Birmingham: Airport Nostalgia

[Ianbutty]

I look at images such as the one below (full credit to whoever took it) and often wonder where we would be if both the T1 piers had been kept and the Eurohub had been built further south, roughly where the car hire area/car park is now 🤔

How much of that photo has changed. Given what Eurohub is now locating in further to the south east would work. At the time, of course, it was a true hub of a true hub and spoke airport and I suppose, proximity was everything.

Great photo that reminds us how barren the whole area was at that time.

 

[JENNYJET]

I look at images such as the one below (full credit to whoever took it) and often wonder where we would be if both the T1 piers had been kept and the Eurohub had been built further south, roughly where the car hire area/car park is now 🤔

Short termism and penny pinching, I fear, played a large part in the stagnation that I frequently moan about Sir Raymond! Not incorporating the Elmdon part into the main airport was, in my view, a missed opportunity for a domestic terminal, but an excellent question all the same.

 

[Ianbutty]

I look at images such as the one below (full credit to whoever took it) and often wonder where we would be if both the T1 piers had been kept and the Eurohub had been built further south, roughly where the car hire area/car park is now 🤔

Looking again at the photo and Jenny's comment, if the NEC, Airport and environs had been planned with the very long term in mind - as all areas should - then the whole area between the railway, A45 and the current aprons would be within the airport and that reflected the needs of the NEC as well - car parking, services, hotels etc. Thep space for growth would have been unlimited to meet demand. The airport is kind of hemmed in now.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Looking again at the photo and Jenny's comment, if the NEC, Airport and environs had been planned with the very long term in mind - as all areas should - then the whole area between the railway, A45 and the current aprons would be within the airport and that reflected the needs of the NEC as well - car parking, services, hotels etc. Thep space for growth would have been unlimited to meet demand. The airport is kind of hemmed in now.

It would have been ideal if they'd sunk the railway and integrated a new station into the terminal building whilst still keeping connectivity to the NEC.

I imagine the costs would have been eye watering though.

 

[Timberwolf]

Yes and then they built industrial units over the other side of the rail line.Knocking the final nail in for airport expansion that side.

 

[G-MANS]

Can anyone remember the security arrangements pre-2010 and the "One Terminal" development?

I think they infilled the double height landside Millennium Link to create the new central passenger search area (above what is Costa/Arrivals today). You can see it in the pictures here. I also can't remember what was originally up those escalators?

(2000-2010 Landside Millennium Link)

Post 2010 "One Terminal" with central search above:

Before 2010 there must have been an individual passenger search - one for North and South?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I also can't remember what was originally up those escalators?

I remember there used to be a bar at the top of the escalators (The Blues Bar) but it closed many years ago.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I used to enjoy sitting in that bar watching the aircraft whilst having a beer.

How quickly time flies.

 

[thunderchild]

Was there a little cafe at the top of the stairs at one point? I remember having a really nice panini there once - or was that the bar?

 

[elmdon74]

