Memories of Monarch

Saddly I never got to fly with Monarch, but I still have many fond memories of the airline as they were ever present at BHX.
My first recollection of a Monarch aircraft, was back around 1970. I was 6 years old, and waiting for our flight back from Gerona to Gatwick (BEA Airtours Comet 4B). On the apron, was a Monarch Bristol Britannia which departed quite some time prior to our flight. On arriving at Gatwick and having cleared customs and baggage reclaim, I can remember my Dad saying that the Britannia had just arrived showing the speed difference of the Comet.
A little older, and I was a regular visitor to the old terminal at BHX. I loved seeing the Monarch BAC One-Elevens, but best of all were the Boeing 720's. To me at the time, these were a really big 4 engined jet.
Later, came the Boeing 737-200's then the 737-300's and the DC-10's. Finally the Airbus fleets with A300's then A330's and the A320/A321's.
It still hurts when I think of Monarch's closure. A bit like a respected football club closing it's gates for the last time.
A few photos from days gone by -

26524838989_6c0f620fd9_h.jpg


26871118304_681ca7f400_h.jpg


27203386900_a3579bd8e2_h.jpg


Regards

Kevin
 
W
Saddly I never got to fly with Monarch, but I still have many fond memories of the airline as they were ever present at BHX.
My first recollection of a Monarch aircraft, was back around 1970. I was 6 years old, and waiting for our flight back from Gerona to Gatwick (BEA Airtours Comet 4B). On the apron, was a Monarch Bristol Britannia which departed quite some time prior to our flight. On arriving at Gatwick and having cleared customs and baggage reclaim, I can remember my Dad saying that the Britannia had just arrived showing the speed difference of the Comet.
A little older, and I was a regular visitor to the old terminal at BHX. I loved seeing the Monarch BAC One-Elevens, but best of all were the Boeing 720's. To me at the time, these were a really big 4 engined jet.
Later, came the Boeing 737-200's then the 737-300's and the DC-10's. Finally the Airbus fleets with A300's then A330's and the A320/A321's.
It still hurts when I think of Monarch's closure. A bit like a respected football club closing it's gates for the last time.
A few photos from days gone by -

26524838989_6c0f620fd9_h.jpg


26871118304_681ca7f400_h.jpg


27203386900_a3579bd8e2_h.jpg


Regards

Kevin
What a great set of images, takes me back to my old second home (honestly I was there almost as much as being at home) wagged school more times than I care to remember - to go to the drome.

E.
 
Saddly I never got to fly with Monarch, but I still have many fond memories of the airline as they were ever present at BHX.
My first recollection of a Monarch aircraft, was back around 1970. I was 6 years old, and waiting for our flight back from Gerona to Gatwick (BEA Airtours Comet 4B). On the apron, was a Monarch Bristol Britannia which departed quite some time prior to our flight. On arriving at Gatwick and having cleared customs and baggage reclaim, I can remember my Dad saying that the Britannia had just arrived showing the speed difference of the Comet.
A little older, and I was a regular visitor to the old terminal at BHX. I loved seeing the Monarch BAC One-Elevens, but best of all were the Boeing 720's. To me at the time, these were a really big 4 engined jet.
Later, came the Boeing 737-200's then the 737-300's and the DC-10's. Finally the Airbus fleets with A300's then A330's and the A320/A321's.
It still hurts when I think of Monarch's closure. A bit like a respected football club closing it's gates for the last time.
A few photos from days gone by -

26524838989_6c0f620fd9_h.jpg


26871118304_681ca7f400_h.jpg


27203386900_a3579bd8e2_h.jpg


Regards

Kevin

Amazing pictures and so many happy memories 🙂
 
The comments relating to the Britannias' speed and the news of the non-stop Perth to London route recently introduced by QANTAS has triggered a few memories.My wife worked as a cabin crew member for Monarch during the 1970's at Luton. One of the regular services she flew to was Adelaide, Australia on behalf of the MOD.These flights took Five (5) days to reach the destination.The overnight stops were; Ankara,Tehran,Bombay (as it was then) and Singapore.Similarly the return journey followed the same routing.Needless to say, the return trip took approximately 12 or 13 days. The passengers were mainly scientists destined for Woomera and the passenger figure rarely exceeded 20. Not good for the taxpayer, however,my wife's flying pay (an excess payment for working outside the UK) was a great bonus.As an aside we kept two tortoises named Victor Golf and Victor Tango after two of the fleet which now seems very apt .
 
Courtline one eleven behind the comet?
Also Another 4 engined propeller driven in the background. DC6 ?
 

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