The Boeing 707 & 720 at Liverpool
Jan 17, 2015 11:43:55 GMT 1
ian531, argosy02, and 1 more like this
Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2015 11:43:55 GMT 1
Monarch's Boeing 720 G-BHGE landing on 27
The Boeing 707/720 at Liverpool Airport
The most requested type for a review of all visits to Liverpool Airport must be the Boeing 707. With a great number of visits, by a considerable number of operators using a wide variety of aircraft, covering the Boeing 707 was never going to be an easy task – which up until now I have resisted undertaking! In covering the Boeing 707, I will naturally be including the Boeing 720, Boeing KC-135, Boeing E-3 in the narrative, all being the same family.
The usual ‘riders’ for this type review apply. While due to the way records have been kept by Liverpool enthusiasts since 1956, I am absolutely certain I have every airframe in each calendar year covered and the first visit by each aircraft during the year, I am less certain that every subsequent visit in any particular year are covered. I will not be covering, unless exceptional, aircraft that only visited to use the ILS and go-around, without landing, nor those aircraft that requested diversion inbound, but eventually landed elsewhere. As always I would be delighted if those with Boeing 707/720 photos at Liverpool Airport would share their images and by so doing, illustrate the text. Equally those with memories of visits, and Boeing 707 operations at Liverpool are invited to post on this thread.
Majority of this research undertaken and typed on MS word mid 2012 - but became bogged down in the write-up for 1979. I moved onto other projects, and have recently while clearing out my MS word folder found that this ‘type review’ was much nearer completion that I thought, so have decided to post it, even though detail for 1979 and 1988-1994 is not there. I had even started finding photos to illustrate, which once posted will hopefully will spur others to post photos of this iconic aircraft at Liverpool.
The first visit of the Boeing 707 was not until after the long runway 28/10 was opened at Liverpool in early May 1966 enabling types such as the Boeing 707, VC-10, Comet, Trident and Boeing 727 to operate. Indeed it was only two months after the opening that the first Boeing 707 transatlantic charter operated. Visits by the Boeing 707/720 commenced in 1966, with the last visit in 1995 – a span of some 30 years, with a peak of visits in 1979, other busy years being 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1980.
The different aircraft visiting in each year are listed between date and text. Unlined shows that that particular registration had not previously visited Liverpool, while * denotes a Boeing 720 type.
Boeing 707/720 Visits to Liverpool Airport
during the 'Sixties Decade
during the 'Sixties Decade
1962
The first Boeing 720 in Liverpool’s airspace was as an additional item during the 1963 Air Show at Speke on 26th May. Aer Linte’s Boeing 720 EI-ALC made a low-level pass down the main runway for the gathered crowd while en route Manchester /Ringway to Dublin. As an 11 year-old spectator , it seemed a huge aircraft with such grace and clean sweeping lines – little realising then that 50 years later I would still be writing about the event!
1966
EI-ALC*, EI-AMW, EI-ANO, EI-ANV (=4).
The first visit to Liverpool by a Boeing 707 was on 5th July 1966, the first of a series of charter flights to the U.S.A., operated by Aerlinte/Aer Lingus. On 5th July EI-ANV positioned in from Dublin before leaving en route to New York JFK, via Shannon as ‘Shamrock 5899’. The following day, 6th July, Boeing 707-348c EI-AMW positioned in from Dublin, then as IN5811 astounded everyone by departing direct to New York JFK – putting paid to the ‘doom and gloom brigade’ who said it could not be done off a 7,500’ of runway! On an inbound, return flight, Aer Lingus used one of their Boeing 720-048s, EI-ALC routing in from New York JFK and positioning out to Dublin on 25th July. The 4th different Aer Lingus aircraft to be used during the 1966 series was a further Boeing 707-348c, EI-ANO as IN5898 on 15th August again from JFK and onwards to Dublin. I think that there were more flights in the series, but as they used aircraft that had already visited, they were not recorded at the time.
1967
EI-ALA*, EI-ALC*, EI-ANV (=3).
Further Irish International charter flights operated to New York during the summer, however this was not the only reason that brought Aer Lingus Boeing 707/720s to Liverpool. On 2nd June Boeing 707-348 EI-ANV operated a Lourdes charter Dublin-Liverpool-Tarbes as EI6187/6998 – odd thing is, I can find no matching return flight in our records. Trouble with availability of Viscounts on the normal Dublin-Liverpool schedule service on 10th June saw the substitution of Boeing 720-048 EI-ALA operating inbound with EI182 and EI184 passengers and returned to Dublin with EI183 and EI185 pax.
The charter flight series to New York JFK were all operated by Boeing 720 aircraft, with outbound on 3rd July employing EI-ALC routing Dublin-Liverpool-Gander-JFK; and 19th July again EI-ALC Dublin-Liverpool-Keflavik-JFK. Return flights on 31st July with EI-ALC direct from JFK, then positioned to Dublin and 10th August with EI-ALA this time, rather oddly routing JFK-Gander-Liverpool-Dublin, as flight IN5978, the en route fuel stop not usually being required east-bound.
1968
EI-AMW, EI-ANV, EI-APG, G-ARRB, OO-SJE (=5).
Greater variety of aircraft during 1968, with the first Boeing 707 of the year being a Boeing 707-329 of Sabena International on 29th June on either weather or strike diversion from Manchester (we had both that day).OO-SJE arrived as SN3544 from New York JFK, then onward to Brussels. Final Boeing 707-436 of the year was on 14th December, when BOAC brought their G-ARRB in from Shannon for what was believed to be a ‘landing distance assessment’ prior to BOAC approval of Liverpool for B.707 diversion – this despite being on the ground at Liverpool at the same time as a diverted company VC-10!
