Aviation Nostalgia Thread

[Aviador]

Photo by John Wheatly

 

[Aviador]

How many people back then thought we'd be seeing many more 747 aircraft than we actually did in the end as the type is gradually been phased out.

 

[Seasider]

I never thought that LBA would have a regular service, too big an aircraft to fill, too big for the airport.

 

[Aviador]

Agree, the aircraft l makes the terminal look so small. Still, it's a shame we didn't see a little more of it that what we did.

 

[bobleeds]

3 random photos I just rediscovered - will be from the late 1980's I thinkView attachment 3056 View attachment 3057 View attachment 3058

 

[Aviador]

Caledonian operated flights to Toronto, I think the Air UK served Belfast International and I'm not entirely sure where Spantax flew to but I'm guessing Palma?

 

[bobleeds]

Caledonian operated flights to Toronto, I think the Air UK served Belfast International and I'm not entirely sure where Spantax flew to but I'm guessing Palma?

Think the Caledonian may have been doing one of the Spanish Islands, The Air UK also did EDI after the F27's and prior to Gill Air taking over the route.

 

[Aviador]

Are you sure about the Caledonian Bob? I'm sure it was one of the many airlines that followed Wardair on the Canada hop after they ceased operations. I recall, Odyssey International, Nationair and Caledonian operating the Toronto route although not necessarily in that order?

 

[bobleeds]

Another one which I may have posted before - I wonder if those kids are now Airline Captains, or members of this forum!! I think it was 1985 or 1986 - Happy days!

View attachment 3059

 

[bobleeds]

Not sure at all Aviador! - so many years ago, but I'm sure someone can give a definitive response

 

[Aviador]

(code for this image is in the MEDIA gallery for Leeds Bradford airport http://www.forums4airports.com/media/438/)

This is one of yours Bob. It's probably the best 747 picture we have on the site. It's a great picture.

 

[ls27]

Caledonian did the Toronto Route on Saturday mornings, but never did the Spanish Islands

 

[oldendays]

Spantax certainly operated the Palnackie route (their base) but I think they did Malaga as well. Mainly 732s but the occasional Coranado too.

IIRC Caledonian picked up the Toronto flights at fairly short notice once Nationair had gone out of business.

 

[oldendays]

That is meant to say 'Palma'. The delights of predictive text.

 

[scottrhino]

I also seem to recall Worldways from Canada using their DC-8's on the Toronto route as well. Pity that after Air Transat stopped no one ever picked up this route. I flew on a 757 in 1992 from LBIA to Toronto and it was fully booked.

 

[jfy1999]

I also seem to recall Worldways from Canada using their DC-8's on the Toronto route as well. Pity that after Air Transat stopped no one ever picked up this route. I flew on a 757 in 1992 from LBIA to Toronto and it was fully booked.

I think there was a discussion in another thread about a slump in the UK-Canada market, something to do with emigration, but suffice to say that demand has massively fallen since the turn of the millennium.

 

[White Heather]

Worldways mainly used Lockheed Tristars from LBA on the Toronto route - in fact they operated on the route at the same time as Wardair. The DC8 was only an occasional visitor and one I managed never to see at LBA. In fact I never saw any DC8 at LBA, or Coronado. I have photos of the Tristar - and interestingly, the operated G-BBAI, the British Airtours Tristar infamous for trying to land on half a runway at LBA in 1985. I must admit that I did not recall Caledonian doing Toronto, but the others were Odyssey International, Nationair and Air Transat, the latter with both Tristars and Boeing 757s. If ever we are going to get the route back, Air Transat is our best bet.

 

[oldendays]

I think the market that led to strong regional air links between the UK and Canada has largely run its course. I have an auntie in Toronto, one of many who married a Canadian serviceman in the UK shortly after WW2 then relocated. Although she is as large as life at the age of 93 many of her generation are, to be blunt, dead so the family visits both ways across the Atlantic over the last sixty years have largely dried up.

 

[Aviador]

Does nobody want to go to Canada these days? I mean, surely there's plenty to see. The CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Lake Ontario to name a few.

 

[jfy1999]

Does nobody want to go to Canada these days? I mean, surely there's plenty to see. The CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Lake Ontario to name a few.

Demand for tourism is still there, as Air Transat almost always sell out their flights. However, back in the day there were multiple other reasons for strong UK-Canada links. For example, there were large ex-pat communities. However things have changed and now tourism is the overwhelmingly dominant driver for Canadian flights to the regions.