Speke - Various pics from yesteryear

[richardheywood]

Can I just say a big THANK YOU to all of you posting these marvellous pictures. They bring back wonderful memories from when I worked in the tower 1967-69 and the years just before that when I was watching from the balcony. It's an odd thing that whenever I taste a Pepsi (not often) it takes me straight back to the balcony at Speke where there was a machine dispensing bottles of Pepsi and a milk machine. Happy days.

[viscount]

On June 11th, 1970 Massey Ferguson opened a new Kirkby factory. As far as I'm aware production from the factory was rather shortlived though.

F-BRIM Caravelle III, Transunion, f&t Le Bourget
F-BOEV Douglas DC-6B, Transunion, f&t Le Bourget
G-ANCD Britannia 307, Lloyd International, f&t Lyon
G-ANCE Britannia 307, Lloyd International, f&t Rennes
HB-IMM Convair Cv-640, SATA, f&t Montpellier
HB-ICN Caravelle 10R, SATA, f&t Clermont Ferrand

also on the same day:

EI-ATT Douglas DC-7CF, Aer Turas, ex night stop, t&f Saarbrucken, then night stop. Fords freight.
PH-ILS Beech Queen Air, Philips, f&t Eindoven
G-AWPM King Air, Stansted-Leavesden & Leavesden-Stansted
XR444 DH.114 Sea Heron, 'Navair 824', Yeovilton-Glasgow
OY-BCG PA-28 Cherokee, Amsterdam-Groningen
G-AXDL PA-30 Twin Comanche, NEA, Manchester-Culdrose & St.Mawgan-Manchester
G-AWUC Jet Ranger, Manchester-Beeston (Notts) & Nottingham/Tollerton-EMA
G-ATKT Cessna 172, f&t Biggin Hill
XT645 W.Scout AH.1, 'Army 512', Glasgow-Farnborough
HB-VBZ HS.125, 'Newpin 32', ILS & overshoot

Both Trans-Union and SATA were airlines new to Liverpool. PHB's Visitor Logs don't include regular airliners, so no clue there as to the identity of the Aer Lingus Boeing 737 or Cambrian BAC.1-11, so it is good that 'Springy' logged them for the record.

Unfortunately not every day was as good as this one!

[springy]

Thanks to all for the comments, contributions, and extra details - good to know these old snaps are appreciated. Here's another batch:

28 Dec 1969; the 2nd DC-8 but the first DC-8F Jet Trader to visit. This is PH-MAU, Douglas DC-8F Srs.55 of Martinair, from Amsterdam





4 Apr 1970; C-130K Hercules (XV300) of RAF Air Support Command



4 Apr 1970; PH-MAT, F.28 Fellowship of Martinair (this was the 1st visit of type when it arrived the previous day), plus a DHC-2 Beaver of the Army Air Corps



9 May 1970; G-AWSY, Boeing 737-204 of Britannia Airways


25 Jun 1970; G-AMPP, Dakota 3 of Dan-Air. This is the last Dakota remaining in Speke's schedules


25 Jun 1970; G-AMAE, A.S.57 Ambassador Srs.2 of Dan-Air, plus a Britannia Airways Britannia 102 parked up


25 Jun 1970; the triple-tail of 'MAE, with 737 EI-ASE taxying past a Cambrian One-Eleven


25 Jun 1970; EI-ASE with palletized cargo in "igloos" being off-loaded by forklift

All the photos on 25 Jun 1970 were taken during the early evening peak period; one of the best times to visit the Balcony

28 Jun 1970; a line-up of regulars in a typical sunday afternoon scene in the summer


17 October 1970; the 3rd DC-8 to visit Speke: PI-C827, DC-8 Srs.30 of Philippine Airlines, leased to KLM




19 Nov 1970; Princess Margaret arriving in a Queen's Flight Andover (XS789) on a typically damp and dreary November day, and being welcomed by the Lord Mayor




9 Mar 1971; G-APDG, Comet 4, operating Dan-Air's new "Comet Intercontinental Jet Service" to Amsterdam

[Deleted]

Knew I had a photo somewhere of another of the British Eagle Britannias at Liverpool after the collapse. This one has had its titles/eagle logo removed:-

[Beemer]

Scanned and posted for Viscount.

