European Football Cup Finals Airlifts - 1985 (with images)

[supertramp]

Doe anybody have any photographs of this occasion.As I went by coach I didnt see anything of
the airlift.It would be great to see some photos,cheers Dave.

[supertramp]

I take it nobody has any photos then.

[John Jones]

Jun 7, 2014 17:51:21 GMT 1 supertramp said:

I take it nobody has any photos then.

Give us a chance Dave ,the post has only been on a few days.
If I remember we had some good stuff that year .
I have some phot'o's in a album somewhere.

John

[supertramp]

Thanks Jhon,i might be wrong but there doesnt seem to be any on the forum archives.Only LFC airlifts.

[viscount]

I can, and will, respond to this request, but I am rather pre-occupied at present and not in the same location as my good scanner.

[supertramp]

Thank`s Brian,good man.

[viscount]

EUROPEAN CUP FINALS – 1985

It has been correctly pointed out that there is much photo coverage on the net of LFC fan’s airlift from Liverpool to Athens and Istanbul. However until now, nothing on that amazing year when both Liverpool FC and Everton made it to European Cup Finals in the same year – 1985. There was much excitement at the time, with Everton reaching their first ever European Cup final.

At that time I was daily transcribing the ATC Tower records on behalf of MAS members and also compiling the Society local member’s magazine “EGGP” and summarising movements in MAS “Flypast”. The request above has sent me looking back through the handwritten visiting aircraft logs, old magazine issues and searching my photograph boxes. I did consider listing all the flights with registration, types, flight numbers, point of origin & destination etc., however am initially settling on the comments and summary written and printed by me at the time in the June edition of “EGGP” as sufficient to tell the story, or at least the Liverpool Airport centred account of events.

As background, in 1985 all aircraft movements used the south airfield 09/27 runway, with all passengers handled through the ‘Art Deco’ terminal on the former north airfield (the new south airfield terminal coming into use in 1986).

PASSENGER CHARTERS SECTION - MAY 1985 (from “EGGP” with details added)

The month has been dominated by two massive airlifts of supporters to European Cup Finals, with Everton v Rapid Vienna on Wednesday 15th in Rotterdam (Everton won 3-1) and Liverpool v Juventus on Wednesday 29th in Brussels (Liverpool lost 1-0). Both clubs had an allocation of around 14,000 tickets each, however Everton appeared to sell most of theirs through agents as part of a transport package; Liverpool selling many to individuals who made their own transport arrangements, with less sold as a package through tour operators. Aircraft charters for the Everton game were arranged by Euroline, Souvenir, Sun Island, Towns, Lloyds, Duggans and Deesside Travel at least, while only Euroline, Towns and Ross Travel were permitted to obtain tickets from Liverpool FC as their ‘official’ appointed tour operators.

Easiest presented as a table: a summary of the airlines, aircraft and capacity offered for the two airlifts:

For the EUROPEAN CUP WINNER’S CUP IN ROTTERDAM, WEDNESDAY 15th MAY 1985

Airline (code)  Flts Seats  Types                  Registrations of aircraft used

Orion (KG)       6   808  6 x B.737                G-BHVH (x2), G-BHVI (x2), G-BLKB (x2)
Britannia (BY)   3   533  1 x B.767 + 2 x B.737    G-BKPW in, G-BLKV out + G-AXNB, G-BADP
K.L.M. (KL)      3   629  2 x A.310 + 1 x DC-9-30  PH-AGA in, PH-AGB, PH-AGC out + PH-DOB in, PH-MAX out
Aer Lingus (EI)  1   472  1 x B.747                EI-BED
Martinair (MP)   2   430  1 x A.310 + 1 x DC-9-80  PH-MCA + PH-MBZ
Transavia (HV)   2   260  2 x B.737                PH-TVC, PH-TVX
Air Cymru (CYM)  1   130  1 x B.737                G-BAZI
B.A.F. (VF)      1    76  1 x Viscount             G-APIM
B.M.A. (BD)      1    73  1 x Viscount             G-BMAT
In addition Navajo G-POLO, Cessna 401 G-AZRD and Cessna 421 G-TLOL operated private flights.  Also Orion used Navajo 350 G-BBNT 
and Cessna 404 G-BKWA (x2) to ferry crews either from or to East Midlands Airport.