Hi all,after noticing a few members had been interested in my old BHX historical postings I have decided to start them again when time permits.I stopped doing them mainly due to a protracted house move and also starting to log 50 years of paper logs onto a computer database,done 1975 to 1993,only 30 years to go,which is consuming most of my frre time!.I have included other local airports and some OTT traffic,as well as some interesting aviation news from the time to fill the reports out,as some months are a bit light on BHX visitors.
Birmingham Airport has been given approval for a duty free shop,after a condition that at least 20,000 alien or Commonwealth passengers should depart to foreign destinations each year has been met.Total passenger numbers for 1973 were 1,181,687.The shop is included in a £250,000 improvement scheme to the existing terminal.Services are slowly getting back to normal as the fuel shortage situation eases.The Arab-Israeli war of October 73 caused an oil embargo by the Middle East producers to the U.S. Europe and Japan causing oil prices to quadruple overnight,leading to shortages and many flight cancellations,until the embargo was lifted in April 74.The BMA service to LHR was cancelled during this period.
Movement highlights,
3/1 WF427 VARSITY RAF,G-BAVX HERALD BMA,G-AOYN VISCOUNT CAMBRIAN DIV
4/1 G-AOHM VISCOUNT BEA DIV
5/1 G-AXAI CARVAIR BAF DUS-SEN
6/1 SE-GAE PA31
7/1 EC-CAE CARAVELLE AVIACO F/T PMI AND 21/1,XV203 C130 RAF KINLOSS -LYENHAM
8/1 G-AVRM,BADR 737 BY DIVS,G-AZNB VIS BMA DIV
9/1 HB-GDU KING AIR HB-IFO DC9 SR LHR DIV,G-ARPF,ARPJ,ARPN,ARPR,AVFM,AWZN,AWZP,AWZU,AWZW TRIDENTS BEA LHR DIVS,G-APEJ,APEO VANGUARDS BES LHR DIVS,G-ASPL HS748 DA DIV,G-AVRN,AXNB,BADP 737 BY LTN DIV,G-AZNX B720 MON LTN DIV,EI-ASB 737 DIV
10/1 EI-AWM BN2 AER ARANN N/S,XV109 C130 RAF MAN-HAJ N/S,D-ILKA KING AIR
12/1 XM496 BRITANNIA RAF
14/1 G-AXOY VANGUARD INVICTA LTN-HAJ DIV
17/1 G-AVDX HS125 CAA F/T STN
18/1 EC-ARI CARAVELLE AVIACO F/T PMI
21/1 XP826 BEAVER AAC WILDENRATH-BFS
22/1 RM-7(OT-ZAG) PEMBROKE BELGIAN A/F F/T BRU
23/1 F-BLLU MARQUIS,RM-2(OT-ZAB) PEMBROKE F/T BRU
24/1 PH-NAZ SENECA F/T LGW,SE-EON TWIN COM. JER-DONCASTER
25/1 EC-EXU CARAVELLE AVIACO F/T PMI
27/1 G-APER VANGUARD BEA DIV
28/1 XR378 ALOUETTE F/T NETHERAVON,EC-BIF CARAVELLE AVIACO,LN-KCM PA31 ZONE TRANSIT TO EMA
29/1 4X-FPN C.97 ISRAELI A/F ZONE TRANSIT TO UPPER HEYFORD,OO-LBW CESSNA 310 F/T BRU
31/1 PH-OGB F.27 LIMBURG A/L,D-INHH CITATION,F-BUYI FALCON 20
ILS TRAFFIC
9/1 WJ901 VARSITY RAF.XV107 VC10 RAF
15/1 G-ARDE DOVE
Summer I.T. flights to be operated by Cyprus A/W Tridents,SAM Caravelle,Aviaco Caravelle,Air Spain DC8,Spantax CV990,Aviogenex TU134,JAT DC9.

East Midlands highlights,
21/12/73 CF-PWK C130 PACIFIC WESTERN
24/12/73 G-BAAB L1011 COURT LINE
1/1/74 G-ANCD BRITANNIA F/T LGW
2/1/74 N7984S C130 SOUTHERN AIR AND 30/1
10/1 EI-AWM BN2,N17ST C130 SATURN
17/1 G-AGJV DC3 NWI-ABZ AIR ANGLIA
18/1 N93 CV240 FAA F/T FRA
23/1 N12ST C130 SATURN
Coventry,
Interesting arrival was Constellation N7777G on 18/1 on 3 engines.It had an pretty shady background as it landed in AMS on 5/12/73 also on 3 engines.After servicing by KLM it stayed until 12/12,meanwhile the pilot/owner Lansair had done a bunk with 50,000 Dutch Guilders,an advance payment for a fruit flight.
17/1 G-AGYZ DC3 AIR FREIGHT ASHFORD-BRU
26/1 G-AMPO DC3 FIELD AIRCRAFT SEN-BFS
30/1 PH-MAT F28 MARTINAIR F/T AMS

