Nostalgia at BHX

[Elmdon80slad]

I used to know a few spotters from about 1978 - 1984 in 1983 I went on a spotting weekend with a few of the regulars (shout out if its you) we went in a hired out transit van/bus and did the whold of East Anglia and came back via Luton etc, it was fun one night camping in the forest under the approach lights at Mildenhall, we went for a few jars first in a pub down the road from the base, I remember we all hope to be woken by a Blackbird departure, but alas - no, we did a good swave of Nothfolk then camped not far from Bentwaters.Woodbridge.
It was a great adventure and a lot of registrations went in my book both Civvy, Mil and wrecks and relics.

E.

 

[wolfheze]

To be honest, I like both colour schemes. My first flight was aboard a BEA Airtours Comet 4B, wearing the 'Speedjack' colour scheme (as can be seen from a photo I posted previously, showing me descending the steps) -

Obviously, this colour scheme has significant memories for me. I can still remember looking out over that red wing, and watching the airbrakes operate.
My personal opinion, is that the 'red square' best suited the prop driven aeroplanes, whilst the 'speedjack' was more suited to the jet aircraft. The swept lines of the logo matching the swept wings and tails.

Incidentally, the little case that I was carrying was from Matchbox. It was dark blue and made in a padded plastic. Internally, it had sections to store individual Matchbox cars. Does anyone else remember these?

Also, does anyone else remember seeing the 'BEA Scottish Airways' Viscounts at BHX ?

Kevin

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332280646920

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Cheers Wolfheze!

Very nice, but somewhat expansive. I have an Airfix DH Comet 4B in the same BEA Airtours colour scheme waiting to be built (not that I've built an Airfix model since I was a kid).
Also, some years ago, I ventured into an antiques shop in St Ives Cambridgeshire and saw a metal model of a Comet I (about 5 to 6 inches long) in BOAC colours. I so, so ,so wish I'd bought it. Oh well!

Kevin

 

[wolfheze]

Ah, the Airfix Comet. Was one of the models we searched in vain for. Along with the Vanguard, Caravelle, One eleven and VC10 which despite being in the Airfix catalogue were unavailable at the time. Many years later I found a Caravelle but ended up chucking it away when the decals broke up when they were applied. As unlucky Alf would say, oh bugger!

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Ah, the Airfix Comet. Was one of the models we searched in vain for. Along with the Vanguard, Caravelle, One eleven and VC10 which despite being in the Airfix catalogue were unavailable at the time. Many years later I found a Caravelle but ended up chucking it away when the decals broke up when they were applied. As unlucky Alf would say, oh bugger!

I remember having the Frog Comet and Caravelle, These were somewhat bigger than Airfix products (1/100th scale compared to Airfix 1/144th?). I certainly liked them at the time.
I recently visited a model show and picked up the Airfix One-Eleven in BCAL colours. The weird thing is that the wing fence is moulded almost as far out as the ailerons, when it should be inboard of the landing lights. Some work ahead, me thinks!

Kevin

 

[wolfheze]

I remember having the Frog Comet and Caravelle, These were somewhat bigger than Airfix products (1/100th scale compared to Airfix 1/144th?). I certainly liked them at the time.
I recently visited a model show and picked up the Airfix One-Eleven in BCAL colours. The weird thing is that the wing fence is moulded almost as far out as the ailerons, when it should be inboard of the landing lights. Some work ahead, me thinks!

Kevin

The One Eleven nose is also a long way out, far too rounded. I think like the Concorde airfix based the model on a prototype aircraft.

 

[elmdon74]

Hi all,found a few prints from my old albums which I have scanned and edited,quality is not great as they are only 3 inches square but might bring back a few memories!

EC-BQA ? Summer 1975

G-ASPL June 1977

EI-ASB June 1977 partial VASP C/S

D-ABEY 737-100 10 Nov 78 LHR Diversion

G-AZMF April 1979

April 1979 PH-NZD S-61N

April 1979 BAF Herald G-BEYF

Sept 1979 Air Malta 707 G-TJAB

Nov 1979 Sabeliner 60 N9NR

June 1980 Brit Air Bandeirante F-GBLE

30 Jan 1981 BA Tristar G-BEAL LHR Diversion amongst a record 59 others and our first 747 divvy.I chose this day to go spotting at Gatwick which was totally fogbound,could just about see a Delta Tristar tail on the closest stand to the viewing deck.Gave up and came home to find BHX rammed with planes parked everywhere.It was just before sunset and this was the only picture that came out in the failing light!
Regards,Simon.