Which makes a total of 20 passenger charters, offering 3311 seats, using a total of 20 different airliners from 9 operators to transport Everton FC and fans. The 4 aircraft operated by Transavia and Martinair used Amsterdam, all others (including KLM) and the twins used Rotterdam. First to depart was A.310 PH-AGB with the Everton team, management and press at 1618 on the Tuesday (they returned on PH-AGA at 0202 on Thursday am). First out with fans was Transavia PH-TVX at 0706 Wednesday am, with the last out KLM Airbus PH-AGC at 1544 followed by private charter Navajo G-POLO at 1603. On the Thursday, first back was Orion Boeing 737 G-BLKB at 0030, last to return was Transavia PH-TVC at 1353 later that afternoon. The Aer Lingus ‘Jumbo’ EI-BED, was efficiently handled being only on the ground for less than an hour out and inbound; 1030-1128 on Wednesday and 0251-0344 on Thursday am.

It is well worth noting that the Airbus A.310 PH-AGB on Tuesday 14th was the first visit by type to Liverpool, while on the following day G-BLKB of Orion was the first visit to Speke by the only recently delivered to European operators, Boeing 737-300 variant.

While for the EUROPEAN CUP IN BRUSSELS, WEDNESDAY 29th MAY 1985

Airine (code)   Flts Seats  Types                   Registrations of aircraft involved
 
Orion (KG)       5   678  5 x Boeing 737            G-BJBJ, G-BKHO (x2), G-BLKD (x2)
Aer Lingus (EI)  2   659  1 x B.747 1 x B.707       EI-BED; EI-ASO
Euroair (EZ)     2   152  2 x Viscount              G-BLNA, G-BNAA
Britannia (BY)   1   130  1 x B.737                 G-BGYL
B.M.A. (BD)      1    73  1 x Viscount              G-BMAT
In addition: Partenavia P.68B G-OCAL and King Air G-VRES operated private flights.  Also Orion used Cessna 414 G-MLCS, 
Cessna 404 G-BKWA (x2) and Navajo G-BBNT to ferry crews either from or to East Midlands.

Which makes a total of 11 passenger charters offering a capacity of 1692 seats, using 9 different aircraft from 5 airlines, to transport Liverpool FC and fans. First out on Tuesday 28th May was Aer Lingus Boeing 707 EI-ASO with the team and club officials etc, departing at 1510. First fans departed on a Euroair Viscount G-BNAA at 0725 on Wednesday, with the last fans away on Orion Boeing 737 G-BKHO at 1344 that afternoon. First back on the Thursday morning was B.M.A. Viscount G-BMAT at 0128, the last fans returning on Euroair Viscount G-BLNB at 1425, followed by Liverpool FC and club officials on Boeing 707 EI-ASO at 1527. The Aer Lingus ‘Jumbo’ EI-BED was on the ground 1014-1122 outbound on Wednesday and 0215-0330 on return Thursday morning. The Euroair Viscounts used Ostend, all other flights Brussels International Airport.

This was the now infamous Heysel Stadium match. As a consequence of the ‘disaster’ during the match tragically resulting in the death of fans, Aztec G-BBTL arrived from Blackpool evening of the Wednesday to take press reporters out to Brussels at 2142, returning from Groningen 0834 Thursday morning. While an Italian newspaper chartered a Falcon 20 I-EDIS, arriving from Brussels, landing at Liverpool 0209 on the Thursday morning, departing back to Brussels at 1034 later the same morning.

Some fairly ordinary photos will follow once I have been able to scan and clean the images. Be patient, or maybe now that you are reminded which aircraft were involved someone can beat me to posting photos of the aircraft involved?

[supertramp]

Thank`s Brian (viscount) for your time and effort,some very good info there and will look forward to seeing any photos whatever format that they are in to view whoever posts them.

[viscount]

It has taken a while, but as promised, some photo coverage of the Everton fans' airlift in May 1985. Initially scanned my negatives, but found them to not only be rather scratched, but also considerably darkened with colour change. So most of these are scanned from the near 30 year old 6x4 prints, although the initial 6 being from transparencies, which show considerable shake - I think as a result of the dim, wet conditions while using slow, low ASA film stock. The prints, even those taken in the same conditions are better. For some reason, between morning and lunch-time visits I had taken out the colour film and reloaded it, so loosing several images - possibly I had to clear a shutter jam as the camera was likely a Practika with a canvas shutter.



On the Wednesday morning, 15th May 1985, I clearly had got to the Airport early to view proceedings from the balcony. But not early enough to see the Transavia Boeing 737-200 PH-TVX that had departed at 0706. However dominating the apron was Boeing 767 G-BLKV of Britannia in their (then) new colours which had just completed loading passengers, having positioned in from Gatwick at 0721.





The first ever visit to Liverpool Speke by the new Boeing 737-300 was the arrival, positioning from EMA, of Orion's G-BLKB at 0749.

Tnen the next photo was to capture both aircraft in the same frame.



Orion contributed a number of aircraft, many doing two runs during the day, here Boeing 737-200 G-BHVI having arrived positioning from Birmingham at 0756. The Jet Ranger lurking on the finger apron being regular G-BAKS which had night stopped having arrived from Preston the evening before and departed at 1006 for Fiddler's Ferry, so presumably was on power-line survey work.



