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Post by viscount on Jul 13, 2013 23:32:16 GMT 1
LIVERPOOL AIR SHOW, 1961  The Scottish Aviation Pioneer CC.1 XL703/Z of No.230 Sqdn at Odiham. Seen by No.1 hangar where it was kept overnight.  Gloster Meteor F.8 WH291 of the RAFFC, one of 4 parked down by the river. Note No.2 hangar visible around the nose. This aircraft many years later returned to Liverpool for restoration on the apron outside the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  Hawker Hunter T.7 XL575/80 of 229 OCU in the silver and dayglo training aircraft markings of the period.  Shackleton MR.2c WL801/B of No.42 Sqdn.  For many seeing one of the new breed of jet airliners down low and well away from Heathrow was a highlight, this Aer Lingus Boeing 720 making an unprogrammed appearance for a single pass. One feature of the 1961 'at home' was the inclusion of a fair number of the resident aircraft along with some of the latest imports provided by dealerships.  Piaggio P.166B G-APVE, this may have been in the general aviation aircraft static display on the West Apron (note crowd barriers beyond the nose), but not confirmed. This new aircraft was resident at Liverpool.  G-ARDL PA-24 Comanche 250  G-AJDR Miles Hawk Trainer 3, a British built aircraft, but one of the old generation of wood and canvas construction  G-ARUW PA-24 Comanche 250  G-ARVT PA-28 Cherokee 160, one of the first Cherokees to be imported into Britain it was exhibited by agents British Executive Air Services.  G-ARWR a Cessna 172C Skyhawk, one of 4 Cessna 172s brought to Liverpool from Blackpool by Westair Flying Services, a Cessna sales agency.  G-ARYZ Beagle A.109 Airdale. In comparison to the American all-metal imports the British with their new Airdale were a generation behind the Americans in their design and build.  This aircraft would have been a spotter's head scratcher at the time, but the kindly French provided all the answers on the tail. F-BKJK is a Wassmer WA.40 Super IV. LIVERPOOL AIR SHOW, 1963  Shackleton MR.3 XF700/A of 120 Sqdn.  XR399 Comet 4C by Ron Turner, on Flickr Just one shot thanks to Ron Turner who initially placed this on the DH.106 Comet thread. Any more 1962 and 1963 anyone? LIVERPOOL AIR SHOW, 1971 Very few illustrations in my collections of the May 1971 show. Surely someone can help me out here as these pictures do little to illustrate this display. Do you have any 1971, (or 1977, 1978) images to share on this thread?  Only recently entered RAF service a Phantom FG.1 of 43 Sqdn.  Dan Air moved their Nord 262 G-AYFR onto the flight-line to advertise their domestic air services using the aircraft  Fournier RF-4D G-AVNZ, essentially a powered glider was based at Speke and placed in the static line-up.  Argosy XR135 took the 'Falcons' free-fall up for their drop, seen parked between a RAF Beagle 206 Basset and Southport & Merseyside's Cessna 150 G-ATNX and Cessna 172B G-ARMP, at that time still in a green colour scheme.  C-130K Hercules C.1 XV296 parked on the flight-line with the Battle of Britain Flight Spitfire 14 PM631 AD:C.  XV296 C-130K Hercules C.1 while performing in the flying display.  Photo of the Pou du Ciel taken at Speke. I think it was 1971 but it was definitely the day of an air display. I see George Jones in the picture and my red Vauxhall Viva. Ron, the guy on the right of the two guys together in that photo, is another Ron! Ron Partington, who was one of the head loaders when we worked there. His brother Bill worked in the cargo office. This Ron Turner photo was first posted on the "M.A.S. Remembered" thread, and moved here by Admin with the original Ron Turner caption, and a reply with additional information as a quote. While I can add that second in from the left in a dark jacket is Ken Ellis, while George Jones is over on the right. LIVERPOOL