Colour Photos From Yesteryear

[Deleted]

Some images from various parts of the UK and abroad. A few of these are something of a mystery, since I have no records as to where they were taken. Any info I have is included, but feel free to add any comments. The quality of some of these is not great, but they are more than 50 years old on average. Anyway, here goes:





An unusual picture, taken from inside Starways hangar. If I remember correctly, the aircraft had arrived for maintenance. A Starways DC-3 is in the background.




The same aircraft, taken from outside the hangar




Taken on the apron at Speke, presumably during a royal visit. It seems strange that the serial number is not visible. Was it to the left of the roundel by the door?



This was G-AOVB I believe.



Also taken outside the Starways hangar, with what is presumably a Lloyd DC-4 behind it. It seems strange that it was parked there, because Starways never had and dealings with B170s.

A couple from Squires Gate:



BUA DC-3 G-ALPN perhaps on a charter flight.



Silver City used to operate the B170 on flights to the IOM in days gone by. G-AIFW is pictured arriving. The booths are for pleasure flights and note the metal chairs by the fence for spectators.

More to follow...

[johnoakes]

I remember the Maltese DC-4 very well--was it once the ONLY aircraft on the old Maltese register--happy days.LOL
Just how long ago was that photo taken?
A date --approx.--would be very interesting.
I remember that it was when I used to catch the 89 bus service from St.Helens to get to the airport and Starways hangar was always the first stop.
Thanks for the memories.

[davecalveley]

john
a date approx.
late 63 early 64 as airline only lasted a few months

[acklington]

Lovely photos - what a treat!

The Queen's Flight Heron CC.4's had their serials in the normal position on the rear fuselage, just in front of the tailplane and below the tapering trim line. However, they were very small, probably 4 inches high, painted in the dark blue trim colour. On photos the bright day-glo paint tends to 'swamp' the small serial, on all but the best quality cameras/films.

I believe that the Queen's Flight had two Herons in this scheme, XM295 & XM296, so it is one of those.

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2014 8:51:20 GMT 1 acklington said:

Lovely photos - what a treat!

The Queen's Flight Heron CC.4's had their serials in the normal position on the rear fuselage, just in front of the tailplane and below the tapering trim line. However, they were very small, probably 4 inches high, painted in the dark blue trim colour. On photos the bright day-glo paint tends to 'swamp' the small serial, on all but the best quality cameras/films.

I believe that the Queen's Flight had two Herons in this scheme, XM295 & XM296, so it is one of those.

Thanks acklington, that sound about right now I think about it. On examining the original further, I can see where the registration should be, but at that point it becomes too pixellated. The orginal lacks definition because the predominant red overtook the slide!

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2014 8:00:04 GMT 1 davecalveley said:

john
a date approx.
late 63 early 64 as airline only lasted a few months

John/Dave I have since discovered that calflier has a similar photo on Flikr which he dates as Mar 64. It was clearly taken at about the same time as mine.

[johnoakes]

Just wonder how long it stayed--I have the date as a bit earlier--1963--did it just arrive and stay or did it come and go?
Was this its first and only visit?
It did move-LOL-because in the grey cells I have it pointing away from the hangar.
Sadly no camera then and memory can be very faulty.
Still a very interesting photo--hope you can find some more.

WHEN I get a new flatbed printer that works on Windows 7 and later I will trawl through my old slides--I DO have a good slide scanner but the flatbed is now obsolete.

Oh modernity how I hate you at times;LOL

Thanks again for taking the trouble to post the photos.

[Deleted]

I remember that it was when I used to catch the 89 bus service from St.Helens to get to the airport and Starways hangar was always the first stop.

Minor thread drift. John am I right in thinking that the 89 used to come over the bridge by Goodlass Walls, stop at the roundabout by Mothaks and then turn left towards Speke?

I don't think the aircraft stayed very long. I seem to remember that it came for maintenance. I'm still in touch with one of the engineers who formerly worked for Starways - I'll see if he can remember.

[Deleted]

Another set of slides - this time from Ringway's pier B, which had to be one of the best photo vantage points anywhere at the time:



If you were off to Spain for your hols in those days, you'd probably be going on one of these...



...Or if you were really lucky, one of these! Although this particular aircraft had an argument with some trees on approach to Gatwick a few months after this was taken, but being a tough old Connie, no-one was hurt.



Manchester Airport Agencies later became Servisair, and was based at Manchester for many years. The more observant among you may be wondering what that is parked behind the Balair DC-6...



...well here it is.



The SABENA 707 used to stop over on its way between Brussels and New York. At that time, the runway was 7,500 feet long and had a hump near the westerly end. The joke was that it was only because of the hump that the 707 got airborne!



Note the freight door. Aer Lingus used to operate freighters through MAN and LPL on a regular basis, though clearly this would have been a passenger flight.

More to follow...

[johnoakes]

Simply brilliant--please keep them coming.
The 89 bus from St.helens--it did stop outside Mothaks and from there a brisk walk along the perimeter took you to the Starwyas hangar--always the first stop.
Where it went to after Mothaks I don't know--one I got off the aircraft took 100% of my attention.
I know that sometimes it was a rickety old Crosville bus but usually a decent ride in a St.Helens cherry and cream.
I have started angling for a new flatbed for Christmas--fingers crossed.LOL

[Deleted]

Re: the Queens Flight Heron XR391 is also a good candidate as none of the photo's I've seen of it in these colours appear to have a registration but it is there just under the tail wing. See example below;

www.abpic.co.uk/popup.php?q=1133466

[Deleted]

Thanks ste. An interesting perspective on the whole business.

With regard to the Malta Metropolitan DC-4, here's a comment from my ex-Starways contact:

I left Starways in March 1963 to join Cambrian, so it is most likely that if the aircraft had been on maintenance at Starways, it could have been after that time. When Starways became part of British Eagle, the maintenance part of the remaining fleet of Starways was taken over by Aviation Overhauls - run By Cliff Gates. I do know that they did take on some third party work which did include some DC 4 and DC 3 aircraft, one of which was Trans Meridian. So, it's more than likely that they could have taken on some work for Malta Metropolitan, which I think, could be the answer to your question?? If it had been during my time with Starways, I would have definitely remembered it.

[philglt]

The photo of the Malta Metropolitan DC- 4 stimulated some old brain cells.On looking back at my old spotting logs, I found it as seen on 11/7/63 at Speke.I also noted XH375, Heron 2 of the Queen's Flight also at Speke on 14/06/63. A photograph online shows this in dayglo colours with the registration below the tail plane, as suggested earlier.

I hope this helps answer the original question.

Phil

[350biker]

In 1963 I cycled from Warrington to Speke to see the two Queens Flight Herons XM295 and 296. HM The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh had been on a visit to the area and were heading back home. They didnt have a contrasting rudder colour then but the attached link www.youngmarineairwing.com/page/472991588
shows that 296 did have at some later date. The pic doesnt have the writing above the windows so maybe the offer of 375 is a possiblity. However just found this link for 391 which looks very like the original pic. So your choice readers! sg-etuo.de/media/xdc/etuo/XR391_QF_Westersoetebier.jpg

[buspilot]

Flew on a Balair DC6 from MAN to Basle, about 50 years ago. Inflight meal was served on a proper plate and metal cutlery for the use of.
Think tour operator was Smiths of Wigan. From Basle to Diano Marina by tour bus on the Italian Med coast, outbound via Turin and back via Milan.

I also recall the Aer Lingus DC3's on freight runs on a Saturday, followed within minutes by a Fokker Friendship on the passenger turn.