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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2017 9:39:56 GMT 1
Amazed you admit to being a trespasser and an airport vandal in your youth. Attitudes were different then though. What's the Statute of Limitations of the 'removal' of a piece of Canberra aircraft. If Sergeant d'Arcy had caught you with that, you'd still be locked up Ron! The photo of the Hastings was taken from Speke Road rather than the apron, because d'Arcy had chased us out of the terminal.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2017 10:28:17 GMT 1
I can offer a suggestion with regard to the two elephants. For many years the zoologist Gerald Durrell had a dream to set up a zoo in Jersey. He had brought back various animals from Africa and the Far East, some of which were held at Chester Zoo. Durrell believed that zoo animals should be given as much space as possible, a view shared by Chester Zoo.
I recall being told that a handling request had been submitted for a B170 charter to Jersey. Nothing special about that, but the day before, as I recall, we were told that the cargo would be live animals. Sure enough, the following day a B170 arrived and so did several furniture vans, along with Mr Durrell. The thing I remember most about this was Mr Durrell fussing over the loading of the beasts and arguing with the loading staff as to where they were to be put on the aircraft. There were certainly a couple of elephants and I vaguely remember the Echo doing an article on it, because Roy Corlett, the Echo's aviation correspondent, was around at the time.
The biggest problem was assessing the weight of the animals. There was a large weighbridge in the cargo warehouse, which was fine for the smaller animals, (monkeys and cheetahs which were in cages for the transit), but for the larger animals such as elephants and rhinoceros we had to use Mr Durrell's estimates. Durrell and his entourage travelled in the back of the aircraft, where there was a set of seats in lounge style.
The B170 was parked in front of No 1 hangar, simply for ease of handling. This did not please customs too much because in those days Jersey was, in effect, a foreign country and lots of paperwork was required. I can't remember whose B170 it was (maybe Trans-European, but unlikely to have been BKS) and I can only guess that it would have been sometime after 1965.
So lots of background, but little aviation related detail I'm afraid, but I have a vague memory of seeing such a photo in the Echo at the time.
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Post by Beemer on Nov 24, 2017 11:02:25 GMT 1
The photo was taken 1970 as the photo I have just e-mailed Mike shows. Beemer.
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Post by ronturner on Nov 24, 2017 18:06:45 GMT 1
That Liverpool Echo article is fabulous. Mike, if you see this, there are some of the photos of the old terminal, you asked about.
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Post by viscount on Nov 24, 2017 23:36:12 GMT 1
Garstonboy, thanks for the information on the elephants. Interesting stuff. Been through our logs for the period 1960-1968 which I have on Excel making the job a matter of minutes, but not a single Bristol Freighter is recorded as leaving direct for Jersey! To be Trans European it would have to have been before the end of 1962. The b&w print certainly has the look of the earlier '60s to it. Dan Air could be a candidate airline as twice their Bristol Freighter left Speke for Rhoose (Cardiff). BKS, BUAF/BAF and Aer Turas seemed to connect the same points over and over: Dublin, Belfast, Cambridge, Heathrow, Luton, Lydd etc.
Added on edit:
On a whim looked up Durrell Wildlife Park on Wikipedia and find it opened in 1959, earlier than my search through the Logs. So back to the logs and find a record of Bristol Freighter G-AICS of Silver City and G-ANAE a Dakota of Lancashire Aircraft Corporation both leaving for Jersey on Sunday 5th May 1957. However, the year is rather earlier than I anticipated. So we appear to have the what and why, but no certain date for the when. Getting there though .... Great story though when I come to digitise the print.
While looking through the Logs was reminded of another unresolved carriage of large 'wild' animals through the Airport. The transport of Dolphins through the Airport cropped up on discussion of Dan Air's Airspeed Ambassadors. No Ambassador departure could ever be found to correspond ... it occurs to me that perhaps that flight used the more logical Dan Air Bristol Freighter, something overlooked in the original manual line by line check through the Log Books. Must have a look at the Ambassador thread and see if the likely year fits a Dan Air Freighter visit.
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Post by ronturner on Nov 25, 2017 7:06:37 GMT 1
Re The Canberra. It was located on the far side, down the road to Speke hall, followed by a very short trek through a substantial hedge/ bit of woodland. It was a rear end and a whole pile of bits and pieces scattered all over the place, almost as though somebody had taken some tin snips to it. Perhaps the recue people did this and just left those bits there. I did know the full registration at the time, but that detail has long gone.