During the summer, the Aer Lingus series of charter flights were uprated from the 137 passenger Boeing 720 to all Boeing 707-348 aircraft, with both 1968 outbound flights operating with max 173 pax loads. Both outbound operated via Shannon en route to JFK, with on 3rd July EI-APG and 21st July EI-ANV. The inbounds both direct from JFK and positioning to Dublin were, on 14th August EI-AMW and 29th July EI-APG.
1969
EI-ALC*, EI-AMW, EI-ANV, EI-ASN, EI-ASO, G-APFL, G-AVKA, G-AVTW, G-AWDG, G-AWTK, G-AWWD (=11).
By mid 1969 the number of Boeing 707 and VC-10 movements had passed the total of the previous 3 years combined. Boeing 707s called during 8 months of the year. In January there were 4 visits by a BOAC Boeing 707-436, G-APFL on 2nd, 5th and twice on 13th, usually from & to Shannon. At the time it was thought that the visits might be connection with development of Autoland for BA’s aircraft, but it may well have been simply training details. In May, on the 24th, 3 Aer Lingus aircraft transported charter passengers from Liverpool to Tarbes on a Lourdes Pilgrimage. One of the aircraft involved was Boeing 720-048, EI-ALC – the only Boeing 720 visit of the year. Passengers returned to Liverpool on 30th May on Boeing 707-348 EI-ANV, from Tarbes on onward to Dublin. With only a handful of passengers aboard, EI-ANV departed from the short north airfield ‘26’ runway – the first B.707 to do so (although a B.720 had done so on one before, also when positioning to Dublin). The 30th May was the first time 2 Boeing 707s had appeared at Liverpool on the same day, as later G-AWTK a Boeing 707-349c of Caledonian arrived from Toronto on charter to the ‘Road Racing Association of Canada’, bound for the IoM TT races. They likely returned to Canada by sea. G-AWTK positioned down to Gatwick. Next ‘707 was also a Caledonian aircraft, this time Boeing 707-349c G-AWWD on CA1521 arriving from Toronto on weather diversion from Manchester. It later continued on to Manchester.
A short season of summer charters again operated from Liverpool to New York JFK. On 16th July EI-ASO and on 19th July EI-ASN, both new aircraft making their first visit, positioned in from Dublin, leaving for Shannon as an fuel stop en route to New York. The passengers returned on 7th August on EI-ASN and 15th August on EI-ANV as EI914D. Both the return flights also called at Shannon en route inbound from New York.
Summer fog appears to have been the cause of a few diversions. On 31st August, Caledonian’s G-AVKA arrived from New York JFK with a record inbound load of 185 passengers, having diverted from its planned destination, Manchester. The aircraft left Liverpool direct to Toronto off 28, with a record outbound load of 188 passengers. A few days later, on diversion from Dublin, Boeing 707-348 EI-ASO arrived from New York JFK, later completing its journey to Dublin. On 17th September, Boeing 707-399c G-AVTWof Caledonian (5th different aircraft on 5 flights during 1969) arrived direct from Toronto and later continued onto Gatwick – presumably a diversion, although not noted as such at the time. Next came former British Eagle Boeing 707-138 (first series 100 to call) G-AWDG, now with Laker Airways. It arrived from Barcelona with stranded Liverpool I/T passengers, due to problems with a BAC.1-11. The ‘707 then positioning down to Gatwick. On 21st October two Aer Lingus Boeing 707-348’s arrived from Shannon on diversion from Bristol! EI-AMW and EI-ASN later positioned to Dublin. Quite why two aircraft, presumably transatlantic, were heading to Bristol/Filton (that’s the code used on the ATC records) on the same day, is not mentioned in the MSAE magazine at the time! The final ‘707 was a repeat visit by Caledonian’s G-AWWD, this time routing Detroit-Prestwick-Liverpool-Gatwick on 19th December. No reason recorded, but was not noted as a diverted flight, so indeed almost certainly an inbound charter (see 7.1.70). A record year for Boeing 707/720 visits, but this was bettered the following year.
Boeing 707/720 visits to Liverpool Airport
during the ‘Seventies Decade
during the ‘Seventies Decade
1970
EI-ALA*, EI-AMW, EI-ANV, EI-ASN, EI-ASO, G-APFB, G-APFH, G-APFN, G-ARRC, G-ATZC, G-AVKA, G-AVTW, G-AWTK, G-AXRS (=14).
The year started with, what appears to be an outbound charter, with Caledonian’s Boeing 707-355c G-AXRS arriving from Gatwick and departing to Prestwick en route to Detroit on 7th January, presumably, returning home the passengers that arrived 19.12.69. BOAC brought Boeing 707-436 G-APFB for training on 13th, 14th and 16th January. Further spells of BOAC training brought in G-APFH on 20th & 21st March, G-APFBagain, twice on 3rd October, G-ARRC on 7th & 12th December with G-APFN on 23rd December. Nearly all these visits being from & to Prestwick, main exception being on 12th December when from & to Manchester.
