Post by viscount on Nov 16, 2009 20:22:06 GMT 1
Visits by the Douglas DC-8 to Liverpool Airport
Just four, four-engined jet airliners dominated international air services in the 60s through to the mid 80s - the Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8, Vickers VC-10 and Boeing 747, with 'bit-parts' by the Comet, Cv.880/99, Concorde and Il-62. As I've already covered VC-10, Boeing 747, Concorde and IL-62 visits to Liverpool now it is time to cover the Douglas DC-8. While the Boeing 707 has visited far more often with a great variety of airlines and aircraft, this makes a study here almost impossible, the DC-8 has appeared in much more modest numbers. While there may be fewer DC-8 visiting that I had realised, what the DC-8 lacks in numbers it makes up for in variety of operators, airlines and exotic serials. Indeed the span of DC-8 visits to Liverpool (1966-2001) is longer than the Boeing 707 (1966-1995)! Both the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 are types which are highly unlikely to ever visit again, which only increase their claim as icons of a past noisier and smokier age of aviation.
The DC-8 developed greatly as a type from the initial DC-8-10 a through various power plants to the DC-8-50s and then the much stretched DC-8-60 'Super 60' and quieter re-engined DC-8-70 series. All marks will be considered here, in the next post are details of the differences between marks.
1966
Just 7 months after the new runway enabled airliners such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 to visit, the first visit of type took place on a misty, turning to foggy, 14th December 1966, when PH-DCF a DC-8-32/33 of KLM brought in a load of day-trip football supporters for Liverpool FC v Anderlect FC. It was largest of a number of aircraft to appear for the fixture (that also included the first visit of the Electra to Liverpool).
1969
Presumably on a Ford charter, Martinair brought PH-MAU a DC-8-55F in from Frankfurt on 28th December, leaving for Amsterdam.
1970
For the second passenger charter, KLM was again the operator, but when the aircraft taxied round off the link what Speke enthusiasts 'spotted' was PI-C827 in full Phillipines Airlines colours and titles, with only small KLM lettering. Wow!, exotic or what! The aircraft a DC-8-32/33 (formerly PH-DCC) visited on 17th October 1970 with the Bavarian Symphony Orchestra on tour, routing from Munich to Amsterdam as KL4062.
1972
Although most charters into Liverpool from the Canary Islands with tomatoes were operated by Britannia or Douglas DC-7 aircraft (both types have their own threads), on 26th March Martinair were sub-chartered to use DC-8-55F PH-MAS inbound from Las Palmas, onward empty to Amsterdam. Call-sign 'Caldonian 6570' used inbound.
Later in the year Air Spain brought in EC-BXR a DC-8-21, operated from Luton to Barcelona as JA(?)109/107, on diversion from Manchester.
1973
The first stretched DC-8 Super 60, a DC-8-63CF to be precise, called on 4th July 1973 when N797FT of TransInternational Airlines (also making a first visit to Liverpool) called from Bangor, Maine to Copenhagen. The reason for this visit was not recorded at the time, but certainly passengers were off-loaded and the aircraft parked outside the International Arrivals building.
Later the same month, 22nd July, another DC-8-63 called marking the first visit of another airline, Air Canada, with CF-TIX (fleet number 879) an outbound passenger charter routing from Heathrow and out to Prestwick, en route to Canada. The passengers returned on 12th August on DC-8-61 CF-TJW arriving from Toronto and onward to Belfast/Aldergrove. As July '73 also saw Pan Am appearing at Liverpool on trans-Atlantic charters, there was great optimism for a trans-Atlantic future despite a lack of investment in the Airport.
1976
Aviaco Douglas DC-8-52 EC-ARC was used in leiu of a DC-9 on AO1014/5 from and to Palma on Sunday evening 30th May. EC-ARB followed on the same AO1014/5 flight routing from and to Palma, in lieu of regular DC-9 on Sunday evening 27th June.
1977
Balair brought DC-8-63PF HB-IDZ to Liverpool on 19th April with Zurich supporters for a European Match at Anfield.
A series of 4 Canadian charter flights were operated in 1977 by CP Air. First of the short season of flights was CF-CPT a DC-8-55F on 23rd June, from Rome and outbound with passengers to Prestwick en route to Toronto, operated as CP920/811. The following two flights were operated by DC-8-53 CF-CPM on 4th July Toronto to Prestwick as CP810 and 1st August from Dusseldorf to Prestwick, while on 23rd August DC-8-43 CF-CPJ arrived from Toronto and positioned out across to Manchester.
