INDEX for Aircraft Type Reviews at Liverpool

[viscount]

Over a number of years, I have tackled a number of types, mostly airliners, that have visited Liverpool over the past 50 plus years. These are now scattered over many pages of section index, so to enable easy access to all entries on this theme, an index with link.

Note that where a post # is provided this is the earliest text post on the thread about the type. Occasionally threads go over onto a page 2.

Early in 2023 this index re-conditioned and many links updated, all should now connect with the intended thread.

. url should link directly
+ topic revised, updated, images replaced

Jet Airliners and Transports

.Airbus A.300/310 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/164/airbus-a300-a330-visits-liverpool
+Airbus A.300STA Beluga derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/851/guppies-belugas-skymonsters-lpl
.Airbus A.330 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/164/airbus-a300-a330-visits-liverpool
+Airbus A.340 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/164/airbus-a300-a330-visits-liverpool
+duplicated on: Airbus A.340 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/4003/boeing-airbus-john-lennon-airport
+Airbus A.350 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/164/airbus-a300-a330-visits-liverpool
+Airbus A.380 over Merseyside derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/164/airbus-a300-a330-visits-liverpool
.Antonov An.72/74 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
.Antonov An.124 Ruslan derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+Boeing C-17A Globemaster III derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/32187/heavy-military-transports-liverpool-airport
.Boeing 707 & 720 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/17143/boeing-707-720-liverpool
+Boeing 727 summary of early and final visits, post #6, this thread.
.Boeing 747 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/7138/boeing-747-liverpool
-Boeing 767 type never covered, have to sort that out sometime!
+Boeing 777 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/4003/boeing-airbus-john-lennon-airport
+Boeing 787 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/29238/boeing-787-liverpool
+Canadair CRJ-100 to 1000 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/42857/crj-1000-series-review-visits
.Concorde derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/125/concorde-liverpool
+Convair Cv.880/990 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/1878/convairliners-liverpool
+DH.106 Comet derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/9093/dh-106-comet-nimrod-liverpool
+Douglas DC-8 series derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/1945/douglas-dc-8-visits-liverpool
+Douglas DC-10 & MD-11 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/165/dc-10-liverpool
+Embraer ERJ-170 to 195 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3070/erj-170-195-family-liverpool
+Fokker F-28 Fellowship & Fokker 70/100 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/247/fokker-28-70-100-liverpool
.Ilyushin Il-62 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
.Ilyushin Il-76 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+Lockheed C-5A Galaxy derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/32187/heavy-military-transports-liverpool-airport
+Lockheed L-1011 Tristar derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/166/tri-star-liverpool
+Sukhoi SSJ-100-05B derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+Sud Aviation SE.210 Caravelle derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16958/se-210-caravelle-liverpool
.Tupolev Tu-134 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
.Tupolev Tu-154 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
.Tupolev Tu-204 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+Vickers VC-10 & Super VC-10 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/150/the-vc-10-at-liverpool-airport
+Yak-40/42 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+Yak-42 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/11014/yak-42-ljla

