Starways, a Liverpool based airline.

[viscount]

Starways Ltd
Aviation Overhauls Ltd
Trans-Meridian Ltd

Probably the longest lived of the larger based operators and most nostalgically recalled of all the Liverpool based operators. The 'Starways' story was well told by Tony Merton-Jones in the 1976/77 four volume 'British Independent Airlines since 1946', published by TAHS/MAS, with great input by Phil Butler. Although there have been a number of summative articles since, this is the fullest, detailed account I'm aware of. Re-typed here in full with the absolute minimum of editing (mostly addition of sub-titles to aid readability on a screen, along with updated abbreviations and altered date presentation).

Do feel free to add photographs.

STARWAYS, 1948-1963

Foundation

Starways was founded late in 1948 to operate charter flights to and from Blackpool carrying show business personalities appearing in Blackpool shows. The company was registered as an airline company on 7th December 1948 by two pilots, Captain Noel Rodnight and Captain Albert Dean. The initial capital of Starways was £2000, and while Capt Rodnight became the company's Chief Pilot, Capt Dean took up the position of Company Secretary. Commercial operations began from Blackpool Airport in January 1949 with a Percival Q.6, but this aircraft was lost in an accident at Broomhall, Pwllheli, early in May 1949. Starways replaced this with an Avro Anson on lease, and at this time the company moved its base to Liverpool Airport.

Move to Liverpool and early charter operations

During 1949, Mr.F.H.Wilson and Mr.J.A.Wilson joined Starways as executives, and Mr.R.V.Baker joined the company as Operations and Commercial Manager. Starways undertook a variety of work at this time including Press work, newspaper and freight flights and army co-operation charters. At Liverpool Airport, the company established its main base including full maintenance facilities, and in 1950 subsidiary bases were set up at Walney Island (Barrow) and Northolt in support of the airline's operations from these aerodromes. One of Starways' major activities at this time was the operation of pleasure flights at Liverpool Airport, and throughout 1950 these flights were operated in competition with Airmotive. During the summer the Anson flew a service between Speke and Northolt.

In March 1950, two further Avro Ansons were acquired, and on 17th October Starways' first Douglas DC-3 entered service with the airline. This aircraft was placed into service on a freight run between Bovingdon and Belfast late in October, although still available for ad-hoc charter. One of the first ad-hoc charters to be flown by this aircraft was a passenger charter from the United Kingdom to Karachi on 14th November. On the return leg from Pakistan, G-AJDG collected 27 members of a ship's crew in Istanbul and flew them to Liverpool. One month later, on 20th December, the same aircraft was chartered to fly a group of Chinese seamen from Amsterdam to Liverpool. Throughout 1951, Starways' sole serviceable Douglas DC-3 was often chartered for the carriage of ships crews, on 5th February this aircraft operated a flight from Amsterdam to Newcastle and Prestwick carrying 28 seamen. On 24th March 1951, the Starways DC-3 began a three day tour of European cities with a party from a Midlands factory on board. Several capitals were visited including Amsterdam and Brussels. Shortly after its return from this charter, the DC-3 left Manchester for Toulouse early in April with a rugby team on board.

Freight and passenger charter work continue

In the spring of 1951, Starways' DC-3 opened a nightly service from Manchester Airport to Belfast carrying newspapers on behalf of a local newspaper distributor. Normally the aircraft returned empty from Belfast to Liverpool, but often the airline was able to arrange for a return load. The newspaper service to Belfast only continued for a short time, though, due to the crash of Air Transport Charter's C-47A Dakota, G-AJVZ, at Ringway on 27th March 1951. This aircraft had been chartered by Starways for just one service, but with the loss of the newspapers in the accident, Starways lost the newspaper contract itself.

During April and May 1951, the DC-3 was also chartered to make a number of flights between Amsterdam and Bovingdon carrying cargoes of lettuces. Other regular services flown by the company during 1951 included a weekly tour service from Liverpool to Tarbes, which was flown every Wednesday. On Saturdays, one of the Ansons plied its way from Liverpool to Jersey, with a stop en-route at Gatwick on both the outbound and inbound flights. The service to Tarbes and Jersey were only flown during the summer months by Starways. When the winer came the airline was forced to return to the operation of charter flights. Amongst the many flights undertaken by the DC-3 towards the end of the year were two charters from Marseillies to Palermo carrying ship's crew, and a service from Manchester to Marseilles carrying another rugby team.