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Post by ronturner on Nov 25, 2017 13:24:10 GMT 1
Three images today, all of the smaller type of aeroplane. First off of the Rapide, which were regular visitors at the time. (1963 this photo) For the younger ones amongst us, these were in regular service for all kinds of tasks and were even still in scheduled airline service with BEA until 1966 flying between Lands End and the Isles of Scilly. Similar machines were used by BEA in the highlands and Islands of Scotland until about 1955 when they were replaced by Herons. EI-AMN, DH89A Dragon Rapide Speke June 1963 by Ron Turner, on Flickr Far too long ago to remember I made a tour of the Broughton works of De Havilland where my cousin worked and I saw Herons being assembled, as well as Doves and Comets. XH375 DH Heron Queen's Flight Speke June 1963 by Ron Turner, on Flickr It was explained to me that the Dove was a much easier aeroplane to manufacture. Because the demand was higher it was properly jigged, unlike the Herons which were more likely to be fashioned as they went along and consequently two were never quite the same, with mods added quite frequently. G-AIWF Dove dan Air Speke June 1963 by Ron Turner, on Flickr I know these photos are not in the same league as many of our regular contributors but I think I am making progress and I hope these old slides give some pleasure.
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Post by Samba on Nov 25, 2017 14:18:11 GMT 1
Very good, keep them coming please. Bob.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 0:22:38 GMT 1
On a whim looked up Durrell Wildlife Park on Wikipedia and find it opened in 1959, earlier than my search through the Logs. So back to the logs and find a record of Bristol Freighter G-AICS of Silver City and G-ANAE a Dakota of Lancashire Aircraft Corporation both leaving for Jersey on Sunday 5th May 1957. However, the year is rather earlier than I anticipated. So we appear to have the what and why, but no certain date for the when. Getting there though .... Great story though when I come to digitise the print. Hmmm, very strange, because I did not start working for Cambrian until about 1964. I wonder if it stopped somewhere en route?. I shall contact one of my ex-colleagues and see of he has any memory of it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 14:28:13 GMT 1
Garstonboy, thanks for the information on the elephants. Interesting stuff. Been through our logs for the period 1960-1968 which I have on Excel making the job a matter of minutes, but not a single Bristol Freighter is recorded as leaving direct for Jersey! To be Trans European it would have to have been before the end of 1962. The b&w print certainly has the look of the earlier '60s to it. Dan Air could be a candidate airline as twice their Bristol Freighter left Speke for Rhoose (Cardiff). BKS, BUAF/BAF and Aer Turas seemed to connect the same points over and over: Dublin, Belfast, Cambridge, Heathrow, Luton, Lydd etc. Added on edit:On a whim looked up Durrell Wildlife Park on Wikipedia and find it opened in 1959, earlier than my search through the Logs. So back to the logs and find a record of Bristol Freighter G-AICS of Silver City and G-ANAE a Dakota of Lancashire Aircraft Corporation both leaving for Jersey on Sunday 5th May 1957. However, the year is rather earlier than I anticipated. So we appear to have the what and why, but no certain date for the when. Getting there though .... Great story though when I come to digitise the print. While looking through the Logs was reminded of another unresolved carriage of large 'wild' animals through the Airport. The transport of Dolphins through the Airport cropped up on discussion of Dan Air's Airspeed Ambassadors. No Ambassador departure could ever be found to correspond ... it occurs to me that perhaps that flight used the more logical Dan Air Bristol Freighter, something overlooked in the original manual line by line check through the Log Books. Must have a look at the Ambassador thread and see if the likely year fits a Dan Air Freighter visit. Having thought about it a bit more Viscount, I may be confusing two things (well, it was a long time ago!). I certainly remember seeing the 'Durrell' B170 and all the to-ing and fro-ing which went with it, but perhaps as a spotter. 1957 would fit with my very early days of visiting the airport, because my ex-colleagues cannot recall it. What I may have confused it with is Aer Turas, whose B170 (EI-APC) was an occasional visitor on ad-hoc freight flights and certainly carried some unusual cargo. With regard to the dolphins, I do not recall this event. However, I imagine any Ambassador would need to have a Large Freight Door (LFD). Did any of the Dan Ambassadors have one? BKS had one which they used for horse transportation. This was the unfortunately-registered G-AMAD, which hit two Tridents at Heathrow on 3/7/68, writing one of them off. linkAny signs of 'MAD visiting Speke prior to then?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 16:40:58 GMT 1
A few more from the days of yore: This Twin Bonanza was a regular visitor to Speke at the time. I think the story was that the wife of the owner came originally from Liverpool and that he brought her back occasionally for a visit. A one-time resident, which officially belonged to Merseyside and North Wales Flying Group. G-AHJD, probably the less common of the regular aircraft on the Irish Car Ferry, almost certainly on finals for 26. An Avro Anson C Mk19 stopping over during what was probably a comms flight, possibly to RAF Jurby. One of my favourite aircraft of all time. Many happy hours crossing the Irish Sea in her, even though you had to do 150 turns on the handle to wind the undercarriage up or down! Beechcraft 65 Queen Air. Davy-Ashmore were based in Sheffield and were heavily involved in building oil refineries, so the visit may have been in connection with extensions to the refinery at Stanlow. It was a regular visitor for a while.