Prop. Airliners and Transports

+Airbus A.400M Atlas C.1 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/32187/heavy-military-transports-liverpool-airport
+Airspeed AS.57 Ambassador derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/6835/ambassador-argonaut-hermes-liverpool
+Aerospacelines Super Guppy 201 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/851/guppies-belugas-skymonsters-lpl
.Antonov An-2 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
.Antonov An-12 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
.Antonov An-24/26 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+AW.650 Argosy derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/9351/argosy-aircraft-liverpool-1963-1986
+Avro Anson derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york page 2
+Avro Shackleton derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york
+Avro York derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york page 2
+Blackburn B.101 Beverley derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york
+Bristol Brabazon over M'side derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3114/brabazon-over-merseyside
.Bristol 175 Britannia derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/9416/bristol-britannia-liverpool-airport
+BAe Jetstream 41 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/789/jetstream-41-aircraft-liverpool
+Canadair C-4 Argonaut derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/6835/ambassador-argonaut-hermes-liverpool page 2
.Canadair CL-44D derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/9416/bristol-britannia-liverpool-airport
+CASA.212, CN.235 & C.295 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2820/casa-212-cn-235-liverpool
+Conroy CL-44-O Skymonster derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/851/guppies-belugas-skymonsters-lpl
also: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/9416
+Convair Cv.240, Cv.340, T-29, C-131, Cv.440, Cv.580, Cv.640 series derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/1878/convairliners-liverpool two sides
+Curtiss C-46 Commando derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/11933/curtiss-46-commando-liverpool
+Dassault MD.312/316 Flamant derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york
+Douglas DC-6 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16962/douglas-dc-6-liverpool
+Douglas DC-7 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/53/douglas-dc-7-liverpool-airport
+Fokker F-27/FH-227 Friendship derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/17113/fokker-friendship-liverpool-airport
+HP.57 Hastings derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york
+HP.81 Hermes derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/6835/ambassador-argonaut-hermes-liverpool page 2
+HPR-1 Marathon derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/6835/ambassador-argonaut-hermes-liverpool page 2
.Ilyushin Il-14 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
.Ilyushin Il-18 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+Lockheed Constellation & Super Constellation derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/797/lockheed-constellations-liverpool
+Lockheed L.382/C-130/L.100 Hercules derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2487/lockheed-hercules-liverpool
+Nord 260 & 262 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2801/nord-260-262-liverpool
+Nord 2501 Noratlas derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york
+Potez 840 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/24458/request-potez-840-bmcy
+Saab 340 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/31292/saab-340-2000-liverpool-airport
+Saab 2000 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/780/saab-2000s-liverpool-airport
+Saab 2000 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/31292/saab-340-2000-liverpool-airport
+Short SC-7 Skyvan derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/17114/short-sc-7-skyvan-liverpool
+Vickers Valetta & Varsity derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york
+Vickers Vanguard/Merchantman derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/9157/vanguard-merchantman-liverpool

Business & General Aviation

.Amphibious Aircraft derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3117/amphibious-aircraft-liverpool
Types covered: Canadair CL-415, Consolidated Catalina/Canso, Grumman Goose/Turbo Goose. Grumman Mallard, Grumman Widgeon, Piaggio P.136, Short Sealand Plus singles: Lake La.4 Skimmer/Buccaneer & Thurston Teal.

+Gulfstream 100/150 Astra derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3267/commander-westwind-astra-galaxy-eggp
+Gulfstream 200/250 Galaxy derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3267/commander-westwind-astra-galaxy-eggp
+HFB-320 Hansa derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2780/hfb-320-hansa-liverpool
+Jet Commander 1121 & Westwind derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3267/commander-westwind-astra-galaxy-eggp
+Lockheed L.1329 Jetstar derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2773/lockheed-jetstar-liverpool
+North American Sabre/Sabreliner derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2793/ct-39a-sabreliner-liverpool
+Piaggio P.180 Avanti derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2860/piaggio-180-avanti-liverpool

Helicopters

+Agusta AW.139 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3494/aw-139-wg-liverpool-airport
+Bell UH-60 Blackhawk & Seahawkderbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3494/aw-139-wg-liverpool-airport
+Boeing-Vertol Bv.234 Chinook civilian derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3519/92-merlin-civil-chinook-liverpool
+EH.101 Merlin derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3519/92-merlin-civil-chinook-liverpool
+Kamov Ka.26 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+Mil-2 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/16960/soviet-designed-types-liverpool-airport
+Sikorsky CH-53 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3519/92-merlin-civil-chinook-liverpool
+Sikorsky S.92 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3519/92-merlin-civil-chinook-liverpool
+Westland WG.30 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3494/aw-139-wg-liverpool-airport

Military Types

.Aero L-29 Delphin derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2789/paris-magister-delphin-albatros-visits
.Aero L-39 Albatros derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2789/paris-magister-delphin-albatros-visits
+Bristol Beaufighter derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5619/beverley-hastings-varsity-noratlas-york
.BAe. Strikemaster derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5983/meteor-hunter-canberra-vampire-gnat
.Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2789/paris-magister-delphin-albatros-visits
.De Havilland Vampire & Venom derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5983/meteor-hunter-canberra-vampire-gnat
.English Electric Canberra derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5983/meteor-hunter-canberra-vampire-gnat
.Folland Gnat derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5983/meteor-hunter-canberra-vampire-gnat
.Fouga CM.170 Magister derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2789/paris-magister-delphin-albatros-visits
.Gloster Meteor derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5983/meteor-hunter-canberra-vampire-gnat
.Hawker Hunter derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5983/meteor-hunter-canberra-vampire-gnat
+HS.660 Argosy C.1 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/9351/argosy-aircraft-liverpool-1963-1986
+H.S.801 Nimrod MR.2 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/9093/dh-106-comet-nimrod-liverpool
.Hunting Jet Provost derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5983/meteor-hunter-canberra-vampire-gnat
.Lockheed T-33A derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2789/paris-magister-delphin-albatros-visits
.M.S.760 Paris derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2789/paris-magister-delphin-albatros-visits
.Panavia Tornado derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/31159/tornados-ljla

