Manchester Memories..
Frequently changing photo’s from TAS Members and narrative from Peter Hampson featuring Manchester’s 80+ year’s of operation will be published here ….
Due to great demand I have decided to to re vamp this section of the web site. Mainly due to the fact that many of us have suddenly found ourselves with a bit of time on our hands!
Yea old scanner has come out of the box and more memories are being brought back. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have pulling it all together…and there’s always room for more - how about sharing some of your memories?
Here’s a tip - the back ground is often just as entertaining, if not more, than the main subject matter…
Your photos from Manchester in years gone by would be very welcome (preferably dated but not essential). Please send to the usual e mail :- peter@airportsol.com
manchester in the month of March
I remember this one well…the first visit of an Airbus to Manchester came on 5th March 1975 when Trans European Airlines (TEA) of Belgium visited with A330 B1 OO-TEF. She is pictured at the end of Pier C (Note no satellite lounge at the end of the Pier) having arrived with Anderlecht fans for their European Cup game against Leeds United.
OO-TEF was actually construction number 002 and initially operated as a test aircraft for Airbus as F-WUAC. She went on to visit Manchester many times,frequently operating sub charters for carriers such a Britannia Airways, Dan Air and Monarch. She was withdrawn from use in November 1990 and stored at Brussels,eventually being scrapped in 2003. Who would have thought at the time that she was to be the very first of so many Airbus aircraft to visit in the future. Peter H.
Aer Turas Bristol Britannia EI-BBH was photographed on the old freight apron on 18th March 1976. She was originally built for the Royal Air Force as XM491 to whom she was delivered in July 1960.After serving 15 years in the RAF she was sold to Dublin based Aer Turas in 1975 prior to moving on to the African continent for Zaire operator Katale Air Transport as 9Q-CMO in 1981.She was broken up at Kinshasa in 1992. Photo Peter H
Dan Air Comet 4C G-BDIW was photographed on a typical March day back in 1977 whilst on short finals to runway 24. The aircraft was originally delivered to the Royal Air Force in March 1962 prior to joining DAN with whom she served until 1975. India Whiskey still survives today as a museum exhibit in Hermeskeil,Germany. Peter H
An old favourite here..Aer Turas operated Dublin - Manchester freight flights with Bristol 170 “Biffo” EI-APC during the late sixties / early seventies.An iconic Manchester airport scene at the end of Pier A with the Southside Hangars,Brickworks chimney and what else but a Manchester Corporation van! Photo: Malcolm McLean
5th March 1976 and a beautiful British Air Ferries Carvair (G-ASDC) is seen on Fairey’s Apron. I remember taking this one as if it was yesterday .. she carried her name on her face (just under the flight deck window).. “Plain Jane”. Aaah. Photo Peter H
Cambrian / British Air Services Viscount G-AMOP is looking good on Pier A - March 1969 .Peter H
The infamous Air Ops TriStar P4-JAB (Originally built for TWA). One of those wonderful aeroplanes I could probably write a book about…
The aircraft was with us for storage “for a couple of weeks” which ended up being a couple of years!! It spent a lot of time in what became known as “The Hampson Air Park” named after yours truly as a bit of a mickey take from the Airport CEO.
I had evidently gained something of a reputation within the airport management for welcoming to MAN a number of aircraft for storage. “Making good use of the apron,its an airport after all!” I said. However, this beauty unfortunately became something of a bad debtor and as a consequence my good idea of filling up every bit of space with “un wanted” aircraft to bring in much wanted income at the time was beginning to back fire on me!. It’s ownership changed and we thought it would eventually have to be scrapped on site. Then, to our surprise, all debts were paid and the time had come to say goodbye.
22nd March 1999 was the momentous date planned for her departure. We even greeted the American ferry crew personally on the ramp - just to wave it on its way. The Crew (rather them than me) very casually boarded the aircraft for its ferry flight. I think it was off to Roswell, one of the “Bone Yards” in New Mexico?
A couple of kicks of the tyres and a huge wet start later it was on its way. Myself,other members of the Airfield Ops Team,the Airport Fire Service all gathered in anticipation to watch the departure.. The L1011 slowly moved down 24 gathering momentum and finally became airborne, probably due to the curvature of the earth??
Next,you guessed it… a full emergency was declared…and here she is (photo above) returning to base,nicely captured by Stuart Prince, on two (not three) engines!!
Many meetings followed with the boys from CAA Airworthiness and various aircraft engineers.Fortunately, she eventually did make it to Roswell.. but what a lot of paperwork!
It’s another one of those quick snaps from the office window in the old Tower Block. Sterling B727-200 OY-SBF is the subject matter on this occasion.Peter H- March 1986.
28th March 1986 and “one of our own” - Avro 748 V2-LAA is seen clearing customs at the end of Pier B. Peter H
Viscount 802 G-AOHT was certainly a regular visitor to Manchester over the years following her first flight in 1957. She earned her money with BEA on Domestic and European routes for 16 years through to 1973.She then travelled wide and far operating in New Zealand and Indonesia before returning to Europe. She is pictured here on a “sunny” Manchester day - 25th March 1985 whilst being leased to Virgin from Euroair. She was scrapped at Southend in August 1985 although her well travelled wings were kept for posterity and can still be found today at the Brooklands Museum, Surrey. Photo: Malcolm McLean
Manchester has done exceedingly well from football traffic over the years. This TEA Boeing 720 OO-TEB on 17th March 1976 was however a little different from the norm . It brought Anderlecht supporters in for their game against…Wrexham!. Peter H
One from March 1999 (3rd) . As Airfield Manager at the time it was my remit to maximise capacity with movements and aircraft parking to drive the aviation income up.