Changes at the top and 1952 operations

During 1951, Mr.F.H.Wilson was appointed Chairman of the airline, while Captain Noel Rodnight retained his position as Chief Pilot. Mr.F.H.Wilson was a Liverpool businessman who owned the Famous Army Navy Stores and Limocoat Ltd (liverpool Motor Coat Company Ltd). Cathedral Touring Agency (CTA) was also owned by Mr. Wilson and this company provided Starways with all its early inclusive tour charter business. For 1951, over 200,000 miles were flown by Starways during the year, and five pilots were now employed by the company.

1952 began with a series of interesting charter flights, including one on 26th January carrying 19 members of a wrecked Greek steamer from West Hartlepool home to Athens. On its return flight from Greece, the DC-3 collected a further 20 seamen in Istanbul and flew them to Liverpool. Two weeks later, the DC-3 was used to transport 28 members of the Cornwall Rugby Football Union from Culdrose to La Baule, in Northern France. Throughout the summer of 1952, Starways ran its inclusive tour services from Liverpool to Jersey and Tarbes. In March five C-47 Dakotas were purchased from the Royal Air Force, although only three of these aircraft ever entered service with the company. During 1952, Starways' aircraft covered 220,000 miles, carrying a total of 4,800 passengers and a large amount of freight. Mr.J.M.Kent joined the company as Traffic Manager during the year.

Operations through the mid '50s

1953 began with one of the Dakotas carrying a consignment of flowers from Nice to Gothenburg, followed by the carriage of a ship's crew from Liverpool to Amsterdam on 6th February. For the 1953 season, Starways was granted its first scheduled service licence by the newly formed A.T.A.C. - this allowed the company to operate a full scheduled service from Liverpool to the Isle of Man. The airline also received permission to operate inclusive tour services from Liverpool to Bilbao and Tarbes, with both these routes being flown by the Dakotas throughout the 1953 summer season. By the end of the year, a total of 6.030 passengers and 274 tons of freight had been carried by the airline during the year.

In 1954, Messrs J.A. and F.H.Wilson acquired full control of Starways, and in June an inclusive tour service was added from Glasgow to Tarbes. This service was generally flown via Bournemouth or Jersey, while an inclusive tour route linking Liverpool with Nice was flown via Bournemouth. For the 1955 season, Starways flew A Belfast to Tarbes inclusive tour service on behalf of CTA, and a Liverpool to San Sebastian via Biarritz service. The most important new route opened by Starways during 1955 was a scheduled service linking Liverpool and London. This route was first flown by a Dakota in March 1955, and subsequently this was flown several times weekly throughout the year.

In May 1956, Starways opened a weekly Sunday inclusive tour service from Renfrew Airport, Glasgow to Jersey on behalf of Nugents Air Trips. During 1956, Starways continued to fly its services to Tarbes from Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool, along with the flights to Biarritz and San Sebastian from Liverpool. While on a positioning flight from Liverpool to Renfrew/Glasgow on 28th March 1956 in preparation for a Lourdes/Tarbes flight the next morning, G-AMRB crashed into a hillside at Largs on a night approach, of the 3 occupants, there was 1 fatality.

In November 1956, Starways started airlifting Hungarian refugees from Austria to Blackbushe. The first Dakota to take part in this operation was given a formal send-off from Liverpool Liverpool by the Mayor of Liverpool, and altogether the company operated nine round trips carrying almost 300 people on this mini-airlift.

New aircraft and big expansion of inclusive tour charters

Services continued normally throughout 1957. In a major step forward, at the end of the year, Starways took delivery of its first Douglas Skymaster. After conversion, this aircraft, G-APEZ, entered service with the company when it carried a party of football fans from Liverpool to Southend in January 1958. A second Skymaster joined the company's fleet for the 1958 season, both of these aircraft were used on the ever expanding inclusive tour network to Europe. For the 1958 season, Starways operated scheduled routes from Liverpool to Heathrow, and from Glasgow to Jersey, while the inclusive tour charter network was rather more extensive. From Glasgow, the Skymasters and Dakotas flew holiday makers to Barcelona, Basle, Bergen, Bilbao, Palma, San Sebastian, Santander and Tarbes. Tarbes was also served by Starways from Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester. From Liverpool other holiday routes connected Merseyside with Basle, Bergen, Biarritz, Bilbao, Palma and Santander. A wide variety of long, medium and short range ad-hoc charters were flown by the company's fleet during the year. The company's executives now consisted of Mr.F.H.Wilson as Chairman, Mr.J.A.Wilson as Co-Director, Captain G.K.Leigh as Chief Pilot and Mr.J.M.Kent as Traffic Manager.