Liverpool Based Operator Histories
& other Liverpool Region History related threads

Threads indexed from: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3620/index-based-operator-histories-1946

Histories of Individual Aircraft of Particular Interest

G-EBZM Avro Avian derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/14435/avro-avian-ebzm-mgae-little
G-AEML DH.89 Dragon Rapide
G-AGPG Avro 19 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/15011/story-avro-19-agpg
G-ALWF V.701 Viscount derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3962/viscount-preservation-trust-images-restored
G-AMOL V.701 Viscount, crashed 20.7.65 into Mothacks derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3863/1965-cambrian-crash-viscount-amol
G-AMLZ P.50 Prince 6E derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/48/amlz-percival-prince History post #6
G-ANCF B.175 Britannia 308F derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/249/bristol-britannia-ancf-new-frontier History post #15, two sides
and: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3511/britannia-ancf-restoration-update
and: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5896/britannia-update
and: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/14374/ancf-britannia-dragon-rapide-updates
and: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/19863/britannia-ancf-aircraft-web-site
and: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/39689/brittania-ancf-on-google-earth
G-AOBN Douglas C-53 Dakota derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3445/mas-dakota-flights
G-ARGO PA-22 Colt 108 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/38771/colt-liverpool-resident-spanning-years
G-ARKN PA-22 Colt 108
G-ARMP Cessna 172B derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3524/southport-aero-club
G-AVGK PA-28 Cherokee 180C derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/38801/cherokee-180c-avgk-years-liverpool
G-AWMT Cessna F.150H derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/4635/awmt-cats-cessna-f150h
G-AWWS Short SC-7 Skyvan 3 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/17114/short-sc-7-skyvan-liverpool
G-AYFR Nord 262 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2801/the-nord-260-262
G-BEJD Avro 748 srs 1 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3686/g-bejd-avro-748-at-speke aircraft history
and: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2336/sos-avro-748 two sides
and: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3702/save-sisyphus-avro-748
and: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3710/avro-748-g-bejd
G-BFZL Viscount derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/21688/viscount-bfzl-bma-manx-airlines
G-BGYT EMB-110 Bandeirante researched to be entered shortly
G-HOPP Saab 340A derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5457/g-hopp-manx-airlines
G-OCME BN-2A Trislander III derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5290/trislander-crash-at-hale
G-ORAL HS.748 srs 2 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/4774/g-oral-748-cockpit-comes-home
G-SEXY AA1 Yankee derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/7002/g-sexy-aa-1-yankee
G-SSWM Shorts 360 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/14999/short-360-nose-sswm-sahg
F-BMCY Potez 840 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/24458/request-potez-840-bmcy
N318UE BAe.Jetstream 41
N92860 Douglas C-118A (DC-6) derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/34601/keenairs-efc
TA634 (G-AWJV) DH.98 Mosquito TT.35 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2946/d-h-98-mosquito-ta634
WH291 G.Meteor F.8 derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5884/gloster-meteor-wh291
Keen's Stearmen derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/1663/jim-keens-stearmen

TYPE REVIEWS - WHAT NEXT?

Each major review probably has a gestation period of 3 to 5 months from initial idea through to typing up the article while I collect the necessary information. Although a type with few visits, such as the Avanti can take less than a week. With the recent 'batch' of entries I have exhausted the majority of types 'under research'. So the big question, being asked here, is what types would nwan forum members like to see covered next ?

