FWIW I left Luton in November '63 , just after the prototype BAC 1-11 accident . Certainly the Euravia Connies were well established by then, as were the Autair Vikings.
I remember the Connies doing circuits shortly after their arrival and causing a lot of interference to local TVs and radios with their poorly suppressed engines.

I think this was the prototype making a first visit for the staff to see.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps321b8e54.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps1c0f4bed.jpg

Indeed. Like many mates I came rushing home from school, then cycled like mad out to the Airport.
.
.
.
.To find that it had gone.


As you know the 1-11 was evolved from the Hunting H 107 (IIRC) and tragically there were a number of Hunting employees on the prototype, basically having a free ride with Mike Lithgow when it later went down on that test flight.

Don't think any Constellations ever wore Britannia titles- though I am willing to be corrected.

They did not.

I vaguely recall seeing a Connie at Luton in about '65 with 'Britavia' on the sides, or am I mistaken and was it actually 'Euravia?

I don't think Britavia (which I vaguely remember) had anything to do with Euravia or Britannia.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps2c94a942.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psaf7692f6.jpg

Thanks to TerrySykes/www.abpic.co.uk for allowing me to reproduce his photos here

Thank you LTNMAN for the wonderful shots of the airport and the Euravia Connies. Can you confirm exactly where the Mosquito and Oxford production line was please ?

Both aircraft were built by Percivals under licence. If you look at the photo in post 26 the Percivals production line was just to the right and behind the control tower.

If you look at Google maps the hanger line was to the left of Prince Way, Luton

Here is another view of Percivals. As you head down the approach road to the airport towards the white farm house Percivals would be on your left.


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps683db050.jpg

So who did the building by the entrance marked 'British Aircraft Corporation' originally belong to? I think it's still there.

I think that the "BAC" building was originally Napier/English Electric from memory.

Quote
So who did the building by the entrance marked 'British Aircraft Corporation' originally belong to? I think it's still there.
Quote
I think that the "BAC" building was originally Napier/English Electric from memory.

I can't remember but I can say it was post 1946 (when this photo was taken) so well after Oxfords and Mosquitos
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/s...oup0/2-1-0.jpg

English Electric took over Napier Aero engines c.1942. I remember being a bit confused at the "English Electric" lettering outside of that building in the mid,late '50's and wondering why there was no evidence of Canberra or P1s about.
However there was the memorable display of the high altitude Canberra over the airfield, as well as also a Skeeter going up like a Paynes "Helicopter" firework , both aircraft using Napier rocket technology.
Not to mention the Eland Convair Liner starting off from the Napier hangar to get that extra bit of take -off distance....

Interesting piece here about Luton's Canberra and the world record it set from the airfield. English Electric Canberra G-BVWC, G-CDSX

But there was an 049 marked BRITAIR belonging to another gent.

Anybody remember the BKS Bristol Freighters coming in around 1960/1 timescale? IIRC they were flying Vauxhall Cars across to Ireland.

I only recall one Bristol Freighter used for this, G-AMLJ.

Services commenced on 15 Dec 1959 taking new Vauxhall cars and spares to Belfast. It would return with fresh produce. On 8 Jul 1960 it was the first aircraft to land on Luton's new concrete runway. [source: The Bristol 170 by Air Britain.]

and G-AILW/G-AHJD

Oh, yes. I remember G-AILW now.

There was a story, no idea if true, that when the Freighter got airborne one morning the Airport Commandant's (H T Rushton) little Scottie dog was on board so it had to return to drop it off!!

I have uploaded some old b&w pics of aeroplanes at Luton here https://picasaweb.google.com/1055920...onPicsEarly60s Hope links like this are permitted here, apols if not.

Vintage ATCO What a great selection of photographs so nostalgic. Luton airport has changed so much now. I can remember the old farmhouse in the late sixties as a cafe for the airport workers. It was called "The Greasy Spoon". Do you have a date when the old terminal buildings(ex Brit Ops) and the old tower were demolished as I worked there Britannia Ops 1974-1980. I moved to the new Ops building in 1979-80 next to the Airline Eng hangar and even that has gone now. The only remnant of that era is the old Britannia admin offices near the main road that has been cut off .

Many thanks indeed Vintage ATCO for that amazing collection of photos. Many old "friends" in the images as well as some "Wow! Now I remember" moments . Plus a few "Well I never saw THAT!" surprises.
I've bookmarked the site,
Cheers.
H.

