I remember seeing the first six or so Jet Provost Mk.1 variants in formation overhead for a photo sortie c.1956.....
Then, a couple of years later, Barry (?) Radley (CTP) coming in low and fast over our house in Stopsley and pulling up in to a loop. Didn't realise at the time that Haraka Snr. was in the RHS.
Radley subsequently retired to S.A.(Cape town) I believe, anybody perchance know any more?

Barry Radley:

thetartanterror.********.com/2011/11/barry-radley-1923-dec.html

I hope that this works?

Barry Radley
 

Vampiredave.
Many thanks indeed!
Got it , and also noted many other names on that site to follow up.
Sad to see that he had passed away 10 years before my arrival in S.A.
Compliments of the season,
Haraka

Haraka:

You are welcome.

It would be good to see more references to the Jet Provost because of Luton's association with Hunting Percival?

Season's greetings to you, also.

DW

Another Luton line up

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psd5d9809b.jpg

Lovely story about Edgar Percival ( and there are many!)
Apparently he was so incensed about the silly rules regarding suppliers of "authorised components" that he basically ignored some of them ,locally purchasing many aeronautical latches and catches from 'Gibbs and Dandy' in Luton.

Seen at Luton but what is the aircraft?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps8901b6a7.jpg

de Havilland Albatross?

Yes I agree it's an Albatross.
I feel I should be able to put some names to the people but can't for the moment.

I believe the photo was taken on 16th July 1938 when the airfield was officially opened.

I have looked up the de Havilland Albatross and I would say it is definitely that aircraft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q_zNrj0GpM

Nice movie of the opening day, including a take-off and flypast by that Albatross (the prototype) and the Short Mercury separating from the Maia:

East Anglian Film Archive: Luton Airport, 1938

Nearly 77 years ago, wow. Pity there was no sound with that EAFA clip.

In 1955 I made my qualifying cross country flight for the PPL, from White Waltham to Cambridge, with the require intermediate stop at Luton. Back then is was just a large grass airfield with a tower that looked like a lighthouse. What a difference in the later photographs in this thread! And how nostalgic is the post of the opening day video!


Edgar Percival came up with some fine aircraft. I once flew with a friend in his Proctor, and enjoyed it very much. I also remember the prototype Prospector being demonstrated by the late Harold Best Devereaux, who flew it into White Waltham.

Another Luton mystery I hope someone can solve. What is the aircraft in the distance?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps056c0f3a.jpg

A Warwick? a development of the Wellington.

mmm don't think so. The photo shows the engine exhaust in the middle of the engine while the photos I have just looked up show the exhaust of the Warwick coming out of the bottom of the engine.

Judging by the shape of the tailfin, the nose and the under-fuselage pannier, it is almost certainly a Warwick Mk. 3. Napiers had a Flight Development set up at Luton, so my money is on a Warwick being used as a flying test bed, which would explain the engine looking "wrong".

Looks like it's a Warwick C3 with Napier Sabres.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2images/6903545381/

(oxenos wins by a short head! :p)

Can't see that,treadigraph - haven't got flikr.
Found this though,
hawker tempest | blackburn firebrand | 1945 | 2284 | Flight Archive

C3 with Sabre mk VI

Super photograph - Cold Miserable Luton Airport Day - New Year's Resolution Gone for a Burton - Warming up with a fag or two and a game of Pocket Billiards!