Regrettably, the types I would most like to cover are really too big to produce a readable result. Those I consider to be impossible due to sheer numbers are the likes of:

Airbus A.319-321, BAC.1-11, BAe.146, Boeing 737, Boeing 757, Douglas DC-9/MD-80, ERJ-135/145.
Douglas DC-3, DC-4/Carvair, HPR-7 Dart Herald, HS.748, Fokker 50, V.Viscount.
BN Islander/Trislander, Jetstream 1-32, Bandeirante, SD.3-30/360, Twin Otter, Saab 340, DH Dove/Devon, DH Heron
BAe.125, Cessna 500-750 Citation, Gulfstream 2-550, Falcon 20-2000, Lear Jet.
Navajo, Queen/King Air, Baron, Apache/Aztec, Seneca, Beagle B.206, Cherokee, Cessna 120-210, Cessna 303-441, Tomahawk, Bonanza/Debonair, Pup, Mooney M.20
Agusta A.109, Jet Ranger, Bell 47, Scout/Wasp, Gazelle, Lynx, Squirrel, Robinson R.22/44, Whirlwind, Wessex, Puma, Sikorsky S-61/Sea King, S-76
Types with many visits before 1960 eg Dragon Rapide, Dakota, Dove, Viking, Anson, Tiger Moths, Austers, Proctors/Prentice etc

The ideal type appears over a span of 20-25 years, with around 5 or so different aircraft per year, with a variety of airlines and a few interesting stories. This rules out virtually every type used regularly on scheduled services eg Friendship, HS.748, Viscount, EMB-110, Shorts SD.330/360, BAC-1.11, Boeing 737, DC-9, A.319/320 etc. While I could just concentrate on the early and final years of a type, or simply cover just unusual and unexpected visitors, ignoring the regular - I don't feel this a satisfactory compromise that would give a good result.

So what does this leave as possible types to cover ? A few of my suggestions are post 1960 visits by:

Boeing 767.
Transall, Belfast, Electra/Orion
Prince/Sea Prince/Pembroke/President family, B.170 Freighter, Beech 18, Tracker/Trader
Beech 99/1900, Twin Otter, Do.228, Do.228/328/328JET, Metro/Merlin, ATR-42/72, Canadair Challenger/CRJ/Global, Dash 7, Dash 8, EMB Xingu, Pilatus types, Piaggio types
Falcon 10, Corvette, Gulfstream 1, DA.42 Twin Star
One offs (types with only one or two visits) C-5A Galaxy, MD-11, Hermes, Boeing C-97, Boeing 307, Cv.990A Coronado, XV-15A, Kamov KA.26 etc (some already been covered, see top lists).
Military fast jets eg Phantom/Lightning/Typhoon/Jaguar/Harrier/Buccaneer/Vulcan/Victor.
PC-9, Tucano,
Post 1960 visits by warbirds: Harvard, Swordfish, Firefly, Sea Fury, Hurricane, Spitfire, Lancaster, Mosquito, Flying Fortress, B-26 Invader
HABs & Airships

Some of these suggestions clearly require much more work than others. There are lots of light aviation types (singles and twins) that have appeared in limited numbers to consider too.

With each of the type reviews getting over 100 hits in the first week, and after a few further posts rising to 250 plus after a couple of months, I'm happy that my research time is well spent and that they are of interest to some and unlike magazines remain available to newcomers. My favorites that have been most enjoyable to research/compile and subsequently type have been the Constellation, DC-8 and Hercules.

So it is back to a question posed earlier in this post, are there any favorite types that forum members would particularly like to see covered, that are practical to cover. While I'm not guaranteed to cover every suggestion, I'm after guidance as to what types would be most appreciated next. Over to you. Clearly many will have no preference and just wait to read whatever comes next, for a few this is your chance to influence what does come next!

[ian531]

Hi Viscount

I'd just like to say thanks for all your hard work for these threads they make great reading.

What about looking at Seaplanes / Float planes that have passed through. Not sure if this would throw up anything interesting. But, it would be good to see what, if any, have landed at Liverpool.

Types could include Catalina, Mallard and the Widgeon

Just a suggestion, but I'm trying to think of more ideas

Thanks again,

Ian

[rafaleuk]

Viscount

These type reviews are absorbing reading, please, if you can manage the research and effort to collate the material, carry on.

How about a review of the USAAF types in relation to the Burtonwood activities, such as the U-8, U-21, C-12 and UH-1? I think they fall into the category of not too many movements, but the operator count might be a bit thin!!

Here's hoping.

Regards

Peter

[viscount]

Thank you Peter and Ian for taking the time to offer suggestions. Verbally I have also had two readers with the same suggestion - a list of all first flights, matched with last/latest visit for infrequently visiting types.

Another verbal comment wondered if I should be disappointed by only two comments here. I am not. Having ruled out many of the most popular types due to sheer numbers eg Boeing 707, Viscount, Comet etc., I know that many forum readers are just happy to look through whatever type that is researched and published here on the forum.