OTT Midlands,
2/1 9K-ACP AERO COMMANDER HON TO LGW,707 VP-BDE DTY-LIC/E
3/1 FAF NORATLAS F-RAQM DTY-BPK
6/1 USN C-18B 152687 LIC/E-POL,I-DEMU AZ 747 BPK-POL
7/1 BELGIAN A/F DC6 OT-CDF DTY-HON
8/1 D-COSA HANSA DTY-LIC TO WARTON
9/1 AIR JAMAICA DC8 6Y-JGG DTY-LIC/E,STERLING 098 SE210 OY-STD DTY-WOD SVG-ABZ-LBG
10/1 N94480 CV440 HON-STF EX JAT FROM LHR
12/1 1-11 N221CN BPK-POL EX LANICA
13/1 USAF C5A 00455 LIC/E-WAL MLD-DOVER
15/1 USAF C5A 90026 MLD-LIC/E
18/1 5A-DEA BN2 DTY-LIC TO MAN
19/1 HOWARD 500 N500BY LIC-DTY TO LHR,B720 OD-AGE MEA LIC-DTY DELIVERY TO LHR
20/1 CF-KAE DC4 LIC/E-DTY KEF-WEVELGEM,G-BSST CONCORDE LIC/E-DTY TO FAIRFORD
21/1 TWIN OTTER TZ-ACH DTY-WOD DELIVERY TO HURN
22/1 USN C-118B 131599 STF-WAL
23/1 EP-IRN 707 IRAN AIR BPK-POL,N9262R C130 ALASKA DTY TO ORLY
24/1 HANSA D-CITO DTY TO CGN,N12ST C130 SATURN DTY TO ORLY
29/1 IDFAF C-97 4X-FPN HON STAFFORD
BELGIAN A/F PEMBROKE OT-ZAG LIC/E-DTY
Other bits of news were Charles de Gaulle Airport was set to open on 20/3/74,and the first round-the -world package holiday flight by British Airtours left LGW on 26/1/74 with 150 pax.Routing was Tehran,Delhi,Colombo,Singapore,Bangkok,Hong Kong,Guam,Nandi,Auckland,Pago Pago,HNL,Mexico City and Bermuda,costing £1,098 !

Hope you find it interesting,regards,Simon.

view my aviation photographs at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/antonov22/albums

 

[Scottie Dog]

Whilst not an Elmdon enthusiast I do appreciate your dedication and fully understand the problem of trying to catch up on old logs. It's bad enough for me when I fall 3 months behind on my Manchester files.

 

[G-MANS]

I look at images such as the one below (full credit to whoever took it) and often wonder where we would be if both the T1 piers had been kept and the Eurohub had been built further south, roughly where the car hire area/car park is now 🤔

At the time I think there was a plan to put Eurohub south of the existing small pier where the grass is on the right of that picture (the domestic pier?). That's according to this 1993 paper. In the end we know the smaller pier was replaced entirely by Eurohub.



Option B was I think to the left of that picture, then called the "CTA Apron". CTA arrivals are still there to this day of course on the new pier.

I'm trying to figure out when the main terminal was expanded to include a new single jet bridge out of the back on to the CTA apron. Some time between 1984 and 1991 when Eurohub opened. You can see it on the left of this picture, a glass building with an Aer Lingus Fokker 50 parked next to it.

 

[Westland Wessex HC2]

Surely, if flying from BHX to Maastricht, at this time, you would have a tailwind.

It was there and back 5 nights a week, I should have said 🙂

It used to be the XP Trislander if anyone remembers that?

 

[elmdon74]

