Essendon Airport 1967
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Essendon Airport 1967
Prince Philip Essendon 1967
Essendon Airport 1967
IL18 Transported the Russian Ballet 1967
I took a series of photos when I was an apprentice at TAA. This thread will contain several of them over time
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Good one Propstop. Love old photos. I note your departure off RWY26 in a L188 a few old DC-3s in the back ground where all the car dealers are now.
I also note the overhaul shops where LaManas shopping centre is located. During 1975 I use to go with my dad to the airport and watch aeroplanes.He did
his RPPL in a C150 VH-DTC at a company called Speedair which I can see the same building in Vaughan St where the security car company sits. As a 6yo
I can still hear the Ansett-ANA,TAA B727 100s DC-9-32s and F-27s with their squeaky darts. Fence lines use to be waist high and the car park was full
of Holden HQs. Thanks for the post.
I also note the overhaul shops where LaManas shopping centre is located. During 1975 I use to go with my dad to the airport and watch aeroplanes.He did
his RPPL in a C150 VH-DTC at a company called Speedair which I can see the same building in Vaughan St where the security car company sits. As a 6yo
I can still hear the Ansett-ANA,TAA B727 100s DC-9-32s and F-27s with their squeaky darts. Fence lines use to be waist high and the car park was full
of Holden HQs. Thanks for the post.
Thread Starter
Airforce 1 carrying LBJ Essendon 1967
C141 Starlifter carrying the presidential limo
B707 carrying LBJ press
B707 carrying all the hangers-on
USN Attache transport
Another of the aircraft when LBJ visited DC6B
There was a whole lot of exotic aircraft(for me at the time) visiting Essendon when LBJ flew in. Security was minimal and we were able to look over all aircraft except Airforce 1.
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I believe when Johnston's 707 landed on 26 it cracked the Rwy?
in the 60's us kids used to cross the paddocks to the Nth and leave our bikes with the car parking guy at his little station. Then we would wander round the GA planes to the Nth of the Northen finger unaccompanied! Sometimes the safety officer would stop us to say look but don't touch! The observation deck was like going to heaven for small boys starry eyed, ah the good old days -
in the 60's us kids used to cross the paddocks to the Nth and leave our bikes with the car parking guy at his little station. Then we would wander round the GA planes to the Nth of the Northen finger unaccompanied! Sometimes the safety officer would stop us to say look but don't touch! The observation deck was like going to heaven for small boys starry eyed, ah the good old days -
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I was not quite 8 yo when the Queen came on her first visit and MELBOURNE was aglow in lights. My dad and I did a night flight around the city in a DC3 (with a couple of dozen others). I seem to recall the runways were concrete then?
I may be wrong here, BUT I recall an old (departed) friend from the Essendon Airport Fire Service of the time, saying that they were training at Tulla and were on site there whilst some of LBJ's entourage of aircraft needed to go there for refueling? reloading and take-off? Or have I got the occasion wrong?
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I may be wrong here, BUT I recall an old (departed) friend from the Essendon Airport Fire Service of the time, saying that they were training at Tulla and were on site there whilst some of LBJ's entourage of aircraft needed to go there for refueling? reloading and take-off? Or have I got the occasion wrong?
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A very nice looking 310
A very brave man, at least it is tethered
A brave concept by Avis. One of the pilots was a family friend
I used to enjoy wandering around the GA area as, to me, there was some very interesting aircraft
I may be wrong here, BUT I recall an old (departed) friend from the Essendon Airport Fire Service of the time, saying that they were training at Tulla and were on site there whilst some of LBJ's entourage of aircraft needed to go there for refueling? reloading and take-off? Or have I got the occasion wrong?
I only discovered this when I stayed at the Mantra hotel at Tullamarine, where they have a series of old photos on the wall near the elevators.
I believe when Johnston's 707 landed on 26 it cracked the Rwy?
in the 60's us kids used to cross the paddocks to the Nth and leave our bikes with the car parking guy at his little station. Then we would wander round the GA planes to the Nth of the Northen finger unaccompanied! Sometimes the safety officer would stop us to say look but don't touch! The observation deck was like going to heaven for small boys starry eyed, ah the good old days -
in the 60's us kids used to cross the paddocks to the Nth and leave our bikes with the car parking guy at his little station. Then we would wander round the GA planes to the Nth of the Northen finger unaccompanied! Sometimes the safety officer would stop us to say look but don't touch! The observation deck was like going to heaven for small boys starry eyed, ah the good old days -
The terminal building was always busy; Skybird Aviation, GeeBees, night club at weekends, viewing area always open, little or no issues getting out onto the apron which was always full of GA. You could open up with a pump action shottie these days and be unlikely to hit anything with wings
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The slides are a mixture of Kodachrome and Ektachrome but unfortunately, like me, have deteriorated with age. I will continue to post some more later on.
The E-W runway had been completed early '67 and was being used for training from about April onwards.
In fact QANTAS had made application (January '67) to use the E-W runway for commercial flights as of the 1st April '67, but this was rejected as DCA felt it would slow the completion of the N-S runway and construction of terminal buildings etc. They applied again (May '67) requesting to commence international flights at Tulla in April of '68, but again were rejected as it would hinder the completion of the terminals etc.
Edit to add: Not sure when the N-S runway was completed, but in Feb '67 the timetable was for completion of it and over 9 miles of taxiway by the end of that year.
Top thread. Great pix. Love all that earlier, freer days stuff.
I'll have to dig out some... have one of the Dart powered Handley Page 'Herald' visiting for possible sales.
I'll have to dig out some... have one of the Dart powered Handley Page 'Herald' visiting for possible sales.
Re Nice 310.
The C310 was WRG. It went missing between Broken Hill and Mildura in 1973. There was an extensive search that lasted about 7 days, and found under a tree. I think the opinion was that it got caught in a CB. Very unhappy ending.
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Yep LBJ in 1966 and then late Dec 67 for Harold Holt funeral.
The E-W runway had been completed early '67 and was being used for training from about April onwards.
In fact QANTAS had made application (January '67) to use the E-W runway for commercial flights as of the 1st April '67, but this was rejected as DCA felt it would slow the completion of the N-S runway and construction of terminal buildings etc. They applied again (May '67) requesting to commence international flights at Tulla in April of '68, but again were rejected as it would hinder the completion of the terminals etc.
Edit to add: Not sure when the N-S runway was completed, but in Feb '67 the timetable was for completion of it and over 9 miles of taxiway by the end of that year.
The E-W runway had been completed early '67 and was being used for training from about April onwards.
In fact QANTAS had made application (January '67) to use the E-W runway for commercial flights as of the 1st April '67, but this was rejected as DCA felt it would slow the completion of the N-S runway and construction of terminal buildings etc. They applied again (May '67) requesting to commence international flights at Tulla in April of '68, but again were rejected as it would hinder the completion of the terminals etc.
Edit to add: Not sure when the N-S runway was completed, but in Feb '67 the timetable was for completion of it and over 9 miles of taxiway by the end of that year.
as a side note I started with Mobil Oil at the JUHI depot in 1980 ten years after Tulla opened, the whole fuel system was behind the eight ball from day one as when the drome was drawn up the hydrants & gates where designed around the B707/ DC8's of the day, the 'Jumbo jets' where not originally catered for! At the international gates every second gate was decommissioned after a while, the hydrants where repositioned, much overtime was gained, oh the rorts where plentiful...lolol
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Thanks for the info Alan -
as a side note I started with Mobil Oil at the JUHI depot in 1980 ten years after Tulla opened, the whole fuel system was behind the eight ball from day one as when the drome was drawn up the hydrants & gates where designed around the B707/ DC8's of the day, the 'Jumbo jets' where not originally catered for! At the international gates every second gate was decommissioned after a while, the hydrants where repositioned, much overtime was gained, oh the rorts where plentiful...lolol
as a side note I started with Mobil Oil at the JUHI depot in 1980 ten years after Tulla opened, the whole fuel system was behind the eight ball from day one as when the drome was drawn up the hydrants & gates where designed around the B707/ DC8's of the day, the 'Jumbo jets' where not originally catered for! At the international gates every second gate was decommissioned after a while, the hydrants where repositioned, much overtime was gained, oh the rorts where plentiful...lolol
As you said re the JUHI fiasco - we were testing one of the first mobile hydrants trucks - designed in a hurry for the increased flow rates - couldn't get it to work. QANTAS were training with 707s, BOAC VC10s had started schedules along with some other internationals.
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DCA F27 used for airways calibration amongst other things
HS 125 A few days after this photo was taken it got a belly rub from a runway
Carvair, the piston engined jumbo
I am in lockdown at home and, as a captive audience, being made to catch up on things I have been 'too busy to do'. Have managed to sneak away and post some more items. These are very fond memories of a nicer period in aviation.
I feel for each and every one of you who have been stood down, or simply made redundant with nowhere to go. If it will help please PM me, aviation is just one big family and I am a good listener. Stay safe!
Last edited by Propstop; 25th Mar 2020 at 01:14. Reason: Spelling