Ian's suggestion is a good one, amphibious aircraft is a great idea. Plenty of variety of types, but each with only limited visits but most visits have an associated story. It will take a few weeks with 60 years of logs to cover. While amphibious designs eg Goose, Mallard, Catalina, Thurston Teal, Lake Skimmer, CL-215/415 etc are easy to trace in the records, I am stuggling with the relatively few float equipped land-plane type visiting eg the float fitted Cessna 206 a year or two back, as they do not show up as such in the records. PM me if you have memories/dates of any float equipped Tiger Moth, Maule, Cessna, Cub etc at Liverpool. At most there are very few!

Peter's suggestion is actually a far bigger task than he probably realises. In the mid 80s I tried to put together an article for the MAS 'Flypast' looking at just 5 years of U.S. Army visits by Beech U-8, U-21s and C-12s, UH-1 Iroquois, Bell OH-58 Kiowa, CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Blackhawk etc. But with so many versions of the controlling units, coupled with errors in recording registrations, find full fiscal serials, aircraft appearing at Liverpool that were reported as not being in Europe in reference sources, the headaches thrown up resulted in the study being abandoned. It is however a study I would love to do, especially given the 'cinderella' status of US Army aircraft operations in Europe, and the number of different aircraft that we have had through Liverpool in the past.

It would be fairly easy to produce a list of first visit of type of airliners and biz-jets, however an excellent list is already published and available as an Appendix in Phil Butler's excellent Liverpool Airport History book (see a link from www.nwan.co.uk home page). Last visits of 'dead' types such as Comet, Viscount, Vanguard take some finding in the logs - however some can be found in my type reports research eg DC-7, Nord 262, Constellation, DC-8, Convairliners etc.

Thank you for your interest.

If anyone would like to have a go themselves looking through the monthly logs and annual summaries on www.nwan.co.uk to compile their own type story for the forum, recent types worthy of a type visit review are the Cessna 510 Mustang, VLJs, the Falcon 7X biz-jet or for anyone with the last few years of the paper NWAN magazine the Bombardier Global. Like the Avanti these studies can be just as interesting about the early years of a new type in service, they don't have to be mature types with years of operation!

Brian.

[kevmul]

Love this section with its many memories and great photos.

Would there be any mileage in looking at visits from the Boeing 720, or is this too similar and lumped in with the B707?

Kev

[midland500]

Really enjoy the reviews viscount.

Have you covered the 727 ?

[viscount]

Thank you 'Midland 500' for suggesting the Boeing 727. Unfortunately, like the Boeing 707, 737 and 757 the number of different aircraft that have visited is too great to make research reasonable to take on.

Although the Boeing 727 did not first visit until 1973, visits spanned 32 years until 2004, with visits every year in that period. However in 12 of those years, 10 or more different airframes used Liverpool, with 18 in 1979 & 1998, 19 in 1983 and a record of 21 in 1997. While for many years passenger aircraft dominated, during the late 90's and into the early '00s freighters of TNT, DHL and Air Contractors visited in some numbers.

First visit was by Dan Air's recently acquired G-BAJW on 15th September 1973 inbound from Gerona, diverted from Manchester. Before the end of the year Dan Air's G-BAEF also visited and on 22nd November Air France brought in F-BPJM which arrived from Orly on diversion from Heathrow.

From the record of 21 different airframes in 1997 down to just 10 different aircraft in 2002, with only 1 in 2004 the end was fairly rapid - a combination of noise regulations and uneconomic operation. Of the 10 aircraft visiting in 2002, 7 were freighters: EI-HCA, EI-HCB, EI-HCC, EI-HCD, EI-HCH, EI-HCI & OY-SES, while three more interesting ones. G-OPMN of Cougar appeared on three football charters in March and once on a Lourdes charter in August, becoming the last general passenger '727 flight into Liverpool. Wingleted N400RG briefly on Thursday 25th July on an air-test f&t Lasham which landed, back-tracked and departed, while another executive fitted '727 on Tuesday 19th November was 5B-DBE, f&t Luton with boy band 'BBMax' for a book store opening.

In 2003 just two appearances by the type. A final appearance by a freighter late on Sat 4th January on an Air Contractors Dublin newspaper flight on ABR607 flown by EI-HCA. Another executive fitted '727 was Aruban P4-SKI on Sun 16th February from Tripoli to Bournemouth the next day - the visit was connected to a possible business deal with LFC.