For a number of years, during mid-winter, a number of Britannia freighter charters, principally by Air Spain, had brought in consignments of tomatoes from the Canary Islands for distribution around Northern Britain. Possibly due to unservisability problems with Air Spain’s Britannias, a number of tomato flights in early spring and December 1970 were operated by Caledonian using Boeing 707 aircraft. Their first arrival, using Boeing 707-355c G-AXRS on 13th February set a record load of 38 tons when it arrived from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. It later positioned out to Gatwick. This was followed byG-AVKA on 5th March, G-AVTW on 26th March and G-AWTK on 9th April. All arrived from Las Palmas and positioned out to Gatwick. Towards the end of the year, G-AVTW on 10th December and G-ATZC on 22nd December both routed from & to Las Palmas, with G-ATZC returning on 23rd December, this time routing inbound from Las Palmas, positioning out to Gatwick.
Aer Lingus, during April brought in several of their Boeing 720/707 aircraft on a Saturday night, for the Sunday morning newspapers to Dublin. At this time the newspaper operation was being palletised, and the operation shortly settled down to an all Boeing 737QC operation. Not before EI-ASN was used on 4th April. EI-ALA on 10/11th April and EI-ASO on 18th April.
The summer transatlantic charter programme shrank to just one service in 1970, with EI-ANV on 17th July in from Dublin, then out to Shannon en route to New York JFK. The return leg operated on 13th August with EI-AMW in from the US via Shannon, then out to Dublin. Between these charters, Boeing 720 EI-ALA on 25th July operated in lieu of a Boeing 737 on the Liverpool-Dublin schedule as EI218, from & to Dublin.
1971
EI-AMW, EI-ANV, G-ATZC, G-AVKA, G-AVTW, G-AWDG, G-AWHU, G-AWTK, G-AWWD, G-AXRS, G-AYBJ, G-AYSI, G-AYVG, G-AYXR, G-AXXY, PH-TRV (=16)
A further slight increase in the number of aircraft to be seen during the year, but a much greater variety of operators, with Transavia, Britannia, BMA and Donaldson all bringing four-engined Boeings to Liverpool for the first time. For the first time too, there was at least one Boeing 707 visit each calendar month. No Boeing 720 aircraft called during 1971.
In January came the only traced 1971 call by an Aer Lingus aircraft on the Sunday am newspaper airlift. On 16th EI-ANV appeared from and to Dublin in lieu of a Boeing 737QC. Aer Lingus aircraft aircraft called again later in the year on a passenger charter.
Tomato freight charters again brought in a number of visits by Boeing 707s. First of the year was a surprise, as the aircraft used was a Boeing 707-355c PH-TRV of Transavia, Holland, with fleet name ‘Princess Irene’, arriving from Las Palmas on 17th January, returning there the following day. Three weeks later, on 10th March it was the turn of G-AVKA once again this time from Las Palmas, out to Tenerife; G-AWTK on 19th March from Las Palmas, out to Gatwick; G-AXRS on 6th April from Tenerife out to Las Palmas, returning to Liverpool the next day, 7th and night stopping before departure to Las Palmas, with G-AVTW on 8th March from Las Palmas to Gatwick – last tomato charter of the season. From late in 1970 the official title of the airline was Caledonian-BUA. On trooping flights, Caledonian-BUAs G-AWWD appeared twice on 28th May from & to Dusseldorf and later from Dusseldorf to Gatwick. At the very end of the year, two pre-Christmas tomato charters were flown by the newly renamed British Caledonian, with G-ATZC on 21st and again 23rd December, both times from Las Palmas to Gatwick.
The other annual Boeing 707 operation from Liverpool, the Aer Lingus summer series of charters to New York was down to just a single flight in 1971. Outbound on 19th July EI-ANV routed Dublin-Liverpool-Shannon-New York JFK; the inbound on 15th August EI-AMW routed New York JFK-Shannon-Liverpool-Dublin.
Previously at Liverpool just the once, in 1969, a Laker Boeing 707-138 G-AWDG appeared again twice. On 16th April, on diversion from Gatwick, inbound from Jeddah! It later flew down to its intended destination. The same aircraft diverted into Liverpool again on 26th June, this time inbound from New York JFK, having diverted from Prestwick – a mighty unusual occurrence! It later departed for Gatwick.
By now a number of British independent airlines were acquiring used Boeing 707 aircraft. Britannia Airways acquired Boeing 707-373c 2.71 to provide extra capacity than their Boeing 737-200 aircraft. G-AYSI first called at Liverpool on 10th May, operating from and to Palma – this was almost certainly the first of a summer season of IT flights from Liverpool, unfortunately the records I’m using don’t include the routine, so I’ve no idea of the frequency or length of season! However, as an irregular occurrence, I do know that G-AYSI diverted into Liverpool on 14th September inbound from Palma on diversion from Manchester, the aircraft later departing for Britannia’s base at Luton. British Midland Airways were another airline acquiring Boeing 707s, just one of their aircraft appeared, on diversion from Stansted with Boeing 707-321 G-AYBJ inbound direct from Seattle on 14th September and later departing for its intended destination. Donaldson, formerly a Britannia operator, also acquired former Pan Am Boeing 707-321s. Two called during 1971, with G-AYXR on 18th September and G-AYVG on 10th October, both arriving from New York JFK and onwards to Gatwick – no reason for these inbound flights recorded at the time.
BOAC did not make an appearance in 1971 until late in the year. Boeing 707-379C G-AWHU arrived on 2nd November from Miami as the result of strike closure of Heathrow. It did not leave until the 4th to position to Heathrow. There were no BOAC Boeing 707 training visits noted during 1971.
1972
EI-AMW, EI-ANV, F-BLCI, G-AWWD, G-AXRS, G-AYZZ,G-AZRO, N404PA, N415PA (=9)
Fewer Boeing 707 visits during 1972, however a number of aircraft that had not been to Speke before, and two interesting operators to add to the list, with national airlines, Air France and Pan American.
