Autair 748s were leased to many operators- in the winter and almost entirely from 1968 - we rarely saw them a Luton after that when One Elevens meant passengers and crews didn't have to endure long round trips to the likes of Corfu. This was just before I regularly visited the airport but the aircraft is probably back from a winter lease or about to go out on lease. The Viscount next door is presumably British Midlands G-ASED minus the BM on the tail - is that plate a rudder lock or is the photo deceiving? The aircraft looks quite dirty - don't remember seeing it like this. Not sure about the DC3 - it might be G-APPC which languished on the apron for most of the following summer.

I always thought that hybrid tail on 'SED was an experimental livery as an alternative to the "BM". I was only a whipper snapper back then however, and I may be totally wrong.

The plate covers the cutout in the rudder leading edge where the centre hinges are located.

The tail markings are of course the last remains of the original BMA scheme inherited from Derby Airways (as worn by the Argonauts).

Yes, the tails had DA then later BM vertically supposed on the fin - Argies, Viscounts and Dart Heralds

The ''new'' logo is now shown here on the tail (used on the Viscounts, new 1-11's 707's and DC-9's until 1986 - plus the smaller Shorts and F27 )
but that was not how the logo was ultimately applied...

Photo is most likely early April 1969 when G-ATMJ returned from its second lease to Jamaica Air Services (on 2/4/69 according to Air Pictorial). At a guess the Viscount was in limbo awaiting the "new" i.e. 1969 livery to be applied which involved the replacement of the BM logo with the "BMA Jet" insignia. I would assume the tail logo is a sticker rather than a metal plate. G-AWGV appeared in March 1969 with the same scheme on the tail:-

https://www.airliners.net/photo/BMI-...ount/1358406/L

The DC-3 was most likely Autair's G-APPO which sat around for a couple of years before getting broken up in Feb 1970.

Thanks for correcting that cj. I had completely forgotten that livery - imagining that BMA went straight from the vertical BM to the jet livery you mention-which I remember coming in in 1970 with One Elevens.

That just leaves the Britannia to sort out which looks like a British Eagle one, awaiting a new operator or the breaker after they stopped operations in autumn 1968.

Hadn't noticed the Brit. Think you're right, ex-Eagle of which several came and went 1969-1970. Only 2 candidates in April '69 - G-AOVK and G-ARKB, both of which I first saw during March 1969. One was parked in the "graveyard" as in the picture; the other in the "light aircraft park", where hangar 127 now sits. In the background in this photo taken 7/4/69:-

https://i.imgur.com/AG3edhW.jpg

Can't be sure but I think the above was G-AOVK which was broken up Feb 1970. G-ARKB was sold to Tellair - not sure if it ever appeared at Luton as such, though, unlike G-ARKA, seen here on 23/3/69:-

https://i.imgur.com/10LZmMk.jpg

'KB went to Coventry later in 1969 where it was finally broken up in Nov 1971.

Both the Tellair Brits wound up at CVT, where they were broken up I think. unless I was suffering double vision back then!

Like these:-
https://i.imgur.com/9iyoKrz.jpg

G-AXLN 3/5/70, think the other nose was of G-AXLL

Has anyone ever operated an EMB120 Brasilia into LTN?

Air Exel based G-EXEL in March 1989 with the intention of starting scheduled services to Brussels, Paris and Edinburgh. They acquired G-BRAZ as well in December 1989 but only operated executive charters, with the planned scheduled flights never materialising. They ceased all ops during 1993.

G-EXEL 14/4/89:-
https://i.imgur.com/f4zp5SA.jpg

G-BRAZ 30/3/91:-
https://i.imgur.com/r7clLVB.jpg

G-BRAZ appeared with "Air EC" titles sometime in 1991.
G-BRAZ 4/7/91:-
https://i.imgur.com/B9z9Fxs.jpg

Posted elsewhere, this the first Jet Provost T.1 XD674 supposedly at Luton Airport but I do not recognise the black nissen huts, nor the background. Anyone else have any views?

It first flew on the evening of 26 Jun 1954 so it might be in preparation of its first flight as there appears to be a deal of interest from onlookers, but this airframe went all over the place so the pic might have been taken elsewhere.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ed863716b8.jpg

No aerial photos seem to have Nissan huts like the ones in the photo. Also I don't think any of the Luton hangars had brick walls, so I would suspect the photo wasn't taken at Luton. As a new type of aircraft, the JP would have attracted interest wherever it went, so it could have been a first visit to any number of RAF bases.