The 1959 season saw the introduction of an important new scheduled route linking Liverpool with the West Country. On 13th June, Skymaster G-APEZ, piloted by Capt Leigh, inaugurated a direct Liverpool to St.Mawgan service, which was subsequently flown on every weekend throughout the summer. In addition, on 27th June the company also introduced a Liverpool - Exeter - St.Mawgan service, which was also flown on Saturdays throughout the summer. The first service over this route was flown by Dakota G-AMPO with Capt Tickle in command.

For the 1959 season, Starways began a series of inclusive tour charter flights linking Manchester with Luxembourg, Palma, Perpignan and Pisa, these services being flown by both Skymasters and Dakotas. Many of the inclusive tour services from Glasgow were flown via Liverpool or Manchester in order to collect further passengers. Inclusive tour services were now operated from Blackpool, with the Skymasters carrying holidaymakers from Squire's Gate to Palma, Perpignan, Pisa and Tarbes throughout the 1959 and 1960 summer seasons. The winter months were normally quiet for Starways, and consequently the company's Skymasters were often leased out to other airlines. On 16th October 1959, G-APIN, left Liverpool, via Blackbushe, for Arabia to carry pilgrims to Mecca on behalf of Trans Arabian Airlines, with the Skymaster returning to Liverpool on 5th April 1960.

1960

With the success of its scheduled services to the West Country, Starways decided to open further services to Exeter and St.Mawgan from several other airports in the British Isles. Consequently, in June 1960 four new services to Exeter and St.Mawgan were opened from Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle. The first routes to be opened were those from Birmingham and Glasgow, with Dakota G-AMSN operating a St.Mawgan - Birmingham - St.Mawgan service for the first time on the morning of Saturday 4th June. Also, on the same morning, G-AMPO opened the Glasgow to Exeter schedule, and a week later on Sunday 12th June G-AMPO flew the inaugural Newcastle to St.Mawgan. The fourth and final route to be opened was that linking Manchester with Exeter and St.Mawgan at midday on Sunday 19th June when G-AMPY lifted off Manchester's main runway bound for Exeter. Later services were also commenced linking Newquay (St.Mawgan) with Leeds and London, with the Leeds service being introduced as a stop on the Newcastle to Newquay schedule.

1960 also saw the introduction of a weekly flight from Liverpool to Ostend, flown on a Sunday afternoon by the Dakotas. The inaugural Liverpool to Ostend schedule was flown by Dakota G-AMPY on 12th June 1960 with Capt Feeman in command. Other destinations served from Liverpool included Biarritz (flown on Saturdays), Oporto (sundays), Perpignan (Saturdays), Santander (Tuesdays and Saturdays) and Tarbes (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays). Holiday routes still connected the Mediterranean with Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester. During the year numerous charters were flown by Starways from Liverpool and Manchester. Amongst the many destinations served by Skymaster and Dakotas were Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bordeaux, Bremen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Munich and Nantes.

On Wednesday 12th October 1960, Starways opened a scheduled service between Liverpool and Glasgow. The inaugural service was flown by Dakota G-AMPY piloted by Capt Tickle, with this aircraft lifting off Liverpool's main runway at 0829 in the morning. Subsequently, this route was flown twice daily in each direction on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Later, Starways routed this service via Blackpool, and in November 1960 another new Dakota service was opened. This was a weekly freight service from Manchester to Prestwick flown on Sunday nights, with the first service being flown by Capt Dunsmore in G-AMPY on 20th November. This freight run, which was operated under charter, was only flown during the winter of 1960.

1960 saw several interesting applications being made to the A.T.A.C. by Starways. In March, the company asked for permission to open a vehicle-ferry service from Valley to Dublin using Bristol Freighter aircraft, but this route was never opened. In October 1960, Starways applied for permission to operate scheduled services from Hawarden to Dublin and Jersey, and include Hawarden as a traffic stop on many of its scheduled services from Liverpool. The first route to include Hawarden was the Liverpool to Heathrow service, but the first Liverpool - Hawarden - Heathrow was not flown until 1962.

1961 - Turboprops, inclusive tour expansion and loss of two aircraft

The 1961 inclusive tour programme was even more extensive from Liverpool than it had been in previous years, with the Skymasters and Dakotas flying tourists to Basle, Biarritz, Malaga, Munich, Oporto, Palma, Perpignan, Pisa, Rome, Santander and Tarbes. From Glasgow, Starways flew services to Oporto and Tarbes, while from Manchester only a weekly service was operated to Dinard every Friday by one of the Dakotas. On Sunday, 18th June 1961, Starways introduced a weekly scheduled Dakota service from Liverpool to Dinard.