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Post by viscount on Nov 26, 2017 22:08:28 GMT 1
HB-GAY a Twin Bonanza appeared at Liverpool just the once, 3rd June 1961. The basic story is likely correct, however after the use of several Bonanza and then this Twin Bonanza, M. Wirz purchased his own Twin Bonanza HB-GAE and it was that machine that appeared at Liverpool several times a years for the following 10 years or more - one the visits being around the Christmas/New Year period each year, so certainly a family connection in Liverpool.
VM332 Avro C.19 - I can only find one visit by this machine 1956-1963, on 1st August 1961, f&t Booker/RAF High Wycombe - a 'rare' one rather than a regular. As 'Garstonboy' hints, the real regular Avro C.19 was TX226 based at RAF Jurby, IoM. Oddly I have come across a number of Anson shot at Speke, but never TX226 - we all saw it so often at the time we never bothered pointed a camera at it as it was so familar! From a comment on another forum earlier today I am surprised to find this aircraft still exists - it had been in off-airfield store/spares source for Air Atlantique for many years and early next year is to go to the Montrose Air Station Museum in Scotland.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2017 0:37:59 GMT 1
HB-GAY a Twin Bonanza appeared at Liverpool just the once, 3rd June 1961. The basic story is likely correct, however after the use of several Bonanza and then this Twin Bonanza, M. Wirz purchased his own Twin Bonanza HB-GAE and it was that machine that appeared at Liverpool several times a years for the following 10 years or more - one the visits being around the Christmas/New Year period each year, so certainly a family connection in Liverpool. VM332 Avro C.19 - I can only find one visit by this machine 1956-1963, on 1st August 1961, f&t Booker/RAF High Wycombe - a 'rare' one rather than a regular. As 'Garstonboy' hints, the real regular Avro C.19 was TX226 based at RAF Jurby, IoM. Oddly I have come across a number of Anson shot at Speke, but never TX226 - we all saw it so often at the time we never bothered pointed a camera at it as it was so familar! From a comment on another forum earlier today I am surprised to find this aircraft still exists - it had been in off-airfield store/spares source for Air Atlantique for many years and early next year is to go to the Montrose Air Station Museum in Scotland. Yes, Mr Wirz! I'd forgotten his name, but now I remember! I may have a photo of HB-GAE somewhere - I'm still working through them! It's becoming increasingly apparent to me that most of these pictures are of the rarer visitors, and are almost certainly ca 1961, which makes sense, but without any logbooks it's difficult to tell initially. Your input is much appreciated, Viscount - puts the whole thing into perspective. If I'm in your part of the world, I shall buy you una cerveza - o mejor - dos! for your very helpful input! :-) I found a picture of G-AMOK earlier, again one of the rarer BEA Viscounts, so a theme is definitely emerging... I have very few photos of Cambrian or Eagle aircraft for this very reason - but many others have, thankfully. Yes, TX 226. I cannot find a photo of it anywhere! I too am amazed it still exists! I think its alter ego was TX 219 which presumably appeared when 226 was on a check, but I can't find a photo of that either.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2017 16:46:03 GMT 1
A few more from the archives: This is a strange one. The story (as I remember it) relating to this was that there was a child who was very ill in Alder Hey and needed a specific medicine which was only available in Germany. We got a phone call saying an aircraft was on its' way, but we didn't expect a T-33! I persuaded my oppo who was going out to meet it, to take my camera and get a photo. An ambulance was allowed onto the taxiway, the medicine was collected and the T-33 took off again - total turnaround time about five minutes! The other Fed Fruit Anson Mk 1. This one had a perspex observation area under the nose, perhaps a remnant from its days with BKS Air Surveys. Unlike the Rapide and the other Anson, it was never painted in green. Both Ansons were ferried to Southend during the summer of 1962 and broken up there. One of the earliest private helicopters, the Brantly B2. G-INFO says it was only on the register for two years, which seems remarkably short. Just to prove that it could actually aviate... G-AMOK was another of the rarer Viscounts in those days. It was with BEA for 10 years (1953-1963) and then exported to Aeropostal in Venezuela. A much better Hastings photo this time - even the reg is visible, with the numbers helpfully on the tail as well. Note the missing prop spinner on No.1 engine. We seemed to get a lot of military visitors in those days, but of course we had no idea why. One of the lighter visitors, of which there were many, especially during the week - no doubt bringing executives to the city.
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Post by philglt on Nov 27, 2017 17:26:12 GMT 1
HB-GAY a Twin Bonanza appeared at Liverpool just the once, 3rd June 1961. The basic story is likely correct, however after the use of several Bonanza and then this Twin Bonanza, M. Wirz purchased his own Twin Bonanza HB-GAE and it was that machine that appeared at Liverpool several times a years for the following 10 years or more - one the visits being around the Christmas/New Year period each year, so certainly a family connection in Liverpool. ....and just to save you looking, I have this copy of another of my brother's slides: HB-GAE Beech B.50 Twin Bonanza - M. Wirz, Speke 1962? by Philip Gaulton, on Flickr I first logged this at Speke on 14/07/1962, but this could well have been taken on a later visit. Phil
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