By: PeterVerney
- 11th October 2009 at 09:29Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Just to prolong this thread, I worked for a contracting firm, from an office close to Heathrow, in the late 1960's.
One day I was taken into what I think was a brand new hangar specially built for BA's 747s.The 747 had not yet arrived here, but there in the middle of the hangar stood a 747 !!
It was explained to me that this was a plywood cut out ! Built and painted by a film studio special effects dept and was being used to check the access equipment etc for the engineers who would service them.
Walking round it, of course it was obvious, but the first impression when one entered the hangar from the right door was absolutely convincing.
By: vulcanb2
- 12th October 2009 at 08:47Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Many thanks for that info Vulcan. I take it when that facility opened that's when BEA moved its ops from Northolt?
I guess this building was soon over shadowed by the later BOAC sheds?
Are any of these buildings still about?
BEA moved ops from Northolt to Heathrow around 1954-5. The BOAC HQ building was begun late 1950 & in use by 1955. One later BOAC hangar was the cable-stayed Wing Hangar close to the A30, built 1954-6, used by Britannias initially (with tails external through wrap-round doors) before being extended in early 1960s both sides for VC10s.
To answer Peter Verney's thread, the BOAC 747 hangar was built May 1968-March 1970 & was the first dedicated 747 maintenance hangar in the world. It was the world’s largest two layer diagonal grid structure including the two largest all tubular welded girders. It was extended, doubling its' size by early 1973.
By: vulcanb2
- 12th October 2009 at 08:49Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
BEA moved ops from Northolt to Heathrow around 1954-5. The BOAC HQ building was begun late 1950 & in use by 1955. One later BOAC hangar was the cable-stayed Wing Hangar close to the A30, built 1954-6, used by Britannias initially (with tails external through wrap-round doors) before being extended in early 1960s both sides for VC10s.
To answer Peter Verney's thread, the BOAC 747 hangar was built May 1968-March 1970 & was the first dedicated 747 maintenance hangar in the world. It was the world’s largest two layer diagonal grid structure including the two largest all tubular welded girders. It was extended, doubling its' size by early 1973.
I should have added that the original BOAC Owen Williams HQ is extant, as are the 747 hangars, but the Wing Hangar has gone, as has BEA Phase 2 2x5 bay set.
By: Jetflap
- 12th October 2009 at 13:30Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Have you considered putting your splendid photos on a permanent site, JETFLAP? Brian Doherty's shots are going onto Air Britain's ABPIC site , many from Heathrow when he worked in the BOAC Kremlin there
It hadn't occurred to me to do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
By: Steponas
- 26th April 2012 at 13:11Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hallo ,
A British sports team ( 9 members in total ) flew from London Airport to Copenhagen on 27 or 28 April 1952 , they were on their way to Warsaw , but there were no direct flights to Warsaw then , they then flew on to Warsaw from Copenhagen.
I have a few questions I'd like to ask if I may ?
Which airport would they have flown from ?
Can anyone tell me which plane they would have flown in ?
Would it have been a normal commercial flight ?
Am I right in suggesting there were no direct flights to Warsaw from London at that time ?
How long would the flight to Copenhagen have been ?
And the connecting flight to Warsaw ?
Thanks and hope you can help , I know nothing about these matters and thought I would consult with experts.
By: longshot
- 26th April 2012 at 23:50Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
1952 might have been a bit early for a Scandia or Viscount?....Viking, perhaps. Was this for the British Cycling team led by Ian Steel who won the 'Peace Race' Warsaw-Berlin-Prague?
London-Heathrow to Copenhagen-Kastrup as a regular, commercial flight possibly by an SAS DC-4, DC-6 or even a Saab Scandia or a BEA Viscount.
Copenhagen-Kastrup to Warsaw possibly by a LOT Ilyushin IL-12 (there's a picture on airliners.net of one in Copenhagen taken in 1952).
By: Steponas
- 27th April 2012 at 20:24Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
1952 might have been a bit early for a Scandia or Viscount?....Viking, perhaps. Was this for the British Cycling team led by Ian Steel who won the 'Peace Race' Warsaw-Berlin-Prague?
By: longshot
- 28th April 2012 at 00:52Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Not much into sport...just Googled 'British Team 1952'....there isn't much about the event online considering Britain did so well...possibly because it was behind the Iron Curtain...also I believe the British Cycling world was split into rival factions at that time
By: Steponas
- 1st May 2012 at 15:15Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I had the info on dates etc all along , the team flew from Northolt to Copenhagen on 25 April 1952 , woould they have flown by BEA ?