BEA's Dakota G-AGZD. mainstay of schedules through the early '50s' Credit Mr Lyons.

[springy]

What a classic photo of 'GZD in the old livery, and such a sad photo of the forlorn unidentified Britannia; wouldn't you think she could have kept her Eagle livery until properly repainted. It's like a final insult to the airline and its people.

Here's a few more of my pics:

3 Mar 1971; Dan-Air's one and only Nord 262 (G-AYFR), serving as a Dakota-replacement on the Newcastle-Lpool-Cardiff-Bristol route. A unique sight and sound at Speke


10 Mar 1971; Boeing 707-399C (G-AVKA) of Caledonian/BUA, parked up, with 'YFR taxying past


Another view of 'VKA with two Cambrian Viscounts


The next three photos show three V.806 Viscounts in different stages of being repainted from the old BAS-BKS livery to the new colours of the recently-formed Northeast Airlines:

3 Mar 1971 G-AOYO


10 Mar 1971 'OYR in interim colours


And finally. 'OYL on the previous day, 9 Mar, already resplendent in the new colours

[mersi]

Fantastic pics here......Anyone LFC v St Etiene 1977....Speke packed out with Aircraft.....Any pics?none myself....

[springy]

Hi mersi,
There were some excellent pics of the St.Etienne charters on the old forum, but for the time being here are some of my snaps which were also on the old forum:

16 Mar 1977, footie charters from St.Etienne, France






Visible on the apron:
Caravelle VI-N (F-BYCB) of Catair
Boeing 737-229 (OO-SDE) of Sabena
Boeing 727-214 (F-BPJU) of Air Charter International
Caravelle III (F-BHRE) of Air France
V.952 Vanguard (F-BTOV) of Europe Aero Services
F.27 Friendship Srs.200 (F-BUFU) of TAT (Transport Aerien Transregional)
Lear Jet (F-BTYV) of Uni-Air, plus BA Viscount 'OYR

Visible on Runway 17/35:
Caravelle III (F-BUFH) of Aerotour
Caravelle 10R (HB-ICO) of SATA
V.952 Vanguard (F-BVUY) of Europe Aero Services
Caravelle VI-N (F-BRGU) of Minerve
Caravelle VI-R (F-BUFF) of Catair
Caravelle VI-N (F-BVPU) of Aerotour

Classic stuff of dreams!
(By the way, I've rescanned some more of the old snaps; with slightly better results)
Ken

[springy]

bobbybEfc,
Thanks for reminding me about some of the Dec '66 Ajax charters being parked by the old Starways hangars. My main concern was in getting some photos at least, in that atrocious weather. So after making my way from the Balcony round to Banks Road for some more views, I wasn't going to go trudging back through the murk up Speke Road. In any case, my film was probably all used up by then. Glad I brought back those memories,
Ken

richardheywood,
Must have been an interesting job in the Tower. I have an Echo newspaper cutting from the summer of '65, featuring the work of the ATC at Speke, and about the controllers themselves. Fascinating stuff. And I remember the little shop, which you can just about see in one of my snaps,
Ken

[Deleted]

Few more from me:-

Channel Airways Heron G-ANCI


South West Aviation Dakota G-AMYJ


Smokey Dan Air Ambassador (weren't they always?!!!) Note HS.125 on finger behind.


Dan Air Ambassador G-AMAE - note Queenair on finger behind


Invicta C-54A G-ASEN

[mersi]

Hi Springy,

Cheers for those pics...Great stuff....Memories.....

[denim402]

Amazing pictures, thanks for posting them!

[Beemer]

Some more of Kenny's photos.

D-EJEX Do-27 Franken Air Services


G-ANPH Dove Atlantis Air


G-AMJU Dc-3 Silver City


PH-CGI Convair 340 KLM

PH-CGI. 

[springy]

Thanks for those brilliant pics, Dave & Kenny. The smoky Ambassador reminded me that when these aircraft started up you could see the triple-tails wobbling! I can almost smell that petrol!
And the DH Herons were attractive aircraft, looking like a baby Viscount, especially when flying over our house.
I think the Boeing 720 pics were taken on the 1st visit.

Ken

[springy]

23 Aug 1975; the 22-year old airframe of G-ALWF being used for spares, and in a sorry state, minus engines, outer wings, and tail-cone



Ken