First Boeing 707 arrival of the year brought in Aer Lingus’s EI-AMW on a newspaper flight 18th March, in lieu of the usual Boeing 737QC. This happened again, this time use was made of EI-ANV, which performed a double run, from & to Dublin overnight on 18th/19th November. For the first year since 1966, there was no summer charter flight programme to New York using Aer Lingus, however making their first recorded appearance at Liverpool was Pan American Airlines. Boeing 707-321 N415PA on 22nd July positioned in from Heathrow and operated an outbound ABC passenger charter to New York JFK via a Shannon fuel stop. On 13th August N404PA operated the return leg, arriving direct from New York JFK, then positioning to Heathrow.
No early in the year, Boeing 707 tomato flights from the Canary Islands in 1972. The first B.Cal Boeing 707-355C G-AXRS on a Manchester diversion, inbound from New York JFK. The passengers were unloaded at Liverpool and the aircraft positioned out to Dusseldorf, flt nos CA2837/077. A series of three tomato charters were operated immediately prior to Christmas, bringing in two of the airline’s newer acquisitions, G-AZRO on 19th December from and to Las Palmas, and again 20th from Las Palmas to Gatwick, with G-AYZZ on 21st from & to Las Palmas.
By some margin, the most interesting charter of the year brought in a Boeing 707-328C F-BLCIof Air France on 27th October direct from Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadaloupe – Liverpool’s first direct arrival from the West Indies. The aircraft was a charter, bringing in 140 Peruvian Naval personnel to collect a ship from overhaul at Cammell Lairds. The aircraft positioned out to Paris Orly. BOAC Boeing 707s did not appear on training flights, however there was just the one arrival on diversion from Manchester, when G-AWWD on 29th July arrived direct from Toronto, later continuing on to Heathrow.
1973
EI-ANO, EI-APG,G-APFD, G-APFI, G-APFK, G-APFM, G-APFO, G-ARRC, G-ARWD, G-ASZF, G-AVKA, G-AWDG, G-AWTK, G-AYVG, G-AYZZ, G-AZKM*, G-AZRO, G-AZTG, N458PA, N495PA, N891PA (=21)
After the slight dip in Boeing 707 visits in 1972, another record year in 1973, with Boeing 707 operators that had used Liverpool before: Aer Lingus, B.Cal, BOAC, Laker and Pan Am, being joined by British Airtours, Dan Air and Monarch.
The year started with further tomato charters and a few diversions. B.Cal tomato charters brought in Boeing 707-349C G-AZRO on 2nd January, with G-AVKA on 8th March and G-AYZZ on 19th April, all three flights routing from and to Las Palmas. The pre-Christmas tomato charter again employed G-AYZZ on 21st December, from Las Palmas, to Gatwick. Another ‘one-off’ charter early in the year brought in a further visit by Pan American. On 30th January Boeing 707-321C N458PA routed Miami-New York JFK-LPL, with freight that originated at Miami. It later departed transatlantic direct, to New York JFK.
Diversions brought in several Boeing 707s. On 2nd January Laker’s Boeing 707-138B {b]G-AWDG[/b] arrived from Palma, due to weather at Gatwick, the aircraft later leaving for Gatwick. The following day, due to weather at Manchester, Donaldson’s Boeing 707-321 G-AYVG on 3rd January arrived from Gatwick and continued on to Keflavik, Iceland. An unusual pair of diversions arrived on 26th June, both Aer Lingus scheduled flights, diverting in from Shannon. Many years on, I have no idea why Shannon and Dublin were both shut. EI-APG arrived from Chicago O’Hare, while EI-ANO arrived from Boston – both aircraft later departing for Dublin. Winter diversions brought in a first visit by one of Dan Air’s Boeing 707-321s, G-AZTG arriving direct from Dubai, due to weather diversion from Luton. The aircraft later left for Gatwick. On 19th November B.Cal’s G-AWTK arrived from Toronto and departed for Gatwick – presumably a diversion there is no record now of where or why it diverted from its intended destination. I do however know that British Airways G-APFI on BA108 transatlantic, via Prestwick on 11th December was running somewhat late and diverted to Liverpool as Manchester’s runway was closed at night for maintenance.
Training programmes brought in BA’s Boeing 707-336C G-ASZF on 1st February, operating from & to Prestwick. On 30th May it was the turn of Boeing 707-436 G-APFM], again operating from & to Prestwick. Towards the end of the year it was the turn of Boeing 707-436 G-ARRC to appear twice on 14th November, both times f&t Prestwick; on 15th November f&t Prestwick and later from Shannon to Prestwick; then finally on 16th November from Prestwick and onwards to Newcastle.
There were three sessions of passenger charter flights originating at Liverpool in 1973. LFC reached the EUFA Cup Final in Dortmund. Amongst the aircraft involved in the ‘Red Army’ airlift were a Monarch Boeing 720 G-AZKM on 23rd May from Luton to Cologne, with later in the day British Airtours Boeing 707-465 G-ARWD from Gatwick to Dusseldorf. Both aircraft returned on 24th May on reverse routings.
In late July British Airtours operated a series of Lourdes Pilgrimage charter flights. On 25th July G-APFK operated two outbounds, routing Gatwick-LPL-Tarbes-Gatwick-LPL-Tarbes-LPL, departing with a third outbound load morning of 26th. On 27th G-APFK again operated from and to Tarbes, presumably with passengers inbound and outbound. On 31st July G-ARWD brought passengers inbound from Tarbes, followed later in the day by G-APFD again from Tarbes, both aircraft onwards to Gatwick. He next day, 1st August G-APFO brought back two more plane loads, routing Tarbes-LPL-Gatwick-Tarbes-LPL-Gatwick. If that doesn’t read right, I too make it 4 loads outbound and 5 loads inbound – just don’t ask for an explanation!