I think you right about the brick wall but I don't think that is an RAF airfield as most people are dressed in civvies apart from the two policemen/security guards. That airframe spent time at Boscombe Down and with Armstrong Whitworth's, presumably Bitteswell.

I can only think of the hangar that became part of the GKN complex behind Percival Way but I can't find those nissen huts on any photo.

I think this is where the photo of the Jet Provost was taken - these images are from a photo taken in August 1963 and a couple of nissen huts still remained
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7f3cb2d238.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....03e573e267.jpg

Well done that man.

The gantry can be seen in the background
https://i.imgur.com/UTe7tzY.jpg

This is the hangar on the right
https://i.imgur.com/psfRXZp.jpg

At Luton
https://i.imgur.com/cAht7bV.jpg
David Wynn

Thanks for finding that LTNman. The last Britannia built. My only sighting was 8/3/69, still in British Eagle colours then.

Heads up that at 8pm tonight on Talking Pictures which is available on all platforms including Freeview, Sky and Freesat, will be showing a film called Mr Denning Heads North. This 1951 film has the odd scene taken at Luton although I seem to remember this scene got cut out on the version I saw.

https://i.imgur.com/NjSnIWH.jpg

1962

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....06b59eee89.jpg

Looks like a brick wall at the end.
https://i.imgur.com/DIVHzYd.jpg

This is a photo of the experimental hangar with a hint of nissan hut
https://i.imgur.com/RN39Y2p.jpg

First Monarch flight 5th April 1968. (Best to mute speakers due to horrible music)

Great video - cannot recall where OM/MON's London coach terminal was - Edgware Road or Tottenham Court Rd areas?
Court Line and Britannia both had London Terminals.

Summer 1968
LTN starts to go-jet!
First jets based at LTN arrive - Autair 1-11 400's and Britannia 737-204's
Dan Air opens their LTN 1-11 base a year later, in 1969.
OM/MON will have to wait a few years to get their hands on their first jet, the 720B in 1971

Channel AW also got their first Trident One E in 1968, and their first 1-11 the summer before, (STN based but LTN saw PMI and other charters)

To be pedantic: "Nissan" are cars. The huts are "Nissen".

Staff seem relaxed, even laid back. Couldn't be more different from today's mad house.

In the photo of post # 3541 there is a strange vehicle or contraption standing in the left, between the white overalled-man and the gentleman in the foreground. Could someone please explain what it is? Thanks.

At 0:28, the coach is turning left out of Percy St into Tottenham Court Rd.

Wash,probably a small motorised fuel `bowser` for refuelling away from the fuel pumps...Can`t remember the name/type,but later ones were larger drive-on..Someone will have a photo....

How odd to think that I was there, a 13 year old, at the crash gate all those years ago. I didn't know what this yellow aeroplane was until it taxied by and knew by the reg. it was a Brit.

Aha, thanks. I've never seen such a tiny browser. Never to old to learn, my grandmother would say.

Another view complete with fuel gauge
https://i.imgur.com/QcJmx3p.jpg

This one is their self powered version
https://i.imgur.com/DdLqizD.jpg

That Comet must have been going at a helluva speed.

A couple of scenes from the film. Sorry to say the rest didn't photograph too well

Percival Way behind what became Monarch's hangar
https://i.imgur.com/hxLpSvX.jpg

Luton's first control tower
https://i.imgur.com/kw1xsWu.jpg

Sporting...!!

LTNman:

I can see looking at the top photo, and comparing with the others, that the aircraft's name was changed. Can see that on the fuselage only pics it "Amu", but on the earlier picture, when it was operational, the name is much longer, though I can't read it.

When was it changed, and does anyone know why?

Yes, that is correct G-AOVS was named Christian after One of the companies Directors sons. The name was transferred to G-BRAC which was acquired during 1978.'OVS was renamed Amy after another other director's daughter. Amy was withdrawn from service in July 1979 and was used for Ground shots during the filming of "Buccaneer", for continuity purposes the name Christian was reapplied to her port side as G-BRAC had been used for the air to air shots in the title sequence.