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-   -   Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia (https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/630332-stansted-airport-history-nostalgia.html)

OwnNav 12th Apr 2020 18:08

Kondair operated G-AVKZ PA23 Aztec for some years late '70s to the '80s. They lost a Trislander which crashed on approach to Schipol and nearly lost another when en-route EGSS over the North Sea, the pilot fell asleep and to quote the report " He was awoken by a bump, caused by the undercarriage that had struck the sea. He climbed back to 1000 feet and made a check for external damage. The right landing gear was missing. The aircraft landed at Stansted with little damage".

dixi188 12th Apr 2020 18:47


Originally Posted by OwnNav (Post 10747955)
Kondair operated G-AVKZ PA23 Aztec for some years late '70s to the '80s. They lost a Trislander which crashed on approach to Schipol and nearly lost another when en-route EGSS over the North Sea, the pilot fell asleep and to quote the report " He was awoken by a bump, caused by the undercarriage that had struck the sea. He climbed back to 1000 feet and made a check for external damage. The right landing gear was missing. The aircraft landed at Stansted with little damage".

I used to know the pilot that did that. I thought it was Southend where he landed. The only Trislander to do a wheels up landing.

treadigraph 12th Apr 2020 19:35


Originally Posted by Duchess_Driver (Post 10747890)
My first visit to Stansted was in the early ‘80s. At the time I collected tails and recall the ASA DC-8s. Seem to remember a CAA Dove around somewhere on the fire ground amid numerous 707s (Air Berlin?). Best bit was the Young Cargo Britannias.

This was before the expansion and new terminal. Seems the place has lost a lot of its character.

Dove was probably G-ALVS, the Prince visible in the second pic of PH-DSO is G-AMKY.

OwnNav 12th Apr 2020 21:14

dixi188
https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=19860902-0
The report says Stansted.
I flew with a couple of Kondair pilots, characters both.

GAZIN 12th Apr 2020 22:40


Originally Posted by BSD (Post 10747660)
Treaders is correct: it was in ASA livery.
Sadly I have no photos of the ‘8s but I’ll look into some old stuff - I’ve got quite a few of the ‘44s. Mostly down route though and not at STN.

ps I think the 2 TMAC DC-8s (G-BFHW and G-BTAC?) were ex KLM (-54 series, definitely P&W powered) but I’d always thought the ASA liveried one was ex Alitalia.

The DC-8’s were ex VIASA, YV-C-VIC and VID, probably there was. KLM connection, I think the two airlines had close ties.

Musket90 13th Apr 2020 18:50

Don't think it's been mentioned but Rich International operated DC8's in mid 80's. I think one of my previous DC8-50 photos was this operator. Mostly silver with blue and red cheat lines but no titles. I have slide of DC8-62 from summer 1984 with similar livery but with "RI" on tail fin which confirms it.

Sotonsean 13th Apr 2020 20:56


Originally Posted by Musket90 (Post 10747953)
Don't know if it's true but I heard at the time that the AA JFK schedule introduced in 2007 was mainly aimed at taking market share from Maxjet and EOS who both went out of business soon after so maybe AA's plan worked helping towards their quick demise. AA then pulled the route.

This is a well documented story regarding American Airlines starting New York JFK to London Stansted Airport in 2007 as a spoiler to both EOS and Maxjet.

American Airlines we're offering some decent fares on New York JFK to London Stansted Airport and the business cabin did well as the airline was targeting the financial sector in the City of London and Canary Wharf.

Immediately after EOS and Maxjet went under American Airlines discontinued New York JFK to London Stansted Airport.

If you search online there are several articles from the time explaining the reasons behind American Airlines starting New York JFK to London Stansted Airport in June 2007 and why it ceased less than a year later in April 2008.

STN Ramp Rat 13th Apr 2020 21:17


Originally Posted by Sotonsean (Post 10749029)
This is a well documented story regarding American Airlines starting New York JFK to London Stansted Airport in 2007 as a spoiler to both EOS and Maxjet.

American Airlines we're offering some decent fares on New York JFK to London Stansted Airport and the business cabin did well as the airline was targeting the financial sector in the City of London and Canary Wharf.

Immediately after EOS and Maxjet went under American Airlines discontinued New York JFK to London Stansted Airport.