In February 1961, Starways acquired its first turboprop equipment in the form of an Air France Viscount. After conversion, this aircraft entered service in May 1961 as G-ARIR, and throughout the summer was flown on many of Starways' scheduled and inclusive tour services. A draw back of the Viscount, was that at the height of summer, when loads were heavy, this Viscount flew many of its inclusive tour services to the Mediterranean via Gatwick or Bordeaux in order to refuel. The first scheduled service to be flown by the Viscount was the Liverpool to Heathrow service, and G-ARIR operated its first service over this route on the morning of Monday 12th June 1961, touching down on runway 28L at Heathrow at 0807. The acquisition of this Viscount released one of the Skymasters, G-APEZ, for lease to Sabena during the spring of 1961.

The Skymaster G-APEZ was followed by G-APYK and G-APIN, both of which also served with Sabena. These aircraft were used by the Belgian national airline in the Congo, under charter to the United Nations Organisation for much of 1961. G-APYK suffered a landing accident at Elizabethville 23rd July and was flown home to Prestwick for repair, being replaced in the Congo by G-APYK. However, two Skymasters were lost within days of each other at the end of the summer season. The first of these losses, G-APIN, was destroyed on the ground at Kamina Airport when it was attacked by a Katangan fighter aircraft. At the time this Skymaster was in use carrying troops around the Congo during the civil war, together with a number of other British owned aircraft. The second Starways Skymaster to be lost was G-ARJY when it overshoot the runway at Dublin while attempting to land. On board this aircraft were 69 passengers and a crew of 4, none of whom were seriously injured. While inbound to Dublin from Tarbes, the Skymaster was making a normal approach to Collinstown Airport when it suddenly swung to the left and skidded along the ground. After narrowly missing the terminal buildings, the Skymaster came to rest on a busy main road just outside the airport boundary. Although the aircraft did not catch fire, it was so badly damaged that it was declared to be a write-off.

Throughout 1961, Starways spent much of its time battling with the A.T.L.B. for permission to open a variety of new routes. In March, an application was made to open scheduled services from Hawarden to Belfast, Jersey and Ronaldsway. In May, the company applied for an economy and skycoach service from Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester to Gibraltar, Bathurst, Freetown, Accra and Lagos using Jersey, Bordeaux and Las Palmas as technical stops en-route. However, Starways only received permission to open the Hawarden to Isle of Man route, with all the other applications being refused by the Board.

New Routes in 1962

While 1961 had seen several adventures overtaking the Skymasters and many other notable events taking place, 1962 saw the introduction of several important new routes. On 2nd April 1962, the airline opened a daily Liverpool - Hawarden -Heathrow scheduled service, followed on 19th May by the addition of Blackpool as a traffic stop on the Liverpool to Glasgow service. On 1st June, Starways opened a thrice weekly Liverpool to Cork scheduled service, and on the following day Viscount G-ARIR re-opened the weekly Glasgow to Exeter service, and on the same day a direct Edinburgh to Exeter service was inaugurated. The 1962 inclusive tour programme was restricted to departures from Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester, and was flown almost entirely at weekends, At the end of 1962, a former Tradair Viscount, G-APZB, joined the Starways' fleet, and by the time that the 1963 seasons had begun, another Skymaster had also been acquired.

1963

The 1963 inclusive tour programme included departures from Liverpool to Albenga (Italy), Barcelona, Basle, Dinard, Nantes, Ostend, Palma, Perpignan and Tarbes. From Manchester, Starways' Skymasters and Viscounts flew holidaymakers to Basle, Nice, Palma, Perpignan and Pisa, while from Glasgow services were still flown to Tarbes. Having sold Skymaster G-APYK in February, at the height of the summer season, the company ran extra services necessitating the lease-in of further Skymasters. These aircraft included Lloyd International's G-ARWI used during July 1963, and Malta Metropolitan's VP-MAA used for a Palma to Liverpool service on the morning of 3rd August.

Amongst the many pilots who flew for Starways at this time were Captains Feenan, Goodwin, Hammond, Honeyman, Leigh, Monkton, Morgan, Potts, Royes, Tickle and Tracy. The Board of Directors and senior executives of Starways consisted of F.H.Wilson (Chairman), J.A.Wilson, A.M.Wilson, Captain G.K.Leigh (Chief Pilot), G.C.Gates and B.C.L.Johnson (Commercial Manager).

Merger Plans

On 19th November 1963, Starways signed an initial co-operation agreement with British Eagle International Airlines. Operations continued unchanged though, and during the winter months the company only ran the schedules from Liverpool to Glasgow and Heathrow.

On 31st December, Starways ceased operations, and on the morning of 1st January 1964, British Eagle took over all the former Starways routes. The Skymasters, Dakotas and one remaining Viscount remained in the ownership of the Starways' directors and did not pass into British Eagle ownership.

