Aviation Nostalgia Thread

[User0001]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

I think LBA's problem were it's previous owners.

It was the planning conditions that the council imposed following the runway extension that caused the issue. Night flying was banned until Summer 1995, meaning that during the major growth in the package tour industry during the late 80s and early 90s completely passed LBA by. None of the charter airlines would develop a base when aircraft utilisaiton was going to be limited and late flights risked being locked out. To be fair, the airport management, campaigned relentlessly to get this resolved. In the late 80s their first planning application was referred to a public enquiry during which, as I recall, the council in Leeds employed a legal team to campaign against the airport- this despite them being the major shareholder in the airport business ! The advent of quieter aircraft and a more enlightened council finally saw an outbreak of common sense in the mid-90s but by then the growth phase in the package holiday business was beginning to wane and the consolidation you see today was beginning to emerge.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Exactly right LS16. I had stand up arguments with some Leeds Councillors over their opposition to the airport. I know that some were privately in favour of the airport but put their votes before their personal opinions, fearing that they would lose their seats if they openly supported LBA.

Whevever it was election time and councillors came door knocking, the first thing I asked them was whether or not they supported the development of LBA, including the removal of night flying restrictions which were only imposed to appease the anti airport lobby at the time the runway extension opened. (Prior to that LBA had a 24 H licence but chose not to use it due to lack of demand for night operations as a result of a runway that was too short to attract IT airlines). In every case, the councillors and MP's always stated they were opposed to the airport and were somewhat surprised when I immediately told them they would never have my vote and showed them the door. When I put it to them that they were adversely affecting the City of Leeds and the entire region in order to pander to the wishes of the minority, they had no answer. All they could ever think of was the usual 'noise', 'pollution' etc. None of which actually stood up to scrutiny.

At the time of the Public Enquiry at Rawdon, I lost all respect for many councillors in Leeds AND for the council as a whole when, as LS16 desribes, they employed a legal team to fight the airport. The then MD at LBA, Gordon Dennison, was much villified by councillors and MP's alike, but he fought to the end to get the restrictions removed, and in the end, succeeded with the help of a far more enlighted Labour Council.

Bradford Council were as bad as Leeds. They could have put pressure on Leeds to support development, but instead chose to do very little, stating that since the airport was in Leeds and it was Leeds residents that had to put up with the noise pollution, decisions on the future of the airport should rest with Leeds Planners. That was a total cop out on their part.

 

[LUFC Jonno]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Its disgraceful to think what the council's view were back then, and I don't think their views have changed one bit. Everytime the airport wants to redevelop something e.g. extending the runway or get planning permissions, the council seemed to side with the protesters. Leeds council want more tourists to visit Leeds but how can they if they don't back the airport? Also, remember when Ryanair annouced they were basing aircraft at LBA. The people who lived near the airport weren't happy with this and stated that they'd still fly from Manchester.

 

[wawkrk]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

I think the Leeds City council dimwits will always hinder airport expansion especially these days with the new man made climate change religion. I wonder who our ancestors blamed for climate change before cars and aviation existed.As mentioned in the past, one Leeds councillor was reported to have said we don't want any flights to the USA from Leeds.
I believe nothing has changed,I guess the council motto is still, "if it's outside Yorkshire, it's not worth bloody visiting". Unless of course it's a tax payer funded fact finding mission to the Seychelles.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Just noticed the following advertisement has appeared regarding the airports 80 Anniversary exhibition which is taking place this month down at Leeds Central Library on the airports facebook page.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialLeedsBradfordAirport

Leeds Bradford Airport
Come and join us to celebrate our 80th anniversary with a special exhibition from 2 - 27 March 2012 at Leeds Central Library

 

[LUFC Jonno]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Does anyone know when the last B747 came into Leeds? I know a few came in during the 80's, early 90's, and Euro 96. It's something I'd like to know.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Does anyone know when the last B747 came into Leeds? I know a few came in during the 80's, early 90's, and Euro 96. It's something I'd like to know.

I think this has already been posted somewhere in the thread, But to just to help you out LUFC Jonno the last Jumbo to visit LBA was the Dubai Air Wing's, Boeing 747-SP31 A6-SMR in the summer of 2006. It came in from London Stansted to pick up the Aga khan who had been to the York Ebor Race meet that year.