If you search online there are several articles from the time explaining the reasons behind American Airlines starting New York JFK to London Stansted Airport in June 2007 and why it ceased less than a year later in April 2008.

to be fair, the financial crisis of 2007/8 had a big hand in it whatever other issues might have been in the background.

Sotonsean 13th Apr 2020 22:12


Originally Posted by Duchess_Driver (Post 10747890)
My first visit to Stansted was in the early ‘80s. At the time I collected tails and recall the ASA DC-8s. Seem to remember a CAA Dove around somewhere on the fire ground amid numerous 707s (Air Berlin?). Best bit was the Young Cargo Britannias.

This was before the expansion and new terminal. Seems the place has lost a lot of its character.

I don't have a photo of the CAA Dove at the fire dump although I can remember seeing it along with the former CAA Percival Prince G-AMKY.

Two Air Berlin Boeing 707's at fire dump in the early eighties along with an Aeropa Boeing 707 and Young Cargo Britannia.

There were five Air Berlin Boeing 707's stored at London Stansted Airport in the early eighties with these two eventually scrapped at the old fire dump.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....88b8f8d6bd.jpg

African Safari Airlines DC8-63 HB-IBF at London Stansted Airport during July 1989. African Safari Airlines were using the airport at the time for their charter flights to Mombasa, Kenya via Zurich.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fc1f0badf9.jpg

TransMeridian DC-8-33 G-BETJ, purchased from African Safari Airlines as 5Y-ASA on the 09 May 1977. This aircraft was bought as spares as mentioned up thread and she was eventually broken up in July 1985.

​​​​​https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....68fc389649.jpg

Young Cargo Britannia OO-YCG at London Stansted Airport on the 05 June 1977. It was XM498 in RAF service. After OO-YCG it became EL-LWG then 9Q-DCT before being broken up in Kinshasa, Zaire.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f827fc4a4d.jpg


Lokwyr 13th Apr 2020 22:14

Am I the oldest Stanstead user on the forum?
Departed there in Feb 1954 for Cyprus. Was scheduled for a York but we were told it had an engine fire. The eventual replacement was a brand new Hermes. With Nose Landing Gear!!
The "terminal" was a shed, with duckboards laid across the mud to the hard standing where the aircraft awaited. In the rain. And dark.
I don't remember the airline; it was a trooping flight. The only things I recall- jumping in the aisle to see if the aircraft would overtake me before I landed and the absolutely worst breakfast ever at RAF Luqa. Vile doesn't come near. :eek:

Sotonsean 13th Apr 2020 22:24


Originally Posted by Musket90 (Post 10748931)
Don't think it's been mentioned but Rich International operated DC8's in mid 80's. I think one of my previous DC8-50 photos was this operator. Mostly silver with blue and red cheat lines but no titles. I have slide of DC8-62 from summer 1984 with similar livery but with "RI" on tail fin which confirms it.

I don't have a photo at hand of a Rich International DC8 at London Stansted Airport wearing their full colour scheme but I've attached a photo of a former Braniff International DC8-62 N810BN still wearing it's original owner's colours with the addition of the Rich International titles.

Capitol Airlines we're still frequent visitor's to London Stansted Airport in the early to mid eighties with this example taken in 1985.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ba5f145f66.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e35f745e21.jpg

Sotonsean 13th Apr 2020 22:35


Originally Posted by BSD (Post 10747621)
When Transmeridian introduced the DC-8 Mike Keegan bought an ex Aliatalia DC-8 (RR Conway powered) which only had 200 hours left on it. Bought very cheaply, it was used for crew training and then stripped of serviceable components and left by the fire station. Not before however a “company jolly” outing took place - a day trip to Ostend. TFK took the left hand seat himself IIRC.
The TMAC engineers reckoned it was in tremendous nick and had high praise for Alitalia engineering.

I've just uploaded a photo of the former African Safari Airlines DC8-33 G-BETJ (ex PH-DCD, 5Y-ASA).

But considering that there are not many photos of the Transmeridian Air Cargo (TMAC) aircraft at London Stansted Airport here on the Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia thread here is a fine example

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....abeff4dcf6.jpg

And a few other examples.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d614998f40.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f30e7092d4.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c13ac0a22b.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ea0d3ed893.jpg



Canadair4 13th Apr 2020 22:36

I have photos from Stansted in the 1960s which I will post when allowed to post, as I am a new member I understand I need to wait to post any photos.

