Please keep the photos coming LTNman this is a wonderful trip back in time! Cheers C3B

"Maybe it's an urban myth, but I've always been led to believe that (some of?) MON's 720s were actually older than their Britannias..."

it probably is a myth

the last Brittania was built in early 1960

the first 720 wasn't delivered until late 1960

Pure guess. I would say 1967? Were their Herald's ex BEA? Seem to remember they had 3 to replace the Vikings

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psighiy6rt.jpg

Photo by Caz Caswell (Thanks Tom)

LTNman

Checked G-APWC and this airframe was certainly leased by BEA from the Ministry of Supply, and passed to Autair in 1966.

If I recall correctly, the other Autair machines were 'WA and 'WB which both came via the same route.

Unfortunately I can't see the picture on my I-pad, but Autair did lease GAPWA for a short while, but the 3 they bought were WB, WC and WD.

LTNman - the photo of Autair's Viking and Herald was taken by Caz Caswell in March 1968. I would suggest you credit him accordingly.
Cheers Tom.

Thanks for the info. Picture has been now rightfully credited.

LTNman's last photo of Autair's Herald and Viking G-AGRW is one of my all-time favourites. The corner of the top floor of the building (part of the hangar) behind 'RW' is where Autair Route Planning was - with Ian Barras-Smith and his team. The ops room proper was next door. Even back in those days (1967) we had a CCTV camera perched on the roof above us so that we could watch the arrivals and departures on the runway. Round about the time this photo was taken the ops department was moved down the hill behind the hangars next to the catering department. Very dark and dingy it was too and probably had rats tho' I must admit I never saw any. Incidentally the ops staff lavatories at Gulf Air Muharraq was the place to see rats but that's another tale.

Autair's two remaining Vikings spent their last years based in Templehof and operated daily to Schipol from where they freighted flowers to the Berlin Markets.

G-AHPB and G-AGRW were both retired during the Summer of 1968 and both aircraft were subsequently flown to Soesterberg in Holland.
www.vc10.net/History/vikings_of_soesterberg.html

The airframe of G-AGRW still survives today having been displayed in the vistors' area of Vienna Airport before being placed on a plinth at a Macdonald's nearby and more recently being re-assembled as such, at Voslau Kottingbrunn, Austria.
www.austrian-aviation-museum.com

Yes, G-APWB/C/D were the ex-BEA aircraft, used by them on the Highlands and Islands routes. They (BEA) never operated PWA, except on proving flights, although that now survives wearing BEA colours at the Woodley museum.

As you are probably aware that hangar was knocked down just before Christmas.

donaldson 707
 

the name was Mikado

March '68 was the month I started visiting LTN frequently - don't remember any Vikings only saw one in '65 on a visit with an Uncle.

The picture seems to be taken where Ambassador 'LZV languished for most of the summer of that year. Were these proper stands parallel to the hangar or just an unidentified parking area.

Re London EuropeanI flew once from AMS with them. Their big selling point was cheap duty frees, undercutting the airports. The CC was still dishing these out and taking payments during the landing and all the way up to the gate. The doors remained closed for about 5 minutes on stand until they'd finished.
I worked the summer holidays (1966?) as a loader/cleaner and remember being sent with a broom to sweep the pigeon crap out of what was to become the Monarch hanger just prior to their arrival

Luton Corporation (IIRC) operated double deckers down there at one time. I was one of several doing my Flying Scholarship at the time and one of the instructors regularly scared the crap out of us by taking the cotrols and trying to bounce off the roof.

Looks like Pooley's Flight Guide. Still have a copy somewhere.

I once got my photo on the front page of the Times. The Coal Board Dove, GARUM was hangered in the Flying Club hanger and Always had to be pushed out first and back last every evening. All done by hand. The Chairman was giving a press conference on the apron prior to flying out to the Aberfan Enquiry. There was me in the background slouching across the tarmac




Happy days

I used to count the passengers off their Viscount when they first started, their loads seemed very good. They ended up will a BAC-1-11 and were taken over by Ryanair who I think wanted their license.

I remember hearing of a 1960s Vauxhall Sports Day at Luton when army paras were dropped onto the field. Everybody thought somebody else had co-ordinated the drop with ATC and it ended up with a Br31 flying through the paras.

Maybe LTN man can confirm?

Para drop
 

"Everybody thought somebody else had co-ordinated the drop with ATC and it ended up with a Br31 flying through the paras."


I couldn't help laughing at this, but it could easily have led to a tragedy.

All true, I'm afraid.

I started work in June 1967 and one of my first jobs was to compile a transcript from the RT tape (none of this impounding malarkey! :) )

There had been a briefing beforehand but the RT went something like:
Luton Twr: "Do not drop, do not drop. Oh dear, I see you have."
The next call was to the MON Britannia on final (rwy 08) to which the pilot replied "It's OK, I was at Arnhem." He then weaved around the parachutists.

A couple landed outside the Vauxhall sports field, one broke an ankle. However, there was no huge witch-hunt, no Dail Mail headlines. I could name the ATCO but won't!!! :)


The pilot of the Coal Board Dove was Basil Allum. Really nice bloke.

Priceless!

I stand to be corrected but wasn't '67 a bit early for a MON Britannia - thought they started April 68. Britannia A/W? BKS? RAF?

Hmmm, yes, you're right. I remember the first MON (or OM in those days :)) Brit and it was 1968. Must have been Britannia I guess.

Memory is not what it was :confused: