Aircraft Named:
"City of Liverpool"
Way back in the early '80s I ran a short piece in the MAS local magazine 'EGGP' on aircraft named
'City of Liverpool', this created some comment, so an amended list and article appeared in FoLA's '09/27' during 1990. Unfortunately, I'd not kept the list updated since, although Graham Ward, as current editor of '09/27' has discussed with me several times his desire to run an updated article. However, I am still looking to source photographs to illustrate any potential article. Since first posting here, I've updated as informed/found further info, list has doubled in length as a result and continues to grow slowly with 'billboard' schemes!
During World War One, no less than 5 RFC presentation aircraft carried the name
'Liverpool'. These being:
BE.2c's 1748, and
2126,
Martinsyde Elephant A6291, another
a BE.2e C7105, and finally a
RE.8 F3557. A further 2 aircraft
'Liverpool No.2', these both being
SE.5a's C6453 and
F862 and
'Liverpool Overseas Club' carried by
Sopwith Pup, C306.
More on these aircraft further down this thread.
G-EAWW a
de Havilland DH.18B of
Instone Air Line. An 8 passenger airliner, after trials at Martlesham Heath was leased to Instone Air Line in mid December 1921, initially as
'City of Brussels', renamed in June 1922 as
'City of Liverpool' and served until withdrawn sometime before December 1923 and subsequently destroyed in a floatation test in the sea off Felixstowe for the Air Ministry.
G-AACI an
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy II of
Imperial Airways. The Argosy II was a 'giant' of the time, a 3-engined bi-plane with capacity for 28 passengers. G-AACI first flew circa June 1929 and was named
'City of Liverpool' throughout it's service. On 28th March 1933 the aircraft caught fire in mid-air en route Cologne to Croydon and crashed at Dixmunde, Belgium - at the time was the world's worst airliner disaster, with all 12 passengers and 3 crew perishing when the burning aircraft dived vertically into the ground. More detail on:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1933_Imperial_Airways_Diksmuide_crash G-ADVK a
DH.86 Express is quoted to have been named
"Spirit of Liverpool". The aircraft was first registered 4.36 and operated by Blackpool and West Coast, and then Isle of Man Air Services, until sold on to Jersey Airways late 1938, and onto Guernsey Airways summer 1939 and abandoned on Jersey 1940 when invaded. At what stage, and with which operators she was so named, is so far unclear.
In World War Two at least five different
Spitfires were presented by the people of Liverpool. From the massive Key Press 'Spitfire' book, comes knowledge of four Spitfire I/Va's:
R7206 'City of Liverpool II',
R7208 'City of Liverpool III',
R7209 'City of Liverpool I',
R7210 'City of Liverpool IV' and a Spitfire Vb:
AA982 'City of Liverpool'. All five built in 1941 by Vickers Armstrong at Eastleigh, Southampton.
See further down this thread for much more on these military presentation aircraft.G-AKNS a
Short S.45A Solent 3 (short-lived development of the Sunderland) flying boat served with
B.O.A.C. June 1949 to circa November 1950 and was named
'City of Liverpool' throughout. Was reported on an MGAE trip mid 50s to be still wearing the
'City of Liverpool' name, with the serial
WM759 shortly before it was scrapped. Any photos survive from that trip?
Next came use of the
'City of Liverpool' by
British Eagle International Airways on
Viscount 701 G-AMOH from early 1964 until mid 1965, throughout its period of lease from Channel Airways, initially with Starways titles, later British Eagle; then on
Viscount 739 G-ATDU from acquisition mid 1965 until early 1968, when repainted for lease to Air France.
Then came the aircraft that inspired this thread,
Boeing 747-238B, G-BDXB of
British Airways. Although delivered to British Airways June 1977, it was probably not named
'City of Liverpool' until spring 1981. Thanks to 'Speedbird 744' for the information that it kept it's name right through to repaint 11.99 and joint service with Nigerian from 1.12.99, but did not regain the name on subsequent repaint back into the newer BA scheme a year later.
Resident operator,
Emerald Airways named one of their
HS.748-2A aircraft,
G-BIUV 'City of Liverpool', first noted 23.2.94. G-BIUV, which is fitted with a large freight door at the time was painted white, with large cabin top 'Emerald' in green, with green gemstone logo on tail. The name removed when stripped and re-painted in the revised 'Emerald Airways' scheme at Woodford March 1996, with larger tail logo and twin green cheat-lines. The aircraft was initially used both for passengers and for freight, but in later years solely for freight, newspapers, mail etc. Used by Emerald until stored Blackpool from 5.9.05. and still there when Emerald ceased trading in 2006.
At a ceremony at Liverpool Airport on 26th May 1999, the
Fleet Air Arm Historic Flight took the unusual move of naming their
Fairy Swordfish, LS326/L2 as
'City of Liverpool' in recognition of the City's role in the Battle of the Atlantic. A minor maintenance issue caused the aircraft to remain at Liverpool until 1st June before return to its Yeovilton base. For the rest of year the aircraft was seen regularly at Air Shows around the country, until grounded Spring 2000 for a lengthy wing-spar rebuild. The aircraft was re-flown in 2008 but engine issues kept it grounded until fixed late 2010. There is a close-up photo of the
'City of Liverpool' inscription on LS326 along with a 'Liverbird' logo in the March 2011 issue of 'Aircraft' magazine. (Thanks Ste-t for reminding me of this one by PM). Could be the only current use of the
'City of Liverpool' name on an aircraft, confirmed still wearing
'City of Liverpool' and outline Liver Bird logo 3.11.
Further civilian use of the
'City of Liverpool' name includes on a
Short 360, G-OBLK of
BAC Express, probably from around late 2002. The contract that brought BAC Express aircraft to Liverpool regularly was lost shortly after, so name thought to have been removed sometime before transfer to Irish registry as EI-SMA 6.04, following acquisition of BAC Express by Air Contractors 1.04.
When VLM returned to Liverpool, it was natural to add
'City of Liverpool' to their 'City of ....' sequence fleet names.
Fokker 50, OO-VLY as
'City of Liverpool' arrived at Liverpool 5th February 2004 for a naming ceremony. It had been repainted at Woensdrecht, where for a day
OO-VLM briefly also carried the
'City of Liverpool' name as a 'back-up'! OO-VLY was selected to operate the inaugral Liverpool to London City flight 23rd February 2004. Although VLM pulled out of Liverpool 2007, OO-VLY certainly still wearing the name October 2009, so likely only removed when repainted in CityJet colours early 2010 and renamed "Ville de Paris". (thanks to mtlnorth for his input info).
Do PM me with any more information if you know of other applications of
'City of Liverpool' or can tie-down accurately the time span the name was worn on those listed, as my info is a little vague in places.
Amazingly neither
Railway Air Services nor
Silver City Airlines, who both had 40 plus aircraft named
'City of ..........' sequence on their aircraft, however neither used
'City of Liverpool', despite both having services from Speke.
KLM too, extensively used
'City of ............' names, drawn from all around Europe, but never selected
Liverpool.
Steiner Airways a late '40s Liverpool based operator (history is elsewhere on this section of the forum), used a variation of the
'Liverpool' name. Known uses being:
G-AHKH, Anson I as
'Liverpool Kestral', in service 4.47 - 12.47)
G-AIOL, Airspeed Consul as
'Liverpool Hawk', in service 12.46 - 10.47.
G-AJCB, Airspeed Consul as
'Liverpool Cygnet', in service 6.47 - 10.47.
G-AJGC, Airspeed Consul as
'Liverpool Liver', in service 4.47 - 10.47.
Steiners Air Services Airspeed Consul G-AIOL named "Liverpool Hawk". Aircraft silver with red lettering.
An AJ Riding photo, via Peter Green, published by Phil Butler in 'Liverpool Airport an Illustrated History'.
Although not carried externally, the
Jetstream 41 G-JMAC preserved on the former apron at the Marriott Hotel, now Crowne Plaza, by the
Jetstream Group is known to them as
'Spirit of Speke'My thanks to PHB, George Jones, Dave Smith, Keith Crowden and Martin Keen for helping with the article when published in 1990.