AIR SHOW, 1972  A very early outing with my first 'proper' camera a brand new Praktica Nova 1B, with a 50mm, 135mm and a 400mm screw-thread lenses. The Nova 1B had TTL metering, but you had to set the speed and aperture manually and compensate for the extra exposure the 400mm lens required! Focus was manual by matching twin rings in the viewfinder. These are all slow ASA Kodak transparencies - although cleaned up on digitisation, they are a very weak series of images, serving here to illustrate, not to impress. For all the 70s and 80s displays that I attended, I was heavily involved in the M.A.S. sales stall - photos took a 'back-seat', usually grabbed either from the stall set back some distance from the display line, or during brief breaks from sales duty.   At that time RAF C-130K Hercules aircraft were still all painted in desert camouflage, and were only recently in service with the RAF in any numbers.  An odd shot - makes it look as though many of the crowd would have considerable headaches the following morning from having a Hercules roll over them!   The 'Barnstormers' entertained during the Air Show with a variety of aircraft, here Tiger Moths G-ADIA and G-ANMO during the 'limbo' act.  Recently delivered Royal Navy Sea King HAS.1 XV659/055:R in the dark blue colours of the period. Today the remaining XV... series Sea Kings are amongst the oldest UK military serving front-line aircraft.  One of very few at the time, civilian flown Spitfires. This is Spitfire IX MH434 (G-ASJV) on 26 with the terminal behind, as seen from the public enclosure south of the runway.  The R.A.F. Free-Fall team 'The Falcons'. The standard round parachutes of the time having nothing like the fine control of those today - members of the team often ending up inside the crowd away from the DZ. However this guy seems to be on target to land near the smoke flare on the DZ.   The show was closed by the 'Red Arrows', flying 9 scarlet Folland Gnat T.1 aircraft.   Britannia Airways Boeing 737 G-AWSY was open for the public to walk-through during the morning, then positioned to the terminal and took a load of fare-paying Inclusive Tour passengers outbound during the afternoon.  The Jet Provosts of the 'Gemini' team. In addition I have these Liverpool Corporation Engineers Dept Official b&ws. First features of some of the 'Rothmans' SV-4c Stampe aircraft - their last season before replacement with Pitts S-2 aircraft, along with the tail of the Sioux XV315, Chipmunk G-ARGG and the line-up of Jet Provost T.5s in the background.  The 'Gemini' aircraft, the Jet Provost T.5 were only recently delivered to the RAF.  The Sea King HAS.1 was another type freshly in service in 1972, the 'R' tail code shows that home base was HMS Ark Royal when at sea.  This BN-2A Islander G-AXVP was in use by Air Anglia, with rather small titles, for pleasure flying. These next three shots of the 'Barnstormers' Tiger Moth G-ADIA, Chipmunk G-ARGG and Nipper G-AVKT at Liverpool during the April '72 Air Show on a thread: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/12750/remember-barnstormers However currently are watermarked due to Photobucket's greed. Provided by "Dave 1955".  DH82A Tiger Moth G-ADIA.  DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 G-ARGG.  Tipsy Nipper T66 G-AVKT. Just four months later, this aircraft was destroyed in a crash during a display at Burton Constable Hall in Yorkshire on 19 August 1972. . |
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Post by viscount on Jul 14, 2013 12:41:18 GMT 1
