Leeds Bradford: Aviation Nostalgia Thread

[oldendays]

As far as I remember, both the 727 and 707 operated at least 'adequately' from LBA but I believe that was as good as it got. The 727, for all its supposed short-field capabilities, seemed to use as much runway as possible for both takeoff and landing. The 707 was more sprightly. However, I am talking about these aircraft in the hands of JAT. Both Aviogenex and Dan-Air also operated the 727 through LBA and they may have had a different story to tell.

 

[Finger66]

You can give me a Lockheed Tristar any day of the week

 

[oldendays]

You can give me a Lockheed Tristar any day of the week

The residents of Scotland Lane may disagree.

 

[Finger66]

Perhaps as well PIA aren't thinking of operating them I suppose. Agree not the best aircraft for LBA but loved the sight of it anywhere

 

[Aviador]

The Tristar was a gracious aircraft and from a spectator point of view I always thought it operated with ease from Leeds Bradford airport apart from the one mishap. Departing, it used to be airborne long before the interception if I remember correctly.

 

[White Heather]

Today's offering is a selection of Air Malta aircraft, specifically their 737 200, 737 300 and later Airbus A320. Air Malta were one of the first ever charter operators from LBA alongside Britannia Airways using their 737 200s which at the time was a relatively new aircraft type.



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[oldendays]

I remember Air Malta using LBA before the runway extension was built. At one time they used come in on winter Tuesday evenings as KM818/819. They had a small number of Transavia 737s on lease before acquiring their own fleet, operating alongside a small number of ex-PIA Boeing 720Bs. I'm fairly certain the latter never visited LBA.

For one summer, Air Malta leased at least one Danish registered (Maersk ?) 737-500 which used to rotate through LBA. Summer 1987 saw an American TransAir 727-100 operate into LBA, again on lease.

 

[White Heather]

Today's nostalgic photos are a selection of Lockheed L1011 Tristars that graced the runway at LBA in the 80s and 90s. Air Ops were occasional visitors on ad hoc charters and providing cover for sick charter aircraft for various tour operators; Worldways Canada operated the Toronto route, at the time, in competition with Wardair Canada (yes, we had a 747 200 and a Tristar both flying to Toronto each week); and no introductions required for the British Airtours' G-BBAI, seen undergoing repairs on the apron following its 'mishap' on 27 May 1985 whilst landing at LBA from Palma. Air Transat also operated the LBA to Toronto route - one of six airlines to have done so.View attachment 14853View attachment 14854


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[oldendays]

Two other TriStar operators through LBA were Classic Airways and Aer Turas. I think Classic used the BAF/BWA AOC; their aircraft was ex-Cathay Pacific, therefore, maybe a Court Line original. I don't know where Aer Turas found their TriStar - I think there was some tie-up with Air Scandic - but I do remember it subbing for Airtours about twenty years ago.

The Royal Air Force called in with their TriStars a few times in the 80s and 90s.

Air Scandic, incidentally, appeared at LBA once or twice with their A300, operating pilgrimage flights to Lourdes.

 

[rollo]

Brilliant photos of the Tristar White Heather a really good looking aircraft, back in time in around 1970 I remember visiting the Rolls Royce factory at Derby as a spotty engineering apprentice being a BSA (Birmingham Small Arms)apprentice and we were able to see the RB211engines being manufactured just before Rolls went bust and unfortunately for me so did the BSA the difference being Rolls were rescued and the BSA as a motorbikes and guns manufacturer were deemed not important enough all seems a lifetime ago.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Me too, in fact I bought a Wooster model of one of their 757's which I still have. I suppose it might be quite sought after amongst collectors now, given that the airline ceased operating around 20 years ago.

I could see the airport apron from my house at that time, and can vividly remember seeing their 757 and 737 parked up after being impounded, and then watching through binoculars, as a guy on an extending platform, spray painted the tail of the 737, covering its livery and painting it plain white, out on the apron!!!

I was only little at the time but I remember it was quite a big thing at the time the two impounded aircraft . Today it's like every week an airline goes under! I have two Wooster models,one of a Caledonian l1011 TriStar and an Excalibur a320!

 

[White Heather]

A selection of Air UK aircraft taken at LBA (Air UK Leisure not included)View attachment 14868



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[Scottie Dog]

The F27 in the two-time colour scheme is just beautiful.

Many thanks White Heather for bringing back (once again) wonderful memories of days gone past.

 

[ChurchFenton]

For one summer, Air Malta leased at least one Danish registered (Maersk ?) 737-500 which used to rotate through LBA. Summer 1987 saw an American TransAir 727-100 operate into LBA, again on lease.

Yes, remember seeing the leased ATA 727-100 in 1987 whilst waiting for my flight on a brand new Air Europa 737-300 in June 1987 to Palma. Think it used to come in on Wednesday mornings.

 

[oldendays]

There were a couple of hybrid Air UK liveries for the first few months of 1980. The F27s wore the gold and brown (or black - whatever the colour was) on the fuselage and the Heralds had orange and brown. Both sported the new Air UK logo on the tailfin. The Bandeirantes had either, depending on whether they'd come from Air Anglia or BIA.

 

[White Heather]

There were a couple of hybrid Air UK liveries for the first few months of 1980. The F27s wore the gold and brown (or black - whatever the colour was) on the fuselage and the Heralds had orange and brown. Both sported the new Air UK logo on the tailfin. The Bandeirantes had either, depending on whether they'd come from Air Anglia or BIA.

Found this Oldendays.

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[White Heather]

Today, a selection of photos of various BAC 1-11 aircraft I have seen at LBA over the years. Always one of my favourite aircraft, probably due to the noise they made - and in my view, a very good looking aircraft too, especially the 500 series. If only they had a bigger wing area to improve their performance. The Aer Lingus 1-11 photo is courtesy of Ken Fielding and is taken at MAN, although it was a regular visitor to LBA in the late 1970s. I haven't included either the British Midland G-WLAD or Air UK, G-AXMU as both were included in recent posts. Sadly I have no photos of Ryanair's 1-11s either - their first scheduled route from LBA using their 1-11s was to Knock, but didn't last very long.View attachment 14880View attachment 14881View attachment 14882View attachment 14883View attachment 14884View attachment 14885



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[Seasider]

I don't have a slide of Ryanair 1-11 at LBA, but here's one at BHX in 1988.

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[ChurchFenton]

The 1-11s were always one of my favourites to see, the Dan-Air ones particularly on the Jersey summer weekend runs in the 1980s stick in my mind from childhood. As has been mentioned in the past, Intasun also used Dan-Air 1-11s on some of their LBA IT charters, Palma, Ibiza and Girona I think were the mainstays, though there was also a weekly Monday charter to Venice I remember, which at the time (1980s) felt a very exotic destination to have from LBA!

Always regret not getting a flight on a 1-11 before they disappeared.

 

[oldendays]

Summer 1987 brought us a season of Yugotours flights from and to Ljubljana on Romanian-built ROMBAC 1-11s. They were damp-leased by Adria Airways from Tarom, who supplied the pilots. I flew on YU-ANS both ways in July of that year.

As I recall, Dan-Air also had LBA to Malaga as one of their flights but I'm not sure if the 1-11 could manage the distance, given the relatively high weight of the aircraft and the inadequate performance of the Spey engines off the newly-extended runway. The Dan-Air 737s certainly did a fair few flights from LBA, the 727 less frequently. Malaga wasn't an issue for either of these aircraft.