Sotonsean 13th Apr 2020 22:50


Originally Posted by STN Ramp Rat (Post 10749045)
to be fair, the financial crisis of 2007/8 had a big hand in it whatever other issues might have been in the background.

Sure the financial crisis of 2007/08 had a big hand in it whatever other issues might have been in the background but Maxjet declared bankruptcy on the 24 December 2007 with EOS Airlines declaring bankruptcy on the 26 April 2008.

American Airlines announced at the end of April 2008 that New York JFK to London Stansted Airport would cease.

The financial crisis had a huge impact on EOS Airlines and Maxjet with both declaring bankruptcy. With the lack of demand and the fact that two airline's serving the market from London Stansted Airport had completely disappeared there was no need for American Airlines to continue serving the airport.

Job done to a certain extent as the far stronger, far bigger, far richer airline won at the end of the day and did what it intended to do in the first place. There was a certain degree of dirty tricks in play but I wouldn't claim that it was totally down to that but it was due to the fact that American Airlines probably didn't see London Stansted Airport as part of their bigger plans at the time regardless of what they may have said publicly.

Hopefully once the world's economies pick up again we might even see American Airlines eventually return to London Stansted Airport at some point, a case of being third time lucky next time I guess 😉

Sotonsean 13th Apr 2020 23:02


Originally Posted by Lokwyr (Post 10749097)
Am I the oldest Stanstead user on the forum?
Departed there in Feb 1954 for Cyprus. Was scheduled for a York but we were told it had an engine fire. The eventual replacement was a brand new Hermes. With Nose Landing Gear!!
The "terminal" was a shed, with duckboards laid across the mud to the hard standing where the aircraft awaited. In the rain. And dark.
I don't remember the airline; it was a trooping flight. The only things I recall- jumping in the aisle to see if the aircraft would overtake me before I landed and the absolutely worst breakfast ever at RAF Luqa. Vile doesn't come near. :eek:

Airwork London and Hunting Clan we're both using Hermes on trooping flights during the fifties so the aircraft could have belonged to either.

In 1960, Hunting Clan Air Transport merged with the Airwork group to form British United Airways (BUA).

​​​​​​Just to add and hoping that it's a typo but it's STANSTED never Stanstead 😉.

Here is a photo of an Airwork Airways Hermes G-ALDO at Blackbushe Airport in 1952.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0c6ff346aa.jpg

SpringHeeledJack 14th Apr 2020 08:53


American Airlines we're offering some decent fares on New York JFK to London Stansted Airport and the business cabin did well as the airline was targeting the financial sector in the City of London and Canary Wharf.
I used this service during it's existence mainly due to the cheaper price (than LHR) and despite the faff of getting to STN on the then less than stellar train service, it was worth it. As I was already a member of AA's frequent flyer program, it made sense. The Maxjet and EOS seemed to be only for the 'City Boys' to flit between London and Wall Street, especially with their pricing structure.

Those photos from the fire dump etc bringing back memories strongly, thanks!

BSD 14th Apr 2020 11:24


Originally Posted by SpringHeeledJack (Post 10749430)
I used this service during it's existence mainly due to the cheaper price (than LHR) and despite the faff of getting to STN on the then less than stellar train service, it was worth it. As I was already a member of AA's frequent flyer program, it made sense. The Maxjet and EOS seemed to be only for the 'City Boys' to flit between London and Wall Street, especially with their pricing structure.

Those photos from the fire dump etc bringing back memories strongly, thanks!

Sotonsean,

Love the TMAC photos. Never saw that many -44s together on the ramp, but seeing the IAS sticker on the fuselage of the nearest one, I suspect this must have been taken when the company went bust. G-AZIN looking particularly grubby!

treadigraph 14th Apr 2020 11:32

Only saw Skymonster the once at Gatwick. TMAC had a great scheme...

dixi188 14th Apr 2020 15:20

The CL44 Guppy is still parked at Bournemouth.

22/04 14th Apr 2020 15:56

Sure this may have been mentioned before but G-AZIN is in a basic BAF colour scheme. I remember it operating from Stansted on a BAF flight probably in 1972. I think flights from there (IIRC the one I saw depart was to Ostend) only lasted a season.

There is BAF vehicle in the background together with what looks like a DC4 or DC6 forward section.


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