LIVERPOOL AIR DISPLAY 1973  A year later and there is a marked improvement in the quality and standard of my photography. Still using the semi-manual Pratika Nova, but learning from experience have moved from the fine-grained, but slow Kodak slide film to Fuji 100 - which became my film of choice for many years. Even so the quality of images varies, there only two which did not require massaging on digitisation (apart of cropping and cleaning) with a good density of colour - the static Mosquito and the Sea Fury. Although I had been employed for over half a year, cash was still short, so usually one shot per aircraft, although there are exceptions. This would appear to be the first time I ever was taken down to the 28 (now 27) threshold, although the angles to get photos through the fence were restricted and the view of approaching aircraft blocked by cottages and glasshouses. Seem to recall I took a shot of the other Lightning too - but messed that one up! Even the shot kept, and displayed here suffers from some shake.   In the public area of the display were too preserved aircraft dragged across from the hangars. Viscount 701 G-ALWF with the Viscount Preservation Trust (VPT) and DH.115 Vampire T.11 WZ553/40 with the Merseyside Aviation Society (MAS). Amazingly these are the only shots that I ever took of these two aircraft while preserved at Liverpool.   The Battle of Britain Flight were already popular at displays in the early '70s, although brought only Lancaster PA474/KM:B and Hurricane LF363/LE:D to Liverpool in May 1973.    Always a popular sight, the Chester based mosquito RR299, clearly an aircraft I appreciated as I took three shots of this one!   The 'Vintage Pair' flown by the CFS featured a Meteor T.7 and a Vampire T.11  From the Fleet Air arm brought their Sea Fury FB.11 TF956/123:T   The "Poachers" team flew their fairly recently delivered Jet Provost T.5 aircraft  No, 4 F.T.S. Hawker Hunter F.6 from RAF Valley provided a very recently repainted aircraft in the new training red and white (previously silver/day-glo) colours.  A fairly new Bell 47G Sioux from the CFS Helicopter Wing at Tern Hill made a change from the usual Whirlwind.   In contrast the Vickers Varsity T.1 had been around for many years. This one being WJ910/S of 6 FTS from Finningley  Flight line, headed up by Lightning T.5 XS418, Lightning F.3 XP737, the 'Poachers' Jet Provost T.5s and finally the RAF Varsity.  The 'Vintage Pair' Vampire T.11 and Meteor T.7 taxi out past the Sea Fury (behind the Meteor), Puss Moth G-AAZP and some resident Aero Club aircraft.   The 'Rothmans' team displayed dramatically with their new Pitts, having replaced the Stampe aircraft seen the previous year.    I regret now not taking any photos of the CATS with their Iron Cross and Roundel de-decked Cessna and Pup aircraft, or Jim Keen's all white Stearman G-BAVN. However Phil was obviously impressed with the Stearman, with three good shots of this aircraft which not long before had been imported from Israel.   Beagle B.206 Basset C.1 XS781 of 207 Sqdn did not take part in the flying display, but was in the static - it provided navigation support for the B of B Flt Hurricane.   The upper shot of these two is cheating, as this is the Lightning T.5 XS418 of 226OCU landing on 27 the previous day, then being shown as static in the flight line only. I failed to get a worthwhile shot of the Lightning F.3 that took part in the flying display.  Not known if this was an Air Display photo or not. Certainly G-AOYS was involved in providing pleasure flights and it looks as though the shot, with the aircraft at the 26 end was taken from within the airfield boundary - or it could just possibly be a telephoto shot from over the fence on an ordinary working day. Nice shot though regardless. Well, those are all my digitised transparencies of the '73 display, plus a few others that have come my way. I have however also access to professional black and white prints of the '73 display, scans of which will follow. |
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Post by andyh on Jul 14, 2013 14:02:23 GMT 1
Brilliant Brian! Thanks for sharing!
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Post by viscount on Jul 15, 2013 22:12:39 GMT 1
Air Show 1973 (continued) These are not mine, but are prints passed on over the years. Photographer has not been recorded in most cases, however all those that are part of the NWAN Collection are stamped Liverpool City Engineers Department and are prints originally supplied to the Airport management then, rather than negatives held by the Liverpool City Records Office now.  In the static the Automobile Association's Navajo G-AXAZ in a predominantly yellow scheme  Cambrian Viscount 806 G-AOYI likely arriving on 26 on a regular scheduled passenger service, seen from the Air Display crowd-line to the south of the runway.    I've deliberately left the original width to these prints (but have taken out sky and grass) as the backgrounds are as much a part of the picture as the aircraft. Here Garston gas works and the terminal with associated hangars vie for attention with the departing Lancaster and the displaying Hurricane.  Wessex HU.5 of the Royal Navy 'Presentation Team' (the code is a give-away) performed a lively sequence including rescuing the crew of a small vessel sinking on the grass airfield!  The Britannia Airways Boeing 737-204 G-AXNB was operating a regular I/T flight behalf of Thomson Holidays. The Airport terminal was functioning normally being on the opposite side of the aircraft to the public display and parking space.  The 'Vintage Pair' Meteor T.7 and Vampire T.11 in tail-chase formation.   In 1972 the Vulcan B.2 was still in full front-line squadron service with the R.A.F. Note that this was before the application of 'wrap-around' camouflage. The aircraft was due to perform a touch-and-go on 26 - and would have become the only Vulcan to have touched down at Liverpool if it had done so, however the Lancaster lingered on the runway too long, so the Vulcan made an extra undercarriage-down pass instead.  The RAFC team 'The Lincolnshire Poachers' with a team of 4 Jet Provost T.5 aircraft.  Mosquito T.3 RR299 performing over Speke airport - classic aircraft over classic buildings     Looking at these 40 year old photos, it is clear that the professionalism of the 'Red Arrows' performance was as good then as it is now. |
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Post by viscount on Jul 15, 2013 22:33:28 GMT 1
Well I've no personal offerings for the Fly-in Air Show event in September 1977, as I wasn't there! I was present for the limited Air Display event in August 1978, but was inside No.1 hangar with the M.A.S. sales stall much of the afternoon. Although rushed out for Tornado passes, no photos have been kept, if indeed any were taken. Hopefully others can come forward to fill the gaps.
On then into the 1980's, starting with June 1981. I have used some of these photos before on other themed threads eg Genair, Shackletons, Keenair etc, but repeat them here for completeness (and they are nice photos too!).LIVERPOOL AIR DISPLAY - 1981  The Shackleton AEW.2 arrived early and was parked against the railings on the Western Apron. Unfortunately in early morning that put this shot near direct into sun. Having collected the M.A.S. sales stall it was over to the South-side for the air display. First up was an inflation in marginal conditions of the 'Witter' Towing Brackets locally based HAB.   New local airline Genair put on a show with both Bandeirante Commuter airliner and their executive King Air 90.  Jim Keen was a regular performer at Liverpool Aviation events and here display his T-6G Texan G-BHTH in attractive USN post-war markings  Another regular at Speke Air Displays were the 'Vintage Pair', here is one of them, Vampire T.11 XH304  Despite the Air Display, passenger business carried on as usual, here TAP Boeing 727 I/T flight to Faro taxis on the main apron.  While another was the summer Sunday regular, the BAF Viscount charter to Jersey, here seen taxiing beside No.2 hangar. For the photographer the Air Show was always an opportunity to get a different background behind regular flights.  The Hercules has always been an Air Show crowd pleaser. In contrast to the shows a decade earlier, the Hercules fleet by the early '80s all wear standard European theatre camouflage.   While we may today be very familiar with Stearman 'wingwalking' routines, the Tiger Moth looks a much frailer mount for such display flying.  Another bi-plane, but this time a Royal Navy Historic Flight Swordfish.  Absolutely no idea why this transparency was not thrown in the bin 30 years ago. Somehow it has survived and while undisputedly a terrible shot, it is the only one I have of the delightful RNHF Firefly at Speke.  A much better shot of Sea Fury FB.11 TF956/123:T though   A sequence of shots of 20,000 rivets flying in close formation - the glorious Avro Shackleton, a star at any air display.  While most of the aircraft on display in 1981 were familiar, two were newcomers to the Display scene. The sole NDN-1 Firecracker G-NDNI was widely displayed, looking for investment and sales.  The other was MS.733 Alycon G-SHOW, displayed in Cambodian Air Force markings. Different, but did not last long on the air show circuit.  Just the one shot of the 'Red Arrows' with their Hawk T.1 aircraft making patterns in the sky  Finally from another source (ie not my own photos), comes these two b&ws. First would appear to be the 'arrival' of the official VIP party in Vernair's King Air 200 from the other side of the airfield and the official 'opening ceremony'. When first placed on the web I miss-identified several of those in the picture. Much digging by Eddie Quinn, now provides authoritive identification. At the microphone is Wing Cdr Sir Kenneth Stoddart, Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, with to his side his wife, Lady Jean Stoddart holding the flowers. The gentleman in the dark jacket with head bowed is Cllr Brian Simpson, Deputy Chairman of the Airport Committee, at a time when John King was Chairman. In the white suit is Victor Basil, FoLA's founding Chairman. The lady on the right is Marcia Rooney, Head of Marketing for the Airport. The late Ron Davies (of Radio City 'Eye in the Sky' traffic reports and the then FoLA Deputy Chairman) is in sunglasses immediately under the G-V on the aircraft.  This untidy, but effective, tower of assorted advertising banners is the FoLA/Airport PR stand. I'm assuming these two photos are of the 1981 event due to the presence of Goodyear banners following a visit by N2A 'Europa' Airship earlier in the year, however I also have a May 1982 photo of the stall looking not that different!