'Miss Liverpool'
Only use I'm aware of,
'Miss Liverpool' was on a
Percival Mew Gull, G-AEKL sponsored by John Moores (of Littlewoods) to be flown by famous aviator Tom Campbell-Black in an England to Johannesburg Air Race. G-AEKL came to Speke Aerodrome for a naming ceremony on 19th September 1936. However as Campbell-Black was waiting to take-off from Liverpool, a 611 Sqdn Hawker Hart bi-plane landed on his aircraft. Tom Campbell-Black later died of injuries sustained. He had made his reputation as pilot of DH.88 Comet G-ACSS
'Grosvenor House' in the 1934 Mildenhall to Melbourne, England to Australia Air Race. He is reputed to have subsequently haunted the terminal building, even though built several years later.
'Liverbird'
Liverpool based
Keenair and associated
Liverpool Flying School have used
'Liverbird' names at different times over the years, but not continuously, on a variety of types. Recorded are:
'Liverbird I' was used on
Apache 160, G-ARJW, from delivery 10.68 until sold 3.74.
Cherokee 140 G-BGTR named 4.88 until mid '89, being replaced by the appropriately registered
Cherokee, G-LFSI (on repaint from G-AYKV) 7.89 on into the .90s. In summer 2010, now presented as
'Liverbird 1' on
Tomahawk 112, G-LFSA. She kept the name and her blue and white corporate colours until summer 2021. On 24th August 2021 she was noted in an all-over pale blue scheme, now wearing the name "Jimmy Taylor".
'Liverbird II' was first applied to
Cherokee 140 G-BGTS 4.88, until the aircraft was badly damaged 6.89. Then worn by
Cherokee 140, G-BGTR mid '89 (formerly
Liverbird I) on into the .90s (possibly until complete strip and respray 6.92?). In summer 2010, presented as
Liverbird 2' on
Cherokee 180E, G-LFSG. This aircraft was sold 6.2018.
Cherokee Warrior G-BGSL arrived 12.16 and entered service 01.17 as
G-LFSW with no name (?) It became 'Liverbird 2' shortly after the departure of G-LFSG.
'Liverbird III' was applied to
Cessna F.172M, G-ENII from an unknown date (presumed on respray 5.88) until 5.90 when sold. Applied to
Tomahawk G-BSFC 7.90, which soon after was re-registered
G-LFSA 10.90 and was current into the .90s, until the name removed. In summer 2010 appeared as
'Liverbird 3' on
Tomahawk 112, G-LFSH.
'Liverbird IV' was offered during .88 to the owners of Cherokee 180 G-AVGK, but not accepted. The name being first worn by
Tomahawk, G-BLYC, applied 1.89 on arrival, and current in the early .90s. Re-registered G-LFSB in October 1994, not known if still named at that time. In summer 2010, now presented as
'Liverbird 4' on
Tomahawk 112, G-LFSM.
'Liverbird V' was worn by
Cherokee Warrior 161 G-BSGL which arrived March 1991. Unsure if name survived a respray during 1993.
'Liverbird 5' has been worn since summer 2010 by
Tomahawk 112, G-LFSN.
'Liverbird 6' was first applied on acquisition and repaint June 2010 of
Cherokee Arrow IV, G-LFSR, formerly G-JANO. This aircraft was sold and departed the fleet 12.2015. During 2020
Tomahawk G-BGRM arrived at Liverpool and operated with LFS. After an overhaul and revision to the paint scheme now registered
G-LFSO this began regular operation with the club fleet with the name 'Liverbird 6'
'Blackbird 7' Note the twist in the name was applied on the respray of
Tomahawk G-BNNU 12.2020 as
G-LFSU into an all black scheme with the Liverbird tail logo.
'Liver Arrow 8' Again a twist in the name to reflect the respray of
Tomahawk G-BNSL 04/2021 as
G-LFSL into an all red, Red Arrows, style scheme.
'The Liver Moth' is the name applied on the engine cowl of Martin Keen's
DH.82A Tiger Moth, G-AMCK, acquired August 2008. The name was applied summer 2010 and was proudly worn until shortly before sale and departure in 2014.
