Leeds Bradford: Aviation Nostalgia Thread

[White Heather]

Yes, I’m old enough to remember all the old, stalwart aircraft at LBA. Also remember what I think were variants of the DC-4 operated I think by British Midland. Lived at Tinshill at the time and I can still picture them flying low overhead coming in to land and seeing the flames shooting out of the exhausts.

Wasn't that the Argonaut?

 

[rollo]

Wasn't that the Argonaut?

Yes BMA operated a few Argonauts built by Canadair who designated as a C-4M didn't one unfortunately crash in Stockport on finals into MAN (Ringway ) back in the sixties?

Originally known as the North Star, the Argonaut name was given to it by B.O.A.C. a slightly strange aircraft as it was a hybrid DC4/DC-6 with a shortened DC-6 with a DC-4 rear fuselage and wing components.

 

[dakota eng]

It also had R.R Merlin engines to increase the cruising speed.

 

[ex_crew]

I have some really good memories from the days when British Midland used the DC9s down to Heathrow - I commuted at the time as long haul BA crew , it was the best part of my job . I knew all the crews quite well , particularly Lynn and Sue, the two sisters from Barnsley . It was also an adventure especially in the Winter and often ending up at Teeside . The crew dragging the breakfast trolley up the aisle not long after the wheels were up - always a full flight on a Monday morning.

I remember one flight back to Leeds on the baby DC9 being squashed up in the last row feeling exhausted after operating a long flight prior to this one....sat next to Dusty Springfield of all people ...which was a bit weird thinking back . Nice memories

 

[oldendays]

Which airlines brought the first larger Boeings to Leeds Bradford following the runway extension? I know we had the private Saudi 720 not long before the extension was opened and a Monarch 757 about a year and a half prior to that. My guess is JAT for both the 707 and 727-200, in 1985 and 1986 respectively and Britannia with the 767 in 1985. I don't remember seeing regular Dan Air 727-200s at LBA until about 1991.

 

[lbaspotter]

Before the runway extension It's got to be Aer Lingus with B732 subbing for a BAc111

Afterwards Wardair with the B742? Even the 1 off BA which did a few fly pasts.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Before the runway extension It's got to be Aer Lingus with B732 subbing for a BAc111

Afterwards Wardair with the B742? Even the 1 off BA which did a few fly pasts.

Britannia also operated 732's before the extension. Werent the Lingus 732's scheduled rather than just filling in?

 

[Seasider]

The Aer Lingus flights were predominately 1-11's but in some years they were scheduled for 1/2 flights.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The Aer Lingus flights were predominately 1-11's but in some years they were scheduled for 1/2 flights.

I recollect 2 x B732 combi's a week.

 

[Seasider]

Digging out some of my old timetables, in the summer of 1978 there were 4 flights to be operated by 1-11/737. There were no planned EI flights for the summer of 1979. Dublin flights were operated by BA Visc. For Summer 1980 Air UK operated double daily and daily in 1981. I think EI came back in 1982 (my tt is not dated for some reason) with daily Short 360 to 1989 and the next record I have is Saab 340 from 1991.

 

[ls27]

Air Europa and Air 2000 had B757s and there a Tristar L1011 of an airline whose name I can't remember! to rival the Wardair flights to Canada. Also RAF Tristars to check the runway after the BA L1011 ran of the end of the runway.

 

[rollo]

Air Europa and Air 2000 had B757s and there a Tristar L1011 of an airline whose name I can't remember! to rival the Wardair flights to Canada.

Would the airline be Air Transat they operated a fleet of up to 22 Tristars from 1989 to 2004 according to Wikipedia and operated to quite a few UK regional airports?

Just a stab in the dark.

 

[oldendays]

Thanks all but I'm talking about Boeings that are bigger than the 737 and not TriStars or 1-11s or any other jet.

 

[ls27]

I think it may have been Wordways and as far as I can remember Air Transat used 757s

 

[markietg]

Who remembers when you flew to Spain in the 70’s & 80’s where you had your photo taken as you got off the plane. That’s how I know my first flight in Aug 76 was on a Dan-Air 727 to ALC. Talking to my parents years later they told me we were delayed 24 hours due to strikes and we had to sleep in the car at either EMA or BHX. My first LBA flight was the following year again in August to ALC. I‘m sure that flight was with Britannia. If anyone has a timetable for August 1977 and tell me how many flights there were to ALC and who operated them I’d love to know.

 

[White Heather]

Air Europa and Air 2000 had B757s and there a Tristar L1011 of an airline whose name I can't remember! to rival the Wardair flights to Canada. Also RAF Tristars to check the runway after the BA L1011 ran of the end of the runway.

Worldways Canada and Air Transat operated Tristars, Worldways in competition with Wardair,.and Air Transat later switched to 757s. (Wardair were first to operate a DC10-30 to LBA).

Aer Lingus first operated 1-11s into LBA on Leeds United charters for European matches as early as the early 70s. Their first jet services to Dublin were 737 200s. The first ever was EI-ASC. Later it became a mix of 737 200 QCs or 1-11s with the timetable showing EQV (equipment varies). We never really knew what would turn up. The route was shared with BKS/Northeast.

One if the first 737 200 operators was Air Malta who were not far behind Britannia.

 

[ls27]

I remember seeing a Air Lingus Operated a A300 (A330?) on a day trip for the Councillors to advertise their service from LBA., Yes Ward Air did operate a DC10 on a diversion one Saturday

 

[Easy289]

A330. Landed RW14.

 

[oldendays]

Steering this thread back on course, we had regular Wardair Boeing 747s on Monday from 1986 to '89. JAT used 707s in 1985 only and 727s from 1986 to 1991. Aviogenex also brought us their 727s from about 1989 to 1991 but it was usually their 737s. Dan Air 727s I've already mentioned. The 767 from Britannia in 1985 and sporadically thereafter in the 1980s. Air 2000 757s from 1987.

 

[White Heather]

I remember seeing a Air Lingus Operated a A300 (A330?) on a day trip for the Councillors to advertise their service from LBA., Yes Ward Air did operate a DC10 on a diversion one Saturday

It wasn't a diversion. It was the regular Monday service in lieu of the 747, but operated direct each way rather than via BHX outbound.