Aviation Nostalgia Thread

[Aviador]

I thought it was Air UK Leisure but I'm not sure.

 

[SNOWMAN]

Re: Dave Simpson Travel

Does anybody remember the flights that were operated by Bradford based Dave Simpson Travel?.Seem to recall a Spantax 737 operating flights to Malaga was it?.

hi 48vanman
your are spot on it was a spantax 737 to malaga,there landings at lba were something to behold, not for the faint hearted.

sm1

 

[White Heather]

In the late 80's Dave Simpson travel operated the Spantax to Malaga initially although I believe they expanded for a while and used Air UK Leisure and possibly Hispania too. Snowman 1 you are not wrong about Spantax and their landings. They managed to make LBA's new runway look very short even with their 737 200's, yet they occasionally flew in a Coronado too (see photo in Nostalgia thread, not taken by me as I never saw the Coronado).

I do remember one wet soggy day when the Spantax just managed to stop on the very end of 32 - the closest I have ever seen to seeing anything nose dive off the end and down on to the road. Mind you it only landed somewhere opposite the terminal and took forever to get its nose wheel down - a bit like the BA Tristar but in reverse. Not much excuse with a 737 though.

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi white heather
uk leisure flew to malaga for bradford based intersun,they started from lba with a 737-200 witch started life with harry goodmans air europe,they then took delivery of there first 737-400.there senior captain dave henry was mostly desk bound by then,but came out of the office to fly the lba-malaga return to keep current, i was lucky enough to have had many a long cockpit visit and cockpit landing on 14,dave was based for many years at lba flying the f27 in and out,he used to tell many a good story about lba.we were very lucky to have him as guest speaker for the old B.I.A.S over at the old clubhouse many years ago.

sm1

 

[White Heather]

Thanks Snowman, I certainly remember both the 200 and 400 and have already posted my photos of them both in the Nostalgia thread, and I know they operated for Intasun Travel, as did various other airlines at the time. However, I seem to recall that Dave Simpson took seats on some Intasun flights when they expanded, before (predicctably) going the other way and stopping operations. I worked in Manningham Lane Bradford at the time and regularly walked past their offices on the way down into town and used to stop and look at their flight ads in the window. Of course I may be wrong and that wouldn't be unusual, but I was sure that they operated more than Malaga for a while and used airlines other than Spantax too? Its so long ago now

 

[Seasider]

It surprises me, somewhat, that there isn't a service to Guernsey from LBA. I flew with Jersey European on a Dash8.200 in October 2000 and I don't think there has been any flights since. I can remember KLMuk and Air UK operating, City Flier Express and British A/W. Any others?

 

[tleeds]

I heard from someone whom is normally a very good source, that Aurigny Air Services' managers were spotted in Leeds and presumed to be at an LBA event, however that was near on a year ago!

 

[ChurchFenton]

Capital and Dan Air also flew to Guernsey during their time. A route long overdue a return.

 

[White Heather]

I don't remember Dan Air flying to Guernsey I must admit - if they did it must have been on an HS748 in the early days or during their brief period of Viscount operations in the late 1970's?

One airline that did operate from LBA to Guernsey is Guernsey Airlines, and sad to say I not only remember them but I have a photo of one on the apron at LBA - a Viscount 706. I have also posted a picture in the Nostalgia photos of an ex Guernsey airlines Viscount 800 which shows their livery - the only thing missing was the Guernsey coat of arms which formed the airlines tail logo

 

[ChurchFenton]

White Heather, Dan Air operated the Guernsey route in the mid 1980's with a HS748. Operated each Saturday and Sunday during the summer of 1986, not sure about frequency other years. I think Air UK then picked up the route in 1987 with F27's.

 

[White Heather]

Thanks Church Fenton. I knew Dan Air operated to Jersey for many years using 748's, Viscounts, 1-11's and 737's and I seem to recall even the odd 727, but must have missed the Guernsey connection, although there were no web sites, Ceefax etc in those days, so if you didn't spot it in the brochures or call at the airport at the right time, you couldn't be certain of much. Anyway, you live and learn.

 

[48vanman]

Did Dan Air fly Bae 146's to Jersey?.Seem to recall waving a friend off from the bench seat near the tunnel.Remember it was a 146 but don't recall if Dan Air or Capital(if they flew to Jersey?).

My first flight from LBA was on a BKS Viscount to Jersey,and we stopped in Guernsey,circa 1970?.

 

[ChurchFenton]

48vanman - yes, Dan Air flew 146's on the Jersey route for a number of years on summer weekends, together with their 1-11's and later 737-200's.

 

[Bigman]

Church Fenton. You are correct about Air UK. I flew to Guernsey on Saturday 2/8/97 on an Air UK F27 G-BNCY. I flew back the following Sunday on an F50 G-UKTE. Bothe flights were delayed due to fog..the outbound due to fog at Guernsey, and yes you guessed it fog at LBA coming back.

 

[jason1-11]

Dan Air first started operating their 146's on the Jersey route in 1983. Also in the mid 80's, they would position in a couple of HS748's I think from Newcastle on a Friday night to operate their programme to both Jersey and Guernsey over the weekend.

Schedules availble if anyone requires.

 

[Seasider]

Can't remember Capital flying to Guernsey although they flew to Jersey. WH, the Guernsey A/L flights I believe were "charter " flights to Jersey.

 

[White Heather]

I don't know Seasider as I was just a teenager on a bike in those days and saw the Guernsey Viscounts from time to time and managed a photo of one. I assumed it was scheduled, but you might be right

 

[ChurchFenton]

Capital did fly to Guernsey towards the end of their existence, some flights being dedicated Guernsey flights with others being on a triangle routing with Jersey. Almost all flights were on the 360's, though one was scheduled as a 146 on a routing combined with Jersey. During Capital's final winter (89/90) there were still flights operated, the only time I can ever recall direct Guernsey flights during the winter.

 

[48vanman]

I don't know if I am having a 'blonde moment',but did Polish low cost carrier CentralWings ever fly,or plan to fly from LBA in the dim and distant past?.

 

[LUFC Jonno]

I think Central Wings did. I can't remember the year but I can remember then advertising the route on the back or the side of buses. But the route didn't really work. Wasn't it something to do with arrival and departure times after midnight?