Travellers Tales…
Let’s take a break from MAN and tell a few “Travellers Tales”
In this section we will take a look back at historical photographs taken by Manchester enthusiasts taken on their travels to other airports around the world. It also includes some photos taken on TAS Tours to airports near and far…enjoy the ride!
This was a real rare beast to come off the line at Woodford - Ghana Airways 748 9G-ABW …would you believe 50 years ago (November 1970)
A classic London Heathrow photo in September 1968!.This VC10 (9G-ABP) has something of a history having been delivered to Ghana Airways in June 1965. She was then leased to MEA in 1967 but just 3 months after this photo was taken (September 1968) she was destroyed in a “retaliation” attack at Beirut airport by Israeli commandos
A British Midland Dak G-APBC graces the apron at East Midlands with all her charm in January 1968
Two “Classics” in one shot at Heathrow in June 1975!
A trip to Paris Orly in July 1970 to capture some new B747’s!
A great shot of Sterling DC6B “Super Cloudmaster” OY-BAV at Gatwick in April 1968. But just look at those “classic” airliners in the background of this photo by Bob Thorpe!
March 1977 and a memorable day at Liverpool 5 Caravelles and a Vanguard with not an Easyjet or Ryanair to be seen…Those were the days! Photo: Peter H
B727 Clipper 339 Papa Alpha touching down at Heathrow in April 1974… Beautiful!
Another classic shot from London Heathrow in the early seventies of Trident 1E G-AVYC of Northeast and Aer Lingus B737-200 EI-ASC.
About to depart Manchester on one of the many Frankfurt Flyers operated by TAS…but which one? Please let me know if you have an idea of the date…There we go…Well done and thanks to Steve Grimshaw (pictured on the front row with two cameras standing next to his sister) who has confirmed that the trip departed on B747-400 VR-HOS on 24th July 1990 and returned on 27th July courtesy of VR-HOO.
Paul Rowland took a trip down to Heathrow in September 1999 and captured this great shot of Olympic B747-200 SX-OAD
Ghana VC10 9G-ABO on short final at Heathrow June 1973.
Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 720 ET-AAH landing at Heathrow in September 1974. With a BOAC 747 classic where else but in the BOAC hangars at the rear and the “training Comet” outside…nostalgia at its best?
A good old Seaboard (Seaweed) DC8. Who would have thought? Heathrow airport in September 1974. I was Parked up along side the security fence at the time. Reminding us that things never remain the same and as enthusiasts / photographers we have to make the most of what we have at a particular time…the RVP and Manchester Southside perhaps being the points in question at this very time?
Taken from the old Spectator Terrace - The “Big Orange”, Braniff B747 N601BN at Gatwick in April 1978
TAS Trip to Schonefeld (East Berlin as was) 1984 - a number of very familiar faces…Peter H in red jacket standing next to Paul West (Guy) and many who have taken to the sky and are now flying with the angels..Aaah such happy days…
A real adventure…The first TAS Trip to East Berlin…1984 “Educating Rita” (Our East German Tour Guide) and “99 Red Balloons” a song that was played on the Charterplan coach driven by John Burgoyne. How could we forget?
TAS Group entering East Berlin at the famous “Check point Charlie” 1984
East Berlin Tour Organiser - Peter Hampson back in 1984 !
N309EL the famous Eli Lilly Boeing 707-323C on approach (I guess) to Liverpool Speke in March 1977.
August 1976 and a Pan am Boeing 747SP N532PA is about to touch down at Heathrow …but just look at the BA line up on Terminal 1…
Paul Rowland took a trip to Amsterdam Schiphol in 1996 where he took this excellent “cover shot”
Ostend was always an interesting airport to call in at when taking a trip across the Channel. Malcolm MCLean touched lucky when he visited on 5th June 1989 to see Benin Government Boeing 707 TY-BBW
Air Anglia DAK G-ANTD outside Fields - Castle Donington (East Midlands) May 1971
Air France Connie F-BHBB on the Air France maintenance area at Paris Orly in September 1968
The famous Court line hangar and an Interconair (Ex RAF) Britannia EI-BBY parked outside . Luton Airport August 1976. On a visit to Luton only last week (August 2019) I was recalling seeing Cubana Britannias in this very same spot and driving down from MAN to catch a glimpse of the rare beasts!
A quick check with the Security Guard on the gate…“Any chance of a quick walk on the ramp for a picture of the Brit?” …Sure no problem! In fact our early coach trips got permission for a drive around the ramp at o’dark thirty in the morning.Oh yes those foggy cold Winter mornings at Luton. I remember them well..