The last day of operations

The last day of Starways operations, therefore was 31st December 1963, and by this time only two aircraft were still flying for the company. The final Skymaster flight having been made by G-ARIY on the evening of 23rd December when Capt Goodwin piloted this aircraft on the Liverpool - Heathrow - Hawarden - Liverpool scheduled service.

The last day began shortly after 0800 in the morning when Capt Tickle lifted Viscount G-APZB into the frosty morning air above Liverpool en-route to Hawarden and Heathrow. Ten minutes later, the roar of Sierra November's two Twin Wasps was heard once more as Capt Goodwin opened the throttles for the penultimate Liverpool - Blackpool - Glasgow service. The Viscount returned to Speke again shortly before 1100, and operated another, this one direct, Liverpool to London service at midday. The Dakota returned from Glasgow late in the morning. During the afternoon the Viscount and Dakota flew Starways' final scheduled services. At 1733 G-AMSN took off from Liverpool piloted by Capt Goodwin, and after stopping off at Blackpool, this aircraft touched down at Renfrew at 1924 to complete the last Starways Dakota service. The Viscount left Liverpool at 1736 with Capt Tickle in command, and one hour later touched down at Heathrow. After a swift turn-around, the Viscount was airborne again en-route for Hawarden and Liverpool on the final Starways service. At 2010, Captain Tickle gently lowered G-APZB onto Speke's main runway marking the completion of fifteen years of flying by Starways.

During 1963, Starways had carried a total of 153,209 passengers, of which 6,837 were carried on international scheduled services, 114,196 on domestic scheduled services, with the remainder on inclusive and other charters. The utilisation of the fleet, though, was relatively low, with the Viscounts recording an annual utilisation of 1,238 hours, the Dakotas 1,157 hours and the Skymasters only 968 hours.

On 1st January, 1964, Starways' schedules were re-opened by British Eagle's Viscounts G-AMOC and G-AOCC, along with Britannia G-AOVT. Initially some of the Viscounts carried 'Starways' titles on an otherwise standard British Eagle scheme. On 1st September 1964, Starways officially changed its name to British Eagle (Liverpool) Ltd.

[viscount]

Starways Fleet list:

G-AFIX  Percival P.16 Q.6         1.49   5.49  Written off Broomhall, Pwllheli 6.5.49
G-AKEM  Miles M.65 Gemini 1A      3.50   5.52  'Clymere', sold to Wright Avn.
G-AMAP  Auster 5                  5.50    .50  Leased from Captain J.Green
G-AFGK  M.11A Whitney Straight    4.51   5.54  Sold and departed to Wolverhampton
G-AIBB  DH.89A Dragon Rapide      5.51  12.53  Sold, to Wright Aviation
G-AIRN  Avro 652A Anson 1         5.49   2.52  Initially leased from Martin Hearn till 10.50 'Stardust'
G-ALIH  Avro 652A Anson 11        6.51   4.54  Sold to Ekco as radar test-bed  
G-AHII  Avro 19 series 2          3.50   2.51  'Starlight', sold to Airtech Ltd
G-AHIK  Avro 19 series 2          3.50   1.52  'Starflight', sold, became SE-BUI
G-AJDC  Douglas DC-3              5.51   2.53  Never entered service, sold to Transair as SE-BWD
G-AJDG  Douglas DC-3             10.50   7.55  Sold, became N90C
G-AMJU  Douglas C-47B Dakota      1.55   2.58  Sold to Silver City
G-AMPO  Douglas C-47B Dakota      3.52   5.54  'Cynthia', sold to Eagle Aviation. 
G-AMPO  Douglas C-47B Dakota     10.56   ISOT  Purchased back from Eagle Avn.  To Aviation Overhauls
G-AMPY  Douglas C-47B Dakota      3.52   ISOT  To Aviation Overhauls
G-AMPZ  Douglas C-47B Dakota      3.52   2.53  Never entered service, sold to Airwork briefly
G-AMRA  Douglas C-47B Dakota      3.52   3.53  Never entered service, sold to Airwork
G-AMRB  Douglas C-47B Dakota      3.52   3.56  Written off Largs, Ayrshire 28.3.56
G-AMSM  Douglas C-47B Dakota      5.52   5.54  Sold, to Skyways
G-AMSN  Douglas C-47B Dakota      5.52   ISOT  To Aviation Overhauls
G-APEZ  Douglas DC-4              9.57   ISOT  To Aviation Overhauls
G-APIN  Douglas C-54D Skymaster   2.58   9.61  Written off at Kamina, Congo 17.9.61
G-APYK  Douglas C-54A Skymaster   3.60   2.63  Sold to Air Ferry
G-ARIY  Douglas C-54A Skymaster   2.61   ISOT  To Aviation Overhauls
G-ARJY  Douglas C-54A Skymaster   3.61   9.61  Written off at Dublin Airport 19.9.61
G-ASEN  Douglas C-54A Skymaster   1.63   ISOT  To Aviation Overhauls
G-APZB  Vickers 707 Viscount     11.62   ISOT  To Aviation Overhauls
G-ARIR  Vickers 708 Viscount      2.61  11.63  Sold, to F-BLHI Air Inter
                  ISOT = In Service until transfer across to Aviation Overhauls wef 01.01.64 on sale of routes to British Eagle.

