So from B&W into colour with the second set, for which I make no apology!
A PanAm DC-7 fires up No 1 engine as it prepares to leave the old terminal.
A colour image of the SA-16 which shows more clearly the 'dayglo' colour scheme so common at the time.
A MATS (Military Air Transport Service) C-118 on finals for what used to be runway 10.
And then an R5D...
...followed not too long afterwards by a WV-2, the first one I had ever seen!
I had a much better photo of it taxying before take-off, but can I find it? - NO!
Those who remember the Ringway of old when the road used to cross the runway will identify with this photo. There was never a lot of traffic on Main St in Monkton, but it had to stop when there were landing aircraft. In the background, the skeleton of the new terminal can be seen.
...and it wasn't such an unusual occurrence. A BOAC DC-7F Cargo version arrives.
A few from the Scottish Aviation graveyard now, where a CAF F-86 awaits its fate...
...along with a T-33.Note the penguin squadron badge on the tail. I wonder if this signifies that it was based in northern Canada?
Sadly, it would not be long before it was joining this pile.
This is a sight we would all pay good money to see today! Note the Constellation taxying in the background. Almost certainly Flying Tiger.
And here's the RCAF Comet again glorious Technicolour!
The building on the right has long gone, I believe. It was the terminal building for military aircraft visiting Prestwick. If it was still there, it would probably have a blue plaque on it, because it is believed to be the only place in Britain where Elvis Presley actually set foot. Not a lot of people know that!
Unfortunately this is not a very clear picture, but I think that's a US Navy R5D on the apron. Note the line-up of CAF aircraft in the background.
It wasn't just USAF aircraft either. Here a Belgian Air Force DC-6A is getting the full tech stop treatment at the terminal, while a C-118 and an R5D await their turn. This one is carrying the curious OT-prefix (possibly OT-CDC), which the Belgian Air Force aircraft carried in addition to their military serial.
As mentioned previously, a co-ordinated rescue service was based at Prestwick. Here one of the SC-54Ds awaits its next mission with feathered props.
Finally, just to prove that not all my photos are old ones, something a
little more up-to date. These were taken in summer 2001, when I was waiting for my Ryanair flight to Dublin (£9.99 return!). It turned out to be the 'Hertz' 737-200. The Cargolux 747-200 was calling in for cargo and probably a fuel top-up, too.