TAS Trip to Prague for our Aviation Weekend…
Paris Le Bourget - September 1971 and an Iberia Caravelle is dwarfed by a mighty USAF C5 Galaxy. What else can we see? A number of Caravelles,Daks, a Cyprus ? Trident and a UTA Dc8.. This was my favourite airport as it always had a few surprises in store
Air Senegal 748 6V-AEO undergoing pre delivery checks at Woodford in 1979.
A great collection of classic airliners at Paris Le Bourget in June 1971.
Over the years TAS have operated many trips to the USA - North, South, East and West.
In 1994? we visited Los Angeles and experienced an Earthquake. Anyone remember being in the Proud Bird taking photos at the end of the Runway at LAX when the bottles and glasses at the bar started to rattle and fell to the floor - at that point we all ran outside and OPS were suspended whilst the runways were all checked for damage!
I cant remember the date - but if you can …let me know
The whole group on a TAS Trip to LAX
UTA / Air Afrique DC8-30 F-BIUZ at Paris Le Bourget in June 1971. Oh the number of times I took the long walk along the UTA Hangar road to sneak a cheeky view of a DC6 or Dc8 under maintenance,
Another one of “Woodford’s finest” - Brazilian Air Force HS748 C-91 2510 awaits delivery September 1975.
Bristol 170 Freighter G-BISU was photographed by Malcolm McLean posing at Stansted on 10th April 1985,
Memories of the TAS Trip to Prague…Flying from Manchester in a CSA TU134,then organised experience flights in an Antonov 2,YAK 40, Let 200 Morava,Aerobatics in a Zlin Trainer, and more… a North Korean IL18 P-835 was posing outside the terminal at Prague to round off the weekend and it was back to MAN on CSA’s latest B737-500 . Photo: Malcolm Mclean.
B17 “Flying Fortress” G-BEDF captured making a low level pass over Barton on Airshow day in June 1978.
She was delivered to the United States Army Air Force on 19 June 1945 as 44-85784. In 1954 the Institut Géographique National in France bought the plane for use as a survey aircraft. In 1975 she moved to England and was registered with the CAA as G-BEDF to be restored to wartime condition.
The ‘Sally B’ was used in the 1990 film Memphis Belle as one of 5 flying B-17s needed for various film scenes, and it was used to replicate the real Memphis Belle in one scene. Half of the aircraft is still in the Memphis Belle livery, following restoration of the ‘Sally B’ nose art and the black and yellow checkerboard pattern on the cowling of the starboard inner (no 3) engine, carried as a tribute to Elly Sallingboe’s companion Ted White, whose Harvard aircraft had the same pattern on its cowling.
TAS Ramp tour at Sharjah…anyone remember the date?
Iraqi Trident 1E YI-AEC putting the power on at Heathrow in July 1973.
Transair Sweeden DC 7 SE-ERB at Gatwick in .1969. Love the light aircraft parked on the grass. Photo: Bob Thorpe
A trip to Gatwick in the seventies produced Overseas National Dc10-30CF N1031F - a one time frequent visitor to Manchester. Unfortunately, she was written off in a landing accident (no fatalities) at Istanbul airport in January 1976
A rather nice picture from Paris (Orly) in August 1970 - A 1957 vintage TU104A OK-LDC of CSA. The aircraft is still in use today as a “Restaurant” in Petrovice, Czech Republic. Photo: Bob Thorpe.
A beautiful Boeing 707 F-BHSS graces the apron at Paris Orly in June 1967.Photo Bob Thorpe.
Now this is a real memory of a very early TAS / PB European Coach trip 41 years ago!
Many thanks to Pete Maher (on the front row 4th along from Mike G on the right,by the drivers door - both still TAS Members today!) for identifying the trip to Holland,Belgium and France back in June 1979. There are a few clues…Charterplan Coach,Driver John Burgoyne, Officials -Pete Maher,Paul Crellin,Mike Powney. I’m in the centre with a lot of hair and a tie! There are a number of passengers I can recognise… but can anyone help me out with where it was taken?
Peter H
Where am I now?
I used this photo in a TAS quiz a few years ago and no one got the answer right..
Taken in 1968 at an airshow at Yeovilton? Finningly perhaps? Well you would be wrong - Alderley Edge makes a fine backdrop for a gathering of Wessex at Woodford.