Aircraft leased out

G-AMPY  Douglas C-47B Dakota                   as JY-ABE to Air Jordan, dep 18.12.57, returned 30.4.58
G-APIN  Douglas C-54A Skymaster                to Trans-Arabian for Hadj Pilgrim flights, dep 16.10.59, ret 5.4.60
G-APEZ  Douglas DC-4                           used by UNO in the Congo 1961
G-APIN  Douglas C-54A Skymaster                used by UNO in the Congo 1961 and destroyed there 17.9.61
G-APYK  Douglas C-54A Skymaster                used by UNO in the Congo 1961

Aircraft leased in

G-ALXK  Douglas C-47 Dakota                    North South Airlines, used by Starways 16, 17, 19, 20 & 21.9.61.
OE-IFA  L-049E Constellation                   Aero Transport  29-30.9.61 for one Lourdes return from Liverpool
G-APID  Douglas C-54 Skymaster                 Worldwide/Lloyd International on 5.5.62, possibly for just one flight
G-AMNV  Douglas C-47B Dakota                   Tyne Tees Air Charter on 26.08.62 at least. Aircraft returned to Woolsington 01.09.62
VP-MAA  Douglas C-54 Skymaster                 Malta Metropolitan  2-3.8.63 for one Palma return from Liverpool
    Tony Merton-Jones also quotes, although there is little evidence in the Liverpool enthusiast logs:
G-APID  Douglas C-54 Skymaster  3.61 to 10.61  from Transworld Leasing  (Absolutely no mention in PHB logs for 1961)
G-ARWI  Douglas C-54 Skymaster  7.63           from Lloyd International (PHB recorded one occasion 2.8.63 only)

LEASED OUT AND LEASED IN



Not an everyday sight on the Liverpool Airport apron in April 1958. Starways Dakota G-AMPY returning after winter lease out to Air Jordan in full scheme as JY-ABE. Don credits this photo to Eric Sprawson.

G-APID in Starways titles copied from BIAL to add here (maybe)

Don't often copy images from books, however it is the only photo I am aware of that shows G-APID in Starways titles. Presumably this is during the 1962 lease from Transworld before coming to Liverpool in October 1961 with Trans-Meridian as recounted on page 2 of this thread.



Bristol 170 Wayfarer G-AGPV of Trans-European Airways came to Starways for a check 10th April 1962, seen here 4 days later outside the Speke Road hangar.



Douglas C-54 VP-MAA of Malta Metropolitan parked out on the western apron in early August 1963 while operating a Palma return flight for Starways. The aircraft called at Liverpool 4 times in the period 10th July to 17th September 1963. The first visit was for a 4-day check with Starways maintenance, twice certainly on a Starways I/T to Palma outbound and then the return inbound flight and the final time routed Malta-night stop at Liverpool-Glasgow, possibly en route to operate a Glasgow I/T flight for Starways.



Starways also attracted aircraft from other operators for checks and maintenance. Once such customer was Tyne-Tees Air Charter. Here C-47B Dakota G-AMNV arrived on 2nd July 1962 from Ostend, returning there 11 days later. The pilot was collected by the Airline's Auster G-AOGV and taken to Woolsington, returning to Speke the same way on 13th. G-AMNV was back on 26th August 1962 to operate some rotations on behalf of Starways, returning to Woolsington on 1st September.

ASSOCIATED AIRCRAFT





Several light aircraft, mostly Austers lived in the Starways hanger and were maintained there too. An outsider that came in regularly in the period September 1962 to January 1965 for maintenance and lay-overs was Dennis Ferranti's Grumman Mallard G-ASCS.

[viscount]

EARLY DAYS OF STARWAYS

There are plenty of photos later on this thread of Starways in the later 50s and early 60s in the 'blue rudder' colour scheme days of Dakotas, Skymaster and Viscounts. This post will concentrate on the earlier day, upto and including the early days of Dakota operations.

A Percival Q.6 at Liverpool, date unknown. May, or may not be, G-AFIX with Starways between January and May 1949. Only other known Q.6 candidate visiting in the same time-frame was G-AHOM twice in September 1951.