The old farm house was the airport administration building until the 'new' terminal opened in (I think) 1965. It then became the Flying Club Bar. Use to finish shift at 22:00, into the bar for a pint or six and then back in the following morning for a 08:00 start. :-) Closing time was non-existant.

The 'greasy spoon' (aren't they all called that?) was a separate building between the control tower and the farm house.

The old tower and Building 50 (the wooden building) were demolished in the early 2000s.

One of the best set of Luton photos I have seen for a long time. Thanks.

vintage ATCO photo 55, where is that location at LTN as I can't place it?

Looks like off Percival Way behind Monarch engineering

Think I have worked it out. It looks like it is at the back of McAlpines looking towards Monarch's old hanger

Yep, that's it.

Luton Airshow

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps6473fa63.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps62813164.jpg

Just got my 75 year anniversary book- thought it might have stymied my retirement project but although it has some great photos it is a lighter treatment and I think there is still room for a "heavier" history.

I have asked before but will ask again in this new thread if anyone can provide detail (times, destinations) of Sudflug's ops into Luton c.1967?

Vintage ATCO wrote: Closing time was non-existant

ISTR the bar closed promptly at 2230 when the shutters were lowered?



The side hatch opened at 2230:15 promptly and thereafter business resumed as normal.

Happy daze!

F-W,thought you would have been too young for being in a bar at that time.....S..

LTNman..what is the date of the airshow..?
The aircraft nearest the camera is `probably` a Mk2 J-P,as it has short oleos ,no ejection seats,P-P type canopy and short pitot head,and handgrip on port intake..Any idea which aircraft it was,as it does appear to have `trainer yellow bands` on the wings..XD694..?
I flew XM354 at Syerston in `63,which would be the one earlier than `355`,next one along....
and yes,I `bunked` in the original Fred`s Flying Club accomodation,and spent my `youth`,(mis-spent) pushing Austers/Tigers,et al to the pumps,and then swinging props, but couldn`t hold a candle to the `swinging lamps` tales of the esteemed bar contingents of ,`Dizzzy`,Don Mayne,Ken(Napier Lincoln),Dave ,etc,etc...indeed ,Happy daze....

Mk 2 JP
 

I would be pretty sure the JP noted by Sycamore is one of the four Mk 2s. Colloquially 3 Mk2's and the Mk "2 1/2" ( in which Jack Overbury died). The lack of tip tanks probably puts it as one of the first ones so XD694 ,which was a converted Mk1, is quite likely.

I think the airshow would have been 1960, it was a one off. Some of my b&w pics were taken there.

Yes, I remember those reprobates from the Flying Club bar too. ;)

Luton Pre-War.......
 

Always interested to see Early photos of Luton from when Percivals moved up there from Gravesend - until the war broke out. Especially images depicting construction of the various wooden a/c. Images of 'AFAA especially interesting.

'AFAA was burnt at a PAC social bonfire event after the war. It was lent to DH's for airscrew testing during the war and was damaged at Hatfield. Any stories of this incident or images related to it, or the a/c's subsequent storage would be of interest. Anyone got any morsels of information...?

This is from the Percivals Aircraft book by Norman H Ellison regarding AFAA

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps528941a3.jpg

1992 when Luton based AirFoyle brought this beast into Luton

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps3f94705d.jpg

vintageATCO,

Great photographs. I had to do a double take when I saw the Colt on its back. I thought it was one I had flown, but then I realized, I had flown KR, not KS in your picture.

The Beechcraft with the Aztazous looks very odd. I had never heard of it before.

It is SFERMA Marquis..... Beech-SFERMA PD-146 Marquis Beechcraft Baron airframe converted by SFERMA to Aztazou turbine power.

Planemike

G-AFAA.
 

@ LTN Man;- Thanks for posting those. G-AFAA was of course the sole example of the E3H. I heard that 'AA was lent to DH's for airscrew testing during the war and that one of their test-pilots tried to flare it out too high and put the oleos through the wings. (When and who I wonder..?).
When the fus' was burnt at Luton, as per your photo, it was actually an old wing off another a/c. I wonder if there are any photos around of it stored at Hatfield or Luton between the accident and when it was destroyed...probably a period of 2 - 7 years...?
All the Mews were built at Gravesend, with the exception of 'AA, which was made later, after the move up to Luton and though looking superficially like the other a/c was, in fact, a totally new design. 'AA would have been almost new when the upper image from the opening of Luton was taken. Evidently, Percivals had been at Luton long enough to produce the E3H, as well as the Q6 in the background of that photo too. At that time, a/c ordered were ready to collect in a mere three months...! hardly seems possible in todays climate. So much for 'progress'....!
S.