Birmingham: Airport Nostalgia

[Kevin Farnell]

I think we can allow Simon the occasionally overlooked diversion. But when you say

18 December 1972 - G-AXNC B737 Briannia A/W, EMA div to PMI.

I assume that it was your flight back from PMI. Did it divert to BHX or EMA?
Hoping you had a great honeymoon and have many treasured memories.

Kevin

 

[Seasider]

We should have flown from EMA, which was fogbound. The return flight on 22 December landed at EMA.

 

[HPsauce]

A great effort Simon. Happy days!. I can well remember checking for the chances of fog, particularly in the London area. We often got the occasional exotic diversion, and hoardes of BEA and BOAC ( British Airways these days), plus assorted charter airlines of the time. The small runway as it was known (06/24) would be nose to tail with aircraft.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I can well remember checking for the chances of fog, particularly in the London area.

I remember doing the same. Once I'd got my driving licence, if there was any hint of fog down south, I'd be awake at about 6am and listening to VOLMET main and VOLMET north and south, along with several OPS frequencies. If aircraft were diverting or in the hold, I'd be out of bed and off like a scalded cat. Driving in fog never seemed to bother me, even on the M6.
I recall on one occasion, I'd met up with a friend in the viewing lounge. We were listening to the BHX frequencies when this very heavily Russian accented voice called up that they were diverting to BHX. It was a Heavylift Cargo IL-76 and great to see at BHX.

Kevin

 

[elmdon74]

Looks like I was there aswell! 2nd Feb 1992 diverted from STN,not a good picture as scanned from the original.Regards,Simon.

 

[JENNYJET]

I have recently seen picturs on WIKI of BCAL aircraft at BHX. Can anyone ever recall being there?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I have recently seen picturs on WIKI of BCAL aircraft at BHX. Can anyone ever recall being there?

Yes, Ive been at BHX on several occasions when BCAL DC-10's and B747's have diverted in.

On one occasion, a BCAL B747 had diverted in due to fog at LGW. The fog began to lift, so the B747 departed. No sooner had it departed BHX, than the fog became thicker again at LGW. The BCAL B747 was back on the ground at BHS within the hour.

I was also present on the evening that the ex-BCAL one Eleven fleet were delivered to BHX for BA.

 

[JENNYJET]

oh my, glorious stuff. I loved the DC10s for their size relative to everything else on the apron. many thanks Kevin sir.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

oh my, glorious stuff. I loved the DC10s for their size relative to everything else on the apron. many thanks Kevin sir.

Any aircraft looked magnificent in the BCAL colour scheme including the One-Eleven, B707 and the beautiful VC-10.

 

[HPsauce]

I recall a Saturday morning, many years ago, when a Continental DC-10, Wardair B747, and Highland Express B747 all taxied out, one behind the other, for a runway 33 departure!. Quite unique at the time!.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I've got an Airfix BAC One-Eleven and a Roden VC-10 kit to build. Both come with the option of a BCAL colour scheme. I'll give you one guess as to which I'll choose.

Post automatically merged: Dec 19, 2022

oh my, glorious stuff. I loved the DC10s for their size relative to everything else on the apron. many thanks Kevin sir.

You're welcome to keep yourself a copy.

 

[elmdon74]

As Kevin says BCAL widebodies were quite regular visitors on diversion, 707's did transatlantic charters in the 70's, while 1-11' s operated some IT flights later on.Regards,Simon.

 

[Nethercote2019]

Great stuff happy memories,
I flew with them a few times & remember the hostess uniforms!! we used to get 1-11’s at weekends on IT flights

 

[rollo]

British Caledonian now there's some memories way back late 1960s they had a few group charters (precursors to IT ops) operating from BHX to the USA using Bristol Brittanias. Also does anyone remember the Gatwick Shuttle operating by a Piper P31 Navaho G-SCOT. There are pics on Flicker.

Originally formed as Caledonian Airways becoming British United Airways along theway to compete with British Airways who then proceeded to take them over. The charter part of the airline became Cal Air operating DC-1OS. I flew with them to Orlando from MAN best flight ever for me.

Who remembers there advert with the "I wish they all could be Caledonian girls"ditty.

 

[Seasider]

It was to the tune of the Beach Boys hit "Calafornian Girls".

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Also does anyone remember the Gatwick Shuttle operating by a Piper P31 Navaho G-SCOT.

Who remembers there advert with the "I wish they all could be Caledonian girls"ditty.

I remember both! The Navajo was in full BCAL colours. There was also another Navajo, G-CLAN which also wore the full colour scheme.

 

[wolfheze]

I remember spending many, many hours in that cafe, sat at one of the tables by the window. Although in the cafe, we always took packed lunches however, I think we bought drinks from there. I also remember that the cafe had double glazing with the inner glazing being in slide-able aluminium frames set some way back from the outer glazing (about 6-7 inches). For some reason, we decided to open one of these and I was immediately hit by an overpowering vile stench of stale cigarette smoke. I was nearly sick on the spot.
It was a long journey from Bloxwich (bus/train/bus), yet got excited as the bus approached the airport along the Coventry road. As the terminal and apron came into view, we were usually met with a Viscount,a couple of One-Elevens, a Britannia B737-200 and maybe a Dan-Air B727. But there was always still hope of something unusual during the rest of the day.
If we were lucky, my Dad would come to pick us up in the evening and spend an hour or so there with us. If not, it was public transport back home but always with a stop at Beatties model shop above New Street station. My Nan would have given us some spending money and this usually went on a model kit.

Kevin

Post automatically merged: Dec 1, 2022

Yes, G-AROE rings a bell👍

Kevin

Exactly the same for us except we were coming on the bus from the opposite direction. First clue we would get was from the top deck looking out across the fields as the bus drove down Bickenhill lane towards international. Like you said 9 times out of 10 it would be disappointing but occasionally not so. Like you Beatties was a regular visit on a Saturday morning. I was a prolific kit builder back then and I hunted in vain for the Airfix 1/144 airliners that for some reason I couldn't get my hands on. Sometimes, normally on the return journey we'd get off at Elmdon for a few hours before heading home. The lights on the 33 threshold were quite a sight in the dark when you could look straight down the runway centre line. Nowadays you can't see anything at all 😥

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I flew on a DC-10, way back in 1974 (Laker Airways, G-AZZD from LGW to JFK). As a 10 year old, already obsessed with aeroplanes, I don't think I need to describe the excitement that I felt. We boarded via steps (rather than an airbridge) and looking up at this behemoth of an airliner was almost too much fro me, thinking 'I'm going on THAT!'
The flight was wonderful and I even got a flightdeck visit. Being four of us, we were assigned the middle row, but there was an empty row next to the window, where I took up residence. After landing and taxiing in, I turned to my Dad to say 'we're going in with the big ones' just as the stewardess walked past. She replied 'we are one of the big ones'!

 

[wolfheze]

Yes, Ive been at BHX on several occasions when BCAL DC-10's and B747's have diverted in.

On one occasion, a BCAL B747 had diverted in due to fog at LGW. The fog began to lift, so the B747 departed. No sooner had it departed BHX, than the fog became thicker again at LGW. The BCAL B747 was back on the ground at BHS within the hour.

I was also present on the evening that the ex-BCAL one Eleven fleet were delivered to BHX for BA.

The BCal wide bodies were after my time. Did see a couple of BCal One eleven diversions at the old terminal.

 

[Brum X]

Remember the Caledonian Tristar to Mahon on a Friday during the summer season 😍😍