LOG/INFO BHX/EMA/CVT Feb 1974 and OTT

BHX,
Beagle Pup G-AXCX suffered a nose wheel collpse on landing 29/1,temporary replacement was G-AXNO.
Visitors,
1/2 D-INHH CIT 500 N/S to DUS,XT202 SIOUX AAC
4/2 F-BLKE NORD 262 F/T BRS,RM-6/OT-ZAF PEMBROKE F/T BRU
5/2 F-BINE KING AIR,PH-NIR QUEEN AIR,EI-AWL CHEROKEE,N57108 RC690A,LTN DIV G-AOVT BRIT OM,EMA DIV G-AZNA VISCOUNT BMA
6/2 F-BNTZ C411,MAN DIV G-APEM VANGUARD,G-AVMP 1-11 BA
7/2 5N-AEM AZTEC,RM-2/OT-ZAB PEMBROKE F/T BRU,D-ILKA KING AIR
8/2 SE-EZY PA31,XT176 SIOUX
11/2 N80WT AZTEC,LHR DIVS G-AOHM,AOHO,AOHW,AOJD,AOJF VISCOUNTS BEA,BRS DIV G-AVRO 737 BY
12/2 XT126,XT197 SIOUX,G-BAZG 737 BY NEW F/T PMI,F-BHRX CARAVELLE AF MAN-PARIS
15/2 EC-AXU CARAVELLE AO F/T PMI,OY-BDS FALCON 20 DANFOSS
17/2 N805CC GULF 2 GANDER-PARIS
18/2 EC-BIE CARAVELLE AO TECH
19/2 EC-ARX CARAVELLE AO REPLACED ABOVE
20/2 F-BNTS AZTEC.N429JX GII FROM PARIS N/S,XR373 ALOUETTE AAC,64-13730 UH-1D US ARMY
21/2 PH-NLR QUEEN AIR AMS-PERSHORE,MAN DIV G-ARMW HS748 DA
22/2 EC-AXU CARAVELLE AO F/T PMI
24/2 XW788 DOMINIE NHT-BFS,G-BAXG HS125 F/T LHR
25/2 EC-ATX CARAVELLE F/T PMI,BRS DIV G-BAZH 737 BY
28/2 PH-WOU C414 RTM-CHESTER
ILS TRAFFIC,
XS476,XS478 JETSTREAM RAFXS735 DOMINIE
12/2 G-AVRG HS125 F/T LTN
21/2 G-ARHX DOVE F/T LEAVESDEN
25/2 LX-SIM CHEROKEE F/T OXF

EMA,
Viscount G-BBVH arrived 8/2 from CWL in New Zealand Airways Corp c/s.Herald G-ASVO first flight in BMA c/s on 20/2 and G-ATIG inside hangar awaiting attention.Alidair Viscount G-ASED has lost its tail logo and is for Arkia.Dakotas G-AMHJ and G-AMRA both outside Fields in Site Aviation colours but are believed to be going to Macedonian Airways.
1/2 SE-FKB CESSNA 337 DSA-JER
4/2 G-AXPT SKYVAN FROM BHD
6/2 G-ANTC DAKOTA HUNTING AVN F/T LEAVESDEN
7/2 ZK-DON MAULE BQH-CHESTER,XT132,207,165,176 SIOUX AAC
8/2 N93 CV240/ET-29 FAA UPPER HEYFORD-OPORTO,N94 CV240/ET-29 FAA MLD-FRA
9/2 D-EGZY C182
11/2 G-BAZG 737 BY ALC-PMI
12/2 G-AXWU SKYVAN BFS-LGW,D-IELB C421 F/T FRA
13/2 G-AYBH HS125 HATFIELD-BEG,D-CORF FALCON 20 BADEN BADEN-MAN,N95 CV240/ET-29 MLD-FRA,PH-MAO DC9 MP F/T AMS
14/2 XR603 SCOUT AAC
15/2 N801GA GII GANDER-LHR
18/2 OO-CVM AZTEC
20/2 XG496 DEVON,XV131 SCOUT,OO-DMN C337
21/2 OY-DVL CITATION F/T BLL
22/2 G-AVMK 1-11 BA F/T MAN
24/2 N9232R C130 SOUTHERN A/T,XT814 SIOUX,PH-DNR DC-9 KLM F/T AMS
25/2 XP820 BEAVER,WL671 VARSITY ILS APP
26/2 G-AOVT BRITANNIA OM LTN-BEDFORD,F-BPNO BARON.SE-EFZ AERO COMMANDER
27/2 F-BRPM AZTEC,N9293R C130,G-14-97 SKYVAN
28/2 OO-LFE C340,XT187,XW814 SIOUX

CVT,
Constellation N7777G present all month
1/2 PH-MAT F-28 MP F/T AMS
7/2 G-BARR HS125 LHR-EMA
18/2 G-AZPG DOVE FAIRFLIGHT SEN-CGN
19/2 G-AZSO HERON FAIRFLIGHT BQH-CGN
21/2 G-AROI DOVE FAIRFLIGHT LTN-CGN,RM-6/OT-ZAF PEMBROKE F/T BRU
22/2 RM-12/OT-ZAL PEMBROKE F/T BRU,PH-OGA F-27 LIMBURG F/T RTM,SE-FKB C337 DSA-JER
27/2 OO-EEL B.206