Finally mention has to be made of the 8th consecutive, but final, year of charter flights between Liverpool and New York using Boeing 720/707s. Pan American for the second successive year provided the aircraft. Boeing 707-321 N495PA on 21st July positioned in from Prestwick and out to New York via a fuel stop at Shannon. The return flight on 12th August employed Boeing 707-321B N891PA, which arrived direct from New York JFK and positioned onwards to Heathrow.
1974
G-APFJ, G-APFM, G-ATZD, G-AYSI, G-AYVG (=5)
Quite a drop in Boeing 707 visits in 1974 with no Liverpool bound tomato charters, outbound newspaper flights or New York bound ABC charter flights. All visits during the year being by B.Cal or BOAC/BA aircraft, there being no visits by Aer Lingus, British Airtours or Pan Am Boeing 707s!
It was not far into the year when on a weather diversion from Gatwick, B.Cal’s G-AYSI (the aircraft had previously visited in 1971 when with Britannia) arrived on 9th January from Las Palmas and departed to Gatwick. The load was presumably tomatoes rather than passengers - although which was not recorded! Just over a week later, on 17th January, a BOAC Boeing 707 with G-ATZD presumably on an autoland training mission, routing from Heathrow to Thurleigh. On 3rd March the final visit by a BOAC Boeing 707 (from midnight 31st March BOAC and BEA ceased to trade) with Boeing 707-436 G-APFJ arriving as BA608, from & to Prestwick, a Manchester flight on diversion – the passengers originating and departing to Canada.
With no summer transatlantic charters, it was not until 27th September that B.Cal brought in G-AYVG on flight BR2922 from Toronto, the aircraft continuing on to Gatwick. Presumably a diversion, but no notes as from where! The next Boeing 707 certainly was on diversion from Manchester, when on 9th October G-APFM arrived from Canada, via Prestwick on a transatlantic schedule BA648, it later continued to its intended destination. Final visit of the year was a repeat of the first, with B.Cal’s G-AYSI arriving on 23rd December from Las Palmas, departing the following day for Tunis. I assume a ‘one-off’ tomato freight charter for the pre-Christmas market, and the final Canary Islands tomato freight charter to operate into Liverpool, after some years of operation.
1975
EI-ANO, G-APFB, G-APFF, G-APFG, G-APFL, G-APFN, G-ARRC, G-ARWD, G-AWDG, G-AXGX, G-AXXZ, N7558A/N309EL (=12)
An improvement in terms of Boeing 707 movements, different aircraft and of operators. Aircraft visited during 10 months of the year, operated by BA, Laker, Eli Lilly, Aer Lingus and British Airtours, however B.Cal did not appear in ‘75. First in on 9th February was Boeing 707-436 G-APFN of BA on BA648/9 the Canadian transatlantic service, diverted from Manchester, it routed from & to Prestwick. A combination of poor weather and limited ILS availability being the cause of the diversion. It was not only poor weather that causes diversions. On 28th February Laker’s Boeing 707-138B G-AWDG diverted in due to Servisair staff on strike at Manchester, it routed from Gatwick and out direct to New York JFK as GK8499. On 1st March it was back on GK8500 from JFK to Gatwick. Stranger still was Aer Lingus Boeing 707-348C EI-ANO as EI121 to collect a full load of fuel on 17th April, routing from Dublin, to Shannon, due to a fuel delivery strike in Eire.
A new chapter in Boeing 707 operations through Liverpool commenced on 14th April with freighter Boeing 707-323C N7558A operated by Eli Lilly, a large American chemical corporation, which owned (indeed still does) Speke based Dista Chemicals. By the second visit on 12th May it had been re-registered N309EL, and from early July a basic fortnightly pattern became established for flights connecting a European and American chemical factories within the group. During 1975 there were 14 visits in total.
14th April Gander-LPL-Basle
12th May Indianapolis-LPL-Indianapolis
8th July Gander-LPL-Basle
24th July Gander-LPL-Basle
6th August Stephenville-LPL-Shannon, night stop at Liverpool
1st September Indianapolis-Gander-LPL-Shannon, night stop at Liverpool
17th September Basle-LPL-Shannon
24th September Gander-LPL-Basle
6th October Gander-LPL-Basle
29th October Gander-Manchester (on fog diversion)-LPL-Shannon
6th November Basle-LPL-Shannon
19th November Gander-LPL-Basle
2nd December Gander-LPL-Shannon, departed on 4th.
18th December Basle-LPL-Shannon (this became the regular routing through 1976 and 1977)
Two airlifts of passengers employed multiple flights using British Airtours Boeing 707-436 aircraft. In July a series of Tarbes flights for Lourdes Pilgrimages. The sequence does not make sense, as there were no other Tarbes flights using other aircraft types in the week before or after! G-APFL on 25th July positioned in from Gatwick and operated outbound to Tarbes as KT256P/284. Then on 30th July G-APFL operated from & to Tarbes as KT289, while on the same day G-APFB arrived from Tarbes as KT257, positioning to Gatwick. Easier to comprehend are a series of Rome flights during October. G-APFG positioned from Gatwick to operate as KT002 to Rome on 12th. On 19th BA’s G-APFF positioned from Heathrow, then out to Rome as KT004, later in the day re-appearing from Rome as KT003 and positioning to Gatwick. Finally on 26th October G-ARWD as KT005 arrived from Rome and positioned out to Gatwick.