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Post by acklington on Jul 16, 2013 9:43:26 GMT 1
Wonderful photos Viscount. I was no where near Liverpool then (or ever!), but all of the aircraft in the photos were regular performers at 'airshows near me'. So it is pure nostalgia to see them all together again, and with such a good backdrop.
I particularly like the Sea Fury photo, and I would have kept that Firefly photo as well! Sometimes an awful disaster of a photo still manages to capture the occasion and have much historical interest.
Well done.
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Post by viscount on Jul 16, 2013 22:32:20 GMT 1
LIVERPOOL AIR DISPLAY - JUNE 1982 At the time of the 1982 Speke Air Show, the runways of the north airfield had been officially closed to all landings and take-offs for several months. However this restriction was removed for the duration of the event. Less variety of aircraft than the previous year, however some entertaining and unusual contributions from local companies. While for many the '81 event had lacked the thrill of a fast jet - a Phantom more than compensated in '82. A great problem for Air Show organisers at Liverpool is illustrated in the background of the shot of Tomahawk G-BGUA - all the parked cars, spectators and ice-cream vans are OUTSIDE of the event, so providing no income for the organisers, and are in a potentially dangerous position as they are under the extended display-line along 09/26 runway. It would appear that, although I had moved on to more capable TTL metered Practika cameras, I was suffering from erratic readings (weak battery connection). So I do apologise for both rather dark dense images or over-exposed and shaky shots on a few images. But please, don't let that distract you from a wide variety of aircraft pictured - these are after-all 'record shots' not a competition!  A number of light aircraft visitors and participants were parked on the grass along the crowd barrier. These included aircraft of Liverpool Flying School/Keen Air Services, such as their sole Cessna 172 G-HUFF.  Tomahawk G-BGUA was one of three that former a 'Tomahawk Formation Team' - regrettably I took no photos of the team performing.     From Chester came a number of aircraft. Tiger Moth G-ANTE, Chipmunk G-BARS and Pup G-AXCX. Some are while parked for the afternoon, some on departure after the air show had ended.  Another Pup was the JPS black Beagle Pup G-AZEW. Cigarette advertising still being a regular public sight at the time, no one thought further of it.  Sole military aircraft in the static aircraft park was this BAe. Hawk T.1 from No.1 TWU at RAF Brawdy.  RAF Puma HC.1 making a fast pass along 26  Jim Keen was always a great supporter of any Merseyside flying event. Here seen delighting the crowds in his Stearman '26' (G-BAVO).   In contrast the 'girl-on-the-wing' Tiger Moth performance seemed pedestrian, although both are attractive aircraft.  The RNHF did not provide as many aircraft as they had the previous year, however Sea Hawk WV908 was a welcome sight.   Fresh from it's starring role in a TV series, Dakota 'G-AGHY' complete with 'Ruskin Air Services' cabin titles - also title of the TV series. Just sorry that my shot is such a weak image and well beyond my capabilities to massage back to full life!    The star 'turn' of '82 was without doubt the RAF F-4K Phantom FG.1 from 43 Squadron at Leuchars with a tight turning, highly manoeuvrable routine. These shots are genuine, all being the right way up! Unlike in 1971, the pilot managed not to shred his log book in the slipstream, completing his display without incident.  What provided a welcome local flavour into the Air Display was the participation, not only by a local flying club, but also a number of airlines and airliners. Genair, Liverpool's Airline, flew an attractive routine using their Bandeirante G-BGCS. On weekdays this aircraft was operated by Air Commuter from Coventry - that explains the 'AC' logo on the nose.  