Birmingham: Airport Nostalgia

[TheLocalYokel]

Those were the days when flying was something that was not taken for granted but where you were all treated with respect.

I can certainly empathise with that. Flying these days is a means of mass transport and most people in the 'developed world' do so.

There was a time on every flight when you would meet people who had never flown before such was its rarity value for the majority then. That was certainly true as recently as the 1980s although by then more and more people were flying, especially for leisure purposes.

I used to enjoy flying off on holiday. I regarded the flight as part of the holiday. I no longer do. These days I find flying is increasingly a hassle and my wife and I have been taking more train holidays in recent years, although getting through the formalities at St Pancras and Gare du Nord at busy times can also be an unpleasant experience.

The so-called Golden Age of Air Travel - when was it?: the 50s, 60s.70s? Or did it never exist at all? If it did exist I don't think it will return.

 

[Derwent Dale]

FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY - Wednesday 10th December 1969 - From the Evening Mail on the 11th.View attachment 15593

 

[wolfheze]

Would have been a fantastic day for spotters.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY - Wednesday 10th December 1969 - From the Evening Mail on the 11th.View attachment 15593

I remember my Dad taking me to BHX when I was very young and seeing the short runway full of parked airliners. I would have been 5 back in 1969 and I had already developed an interest in aviation by then, so it could have been that event. I can certainly remember lots of BEA aircraft but seeem to recall some BOAC (VC-10, B707) as well.

Kevin

 

[thunderchild]

A bit of nostalgia...my first ever flight, just a shame I don’t remember it!
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[JENNYJET]

Well, I never knew Orion used widebody aircraft and looks fabulous, good start to the day. Thank you Thunderchild.

 

[Karl C]

Great pic. I remember these going to Palma and Heraklion amongst others 👍 🙂

 

[hay677]

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When I first saw this (never heard of Orion) my instant reaction was Boeing 707. Then I noticed it had lost some engines!

 

[rollo]

Never heard of Orion blimey? you make me feel old. They were a substantial airline part of Horizon Holidays a major holiday company back in the day operating 737 -200s and later A300s as well bought from Lufthansa.

They were East Mids based and a big player in the UK particularly at MAN and BHX also Gatwick I think. They were taken over by the Thomson group and the airline absorbed into Brittania Airways the rest is history.

 

[JENNYJET]

Would have liked the Dreamliner in Britannia colours!

 

[HPsauce]

I thought Orion's livery was fabulous in that era. They operated 737- 300's. A real blow when Thomson bought them up. A huge variety of operators and their schemes back in the 1980's.

 

[hay677]

Never heard of Orion blimey?

I remember airlines which were around for a long time like Britannia, but I see Orion only existed for 10 years - I must have blinked then.

 

[thunderchild]

A few more...the Britannia one just for you @JENNYJET

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[rollo]

I thought Orion's livery was fabulous in that era. They operated 737- 300's. A real blow when Thomson bought them up. A huge variety of operators and their schemes back in the 1980's.

Yes Orion did operate 737- 300s checking back but originally started up with the 200 series and I remember them making a big thing about receiving the 737th 737 from Boeing, they ended up with quite a few eventually well double figures anyway.

 

[JENNYJET]

I remember boarding a BA Concorde special BHX-CDG, in Landor, early morning around 07:00, could it be that day the photo was captured? And how Birmingham used to be with AA, BA and Continental all with long haul equipment and an exotic...what days!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Never heard of Orion blimey? you make me feel old. They were a substantial airline part of Horizon Holidays a major holiday company back in the day operating 737 -200s and later A300s as well bought from Lufthansa.

They were East Mids based and a big player in the UK particularly at MAN and BHX also Gatwick I think. They were taken over by the Thomson group and the airline absorbed into Brittania Airways the rest is history.

We flew with Orion on a Horizon holiday in October 1985. We went to Faro from Bristol.

The outbound flight was operated by a Boeng 737-300, the first time I'd flown on a 300-series. During the flight I managed to get onto the flight deck and spent an interesting 15 minutes chatting with the pilots. The captain was sitting back smoking a pipe and the young first officer did most of the explaining to me. I think he was joking - I hope he was - when he said that when they begin their take-off roll on BRS's runway 27 they hope the end is clear because they can't see over the hill.

The return was operated by a Boeing 737-200 series, with a notice painted on the side of the fuselage, or was it on the door, that it was the 737th Boeing 737 built. I've never been a spotter so don't know the registration but I remember the notice.

Thank you for these memories, thunderchild. Incidentally, your user name doesn't stem from your being born in a thunderstorm does it? I ask because our daughter (50 this year) was born with the thunder rolling and lightning flashing.

 

[Matt995]

We flew with Orion on a Horizon holiday in October 1985. We went to Faro from Bristol.

The outbound flight was operated by a Boeng 737-300, the first time I'd flown on a 300-series. During the flight I managed to get onto the flight deck and spent an interesting 15 minutes chatting with the pilots. The captain was sitting back smoking a pipe and the young first officer did most of the explaining to me. I think he was joking - I hope he was - when he said that when they begin their take-off roll on BRS's runway 27 they hope the end is clear because they can't see over the hill.

The return was operated by a Boeing 737-200 series, with a notice painted on the side of the fuselage, or was it on the door, that it was the 737th Boeing 737 built. I've never been a spotter so don't know the registration but I remember the notice.

Thank you for these memories, thunderchild. Incidentally, your user name doesn't stem from your being born in a thunderstorm does it? I ask because our daughter (50 this year) was born with the thunder rolling and lightning flashing.

The 737th 737 built was G-BHVI, this was the first aircraft I flew on out of BHX, went to MAH on Orion Airways, around 1983/1984! Also flew a few years later on KG869/70 , BHX-TFS and back, flew on G-BKHO both ways, and on take off from BHX the cockpit door flew open, the latch had failed, and had a good few straight intot the cockpit for the flight!

 

[hay677]

Seeing that Air Force One pic reminded me of maybe the most awesome old-time event I can remember of BHX (no pics I'm afraid). I was out near Barston, which happens to be under the flight path for 33, when a huge dark shape drifted slowly low overhead - a USAF Lockheed Galaxy which I believe was in preparation for the visit of Pres. Clinton though not his actual flight. I'd love to see any pics from either flight.

 

[thunderchild]

Thank you for these memories, thunderchild. Incidentally, your user name doesn't stem from your being born in a thunderstorm does it? I ask because our daughter (50 this year) was born with the thunder rolling and lightning flashing.

Not that I’m aware of!

 

[thunderchild]

I remember boarding a BA Concorde special BHX-CDG, in Landor, early morning around 07:00, could it be that day the photo was captured? And how Birmingham used to be with AA, BA and Continental all with long haul equipment and an exotic...what days!

I could be wrong but I think this was a charter flight bringing Golfers to the Belfry.