Birmingham: Airport Nostalgia

[elmdon74]

Nice picture.remember the view very well.The aircraft is a Falcon 10 I think, still going strong in the USA as N23TJ.Regards,simon.

 

[Seasider]

:whiteflag:

I stand corrected, it is a Falcon 10, operated by Daimler Benz at the time.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Can anyone remember - when Clinton came over in 1998 for the G8 i can recall there being three C5 Gallies in total, and i could swear that two were on the deck at the same time? can anyone else confirm this or have the pics to show this.

E.

 

[elmdon74]

12 May 1998 86-0015

17 May 1998 86-0022

19 May 1998 86-0019

19 May 86-0019 again

Don`t think there were 2 on the ground together.
Just checked the details in an old Airstrip magazine details as follows,

01 May 86-0019 from Andrews AFB to Mildenhall 1200/1420
12 May 86-0015 from/to Mildenhall 1210/1450
17 May 86-0022 from DoverAFB n/s to Andrews 18th 1600/0930
19 May 86-0019 from Dover AFB n/s to Andrews 20th 1445/1140

Regards,Simon.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Great pictures i was there for the whole event, the Gallies just looked so Superb and Massive when viewed off the multi story on the Elmdon side as they took that turn off 33 onto the taxi way near the old hanger 3 What a memory .

E.

 

[Ray Finkle]

BHX in 1985, not great quality but great to watch.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldPIIrCBZN8[/video]

 

[Ray Finkle]

With news that JLR are investing £450m in Castle Bromwich the Birmingham Post have a nostalgia special. Not all are BHX but they're great pictures.

Castle Bromwich Air Show 1945.

Spitfires being built inside the factory.

Lines up outside the plant.

Pictures courtesy of the Birmingham Post with credit to the photographers.

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/busines ... ar-8912718

 

[Ray Finkle]

The Midlands Today report on BHX's 75th anniversary. There is some interesting footage of days gone by.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFX5QO4KLe0&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[Ash]

Historical trivia I just found out:
Back in 1995 TWA actually tried to block the launch of American's ORD-BHX service on the grounds that they should get more access into Heathrow before any regional UK services were considered, and in response Detroit airport came out against TWA in support of the service!

The filings here if anyone is interested: http://airlineinfo.com/1995%20Orders/950241.pdf

 

[Brum X]

What an interesting snippet of information. I had no idea that TWA were unhappy with the proposal by American to launch ORD-BHX.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Definitely interesting.

Having read through I can't decide if TWA genuinely wanted to put a block on the ORD-BHX service or whether they were using it as a political move to try and speed up the process regarding access to LHR?

 

[Ash]

I'd say the latter, they weren't interested in UK regional markets and were just trying to use it as a bargaining chip to get more LHR access for themselves. Thankfully the USDOT rightly ruled that this was no reason to deprive British and American consumers of non-LHR markets, but it just goes to show how much LHR politicking has always affected BHX even behind the scenes as with this and Air India slot sitting.

Ultimately this stems from the capacity issues at Heathrow and the inflated value of access there which will always have a distorting effect on BHX. What the implications of any third runway will have on BHX is the burning question, however I think this goes somewhat beyond the nostalgia thread!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Yet another case of just how London centric the UK is and it makes you wonder how many existing or potential new services have been subject to similar treatment over the years.

It's why I think people have taken to the idea of using Shakespeare to brand the airport, it promotes our region as a destination in it's own right and tells the world you can 'do the UK' without always flying into LHR. I have no problem with promoting access to the capital and London will always be where the bulk of interest is but it's about time our region stood on it's own two feet, there is simply so much to see and do, it just needs to be marketed in the right way.

As for RWY3 at LHR, I think it would be a disaster, not just for BHX but for many other airports across the country. It's no surprise that the only support they are getting is from the likes of ABZ, NCL, LBA etc as they are likely to gain from increased BA shuttle flights with the connections that brings. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to suggest that every other airport in the UK would be negatively affected, some more than others but it would be such a shame as the UK's regional airports are booming.

As Mr Kehoe put it "we are fighting 60 years of commercial institutionalism".

 

[User0001]

Yet another case of just how London centric the UK is and it makes you wonder how many existing or potential new services have been subject to similar treatment over the years

Both AA and Singapore Airlines had to spend about a year of lobbying to the UK government to serve MAN, with the then BA saying 'it was not in the national interest to let these large foreign carriers serve the UK regions'. (imagine if they tried to stop EK!?!?)

BOAC were prolific at starting routes to see off foreign carriers at MAN only to drop the route themseves when they saw off the competition.

 

[Ash]

Gathered and formatted some interesting data from 1990 for BHX which show all movements to and from the USA. Some interesting BA diversions from JFK, BOS, LAX and MCO including 6 747s in March alone !

And yet more evidence for how underserved Orlando is, even in 1990 there were 3 carriers on the route, Monarch & Air Europe via Bangor on the 757, with Britannia non-stop on their shiny new 762's. In 1990, 38,239 flew this route. Fast forward to 2014, 17,840. And since then there has been economic growth, massive deregulation and open-skies!

I also had no idea ATA were doing JFK charters on 757/L1011, have never seen them mentioned anywhere before.

 

[Brummiegem]

Yes I remember ATA(American Trans Air).
At one point they were very regular visitors,including their B727s operating for various carriers on lease.
Sadly the company no longer exists and neither do most of their aircraft,although the 757 fleet is still about.
The L1011s and 727s I believe were all scrapped but if anyone knows if any are still about I'd be happy to be corrected.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I don't remember ATA, my memory is getting worse :s_sad

Very interesting stats though and it definitely goes to show how under served Florida is. Maybe that chap who was going to start Flywho could have another crack :shok:

 

[elmdon74]

Few ATA at BHX from my Flickr page.

25 JUNE 1989 N289AT

21 MAY 1989 N287AT

13 JULY 1990 N752AT

16 JULY 1986 N189AT

I flew on N186AT from BHX to Orlando via Gander in April 92 on a travel agents educational visit.we came back on an Air 2000 757 the ATA had ended.regards,simon.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Great pictures.

I do miss the 80's with seemingly endless summer days stood on the grass bank.

 

[Brummiegem]

elmdon74,thanks for the memories.
As Ray said the 80s were great 😉