This is, even if the registration cannot be seen, G-AFGK a Miles Whitney Straight, dated July 1953. Note 'Starways' on the engine cowling.



Although taken at Newcastle, this illustrates G-AIRN an Anson I, the second aircraft in the fleet, at which time the cheat line was red. An AJ Jackson photo according the caption a cropped version has in 'British Independent Airlines'.



A Phil Butler photo copied from page 101 of his LJLA-An Illustrated History (2nd ed, 2008) of Avro 19 G-AHIK in 1950. Unfortunately it has not copied well.



This DH.89A Dragon Rapide served with two Liverpool operators. Firstly Starways between 5.51 and 12.53, then leased when required during summer .53 by Wright Aviation. Both operators usually had their company name on their aircraft, in the case of Dragon Rapides, convention was to have their name under the cockpit windows. As this photo is undated, I do not know if this aircraft was during the period of their ownership or not. Whenever or whoever, this serves to illustrate Rapide G-AIBB on the Speke apron.



Starways Dakota G-AMSM, not long after entering service. Seen on 19th July 1953. It was sold to Skyways in May 1954.



Dakota G-AMPO in the earlier, mid 50s, Starways scheme. Note the two Airwork F-86s parked on the outer edge of the apron, which place the photo in a 1953 to 1957 time frame. The Dakota behind is likely a BEA (or Cambrian?) machine. Starways operated G-AMPO mid 1952 until sale to Eagle 5.54, then again later in the 50s. So a 1953/first half of 1954 date is likely. Note the name "Cynthia" on the nose.



Another of the Dakotas, G-AMSN, in the early scheme. Date unknown. This one went on to serve Starways for around 12 years.



An image also used on the 'Liverpool air displays' thread, is this shot of G-AMPY on 1st May 1956 - not that long before the aircraft was to carry Leo Valentin aloft for his fateful 'birdman' descent as briefly mentioned on an earlier post.

[johnoakes]

;D
Saw VP-MAA on a cycle visit to the airport and thoght it was amis memory--nice to have confirmed that the grey cell still function(on a good day.LOl)
Any chance of a photo anyone?

[springy]

Some great pics and replies here already.
Here's a few of my old Brownie 127 snaps:

For now leaving this this thread of watermarked but charming images in place (Admin June 2023)



July 1963 G-AMSN



July 1963 G-APZB



3 Jan 1964 G-AMOC



1964 G-ARIY





and a couple from 1963 courtesy of Merseyside Aviation Society:



I've already posted this 1962 p/card elsewhere, but I make no apologies for posting it again

Love these pics; brings back memories of starter trollies, avgas & kero fragrances, rumbling radials and whistling Darts.
Ken

[Deleted]

..and a few more! I've got one of G-AMPZ somewhere, but I haven't found it yet! Apologies for not posting these earlier, but the scanner and the the laptop had a serious falling out, and all the software in the world couldn't fix it, so I've invested in a new scanner.



Skymaster G-APYK being shown some attention while outside the Starways hangar.



G-APIN wearing its' ONU colours on the north apron. Because the aircraft was operating in the Belgian Congo, the French version of the title was used. In those days the United Nations Organisation was the standard title for what we know today as the UN. The aircraft was destroyed at Kamina airport in 1961, when it was attacked by a Fouga Magister of the Katangan Air Force.



Another Starways aircraft that was destroyed while in service was G-ARJY which slid to stop with undercarriage retracted at Dublin in September 1961.



The final Skymaster purchased by Starways was G-ASEN. Here just days after delivery in a snowy January 1963.



G-AMSN in between flights on a sunny day at Speke.



G-ARIR in its' full Starways colours. Not a lot of imagination was used to change the colour scheme from its' former owner, Air France. If you find the background confusing for a Liverpool photograph. Unusually the photo is taken from the airfield, looking directly out, over the fence along Speke Road and into the railway goods yards beyond.



Dakota 4 G-AMPY oabout to turn in and park on the main apron



Dakota 4 G-AMPY taxies in behind an Aer Lingus Dakota. The cone on the right is the top of a mobile fire extinguisher available to immediately deal with a fire on start-up of a piston engine.



Dakota 4 G-AMPY outside the Starways hangar. Like the shot of G-ARIR above, this is taken from the airfield side, looking at the fence, Speke Road and the rail goods yard beyond.



Starmaster G-ARIY taxies on to the apron.



(image showing)

G-ARWI Skymaster of Lloyd International while operating a flight on behalf of Starways in July 1963.

(image showing)

And the prize for the smallest registration goes to... G-ARJY!

