmm: The Derbyshire Building Society nearly collapsed as rumour hit Derby that it was going to go under like RR. Not many knew that as the huge queue of people drew their money out ( pre internet !!) van loads of cash were arriving at the back door from other societies.

cheers

Mike

i give up , used to like photobucket but not now :confused: the album is public so should work

Nice pictures Flybywire2, such a shame the airline failed.
Apparently maintenance were preparing to send an engine change crew out to one of the Tristars on that last day, but the job was cancelled at the last minute in order to get the aircraft back.