A few BA training flights brought in G-ARRC routing from Newcastle and onwards to Prestwick. G-AXGX on 15th October routed from Heathrow and onward to Thurleigh, as did G-AXXZ on 27th October, so both could have had a link with autoland trials/training. Finally a few winter weather diversions. On 25th October poor weather at Manchester caused British Airtours G-APFL to divert to Liverpool, inbound from Malta on flight BE847, later positioning out to Gatwick. While on 16th December G-AWDG of Laker on GK2136 diverted from Manchester, inbound from Toronto, and later positioned out to Gatwick.
1976
G-APFJ, G-APFL, G-APFO, G-AVZZ, G-AWDG, G-AZKM*, N309EL, OO-TEC, OO-TED, ST-AFA (=10)
Highlight of the year was the two year old Sudan Airways Boeing 707-3J8C ST-AFA on Saturday 10th January as SD80, from Khartoum and positioned out to Heathrow. Two weeks later, on Sunday 25th January it was back, with the reverse routing. If memory does not fail me, it carried the ruler’s wife for specialist treatment at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
There were two busy periods of Boeing 707 movements connected with football fan airlifts. In late April, fans of FC Bruges arrived in some numbers for a European game at Anfield. In addition to 2 Airbus A.300 loads, TEA (HE) Boeing 707-131 OO-TEC operated two rotations on Wednesday 29th from & to Ostend. Next day it operated from & to Ostend, and in the evening, while OO-TED flew the remaining fans back to Ostend, having positioned in from Brussels. The return leg, found LFC fans travelling on a variety of aircraft, including British Airtours G-APFO on Wednesday 19th May, positioning from Gatwick then as KT200 out to Brussels, then after the match the reverse routing as KT201 on 20th. Although operated by Laker Airways since 1969, this would be the first appearance at Liverpool by G-AVZZ, although G-AWDG had been in several times over a couple of years. As GK3021 it positioned in from Gatwick and flew fans to Ostend on Wed 19th, returning minutes before midnight the same day as GK3022 on the reverse routing. LFC won their way through to the next round.
As a bit of trivia on Wednesday 19th May, three different Boeing 707s were at Liverpool, G-APFO, G-AVZZ and N309EL – the first time this had happened, and just weeks before the 10th anniversary of the first Aer Lingus Boeing 707 flight from Liverpool in July 1966. Further passenger Boeing 707 flights during the latter part of the year, brought in British Airtours again, this time G-APFL on Sunday 10th October on KT693 inbound from Palma, diverted from Manchester due weather. It later positioned across to Manchester. BA’s G-APFJ on Tuesday 9th November routed inbound from Heathrow and onwards on a training flight to Stansted, while late on the same day, Laker’s other Boeing 707-138B G-AWDG on GK332 from Tenerife diverted in due to fog at Manchester, it positioned out to Gatwick the following morning. Finally on Friday 12th November fog at Manchester caused a Monarch Boeing 720 G-AZKM to divert in from Tenerife, later to depart back to Tenerife, operating as OM4089/4088.
Most frequent Boeing 707, with 35 visits, far exceeding all other visits added together by a factor of 2, was Eli Lilly’s freighter N309EL. The basic pattern of flights was a fortnightly operation, on Wednesdays, arriving 1200 from Basle, departing 1430 to Shannon and onwards transatlantic. For a period from early June to late October the frequency rose to mostly weekly. The regular round-trip route, USA-Basle-LPL-Shannon-USA, operated: 7th, 28th January; Thurs 5th, 18th February; 3rd, 17th, Thurs 25th March; Mon 12th, 21st April; 5th, 19th May; 2nd, 16th, 23rd, 30th June; 7th 21st July; 4th, 18th, 25th August; 1st, 8th, 15th, 30th (to Prestwick) September; 6th 20th, Tues 26th October; 3rd, 17th November; 1st, Thu 16th December. Flights that did not follow the regular routing were: Tues 13th Jan New York JFK-LPL-Shannon after a night stop; Tues 10th August Gander-LPL-Basle; Tues 12th October Gander-LPL-Indianapolis direct, after a night stop; Sun 12th December Gander-LPL-Shannon after a night stop. The year ending with a total of 35 visits during 1976, adding to the 14 in 1975.
1977
EI-ANO, EI-APG, G-APFF, G-AZKM*, G-AZNX*, G-BCBA*,N309EL, N887PA, PH-TVA (=9)
The majority of Boeing 707/720 passenger flights during 1977 are concentrated on a period in late May. LFC had succeeded in reaching another European Cup Final – this time in Rome. A considerable number of aircraft were chartered, and just not from British operators either. There were 5 flights using Boeing 720 or 707s. First away, on Monday 23rd May was Monarch’s Boeing 720 G-BCBA as OM770 routing from Luton to Rome Ciampino. The following day, G-AZKM as OM768 followed the same routing. On the day of the match, Wednesday 25th Pan American’s Boeing 707-321 N887PA arrived from Heathrow for the charter flight to Rome Ciampino, followed by Transavia’s Boeing 707 PH-TVA as HV3965 from Amsterdam to Rome Fiumicino and finally Aer Lingus’s familiar Boeing 707 EI-ANO as EI7180/7960 routing from Dublin to Rome Fiumicino. After the match, on Thursday 26th all 5 flights returned. In sequence of arrival: EI-ANO EI7961/7189 Rome-Dublin; N887PA Dublin-Cologne; PH-TVA HV3966 Rome-Amsterdam; G-AZNX OM773 Rome-Luton and G-BCBA OM775 Rome-Luton. As can be noted, one of the Monarch Boeing 720s was a different aircraft than outbound.