In contrast the wonderfully restored Avro C.19 WD413  Later in the afternoon, Jersey European flew their Twin Otter G-OJEA to promote their Liverpool to Dublin service. However the aircraft showed off its slow flying capabilities well, rather than appeal to passengers who wished to get to their destination the same day!  While the Air Display was in progress, routine scheduled aircraft arrived and departed using the out-of-sight 'new' runway. Two however, complete with passengers, returned to make a fly-by before setting course for their destination. One such was this BMA Viscount seen making a run along 08 after departure.  At another point during the afternoon Aer Lingus BAC.1-11 series 200 en route to Dublin returned to pass along 27 before setting course.  A firm favourate amongst air show crowds is the BBMF Lancaster bomber PA474/AJ:G   While where would a Liverpool Air Show be without the fabulous DH Mosquito from Chester. Wind conditions were settled enough to permit the parachute team to perform a 'stack' manoeuvre  Not all participants were air show regulars. This MS.500 G-AZMH aka a 'Fiesler Storch' in pseudo Luftwaffe markings did not last that long on the 'circuit'. Although the wind was too light when at Liverpool, I well recall this aircraft's "party piece" - flying backwards down the display line (forward air speed less than the wind speed). Liverpool Air Display '81 was the first place I watched one of the new 'three-axis' microlights perform, a Volmer Jensen VJ.24 G-MBBZ. There were several unregistered Flexiform Skysails Strikers at the Air Show in '82, this one only taxied around on the runway and did not aviate, (later registered G-MBIE). Little did we realise then the massive boom that was about to take place in flexiwing microlights and then in ultra-light aircraft. It would be August '95 before the next flexiwing microlights landed at Liverpool.  Finally, another regular type at air displays, then as now, was the highly aerobatic Pitts. These are the "Marlboro' team" - more tobacco sponsorship of aviation. |
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Post by viscount on Jul 17, 2013 8:25:24 GMT 1
The Final Liverpool Airport Air Display, August 1984
The August 1984 'Air & Transport Extravaganza' was boldly named and perhaps did not quite live up to the grandiose title. It was a two-day affair, with the main flying display on the Sunday. Without any doubt the static park was the best collection of current military hardware ever seen at Liverpool Airport post WWII. Regrettably there was competition that weekend from a Liverpool v Everton football match at Wembley, however the weather was good - bringing spectators out in some numbers on the fields, roads, around Hale and up in Camp Hill Park - but in fairly limited numbers on the airfield itself, despite a reasonably low entrance fee. By August '86 the runways of the north airfield had been out of use for landings or take-offs for over two years. While the Hercules made two landings, nothing else could - not even the Harrier! All aircraft movements were off runway 27/09 behind the trees from the crowd enclosure. Some aircraft like the Lightnings and Harrier operated from the new South Airfield apron (no terminal until 1986) out of sight of the public, while other parked on a flightline beside the public enclosure, or across on the western apron of the terminal.  The static park consisted of 8 RAF current types, dominated by the only HP Victor to visit Liverpool  Along with the only Buccaneer to land here too  With a Jaguar GR.1 of 54 Squadron.  However I was clearly distracted at this point and did not go on and snap the 27 Sqdn Tornado GR.1 (a rarely seen unit at an air show unit), or 56 Sqdn Phantom complete with 'sharks mouth' or 2 camouflaged Hawks and a Jet Provost from Brawdy. What a missed opportunity. Thankfully "Dave 1955" has posted the Phantom and Tornado: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/12724/rhino-teeth (but Photobucket has since watermarked them)   F-4M Phantom FGR.2 XV500/J of 56 Sqdn, Wattisham showing it's teeth on the Static Aircraft Park at the Liverpool Air and Transport Extravaganza on Sunday 19 August 1984. XV500 ended it's days as a gate guard (marked as XV498) at RAF St Athan until she was eventually scrapped in August 2007.  