From Admin: My very many thanks to Barry for hunting down the images to slot back into this post. Good to have got ride of the watermarking and still have the images.

[johnoakes]

Brilliant photos--a bygone age well remembered by we oldies.LOL

[avionics]

As a young man of 60+, I was amazed at the history of my first employer. I was at school at the time and often would cycle down the lanes and canal paths for fun. One day I arrived at Starways and went in, nobody around but shouted with a reply that it was OK so long as I did not touch anything. After a hour or so and still not seen anybody, I shouted that I was away with the immediate reply of hold on by the door. This gentleman then asked a few questions and I started there two weeks later, missing all the exams. I was put under Alan Beeson, sorry if that is wrong, a electrician and a gent. I used to collect the mail and take it to Garston, Limocoat I think, every working day. I had an accident in early Dec and after was made redundant at the end of Dec63, due to Eagle taking over methinks. I still appreciate the good three months I had there and the two trips down to London and back. Many thanks to Starways, I then had a job with AV Roe & Co in Chadderton,6 yrs. Followed by Dan Air Engineering for 23 yrs( FANTASTIC TIME) and after 10 yrs with FLS( THE OPPOSITE) I took redundancy and retired. I had to register just to say thank you for the memories.

[Beemer]

It was well worth registering for Avionics. An exciting employment in aviation encapsulated in that short story. Regards Beemer.

[eitlean]

A very minor amendment to Garstonboy's post, but as far as I know, the French still refer to the United Nations as 'ONU' - because if you transcribe the English 'United Nations' into the French 'Nations Unis', the abbreviation becomes 'NU'; the French for 'naked' or 'nude', so probably not the best acronym for a global organisation!

Michael

[thetexpat]

This is a re-posting of my earlier contribution after the pics disappeared!

These cannot be replaced, so will be 'lost' forever if deleted. Leaving in place despite watermark

Here are a few shots taken 5th March 1961:



G-AMSN parked outside the Starways hangar beside Speke Road (sorry about the fuzzy Brownie 127 image!)



G-ARJY parked outside the Starways hangar beside Speke Road



G-APYK & G-APEZ parked on the south side.

[Beemer]

Familiar photos, but totally relevant again here.



G-AMSN Starways Dakota. SHOULD BE PHIL DALE Photo, via Phil Butler. Image quality suffered being a scan from a PC printer print.



May 1963 shot of G-APZB Viscount and G-AMPY Dakota at the east, No.2 hangar, end of the terminal.



G-APYK Starways C-54 Skymaster. The pair of spotters with bicycles leaning against the metal bar fence alongside Speke Boulevard is a iconic Liverpool shot of the early 1960s. Photo taken by Peter Whalley, and previously used in the 2nd edition (2008) of Phil Butler's Airport history book.



G-AMPO Starways Dakota. Just who the 'celebrity' arriving at Liverpool was, has now faded into the mists of time.





A busy apron scene around a Starways C-54 Skymaster and Viscount. I suspect likely early/mid 1961, featuring new apron tugs brought in after Liverpool City Council had taken over control of the running of the airport at the start of the year.

[Beemer]

Three of the seven former RAF Douglas C-47A's purchased in 1952 arrived in poor external condition from storage, some having served in the Far East and India. Shown are G-AMSN (left), G-AMSM (centre) + another.



Copied from PHB's book (and it shows) is G-AMPZ awaiting civilianisation by Starways.



Taken at one of the 70's Air Displays from the centre of the airfield. Runway 26-08 runs across the photo beyond the Wessex ASR demonstration flare smoke. To the left is No.2 hangar (1939), centre the Starways hangar (beside and parallel to Speke Road/Boulevard) constructed 1960/1961, with the 2 hangars over on the right which were constructed for Starways but were completed after Aviation Overhauls had taken over (1963/1964). They were shorter and at right angles to the road. By the late '60s and into the early '70s they were all used for grain storage.

[thetexpat]

For the record, here's Pathé News footage of the crashed G-ARJY at Dublin.

Have to admit that the record is 'quite quaint' showing the local police having their lunch on the grass verge and a bunch of schoolboys looking at the site!

www.britishpathe.com/asset/96916/

Cheers




In June 2023 found the original link was dead. A 'Google' discovered a new link which I have pasted in. It is a 2 minute clip, a charming little 'throw-back' to times past! Well worth a watch, although poor 'JY is rather forlorn.

As a bonus, I'll add-in here as it is highly relevant, a further image of G-ARJY's ignominious end at Dublin. Admin.

[theavgasdinosaur]

I know it's daft but I always thought Starways were red until my first visit to Liverpool in 1963.
Be lucky
David
P.S. I had only seen black and white photo's prior to that.