Aer Lingus operated Boeing 707 EI-APG on Saturday morning, 23rd July from Dublin and out to Tarbes for Lourdes as EI7198/7940 – the passengers returning on 29th split between a BAC.111 and a Boeing 737. Towards the end of the year, BA Boeing 707-436 G-APFF diverted to Liverpool due to poor weather at Heathrow on Tuesday morning, 18th October on flight BE489 from Larnica, later departing for Gatwick.
Eli Lilly’s Boeing 707-323C, N309EL operations continued. The first arrival by N309EL of the year marked the 50th rotation through Liverpool. The basic pattern of flights continued to be fortnightly on Wednesdays, with variations and routed USA-Basle-LPL-Shannon-USA. These operated on: 5th, 19th January; 2nd, Tue 15th February; 2nd, 16th 30th March; 13th, 27th April; 11th, 25th May; 8th (dep 9th), 22nd June; 13th, 27th July; 10th, Thu 25th August and 14th September. Extra appearances were on Tue 8th February from Gander to Basle after a night stop; Sat 12th March from Indianapolis to Shannon after a night stop and Tue 5th April from Gander to Basle after a night stop. Eli Lilly sold N309EL during September 1977 to Lloyd Aero Boliviano as CP-1365, it being destroyed in a hangar fire at Dothan, Alabama 31.8.91. During the period of visits to Liverpool between April 1975 and September 1977, a period of 30 months, it visited 70 times, 14 in 1975, 35 in 1976 and 21 during 1977.
1978
AP-AMJ*, C-FFAN, G-APFL, G-AXXY, G-AYBJ, G-BFEO, OE-INA, OO-TEC, 9G-ACJ (=9)
A strike by Aer Lingus clerical staff at Dublin all but shut down the airline’s operations during late March and into April. However, to accommodate passengers who had booked to travel to Liverpool for the Grand National meeting at Aintree, two inbound and two outbound did operate using chartered Boeing 707s. On Thursday 30th March TEAs Boeing 707-131 OO-TEC (previously visited Liverpool in 1976) operated from & to Dublin as EI2190/2191. On Friday morning, 31st, a Boeing 707-139B 9G-ACJ arrived as EI2180 from Dublin, dropping passengers before departing for Tarbes. A real delight for enthusiasts, recently ex Bangladesh’s S2-AAL, it was operated by an outfit called Trans Asian Airlines of Hong Kong, but was painted in Bahamas World colours, with Ariana of Afghanistan titles! On Saturday evening 1st April as EI8196/8197 and again Sunday morning, 2nd, as EI2190/2191 Boeing 707-138B OE-INA of Montana returned the passengers to Dublin.
Having lost the regular freighter Boeing 707 of Eli Lilly, another local company during 1978 brought in several consignments of goods by air during early winter 1978. Littlewood’s Catalogue brought to Liverpool major consignments of clothing fashion wear in boxes marked ‘Made in Hong Kong’. All the flights were operated by Boeing 707-323C G-BFEO of British freight airline Tradewinds. On Monday 2nd October as IK790/791 arrived from the Far East via Istanbul and then positioned to Gatwick. On Tuesday 17th October as IK800 arrived via Karachi, then on to Gatwick, a third flight during the month operated direct into Gatwick. On Tues 7th November as IK616 again routing inbound from Karachi and onwards to Gatwick, while the final rotation as IK632 on Thursday 23rd November routed in via Gatwick first, before returning there.
Final Liverpool bound Boeing 707charter of the year as a further visit by Boeing 707-131 OO-TEC of TEA, this time inbound with a team for a European game, as HE2023 arrived on Monday 18th December and stopped until departure after the match late on Wednesday 20th. Much earlier in the year, the only Boeing 707 for training was on Wednesday 25th January when BMA brought up their G-AYBJ (previously at Liverpool in 1971) from & to their East Midlands base.
That just leaves a paragraph regarding aircraft that diverted in for a variety of reasons. The first Boeing 707 to land at Liverpool during 1978 was a BA Boeing 707-336C G-AXXY on flight BA997 inbound from Moscow Sheremetyevo on Wed 18th January, which diverted in due to weather at Heathrow, along with two Super VC-10 flights. It flew down to Heathrow the following day. On 9th August the firemen at Manchester Airport walked out on strike. In the chaos that ensued a great number of flights diverted into Liverpool. The only Boeing 707 was Wardair’s C-FFAN on WD584/416 which arrived from Canada via Prestwick, but left with a full load of 185 passengers direct for Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific coast. On fog diversion from Manchester on Friday 13th October British Airtours with Boeing 707-436 G-APFL from Gatwick as KT001, out to Faro as KT460. The final diversions and final Boeing 707 visit of the year was on Friday 22nd December, with Air Malta’s leased Boeing 720-040B AP-AMJ on flights KM704/705, from & to Malta. Quite where it diverted from is not clear, although Liverpool did accept diverts from both Gatwick and East Midlands during the day.