From the same day, also on the SAP, Panavia Tornado GR.1 ZA606/09 of 27 Sqdn, Marham. Built in 1982, it appears this aircraft was still being in active service 2013.   However there were interesting sights to be snapped, as while there was no display as such, arriving aircraft would make a pass, as did several departing airliners. Largest, by far, of these was Wardair's departing DC-10 - unfortunately I 'mucked-up' the flypast shot slightly.  Manx showed off their Twin Otter G-BEJP   While between pleasure flights Merseyside Air Charter displayed their Aztec 250 to drum-up trade. G-BAVZ is still active at Liverpool Airport, put now as G-RVRW with Ravenair. AIR DISPLAY, SUNDAY, 19th AUGUST 1984 As with other Speke Air Displays, for much of the afternoon I was busy with the MAS sales stall, so grabbed photos from that location or on walk-about during rest periods. As a result the photos are a mixed-bag - no shots at all of the Lightning F.3, or of the Harrier GR.3 unfortunately.  P.56 Provost T.1 WW397/N:E (G-BKHP) represents a type that has made several appearances on the air show circuit over the years.  Without the BBMF, it was upto Spitfire 9 MH434/ZD:B (G-ASJV) to represent the type.   From the same period timewise, Jim Keen demonstrated his smart Stearman '26' (G-BAVO) looking its blue and yellow best in the sunshine.  An unusual shape in the skies of an air display was provided by Quickie Q.2 G-BKSK   More local flavour was provided by local company Helicare, who demonstrated their Jet Ranger G-BCWM with great spirit  By 1984 there were few Vulcan B.2s still operational with the RAF, some being Falklands veterans - this XL426 displayed with elan, but did not land at Speke.    Another type that did not land, but displayed magnificently was the Shackleton AEW.2, looking good slow, low and what a great sound! The Hercules too performed well, with tight turns and landings infront of the crowd line. I attributed this anecdote to another photo on an earlier post, but now realise posting this shot of the Hercules over the Control Tower that I had applied the story to the wrong photo, so have now moved the caption! I displayed a print of this photo at the 2003 'Air Fair' in the (then) Marriot Hotel. A friend challenged me as to why I had a copy of one of his photos - we eventually realised we had been stood shoulder to shoulder at the time of the Hercules's display!  An airlifter from an earlier generation was represented by Douglas C-47A KG374/YS:L (G-DAKS) complete with D-day invasion stripes. This is the same aircraft that two years before was in Ruskin Airlines film colours as 'G-AGHY'.   British Airways BAC.1-11 series 510 G-AVMO operated a special charter flight out of Manchester to appear over the Liverpool Air Show, with passengers tightly fastened in.   A new type to the British air show scene, and certainly the first of the type since WWII to call at Speke was P-40E Kittyhawk 1A N94466/SU:E in desert camouflage colours.   A few of Dollar Jet Ranger G-BAKF being operated by Helicare on helicopter pleasure flights from the North Airfield well into the evening.  At that time I was in regular touch with the Helicare team at Speke (I was producing the MAS local magazine 'EGGP' at the time), so when they had an empty seat on the last flight of the day, I got an invite for a 10 minute flight to the Pier Head and back. By the time this photo was taken the public had long gone home and many of the stalls and concessions had dismantled their tents - still it gives an indication of where the show was held on the airfield. Can you pick out the 8 RAF static aircraft parked up? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Well, that's around 140 transparencies and black and whites digitised, cleaned, cropped, straightened and uploaded to illustrate 5 of the 9 Speke Air Shows post war. That leaves May 1956, May 1971, September 1977 and August 1978 to be illustrated. Anyone help? Hope you enjoyed this visual trip down memory lane - the reports and check-lists for all the post war Speke Air Displays are on page 1 of this thread. |