They then flew from Copenhagen to Warsaw on 26 April , would they have travelled to Warsaw by LOT Airlines ie would LOT have then had a monopoly ( excluding the USSR , obviously ) on all flights into Poland ?
By: connie freak
- 1st October 2012 at 13:21Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
LAP North
I just found this site and thread while googling LAP North Side. Just had to get on here and share.
I was a spotter with the North mob 1959 - 64. Every saturday and Sunday I would take a Thames Valley bus (service B) from Maidenhead to LAP (3 Magpies). Always got there at 8.15am and usually i was the 1st one there. The visitor area then was a small square of metal fencing with metal chairs (usually wet).
I loved these times and have many memories of my spotting mates, indeed still in touch with some.
I have made a 200 scale of the Northside ramp and littered it with retro propliners. Here's a pic and and a photobucket link.
By: AMB
- 1st October 2012 at 23:38Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Oh those wonderful days at Heathrow, or LAP, as we knew it, when there were no terrorist threats and the roof gardens could be enjoyed to the full with no need for a telephoto lens as whistling Viscounts screamed up close to you or you caught the whiff of smoke from a starting DC-6 or DC-7.....ah those were the days and here I am aged 11 taking a break between filling in my Ian Allan Civil Aircraft Markings book.
By: jaybeebee
- 2nd October 2012 at 21:51Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thats a great model! I had a base board made up, just a tad smaller though so I could display some of the Viscounts i'd bought over time, I then had my brother in law make it into a coffee table.... Missus not keen on it but hey ho! :p
By: jim_jobe
- 2nd October 2012 at 22:35Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Graham, here's a long shot for you-on 15 August 1961 I saw a C-46 Commando at LAP which may have been 4X-***.Did you by any chance log one about that time?
Jim
By: charliehunt
- 3rd October 2012 at 08:31Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Oh those wonderful days at Heathrow, or LAP, as we knew it, when there were no terrorist threats and the roof gardens could be enjoyed to the full with no need for a telephoto lens as whistling Viscounts screamed up close to you or you caught the whiff of smoke from a starting DC-6 or DC-7.....ah those were the days and here I am aged 11 taking a break between filling in my Ian Allan Civil Aircraft Markings book.
I can echo your post practically word for word but the B/W photo is long gone, sadly! Wonderful days indeed!
By: mmitch
- 3rd October 2012 at 09:54Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I went there in the 50s on a school trip. It always amazes me even now that all there was between us and the 'live' apron were those metal barriers. I can remember Sabena DC-3s and the new Britannia.
mmitch.
Posts: 1,020
By: PeterVerney - 11th October 2009 at 09:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Just to prolong this thread, I worked for a contracting firm, from an office close to Heathrow, in the late 1960's.
One day I was taken into what I think was a brand new hangar specially built for BA's 747s.The 747 had not yet arrived here, but there in the middle of the hangar stood a 747 !!
It was explained to me that this was a plywood cut out ! Built and painted by a film studio special effects dept and was being used to check the access equipment etc for the engineers who would service them.
Walking round it, of course it was obvious, but the first impression when one entered the hangar from the right door was absolutely convincing.
Posts: 6
By: vulcanb2 - 12th October 2009 at 08:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
BEA moved ops from Northolt to Heathrow around 1954-5. The BOAC HQ building was begun late 1950 & in use by 1955. One later BOAC hangar was the cable-stayed Wing Hangar close to the A30, built 1954-6, used by Britannias initially (with tails external through wrap-round doors) before being extended in early 1960s both sides for VC10s.
To answer Peter Verney's thread, the BOAC 747 hangar was built May 1968-March 1970 & was the first dedicated 747 maintenance hangar in the world. It was the world’s largest two layer diagonal grid structure including the two largest all tubular welded girders. It was extended, doubling its' size by early 1973.
Posts: 6
By: vulcanb2 - 12th October 2009 at 08:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I should have added that the original BOAC Owen Williams HQ is extant, as are the 747 hangars, but the Wing Hangar has gone, as has BEA Phase 2 2x5 bay set.
Posts: 361
By: Jetflap - 12th October 2009 at 13:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It hadn't occurred to me to do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
Posts: 4
By: Steponas - 26th April 2012 at 13:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hallo ,
A British sports team ( 9 members in total ) flew from London Airport to Copenhagen on 27 or 28 April 1952 , they were on their way to Warsaw , but there were no direct flights to Warsaw then , they then flew on to Warsaw from Copenhagen.
I have a few questions I'd like to ask if I may ?
Which airport would they have flown from ?
Can anyone tell me which plane they would have flown in ?
Would it have been a normal commercial flight ?
Am I right in suggesting there were no direct flights to Warsaw from London at that time ?