 

[58terminus]

Like the photo of the chap in front of the Lufthansa 737.Looks like he is just out for a stroll hands in pockets oblivious
to his surroundings.

 

[wolfheze]

Brilliant thanks! Didn't ever see the hybrid aer lingus 737 although to be honest we didn't visit the airport as much during the summer months because as a rule you would only see things you had seen many times before. I remember seeing the lufthansa 737 on the 10th of November 78 along with a few others (airtours 707, monarch super one eleven?) but it was a week day so should have been at school .
Regarding the tristar, I am still quite sure I saw tristars and 747s on a snow covered Elmdon earlier than 81, probably 79 on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

 

[wolfheze]

Just had a quick look through logs to blogs. It quotes 13 diversions on the 28th of December 1979 but only lists half a dozen types and registrations so am thinking that maybe that was day or evening the BA heavies arrived. The 28th was also a Friday which ties in with my memory of going to the airport on the Saturday morning. Have just realised that seeing the lufthansa 737/100 was what inspired me to cut and shut the Airfix 200 series kit.

 

[elmdon74]

Just dug out my old Airstrip magazines and on 27/12/79 we had G-APEJ Vanguard,G-BDJE 125,G-AXNB 737,EI-ANH 1-11,G-AWZG Trident,G-ARRC 707,G-AVYF Trident,PH-TVH 737 BA,G-BAFZ DA 727,OH-LYP DC9 BMA,HB-ISN DC9,G-BFIH DC9 BMA,HB-ISU DC9,G-BDIU DA Comet,G-ATPL DA 1-11.Regards,Simon.

 

[wolfheze]

Have you got any information for the 28th? .Can remember it like yesterday (well almost). The widebodies were parked on the short runway, on the far side of the intersection as you looked from the viewing lounge .

 

[elmdon74]

Nothing on the 28th but EI-ANH,G-AWZG,G-ARRC,G-AYVF,G-BAFZ,HB-ISU,G-BDIU,G-ATPL all nightstopped so may have been parked up next day.

 

[wolfheze]

This is beginning to send me round the hatrack! Weather was bright and sunny but well below freezing with quite a lot of lying snow from the night before. There were at least 2 747s and 1 tristar or vice versa and maybe a VC10 or two. If only I hadn't binned that C.A.M. book

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Wish I had kept all those CAA logs about a ton and a half worth in weight, and also the folders I condenced the diversions down into - Mr Myatt where are you when you are so needed.


E.

 

[Derwent Dale]

Nothing on the 28th but EI-ANH,G-AWZG,G-ARRC,G-AYVF,G-BAFZ,HB-ISU,G-BDIU,G-ATPL all nightstopped so may have been parked up next day.

This is beginning to send me round the hatrack! Weather was bright and sunny but well below freezing with quite a lot of lying snow from the night before. There were at least 2 747s and 1 tristar or vice versa and maybe a VC10 or two. If only I hadn't binned that C.A.M. book

Just to assist your senior moment - Fri 30JAN81 no snow - see cutting from the Evening Mail next day, where fog was the order of the day - however there were 2 Tristars and a B747 - I was working on the Friday and it was quite remarkable how so many diversions were accepted - helped by many of the foreign carriers dropping pax and positioning out empty and not taking up the limited available parking space then available at Elmdon

Cheers DD

.

 

[wolfheze]

I meant the 28th of December 1979 was from memory snowy. I had stopped spotting by 1981 so wouldn't have been then.
Earlier in the thread 'flymetothemoon ' said he was there on the same day. Come on and help me out mate

 

[flymetothemoon]

I meant the 28th of December 1979 was from memory snowy. I had stopped spotting by 1981 so wouldn't have been then.
Earlier in the thread 'flymetothemoon ' said he was there on the same day. Come on and help me out mate

I defininately was there but sadly i too have got rid of all my logs from that long ago bar one from LHR in
1971! My dad and i used to listen to the radio till the diverts started then jump in the car from Sutton down to the terminal and up the spiral staircase. I'm sure though that it was just after Christmas because i remember
going down to Heathrow that day and seeing nothing but fog,then going on to Gatwick plenty of LHR divertions
then back to BHX to find it full too. I'm sure this is the day in question

 

[Deleted member 8862]

The air-strip magazine would tell you all about diversions for 28 Dec 1979.

Remember though it would probably have been detailed in the text at the beginning of the relevant months BHX news. I haven't got any of mine still around unfortunately or i would gladly look it up for you.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Give this a try - http://bhxovertheyears.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=1980

You can go back and forth through different years.

E.