In my early working life my second job (the first was a trainee architectural assistant which I decided wasn't for me) was as a land surveyor which took me all over the country carrying out land surveys for road and motorway projects (I always remember what the M11 to A10 section of the M25 was like before the motorway was built as I surveyed that section - think of me next time you get stuck on it!), building and civil engineering developments and best of all from my point of view was in the autumn of 1972 when I was sent to Devon to survey Exeter airport for improvements to the taxiways and main runway and the terminal area, needless to say my camera was rarely far away and these are some of my photos from the time there. most are self explanatory so will only add notes where it adds to the story. Hope you like them....
The only regular operator at that time was BIA with it's Heralds and even then it was only 3 weekdays a week
G-APWG HP Herald BIA by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
the Lands End Aero Club's Rapide G-AIYR visited on one occasion, I managed to fly on it 42 years later when I did a pleasure flight at Duxford where it now resides
DH.88 G-AIYR Lands End Aero club by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
we skived off early for a pleasure flight in this one afternoon:
G-AXWF Ce172 by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
these Cherokees were from a flight training school from somewhere near Southhampton - the name escapes me, most days up to a dozen of these (and sometimes a twin or two) would arrive on cross country training sorties
Pa.28s G-AYAB & G-AVNU by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
civilian helicopters were rather rare:
G-AVVYX B206 jetranger by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
and military ones even rarer - I think this was the only one during my time there:
Royal Navy Wessex XT772 by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
on the fuel ramp - note the high tech fire appliance in the background!
G-AZMJ AA5 at fuel pumps by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
now a few more general ones, starting with a Beagle Pup for Mike;
G-AXNS B.Pup by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
G-AXBH Ce172 by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
G-AXDL Twin commanche by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
G-AXRW Twin commanche by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
G-AYII Pa28 by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
G-AZFJ Cessna 310 by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
G-AZMC Fournier by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
Cessna G-ATBK by
sickbag_andy, on Flickr
there's a few more in my flickr album but nothing out of the ordinary.
C&C welcome, Andy