How long would the flight to Copenhagen have been ?
And the connecting flight to Warsaw ?
Thanks and hope you can help , I know nothing about these matters and thought I would consult with experts.
Posts: 945
By: Kenneth - 26th April 2012 at 14:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
London-Heathrow to Copenhagen-Kastrup as a regular, commercial flight possibly by an SAS DC-4, DC-6 or even a Saab Scandia or a BEA Viscount.
Copenhagen-Kastrup to Warsaw possibly by a LOT Ilyushin IL-12 (there's a picture on airliners.net of one in Copenhagen taken in 1952).
Posts: 4
By: Steponas - 26th April 2012 at 16:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks , Kenneth , very much appreciated.
Posts: 1,707
By: longshot - 26th April 2012 at 23:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
1952 might have been a bit early for a Scandia or Viscount?....Viking, perhaps. Was this for the British Cycling team led by Ian Steel who won the 'Peace Race' Warsaw-Berlin-Prague?
Posts: 4
By: Steponas - 27th April 2012 at 20:24 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It was indeed , how did you guess ?
Are you interested in this event ?
Posts: 1,707
By: longshot - 28th April 2012 at 00:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Not much into sport...just Googled 'British Team 1952'....there isn't much about the event online considering Britain did so well...possibly because it was behind the Iron Curtain...also I believe the British Cycling world was split into rival factions at that time
Posts: 4
By: Steponas - 1st May 2012 at 15:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I had the info on dates etc all along , the team flew from Northolt to Copenhagen on 25 April 1952 , woould they have flown by BEA ?
They then flew from Copenhagen to Warsaw on 26 April , would they have travelled to Warsaw by LOT Airlines ie would LOT have then had a monopoly ( excluding the USSR , obviously ) on all flights into Poland ?
Thanks for the assistance on this.
Posts: 70
By: connie freak - 1st October 2012 at 13:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
LAP North
I just found this site and thread while googling LAP North Side. Just had to get on here and share.
I was a spotter with the North mob 1959 - 64. Every saturday and Sunday I would take a Thames Valley bus (service B) from Maidenhead to LAP (3 Magpies). Always got there at 8.15am and usually i was the 1st one there. The visitor area then was a small square of metal fencing with metal chairs (usually wet).
I loved these times and have many memories of my spotting mates, indeed still in touch with some.
I have made a 200 scale of the Northside ramp and littered it with retro propliners. Here's a pic and and a photobucket link.
http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q638/conniefreak/London%20Airport%20North%20model%20200%20scale/
Graham (aka Tom from Maidenhead)
Posts: 1,707
By: longshot - 1st October 2012 at 21:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Excellent model of the Northside...here's some possibly relevant pics
http://www.abpic.co.uk/results.php?q=doherty+paris&fields=all&sort=latest&limit=20
and a bit earlier
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1242115/
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/an-aerial-view-of-london-airport-news-photo/3396997
Posts: 562
By: AMB - 1st October 2012 at 23:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Oh those wonderful days at Heathrow, or LAP, as we knew it, when there were no terrorist threats and the roof gardens could be enjoyed to the full with no need for a telephoto lens as whistling Viscounts screamed up close to you or you caught the whiff of smoke from a starting DC-6 or DC-7.....ah those were the days and here I am aged 11 taking a break between filling in my Ian Allan Civil Aircraft Markings book.
Posts: 154
By: jaybeebee - 2nd October 2012 at 21:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thats a great model! I had a base board made up, just a tad smaller though so I could display some of the Viscounts i'd bought over time, I then had my brother in law make it into a coffee table.... Missus not keen on it but hey ho! :p
Posts: 705
By: jim_jobe - 2nd October 2012 at 22:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Graham, here's a long shot for you-on 15 August 1961 I saw a C-46 Commando at LAP which may have been 4X-***.Did you by any chance log one about that time?
Jim
Posts: 11,141
By: charliehunt - 3rd October 2012 at 08:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I can echo your post practically word for word but the B/W photo is long gone, sadly! Wonderful days indeed!
Posts: 1,777
By: Steve Bond - 3rd October 2012 at 08:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
AMB, don't forget the duffle bag and jam sandwiches - and the lady who used to broadcast a running commentary on what was coming in next.
Posts: 10,029
By: Mark12 - 3rd October 2012 at 09:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
If only I could have afforded colour. :)
Posts: 1,746
By: mmitch - 3rd October 2012 at 09:54 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I went there in the 50s on a school trip. It always amazes me even now that all there was between us and the 'live' apron were those metal barriers. I can remember Sabena DC-3s and the new Britannia.
mmitch.