One of two Viscounts taking part, was BAF's G-APIM seen here having positioned from Belfast at 0800, the other G-BMAT of BMA departed to Rotterdam at 0812 and being a regular clearly was not considered worthy of a photo at the time.









In 1985 wide bodied aircraft types were somewhat rare visitors to Speke, three types (B.767, A.310 & B.747) on the same day was quite something. As shown by the extravagance of taking 4 shots of the Boeing 767 moving off stand for departure to Rotterdam at 0829.



Last photo before departing for work shows two of Orion Boeing 737s, G-BHVI parked and G-BHVH having arrived from Glasgow at 0807.

[viscount]

It is clear that, not satisfied with a visit to the balcony before work, at lunch-time I rushed to 27 to witness a few movements. I had though missed out on seeing Aer Lingus's Boeing 747 EI-BED which was on the ground 1030 until 1128.



Departing 09 at 1313 was Britannia Airways Boeing 737-200 G-AXNB in their original scheme. Sharpness has suffered with cropping following scan of the original 6 x 4 print.





Also departing 09, the Orion Boeing 737-300 G-BLKB at 1324 - on its second rotation to Rotterdam





I've no doubt that the congregated spotters at the 27 end cheered when ATC vectored positioning Air Cymru's Boeing 737-200 G-BAZI from Cardiff for a 27 approach, landing at 1332. I was quite possibly on a bicycle, rather than car, as I did not visit the terminal to photograph Martinair's Airbus A.310 PH-MCA which was on the ground 1219-1358.

[viscount]

I was back at the airport immediately after work, this time on the balcony to see the final departures for Rotterdam.



Connected with the airlift, ferrying crews, was this attractively schemed Cessna 404 G-BKWA.





Martinair's MD-82 PH-MBZ performing a tight turn off one of the apron fingers, prior to departure at 1530 for Amsterdam.



Grosvenor Aviation positioned Navajo Chieftain G-POLO across from Manchester to operate a private charter to Rotterdam, seen here probably shortly after arrival at 1513. It departed at 1603, the last departure with Everton fans - indeed they cannot have got to into the Rotterdam stadium much before the kick-off whistle!

In the background are two U.S.Army helicopters which had arrived at 1505 although were based at Speke for the week. This was a routine sight as the U.S.Army with Iroquois and Beech U-21 or C-12s were relatively common-sight operating in conjunction with the Burtonwood Storage Site. The helicopters are a Bell OH-58A Kiowa (Jet Ranger) 0-15336 (70-15336 c/no.40887 accepted 4/71) and a Bell UH-1H Iroquois 0-21569 (72-21569 c/no.13268 accepted 8/73) with the individual name 'Penguin Airways'.





The previous day had witnessed the first Airbus A.310 arrival at Speke, by Wednesday afternoon KLM's PH-AGC was the third when it arrived at 1501. Here seen with final loading and taxi out, departing for Rotterdam at 1544.


Well that is some 21 images of the fans' airlift in mid May 1985, even if some are less than perfect shots. Hope it stirs some memories - many thanks to "Supertramp" for starting the thread. Anyone have more to add?


Just two weeks later it was Liverpool FC's turn in the European Cup Final in Brussels.

It has taken me a while, even since rescuing my transparencies from store to find my images of the smaller LFC airlift to Brussels in May 1985. Rather disappointed to find just 3 slides in my collection. Suspect that was a combination of fewer charters, and those being operated by familiar, regularly seen, airlines and aircraft and many of the flights happening while at work (although in theory last week in May I would not have been working). Clearly the weather was somewhat better than a fortnight earlier!



A routine image of Liverpool Airport's apron in the mid '80s with just BMA aircraft visible. Reason for inclusion in this post is that Viscount G-BMAT was about to depart to Brussels, the Friendship G-BMAP to London, while IoM and Belfast flights were operated by Manx Airlines.



Dominating a seemingly otherwise empty apron is the arrival of Aer Lingus Boeing 747 EI-BED to collect passengers for Brussels.



Parked on the Western Apron, another aircraft awaiting outbound passengers, Britannia Airways' Boeing 737-205 G-BGYL

[vanguard]

Thanks "Viscount" it brings back a memory for me,i lost a 35m Agfa film in the grass.I had just finished
the film and the last one on it was the KLM A310,could i find it could i not,say no more.

Frank

[LPL]

I went on the Aer Lingus 747.

Happy days.

[supertramp]

I went by coach,but thanks Brian for the memories and for your time putting this post together.

[ronturner]

Brian. An excellent posting which must have taken a lot of time and effort. Thank you.

Ron