I am fairly sure I have all uses of 'Liverbird' covered. however, my notes don't properly cover the period of the early/mid 90s, so I don't have any record at all of when the names were removed. Anyone able to add more detail? This list given a major revision August 2021.
'Mersey', 'River Mersey' & 'Merseyside'
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G-AGNL an
Avro York 1 of
B.O.A.C. was named
'Mersey' probably throughout BOAC service, from summer 1946 through to mid 1952, when sold to Lancashire Aircraft Corporation.
British Midland Airways used the name
'Merseyside' on three of their
Douglas DC-9-10s.
N48075 for a publicity flight 12.5.78,
OH-LYB late 1978 to the last day of 1979, throughout the period of lease from Finnair and
G-BMAB early 1980 to late 1980, when renamed
'Ulster'. When BMA returned to the Heathrow route with their DC-9s several years later, the fleet all had
'..... Diamond' names.
British Airways used British rivers as a theme to name their
Boeing 737-236 fleet.
G-BGDK delivered 5.80, bore the name
'River Mersey' probably from Spring 1981 until withdrawn 4.98 and returned to leasing company owners.
British Airways used British County names on their
BAC-111-510 fleet.
G-AVMI delivered 4.69 to BEA, was named
County of Merseyside with BA, probably Spring 1984. At some stage became
County of Avon, possibly only temporarily, date unknown but could have been as early as late '85, although one standard reference book states .91. Certainly still
'County of Merseyside' in 1990. Aircraft wfu 11.92 by BA and stored before onward sale. To confuse, G-AWYU was
'County of Avon' sometime after acquisition on merger with BCal 4.88 and withdrawn from BA service 5.93.
Anyone able to clarify?Can anyone tie-down dates more specifically? I have no record of subsequent use of any form of the
'Mersey' name, does anyone know better?
Personalities
There are others that could be included. There are Liverpool personalities such as:
'John Lennon' on Thomson
Boeing 757 G-BYAP, naming ceremony at Liverpool 17th May 2002, and thought to have been carried right upto being withdrawn from service mid October 2011 and subsequent delivery to Allegiant N906NV; while
'Ken Dodd OBE' is an Eastern Airways
Jetstream 41 G-MAJJ, named at Liverpool 7th July 2010. However, FlyBe's
Dash 8-Q400 G-KKEV 'Kevin Keegan' is a reflection of his impact on Newcastle, rather than his days at Liverpool.
Anyone know of other Merseyside personalities with aircraft named after them? Total 'red herrings' in this survey of local aircraft names are '60s BEA Viscount 802, G-AOHK named
'John Hanning Speke' (name of an explorer, nothing to do with a place name), while I've absolutely no idea of the significance behind Hunting Clan naming Viking 1, G-AHPJ
'AC Speke' operated 5.47 - 12.59.
Advertisement "Billboard" Schemes
While, finally, although 'named'
'Across the Universe' on the nose, is the "logo-schemed" bill-board
'Liverpool John Lennon Airport - above us only sky' slogan tail on
Boeing 757-200 of
FlyGlobespan during summer 2007.
G-CEJM's tail repainted following delivery to GSM late March 2007, appearing at Liverpool May 7th to inaugurate the Toronto schedule commencing from Liverpool, and operated the New York schedule from 26th May. Last seen at Liverpool 11th September 2007 inbound from New York, positioning out to Akrotiri.
The second local advertisement "billboard" scheme was painted on one of their
Boeing 737-800 aircraft by
Blue Air.
YR-BMH was the aircraft selected to promote a series of destinations being offered by Blue Air from Liverpool across Europe.
(Researching dates etc) YR-BMH made its last flight on 23rd May 2020 into St.Athan, still wearing the 'Liverpool billboard' scheme. In August 2021 it was still there, but now in the scrapping area.
LFC promotional "Billboard" Scheme
In a 'billboard' style, Garuda Indonesian adapted their scheme on an Airbus A.330 to incorporate LFC themes and logos to transport LFC from Liverpool on 16th July take them around the Far East and Australia, returning the team, etaff and club officials to John Lennon Airport on 29th July 2013.
Original 2010 post entry updated and added to several times, especially February 2015 and again with images being replaced, entries revised and new information added in August 2021. 
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