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 -
Regards
Kevin