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Post by viscount on Jan 1, 2014 13:03:31 GMT 1
LIVERPOOL AIR DISPLAYS, LET'S HAVE MORE PHOTOS PLEASE! Come on, someone can surely add to the photo coverage of Liverpool Air Shows, we need more coverage of 1956, and still have no coverage of the major 1962 or 1963 Air Displays, nor the lower-key events in 1977 and 1978. PM 'Viscount' if you need help to digitise or post images - someone must have some unseen 'gems', even if in fuzzy black and white! Come on lets see some more Speke Air Display action added to this thread. |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 17:50:35 GMT 1
Whilst doing a little research into the Stampe SV-4C at Liverpool I came across this excellent history of the Liverpool airshows produced by Viscount. My attention soon drifted towards the Lancaster after viewing these two photo's of her taken by Viscount, and I thought they may have been different aircraft but they are not. They were taken at the 1973 and 1982 airshows. Can you spot the difference and does anyone know when it change? Steve.   Click on the thumbnail to enlarge by opening link to new window. This query was not answered at the time. A new post in reply now might only confuse, so I'm adding in the answer using Admin's power of 'edit'.
The answer is that a mid-upper turret has been sourced, rebuilt and reinstalled. In fact it took the BBMF many years of looking and publicity before one was located. It was during a major overhaul in 1978 and subsequent repaint that the turret was added and the Lancaster returned to its correct profile as a B Mk.1.Brian. |
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Post by bulldog on May 31, 2015 22:55:34 GMT 1
Brian
Aaaah what nostalgia, I can remember pushing the vampire from the hangar over to the display and back. Stuff like we all got up to then just wouldn't happen in these sanitised health and safety days. Is it me but who else misses fun and doing daft things purely because we could. Excellent report , mor.e RAF stuff on 26 than the whole of the RAF owns these days.
clive
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 16:48:13 GMT 1
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Post by bulldog on Sept 3, 2017 14:12:41 GMT 1
Hey Brian,I have a log for The "Flying Years" at Speke dated 1/8/1970
My log shows
XS781 Bassett
PM631 Spitfire
RR299 Mosquito
XL640 Britannia
XM648 Vulcan
XG185,XL600,XL622,XF527 Hunters. I have now written what was flying or on the ground, I presume it was a flypast for something.
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Post by viscount on Sept 3, 2017 16:58:39 GMT 1
The event on 1st August 1970 was a commemorative flypast up the Mersey and Lancashire coast, commencing at Liverpool Airport and ending at Ainsdale. There were many more aircraft involved, although the most interesting are on your list. River Mersey flypast events have their own thread, there is a full account from the MAS 'Flypast' and list to be found on a post on this thread: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/6556Scrolling through the Liverpool Airshows and Mersey Flypasts threads demonstrates just how devastating Photobucket's dropping of 3rd party hosting to amateurs has been for this forum, with so many interesting, historic photos wiped from vision. I will get working on reposting some of mine via a new host, but at present it is not top of my agenda. |
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Post by 8arail on Sept 15, 2017 20:32:28 GMT 1
Thank you for taking the time and effort in listing the shows at the Airport. I recall visiting the shows as it happens in 1971 and 1972 were I thought I only done 1972! The reason for this, I definitely recall walking through the "Viscount" in 1972 were in the process I lost my little sister (found 20 minutes later) but also I recall seeing the "Mosiquito and the "Lightning" in the display which now makes me realise I attended the 1971 show too. Thank you again for posting the lists, it is appreciated.
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