1979
AP-AMJ/9H-AAN*, C-GRYN, CS-TBD,G-APFD, G-APFF, G-APFG, G-APFJ, G-APFL, G-APFO, G-ARRA, G-ARRC, G-AXXZ, G-AYSL, G-AZFB*, G-AZKM*, G-AZNX*, G-BCBA*, G-BCBB*, G-BFBS, G-BFBZ, G-BFZF, G-BGCT, G-WIND, N448M, N730T*, OO-SBW, OO-TED, TF-VLB*, TF-VLC*, YR-ABA, YR-ABC, YU-AGI, YU-AGJ, 5N-ABK, 9G-ACN/G-TJAC, 9H-AAK*, 9H-AAL*, 9H-AAM*, 9H-AAO* (=39)
Well this is the year that I’ve both been dreading putting together, but equally looking forward to the variety and memories of an exceptional year, with movements boosted greatly by runway night closures for runway rebuilding at Manchester through the summer and a series of strike closures in spring, then nearly a fortnight of shutdown at Manchester in September.
We did not have to wait long for the first ‘707 of the year, as on Monday 15th January at 2026 Nigerian Airlines flight WT802, operated by 5N-ABK landed direct from Lagos due to fog closing Heathrow. Two Super VC-10s also diverted to Liverpool, and all were parked on 08/26 on the north airfield, if memory serves correct. The Nigerian continued its flight to Heathrow at 1051 the next morning.
A series of strikes affected Manchester in late January for periods. On Friday 26th Air Malta returned to Liverpool only a month after their first visit, using the same Boeing 720 aircraft AP-AMJ, from & to Malta, 1031-1510 as KMC704/5, from Malta to Heathrow. Later the same day new British airline Scimitar called with Boeing 707 G-BFZF in from Prestwick 1343 as JA118, then onwards to Gatwick as IK981 at 2022, presumed a Liverpool bound flight, but may have been a Manchester flight re-programmed into Liverpool. A few days later, Sunday 28th January to clear a backlog of strike delayed passengers, Dan Air’s Boeing 707 G-AYSL paid its first visit to Liverpool, positioning in from Gatwick as DA89SL at 1259 and departing as DA1022 to Alicante at 1443, although Manchester was open at the time.
A Tradewinds Boeing 707 G-WIND as IK674 arrived on Saturday 3rd February at 0737 from Ankara, departing for Gatwick at 1425 having unloaded freight, presumably from the Far East (more Littlewoods fashion?).
The first Manchester Airport Firemen total closure lasted from midnight Monday 2nd April through to 0800 on Saturday 7th. Amongst the many aircraft diverted to Liverpool was a further Transasian aircraft, this time Boeing 707-123B 9G-ACN operating for Air Malta on their service KMC754/755, f&t Malta, at Liverpool 1031-1501. On Thursday 5th April, Air Malta used freshly re-registered Boeing 720 9H-AAN on KMC750/751 f&t Malta, 0940-1228, this the same aircraft that had called as AP-AMJ Dec ’78 and Jan ’79. The following day Monarch used one of their Boeing 720s G-BGCT as OM978/979 from Luton at 1027, out to Nice at 1207.
There then followed a number of flights caught out by the Manchester night closures while the runway was rebuilt. First ‘707 to be caught out was one of Laker’s pair of Boeing 707-351Bs, G-BFBZ late on Wednesday 2nd May in from Tenerife as GK248 at 2345, then out to Heraklion at 1023 the next morning as GK213. Airtours Boeing 707 G-ARRA (remarkably a first visit to Liverpool) arrived at 0118 on Thursday 17th May from Gerona as KT583, not staying long before departure to Gatwick at 0231 as KT583P. The next night, Friday 18th, two Boeing 707s were caught out. Laker this time used G-BFBS from Corfu via a tech stop at Gatwick at 2203 as GK244, leaving with delayed passengers for Barcelona as GK241 just minutes after midnight, while Airtours brought in G-ARRC from Mahon at 2350 on KT495, leaving for Palma at 1131 the next morning as KT694. G-ARRC was back on Sunday night 20th May as KT493 from Ibiza 2312, out to Tenerife as KT490 at 1211 Monday morning. Later that Monday, 21st, Monarch Boeing 720 G-BCBB ran late, so arrived from Barcelona at 2308 on OM2219, out to Tenerife 0057 as OM2220. Airtours was a regular offender for flights running late. G-ARRA was in again Wednesday 23rd from Gerona to Alicante, KT583/590, 2301-0951 and due to ‘knock-on’ again Thursday 24th from Palma to Faro, KT693/480, 2309-0835, and again Friday 25th from Mahon to Palma, KT495/694 2308-1120.
Just for a little variety, with Gatwick closed by fog and Manchester closed for runway work, in the early hours of Monday 4th June two Airtours flights arrived on Gatwick diversion and another on Manchester diversion! G-APFG from Ibiza at 0111 as KT493 was the MAN divert, later leaving for Tenerife as KT490 at 1215. G-ARRA arrived from Alicante at 0117 as KT545, later positioning to Gatwick as KT454P at 1347, while G-APFL arrived from Palma at 0157 as KT621, later positioning to Gatwick as KT621P at 0505. Britannia Airways Boeing 737s were almost nightly callers on diverted I/T flights, however for the 1979 season they did lease in a Boeing 720 TF-VLC, which first called on Tuesday 5th June from Monastir at 0419, positioning to Manchester at 0603 as BY006B/414AF. Monarch and Airtours were both caught running late on Sunday 10th June, G-BGCT a Boeing 707 made its first visit to Liverpool on OM223 from Naples, departing the next morning for Milan Malpensa at 0920 as OM2216, while Airtours’ near regular G-ARRC Ibiza to Tenerife KT493/490 2346-1243 called again.
………………………………………………………………………………………this entry for 1979 unfinished - the two weeks of Manchester closure in September produced many more visits by type …………………………….