Current final visit of type, seventeen months later was also LFC related. N727NK of Miami Air International arrived from Gander late on 23rd July 2004, to take LFC out on a short pre-season US tour via Keflavik the next morning. As time moves on a further visit by the type looks less and less likely.

Clearly the Boeing 727 would make an interesting type to review, but too much research is required for any more than this 'taster' of the early and final visits.



Final visit by a Boeing 727 to Liverpool Airport 23rd July 2004, N727NK.

[northbynorthwest]

I really appreciate the hard work put into this. One area that I would love to see covered is related to the companies that made Liverpool what it is. For example, tracing the history of the Liverpool Aero Club and listing all the aircraft that Jim Keen brought to LPL. Either of these would be a major undertaking it their own right. Also, companies such as Federated Fruit, Vernair, CATS, Genair would be interesting subjects.

[viscount]

Many thanks northbynorthest. As I'm getting a little stale researching through the old magazines and logs for the type reviews, a temporary change in direction would be great. For many of the companies you suggest I have already researched and published histories and fleet lists for. However as this was in the region of twenty plus years ago, the time is ripe for a re-airing the stories for the likes of Genair, Melbrenair, Vernair, Federated Fruit, Starways etc. FoLA have covered CATS and Southport & Merseyside Aero Club more recently in '09/27', while Keenair/LFS, Janes/Emerald and Ravenair/LAS at Liverpool deserve to be covered with a new research. Take me a couple of weeks to trace the original articles, update (where necessary) the information and commence the process of typing out again as a post.

Leaving you in anticipation (I hope!).
Entry made late May 2010.

Nearly two years later and reading this thread through again. Near on 60 companies later, with their own thread index, the task is nearly complete. Although certainly alot more companies than I originally anticipated, I have found the research rewarding and am pleased that so many who have put their money and enthusiasm into providing services at Liverpool Airport are now recorded and their stories available worldwide on a quick google. While a number of company histories have been written-up before, a great number have had to be researched and written from scratch. The most rewarding have been the larger enterprises, especially the likes of Genair, Emerald Airways, Ravenair and Liverpool Flying School.
Added on 'modify' March 2012.

[viscount]

As I have done for the threads themed around aspects of local (to Merseyside) aviation history, I have re-built the intial post of this thread to serve as an index for all the aircraft type reviews - both on the forum and the nwan website (now defunct). There are rather more types covered than I had realised, and are now scattered over 8 index sides on the forum. All the types/posts should now be easier to find on demand.

Enjoy.

[thorpster]

My word Viscount. Do you get any time to sleep? Brilliant!

[johnoakes]

A truly monumental task but appreciated by all members well done and thanks for all your painstaking hard work

It certainly shakes out the memories.

Thanks again.

ps could you possibly try the Comet next?
I don,t recall ever seeing one at Speke.

regards

John

[Speke-EZY]

Sorry Brian,I can't find Skyvans...did I miss the link?

[freddielaker2]

I love reading all these, but where is Tri-pacer/colt G-ARGO?

[viscount]

Thank you "Freddielaker2" for reminding us about a once long-standing Liverpool resident aircraft. If the question is literally, where is PA-22 Colt 108 G-ARGO, then it is still around. A look at the CAA G-INFO site shows that for the past 10 years she has belonged to an owner with a Birmingham address. The Certificate of Airworthiness expired August 2011 - it is quite frequent though for older aircraft to spend a winter under refurbishment on C of A as remedial work is undertaken and spares are sourced and delivered. G-ARGO is around 50 years old - how many motor cars of that age still serve as a family car! Although unlikely, if her flying days are now over, hopefully sahg will hear of it before she is reduced to parts.

If your question really is where is there a mention of G-ARGO in the 'Nostalgia Section', well it is coming soon, hopefully. I have written a history of Liverpool Aero Club, which will include a profile of this aircraft (and several other LAC/LFS aircraft) alongside the company history. There is a delay between writing and posting as the company is still trading, so there is a need to get the story absolutely correct and checked-out, which takes time.


To "Habu", the Short SC-7 Skyvan as a type visited Liverpool on numerous occasions over quite a long period of time. It is a type I have considered covering, and probably will at some time in the future, although a fair bit of research is required. First though I'm working on some further major airliner types to post over the coming few months - they have been much requested too.