I well remember Sterling bringing Caravelle's, 727's and I think 757's to Luton. Also, Maersk with their lovely bright blue 720's, Condor with I think, 727's, JAT with a range of types, Cyprus Airways with A310/320's, Transwede MD87's to name just a few.

The one thing Luton lacks a little today is variety of aircraft types & airlines compared to the old days

KLM DC8-63.
I was working in hangar 1/2 at the end of 1979 and came in one morning to find the nose of the KLM aircraft in the hangar. It had diverted in and been parked nose to the doors. Other aircraft were having trouble getting past the tail so it was towed into the hangar to provide clearance.

On hangars:The Eland Convair Liner apparently used to start up in its hangar before galloping out to take-off as it was a bit tight all round......


.

Another favoured parking area when the airport was filling up was the engine run up bay. I have seen a few aircraft crammed in there over the years.

Not forgetting cargo....
 

One of my favourites was Aer Turas. Mixed fleet of Argosy, Bristol Freighter, CL44, Britannia, and my personal favourites two DC7 and a DC4. Oh, and a DC8. Great crews too.

Luton departure board
 

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps864ebcbd.jpg

Anyone like to guess the year and the airlines shown on the departure board?

EO 003 to Brussels was the BAC111 G-BNIH used it a few times

BY Britannia
OM Monarch
DA Danair
EO London European
KG Orion
SM Altair ( I think)

Gonna go for 1983/4

Close but I think I can see one mistake.

Actually thinking about it, it was 1987 when London European was rebranded as Ryanair Europe and if I remember correctly the BAC1-11 started the Brussels route then.
Stand to be corrected though.
SM is Altair?

I flew GBNIH for London European Airways for about a month (April '88) which then rebranded as Ryanair Europe and continued operating until Jan or Feb '89. The LTN - BRU route operated five days a week returning the following morning, so the answer to your question LTNman is most likely 1988.

The clue is in the date shown on the monitor. Thur 19/04 makes the year 1984 and London European didn't start flying until 1985.

Crikey LTNman that makes it Euroflite with the J41.
That was short lived , wasn't London European forced to buy them out to start up?

EO was Euroflight (owned by McAlpines at the time)

See:

British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3102, G-BLDO, McAlpine Aviation / Euroflite

Looks like my reply crossed with Falcon 666's and I mean Euroflite! (its been a long time!)

London European Airways - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

According to wikipedia the DoT awarded Euroflite and London European the same route license so London European bought them out.

I seem to remember that in the winter of 1983/84 the Euroflite 15:30 service to Brussels was the last Luton departure of the day.

At some point a Bandeirante was used, but due to failing memory I can't remember what year!

It must have been before the Jetstream as the flight originated from East Midlands.

That jogs a few memories. They also served Cardiff and Bristol until taken over by London European

Quote
At some point a Bandeirante was used, but due to failing memory I can't remember what year!

Yes I flew to Brussels and back in the Bandit and, as stated, it had come from (and was returning to) East Midlands. The outbound flight can't have been economic (my bag and I were the whole payload).
Also can't remember which year, but certainly pre-1984.

The former Court Line / Autair hangar seen as the left hand hangar in the photo is now being demolished to make way for a new Apron for Signature. A little piece of Luton Airport history will soon just become a memory.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psd1fee410.jpg