Similar to now we were entering into an exciting phase of airport expansion - Runway,Terminal,Taxiways and Stands!
BA were disposing of their Dc10’s - we did a deal with them and parked them all (5) on just 2.5 stands (innovative parking).Various other deals were done and what seemed like the Tri Stars of the world homed in on Manchester following another little negotiation with Air Atlanta (Iceland) and other similar companies. Whilst I was getting to grips with aircraft storage one of my good colleagues in the Airports Commercial dept thought we should try and focus on Hajj Pilgrim flights tapping into that market - we did.. and along came many new (and interesting) movements such as the Egyptair B747-300 SU-GAM above.Happy days!
4th March 1970 turned into being a classic in bound diversion day for Manchester due to heavy snow in the South of England. Probably the pick of 25 aircraft which diverted in was this Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 707 LV-ISC - seen here on Pier B. A huge thanks to Eric Wright for sharing this wonderful memory. In these days the chemical Urea (don’t ask!) was spread on the aprons as an exceedingly effective de-icer…as you can see!
A great shot from Stuart Prince which really does capture a moment in time at MAN.Packing those diversions in, B747’s,American Airlines and even a BAC 1-11 creeping in on the photo! The main subject is of course the MD11 N1763 but whats taking place in the back ground is just as interesting…17th March 1999.Super shot from the T1 Multi Story…oh dear 21 years ago!
15th March 1975. EAS Vanguards were relatively rare visitors to MAN and when they did arrive were usually associated with Rugby or Football flights. F-BTOV is seen here in the Southbay having arrived earlier with supporters for the England v France rugby match taking place in Leeds. Photo Peter H
How to brighten up your day? Jamaican DC8-62 6Y-JII diverts in from Heathrow on 7th March 1977.Photo Peter H
Another from 4th March ‘70 saw Swissair Dc9 HB-IFT put in an appearance. However, a real aircraft line up had started to materialise in the Southbay including a United Arab Airlines Comet (one of two that day),SAS Dc9,Austrian Airlines Caravelle and an MEA CV990 (unfortunately just out of the picture). Photo Eric Wright.
AFREK Bristol Britannia G-BDUR languishes in the South bay on 2nd March 1977. Photo - Peter H
Yes, its another on of those airlines which operated the Hajj flights from MAN. On this occasion it was Algerian A310 7T-VJF operating at the time for Royal Jordanian.Seen here departing T2 on 28th March 1997. Photo - Stuart Prince.
What could be described a a typical Manchester scene at the time? BEA Vanguard G-APEA is the only aircraft to be seen on Pier A in March 1967. Photo Bob Thorpe
National Airlines Dc10-30 N83NA takes on fuel at the end of Pier B following a divert from London Heathrow on 7th March 1977.Peter H
Our sincere thanks to Eric Wright for sharing with us this excellent shot of a TMA Boeing 707-320 N7096 taken from the top of the old spectators terrace on Pier A…49 years ago this week - 27th March 1971…
Lockheed Electra N8LG is pictured in the Southbay on 30th March 1979.The aircraft brought in John Denver on 29th for a concert in Manchester. The aircraft was in full VIP configuration and looked immaculate inside and out!Photo Peter H.
TMA Boeing 707 freighter OD-AFX is being watched closely by the local constabulary whilst being loaded on Faireys Apron.15th March 1973. Bob Thorpe.
We’re going back in time with this one - Its March 1961 prior to the “new” Terminal opening. Percival Prince G-AMKY is seen parked up on the old apron. Photo Bob Thorpe.
I’m delighted that Eric Wright had a further delve into his photo files having read my comments above and came up with this shot. In his own words - not the clearest of photos.However, it truly captured the moment of an Austrian Airlines Caravelle, MEA Convair 990, Alitalia Dc9 and United Arab Airlines Comet diversions gathered together at Manchester on 4th March 1970.
Finnair “Super” Caravelle OH-LSG was posing nicely for Malcolm McLean back on 19th March 1982.
I remember getting a tad excited on seeing this at the end of Pier A. I’d just parked the Hilman Minx outside the old Meadows Air Freight building and commenced the short walk to the office in the old Tower block. Its not every day you see a Korean Air Lines Boeing 707 freighter parked there me thinks? A short deviation across the apron was required.Happy days! - 16th March 1976. Photo Peter H
A very murky 10th March 1970 saw German Air Force Transall 5006 paying us a visit.Photo Bob Thorpe
Zambia Airways Dc8-43 9J-ABR is seen parked in the South bay on 21st March 1974. Photo Peter Hampson.
Another great shot from Stuart Prince who nicely captured Cathay Pacifics B747-400 B-HOX from the T1 Multi Story back in March 2000 (Yes 20 years ago!). Good to see the Virgin Sun A320 creeping into the shot in the back ground.
8th March 1977 saw the arrival for Dan Air of their 3rd ex Argentinean Avro 748 (nice to see it written on the tail). G-BEKC is seen here clearing customs on Pier B prior to going into the famous Hangar 4 later that month.Peter H
Photographs from June will appear here soon. If you have any photo’s taken in June at Manchester over the years which you would like to share - Please send (preferably with date) to peter@airportsol.com
All photos published will be duly credited.