The mandatory TAS Group photo…This time on the ramp at Manilla (Philippines) in front of Winkys Fish Super Connie N4247k.
Another Beautiful Boeing powers herself down at Heathrow in August 1974.
How could we forget the Trident line up at T1 Heathrow - June 1975
TAS operated another memorable trip to Dubai and Sharjah in 2002 with ramp tours and photo permits granted at both airports …aah those were the days! The following shots were taken by Steve Grimshaw . Steve is pictured centre of the photo above - dressed in white with camera round neck and primed!. A lovely evening on the ramp at Sharjah with the group posing in front of a beautiful Boeing no less..
Domodedovo Airlines IL62 RA86129 commencing its departure roll from the Arabian Desert that was Sharjah - TAS Trip 2002. Photo: Steve Grimshaw.
AZZA Airlines Sudan AN12 ST-DAS on the ramp at Sharjah - Photo: Steve Grimshaw
TU 154 RA-85846 at Sharjah TAS trip 2002 - Photo: Steve Grimshaw
KMV Airlines TU154 RA-85457 pushing back @SHJ 2002 .Photo: Steve Grimshaw
The wonderful sight,sound and smoke of IL 18 EX 201 departing Sharjah taken by Steve Grimshaw on the TAS Trip in 2002..
Private TU134 RA -65908 at Dubai International - TAS Trip 2002
Silk Way Airlines Azerbaijan AN 12 4K-AZ23 on the TAS trip 2002 to Dubai International : Photo: Steve Grimshaw
Tashkent Aircraft Production Company AN-12 UK 58644 on the ramp at Dubai International -TAS trip to Dubai 2002.
Many thanks to Paul Rowland for the following shots taken on the TAS Frankfurt Flyer in August 1993. The trip travelled outbound from MAN on Cathay B747-400 VR-HUE (pictured) on 3rd August 1993 and returned on VR-HOR on 5th August. Prior to departure we would hold a Raffle - First prize a seat in the flightdeck for departure from Manchester,second prize a flightdeck jump seat for the landing at Frankfurt, 3rd prize an up grade to Business class . On most of the trips we would organise a Social Evening and or BBQ with the Frankfurt Aviation Society.This would be held at the Airports General Aviation Terminal next to the Military base - thus allowing some nice photo opportunities. We also arranged as part of the Frankfurt Flyer package a Ramp photo tour and Lufthansa Hangar Tour - Aaah those were the days!
One of the many highlights seen was this Greenair TU154 TC-GRA. Paul Rowland.
MEA Boeing 707 OD-AFD was photographed by Paul Rowland from the one time famous Spectators Deck at Frankfurt in August 1993
Finnair DC-10 OH-LHA was seen at Frankfurt in the livery of Express One in August 1993 - nice selection of USAF Hercs on the military ramp! Photo: Paul Rowland.
Estonian Air TU-134 ES-AAL taxies past the end of the pier. Oh just look at that gaggle of “Lifters” in the background.Photo: Paul Rowland TAS Frankfurt Flyer - August 1993.
UTA Dc10 F-BTDB was leased out to LAP (Paraguay) and nicely captured taxiing onto stand by Paul Rowland.
United B747-200 N4724U pushes back off stand prior to departure. Photo: Paul Rowland.
Palair Macedonian F28 F-GDUY at Frankfurt AUG 93 TAS trip.(What more Hercs!). Photo: Paul Rowland
Varig Boeing 747-300 PP-VNH at Frankfurt August 1993. Photo: Paul Rowland
A big thanks to Stuart Prince for digging deep into the archive and coming up with this wonderful selection of shots from the TAS Far East Trip in 1997 which had a very memorable visit to Taipei Sung Shan…enjoy!
TAS has operated some incredible trips to the USA over the years.With thanks to Stuart Prince lets go back to 1996 and take a look around Miami!….
The “Frankfurt Flyers” became legendary trips throughout early 1990’s .Providing TAS Members with an opportunity to travel on one of Cathay Pacific’s latest 747-400’s,a few days away in Frankfurt on a package which included Ramp Tours,Tower Trips,Hangar Tours and a BBQ or Social Evening with the local Frankfurt Aviation Society - all for a ridiculously low price.
This was the era when the 747’s,Dc10’s and Tristars ruled the skies and there was no better place to see them than Frankfurt with their wonderful open terraces and that everlasting smell of JET A1 aviation fuel which somehow made the experience even sweeter!
Many thanks to Stuart Prince for pulling together a superb selection of photos from a Frankfurt Flyer in 1990:-.