1979
In the early hours of Friday 29th June Douglas DC-8-63CF N787FT of Flying Tigers appeared on a Dista/Eli Lily freight charter (a few years after their Boeing 707 N308EL ceased as a regular visitor). Routed from Basle to Keflavik en route to the USA as FT1050/1062.,
A few weeks later, DC-8-61CF N810EV of Evergreen called in the early hours of 7th August on sub-charter to Ontario Airways (a Boeing 707 operator) with passengers from Toronto, bound for Manchester (closed at night for runway rebuilding work), leaving for Shannon en route back to Canada.
In September Manchester was closed for nearly two weeks by a dispute that withdrew fire cover. Recorded on other threads are multiple visits by VC-10s and Boeing 747s, however only four DC-8 flights visited Liverpool during this period. Unfortunately all these flights were operated by the same CP Air DC-8-43 aircraft CF-CPJ - which is the first DC-8 to visit in more than one year.
Thurs 13th Sept: from Toronto to Prestwick and onwards to Montreal as CP816/807, 0801-1145
Fri 14th Sept: from Montreal/Dorval to Prestwick and onwards to Toronto as CP806/807, 0725-1145.
Thurs 20th Sept; from Canada via Gatwick to Montreal/Mirabel direct as CP810/807, 0930-1140
Fri 21st Sept: from Montreal/Mirabel to Prestwick and onwards to Toronto as CP806/807, 0712-1132
1980
Aviaco DC-8-54F EC-CQM called on 5th July, from Madrid to Palma. The flight was running very, very late, so missed the deadline for getting into Manchester before the night runway closure.
1981
Twice Aviaco used DC-8s in leiu of DC-9s on their regular f&t Palma C.T.A. I/T flight AO1064/5 to provide extra peak capacity. Early on Sunday 26th July DC-8-52 EC-ASN and early Sunday 9th August DC-8-63 EC-BSD.
1984
Aer Turas brought their DC-8-63CF EI-BNA into Liverpool on Thursday 19th July at 1845 under charter to Aer Lingus to carry general freight in and outbound during the National docks strike, leaving in the early hours of 20th at 0240. Operated as EI9196/7, f&t Dublin. For a few subsequent days a Boeing 737QC was used.
1985
Manchester Airport was closed on Thursday 22nd August from 0707 by the fatal fire on British Airtours Boeing 737 G-BGJL having aborted take-off for Corfu. 45 flights diverted into Liverpool in a 13 hour period. Two DC-8s used Liverpool that day.
Quebecair's DC-8-63 C-GQBF arrived from Winnipeg 1440 on flight QB510, the aircraft departing 1640 onward to Gatwick. The passengers were most unfortunate to be diverted, as the flight was already 24 hours late!
Balair's DC-8-63 HB-IDZ (same aircraft that called in 1977) landed at 1715 empty from Zurich as BB998 to collect Air Europe passengers whose aircraft was stuck at manchester. It left at 1900 for Lanzarote as AE868.
1986
On Saturday 4th January, Aer Lingus sub-contracted Aer Turas to cover for a Boeing 737QC to operate their newspaper contract. DC-8-63CF EI-BNA arrived empty at Liverpool from Dublin 2233 as EI922, leaving at 0138 Sunday morning as EI923 for Dublin carry the equivalent of two Boeing 737 loads of newspapers! EI-BNA was noted to be sporting 'hush-kits' - modified engine cowlings.
From late April all commercial operations moved from the Art Deco North Terminal to the new South Terminal and Apron.
1987
The next few DC-8s through Liverpool wore quite exotic National markings.
TR-LTZ a DC-8-73CF of the Gabon Government, operated a Tradewinds flight on Thursday 15th January as IK6207/6215 landing at 0609, departing 1916, from Saarbrucken to Stansted with inbound urgent car parts for Fords. A few days later SF Air's F-BUOR was expected with more Fords freight, but was replaced by CL-44 EI-BND (shame).