OTT Midlands,
2/2 N5LC 1-11 DTY to LBG
3/2 00448 C-5A DTY-HON EX MLD,BUT RETURNED WAL-DTY TO FRA WITH U/S NAVAIDS.
4/2 N77TM MU2F DTY-WOD TO LGW,KY3/OT-CDC DC6 BELGIAN A/F DTY-HON
5/2 141009 C131F USN LIC/E-PO6/2 50217 C-141
7/2 N516WC JETSTAR BPK-POL,F-RAZD N262 FRENCH A/F LIC/E-DTY,HB-IDN DC-9 BALAIR LIC/E-DTY
10/2 EP-IRM 707 IRAN AIR HON-POL EX LHR
11/2 D-CMAX F20 LIC-DTY
12/2 CF-ROX LEARJET LIC/E-DTY TO LGW& 22/2 LIC/E-DTY TO LGW,KY4/OT-CDF DC6 BELGIAN A/F DTY-LIC/E,60202 C-141
13/2 N1798U DC-9 HAWAIIAN LIC TO LBG GOING TO ITAVIA ON LEASE
14/2 HUSKY 70 C-130H NORWAY A/F DTY-LIC/E,70014 C-141
16/2 50270,60203 C-141
17/2 K10/OT-CWE C-47 BELGIAN A/F DTY TO BLACKPOOL,33303 VC-118A USN DTY-LIC/E
21/2 HB-VDC CIT LIC-DTY,N13GW G2 BPK-POL,OD-AGF B720 MEA DELIVERY TO LHR VIA DTY,G-BBUV COMET DAN AIR DTY-HON
22/2 130324 C-130E CAF DTY PIK-LAHR,60132 C-141
23/2 D-IATD LJ BPK-POL,SX-CBM LJ HON 1930,N94 ET-29 LIC/E-DTY TO MLD,60166 C-141,N6161A DC8-63 AIRLIFT BPK-POL TO PIK
24/2 142257 EA-3B SKYRAIDER USN DTY-MID TO ROTA
28/2 TF-ERR PA31 DTY TO PARIS
25/2 F-BOXV F20 BPK TO WARTON
Regards,Simon.

view my aviation photographs at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/antonov22/albums

 

[Nethercote2019]

Wish they can operate from Eindhoven

Eindhoven…Bring back the BASE ? J31 or was it B1900 ??

 

[mullion]

Jetstream 31, I miss them wonderful airline took my wife and I on educational from Manchester and I lost my wedding ring in in Rotterdam and then when found flew it home for me 2 days later.

 

[TM3]

I used to enjoy sitting in that bar watching the aircraft whilst having a beer.

How quickly time flies.

Going back to the 80s here but I think this bar was a called "the Aviator" , any idea is this is correct?

Also there used to be a full scale model of a vintage aeroplane in the main terminal, Bleriot's cross channel plane maybe?

 

[Scottie Dog]

Eindhoven…Bring back the BASE ? J31 or was it B1900 ??

Business Air Services Eindhoven. I never did get an educational with them, but managed a nice day trip with Suckling on their Dornier 228.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Going back to the 80s here but I think this bar was a called "the Aviator" , any idea is this is correct?

The Aviator rings a bell.

Also there used to be a full scale model of a vintage aeroplane in the main terminal, Bleriot's cross channel plane maybe?

The aircraft was a replica of a 1909 Humber Monoplane.

It's not a model, but a replica of a 1909 Humber Monoplane (i.e. full size and built as close as possible to the original design). It hung there for several years, from the opening of the terminal until the floor was filled in ( I used to see it regularly). I believe that the Humber Monoplane was itself a Bleriot design, built under license. It was originally at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton (on loan to BHX ?), so I don't know if that was where it was returned to.

 

[mullion]

Scottie, Merlyn Suckling was a character see turned up at our office with a big picnic hamper of sandwiches and bottles of wine.