London Airport in the 50s & 60s - Part 1

[PeteP]

I knew I shouldn't have gone rummaging around in the Michael Harries slides but I can't resist showing you these photos taken at Heathrow in the 50s and 60s. I hope I'll be forgiven for bending the rules by including some non-British aircraft on the grounds that the photos are actually of the airport and not the aircraft! Fascinating as the aircraft are, I really do find what's going on around them and in the background just as fascinating - I hope you do too so here, courtesy of the late Michael Harries, is a litte wallow in nostagia. Part 2 to follow soon.
Pete

Edit: I'm glad you all enjoyed the photos which I've now removed and thanks for all the kind comments.
Pete

[DaveB]

Works for me Peter.. a lovely collection Tks for posting

ATB
DaveB

[dodger]

Hello Pete,

What a great lot of pictures, i think that the third picture down is as Classic as you could get, thanks so much for posting them,

I used to visit Heathrow in the Fifties and it looks like a lot of those pictures were taken from the Queens building , it was a fantastic place to view the going's on, what a shame we don't have the pleasure nowdays!

Regards,

Roger.

[TSR2]

Really enjoying these Pete, thanks for posting them!

[DaveB]

They're great aren't they Ben My team at Brooklands love 'em

Something I didn't know but has been pointed out to me.. see the little red open cab truck moving off from the Sabena Convair.. that's a 'Water Meth' truck! Funny.. we all know that some aircraft used it, I had no idea it came in a separate truck. It's true to say I've never given it much thought but it add's something else to the picture
ATB
DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Thanks Pete

So many Brit types

[ianhind]

Absolutely brilliant. The timing splits across when I started spotting. Never saw any of the Stratocruisers, Aer Lingus Viscounts in the early scheme, BEA Viscounts in what I think Garry refereed to as "pinstripe", BEA Ambassadors, or TCA Connies.

So there must have been some major changes in fleets and colour schemes over this period.

No if only had a camera as a 12 year old and with colour film.

Ian

[Garry Russell]

The pic of the Air France Viscount is interest as in the background are two pinstripe BEA Viscount (starboard side) and it is one of the few pics that clearly shows the different forward window arrangement between the 802/806. Not seen it clearly in one pic before

The closest is an 802.

[ianhind]

I really do find what's going on around them and in the background just as fascinating

Indeed - oh for some bigger shots. I suspect I'm going to be looking at all these for a long time.

Shot 5: 2 x orange-tailed Vikings (?) over near what was the Panam maintenance hangar - I feel I should know what these were but can't remember

Shot 6: an Eagle 707 tail sticking out of a hangar ?

And there's a BEA Heron in there on the apron

[DaveB]

Aren't the 'red' tailed Vikings Hunting.. supposedly nearer the PIA hangar than the Hunting one?? I'd missed the Heron! Dear me.. much more 'looking' necessary (as if that's a chore)

ATB
DaveB