1988
On Friday 2nd September Kabo Air of Nigeria brought in their DC-8-55F 5N-AWE which operated as QNK101 on a Ford's freight charter, inbound from Valencia 0526 and positioned out to Heathrow 1034.
Another Gabon registered DC-8-55F called, this time Affretair's TR-LVK, operating for Fords as AFM10 on Thursday 24th November arriving with Ford's freight from Luxembourg at 2302, leaving a few hours later at 0148 empty for Amsterdam. It visited again as AFM012 at 0600 on 2nd December from Barcelona, leaving on 4th December at 1010 for Amsterdam.
1990
Iberia sub-chartered an Aeronaves del Peru DC-8-61AF OB-1222 on 27th November, arriving with Ford's freight from Valencia at 1234, positioning out to Madrid just an hour later at 1332. Used Iberia flight numbers IBE8053/7065.
1995
Aer Turas made a welcome reappearance to Liverpool on Tuesday 12th December, now operating EI-CGO a DC-8-63CF. Operating a car parts charter on behalf of Fords, it arrived from Luxembourg as ATT751 at 2231, positioning to Dublin as ATT751P at 0145 early the next morning.
1996
Not that many Douglas DC-8s have diverted into Liverpool, the sole visitor of 1996 was one of a number of freighters that diverted in from East Midlands early on Friday 22nd March. Canarias Cargo operated DC-8-62CF EC-GCY from and to Vitoria as BCS932/2933, arriving at 0107, departing at 0345, so was not seen by any spotters!
1998
Luxembourg based Cargo Lion were sub-contracted by TNT to operate some of their small parcels and freight flights between Liverpool and Leige during March. DC-8-62CF LX-TLA first appeared on 4th March 0602-0710 on NTR032 as 'Nitro 32' from Liege to Edinburgh. Last visit 3rd April, Leige to Stansted as NTR016B. In all 10 visits during this period, including 26th March - exactly 30 years since it's first flight! LX-TLA day-stopped at Liverpool between flights on some days.
Emery Worldwide operated on behalf of European Air Transport on Friday 24th April when DC-8-73CF N605AL operated from Madrid to Brussels as BCS362, on the ground at Liverpool 0921 until 1107.
1999
EI-CGO a DC-8-63F of Aer Turas appeared again, twice in the same week on TNT small parcel freight flights in lieu of a Boeing 727. On Thursday 23rd September as NTR16Y, from Dublin to Liege, at Liverpool 2213 until 2313. The following Saturday morning, 25th September, from Liege to Dublin as NTR16Z.
2000
Just a few months later, EI-CGO a DC-8-63F of Aer Turas was back operating a few extra flights for TNT. Late on Tuesday 25th January, from Edinburgh to Liege as NTR04F, back on Wednesday morning 26th from Liege as NTR91J to day-stop at Liverpool before an evening departure to Paris as NTR40R. It appeared again for TNT on NTR16Z in the early morning of Wednesday 9th February probably Liege to Dublin. The final visit of the year, brought EI-CGO in, again operating for TNT, this time with a new sequence flight number as NTR323A on the evening of Monday 25th September.
2001
DC-8-63F EI-CGO flew a great number of times into Liverpool during the first half of 2001. On sub-contract from Aer Turas (by now owned by Aer Lingus) to TNT it operated a great number of the twice nightly, five nights a week freight schedule to Leige with small parcels/freight. EI-CGO clocked up 12 visits in February, 22 visits in March, 29 in April, 39 in May, 30 in June and 35 in July, most visits being late at night and again early morning, all using TNTs 'NTR/Nitro' call-sign.
Odd, how, in what we now know to be the last year that the type visited Liverpool, there were quite probably more visits than all the previous years put together!! No wonder that when EI-CGO was last used through Liverpool twice on Friday 27th July 2001 no one guessed that it was indeed the very last visit to Liverpool by a Douglas DC-8.
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There was one 'near miss' since, when a VIP fitted DC-8 was expected at Liverpool with a touring popstar, but in the event flight planned into, and used Manchester. Was it HB-IGU a DC-8-72 of Jet Avn, or another - and when?
While I know/hope that every different DC-8 that visited Liverpool each year is included in this review, it is possible that I have not caught every visit within each year.
As always with these type reviews I really would welcome photos posted to illustrate Douglas DC-8s at Liverpool, and posts detailing memories connected to the aircraft as a type.