I was looky at the time to be working at the airport that day visited. I was a bit surprised as no one knew it was coming but i got a heads up as me old man who rang me to say he saw it passing over him in Leeds while it was on final approach to runway 32. I managed to get a photo of it while it was taxiing out for a runway 14 departure from the cemetery. I even left work about 45 mins early without telling anyone. Good job no one noticed otherwise i may have lost me job that next day.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

popped in earlier to the exhibition as I was in Leeds. Not a lot there - however, it is still being properly set up - though there are one or two nice touches. I can't help feeling that most of the information presented can already be found on the LBA website. Plus, there wasn't much on the future of LBA.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

What I saw was pretty good. The old timetables were very interesting, amazing the number of routes that were flown from LBA in the sixties and early seventies! The air display posters also really captured the spirit of the fifties.

I suppose if you are interested in the heritage of the airport this will be of great interest.

My view is that you can't appreicate the way forward without appreciating what lies in the past- where the airport has come from on its journey to where it's going.

LbaYorkie

 

[White Heather]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

The exhibition at Leeds Central Library is being extended now until late April and beyond that it is intended to move the exhibition over to Bradford for a while, also at their central library.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Hi All

The following Video has just appeared on the airports Facebook celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Aviation at the airport

Source: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialLeedsBradfordAirport

Leeds Bradford Airport
In celebration of 80 years of aviation at Leeds Bradford we have a new video showcasing events of the past and the future of Yorkshires Airport

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdVJeZsrpv8[/video]

 

[tleeds]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

I want an Orange Thomas Cook bag!

 

[wawkrk]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

I served my apprenticeship at Thomas Smiths Rodley. At it's peak I think about 2,000 people were employed.We built huge Dock Cranes, Railway Cranes, Cranes for the army for loading landing craft and excavators.Even wood burning steam cranes were still being built to work in the Jungle in India. Happy days.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Mode 1, the video is a shortened version (with musical accompanyment) of a much longer video, although I can't remember if it showed the 747's on 4/11/84 . I saw it at the airport exhibition at the Central Library on Wednesday. Even then, there were so many highlights that could have been shown, but weren't - probably due to lack of video footage. The UAE 747SP, spectacular Virgin 747 take off on 14, El Al 767 etc spring to mind. I would have loved to see more of the old airliners that used to come to LBA, but the video didn't have any of the old regulars such as Northeast Viscounts, Dan Air, Spanish charter airlines, or the countless other interesting visitors, but if they don't have the footage, they can't put it in. Even so, it was very interesting and I am hoping to get a copy of this shortened version

 

[White Heather]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

It is worth calling in if you are in Leeds, yes. It isn't very big really - lots of memorabilia, old timetables, model aircraft etc. It would take about an hour to have a good look at everything. The full length video takes about 30 minutes on top.

 

[eastcoaster]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Thanks Aviador, Ive been spending a lot of time on B-Cal Reunited, a site for for ex Cally staff.
Would you know if British Caledoian ever went into LBA ? Maybe a MAN 1-11 divert ?

Here is a scanned photo of a BCAL 1-11/500 at LBA same day as an El-Al Boeing 707 diverted in from MAN. Sorry its a bit dark.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

Thanks for the pictures eastcoaster. In case anybody didn't realise, if you click the top left of the image then the bottom right of the image you will see the full size version.

I loved the 707's, they were my favourite aircraft of that era. The accompanying El-Al security team used to cause a stir when they diverted into Leeds Bradford airport with snipers guarding the various parts of the terminal from the roof!

 

[ls27]

Re: Nostalgia Thread

There were also police on Plain Tree Hill!

 

[wawkrk]

Re: Leeds Bradford Airport - Photo Thread

I assume the photo of the Monarch 757 shows it landing on the original 5,400ft runway!

 

[oldendays]

Re: Leeds Bradford Airport - Photo Thread

Wawkrk,

The photo of the Monarch 757 is pre-runway extension. I know coz I was at the airport the day the 757 landed in March 1984. It was cold, grey and cloudy. Fairly run of the mill Leeds Bradford weather really. Nice to see the pic of it landing with blue sky in the background !