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Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Only nostalgic and wrecks & relics photography in here please, nostalgic posts should be over 5 years old.
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andygolfer
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Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by andygolfer » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:20 pm

I was digging around for some old photos (actually trying to find an interesting air France one for this month’s photo special comp) and found these that I had scanned some time ago, the quality is rather poor sorry ( they haven’t aged very weel, my equipment was rather basic in those days – poor student and my scanner is about 8 years old so old tech now) but hopefully they will be of interest, Taken at Gatwick in 1972 & 1973, although the content may be of interest the changes at Gatwick are one of the most startling features, it was quite rural in the early ‘70s. These were taken in the days when there was a large viewing terrace in front of the Terminal (now south terminal – there was only one in those days) and access to the terrace included access to the roof of the piers which led to the aircraft gates, you could almost touch the aircraft! The age of terrorism unfortunately closed the piers so this sort of access is now long gone – what a shame. Anyway hope you like them , I’ve also found some of Heathrow from the same era which I will post separately if you are interested. On with the pics (and commentary)………………….

The demo Lockheed Tristar on it’s first visit to the UK (August / Sept 1972) I remember that it first landed at East midlands so that the Rolls Royce workers at Derby could see what the engines they were building we being mounted upon, it then visited Heathrow and Gatwick where it did several demo flights before appearing at the Farnborough Air show by which time it’s tail was painted in BEA’s colours (the old dark blue union jack)
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Taken from one of the piers which at that time was open so you could walk the full length to view the aircraft – those were the days! A BCAL BAC 111 in the foreground and the L.1011 Tristar on it’s first visit to the UK departing on another demo flight. Looking in the background it was very very open in those days, the north terminal and lots of other buildings occupy that area now
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British island airways Herald and a CP air DC 8 looking from the viewing terrace towards where the north terminal now is
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A Mey Air B737-200 and a BCAL BAC.111 taken from one of the piers, an excellent place to spot as there was an uninterrupted view of the runway and taxiing aircraft
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This is a distant pan shot looking west from the terminal showing just how open it was then, no satellite and no north terminal. I seem to remember there was a small cargo shed on the north side.Of interst in this shot is the Tristar taxiing in after a demo flight , a BIA DC.3(yes really!) and a Tradewinds CL.44.
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This is another area where Gatwick has been transformed completely, in 1972 there was a general aviation park on the north side where the satellite now stands, all that stopped you walking onto the airfield was a single fence and you could walk right along the northern fence into the fields to view the aircraft landing and taking off.
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the same area with a more general view, you don’t see many Cessna 175s at Gatwick nowadays
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Wow! In 1973 Dan Air were just starting to take delivery of some boeing 727s –the first on the British register (second hand mind you!)
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Another one of the same shot but the background is interesting. IAS Cl.44 and a Donaldson B.707 (remember them?) and a couple of DC.8s parked roughly where the South Terminal Satellite now is
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Here’s a closer view of one of those DC.8s – a United one, they didn’t operate to Heathrow in those days, that was reserved mainly for Pan Am & TWA, also next to it A Trans International (TIA) example
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In 1972 Wardair (the Canadian airline) were operating 707s and a 727 into Gatwick, in this shot the northern of the 2 piers is visible, the south terminal Satellite is now beyond that pier
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And a Wardair B.747 parked where the north terminal now stands, Gatwick was so open in those days it’s weird looking back
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Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

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uppergreen1

Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by uppergreen1 » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:37 pm

WOW,now thats proper stuff thanks,my favourite was the humble "BIA" herald,and the wardair 727 and the cp air dc8 and the.........all fantastic thanks........... .

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Mike
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Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by Mike » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:38 pm

Blimey :Wow: What great memories Andy, thank you so much - can't wait for your Heathrow shots. :) :thumb:
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andygolfer
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Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by andygolfer » Sun Apr 22, 2012 6:41 am

many thanks- sorry the quality isnt better but looks like being stored in a loft for many years hasn't help preserve them but it's an very good demonstration of how much Gatwick has changed in 40 years. When I was looking at them I couldn't remember much of the airport in those days. for me travelling from Essex it was a longish journey so only used to go a couple of times a year.
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

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Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by noryport » Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:44 am

These retro slides are brilliant and great viewing.

Wish I had been more interested in aviation photography in that era.

Thanks for posting Andy..JB :thumb:
Come on England...They think it's all over. Not till Sunday ;)

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andygolfer
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Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by andygolfer » Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:56 am

noryport wrote:These retro slides are brilliant and great viewing.

Wish I had been more interested in aviation photography in that era.

Thanks for posting Andy..JB :thumb:
many thanks- just wish I'd had a decent camera and even moreso I wish I'd never set eyes on slides, my photo prints (and negatives) have preserved much better, slides were all the rage in the '60s and '70s but don't hear of anyone taking them now, even the few that still use film all seem to go with prints - anybody else have that same regret?
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

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please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
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co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

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Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by Sussex to Devon » Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:40 am

Hi,

Oh that bought back happy memories and the joy of the pier. Remember used to sale nice ice creams there as well. Excellent!

Ian

neil t

Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by neil t » Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:01 pm

I'm really enjoying these 1970's shots at Gatwick. These are real aircraft, accompanied by loads of noise and plumes of smoke, and the smell of avgas aaaahhhhhhhhhhh! :thumb:

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Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by lambo1784 » Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:41 am

Happy days,remember many a time watching the heavies taking off towards the railway really struggling to get off the ground in the really hot summers we used to have.Remember watching the Aeroflot and some of the heavy DC-8s and older 707s especially wondering if they would lift off in time never thinking we on the piers would be involved in any resulting crash.
Especially remember the stewardesses coming off the aircraft parked close to the piers and the resulting wolf whistles and waves in response.

John in Sussex

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Chris IL-76
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Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by Chris IL-76 » Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:08 am

Great photo's. Never knew United DC-8's went to Gatwick and never heard of Mey Air.

Brilliant!

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Re: Gatwick in the early '70s, some scanned slides

Post by Sussex to Devon » Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:34 am

Hi,

That bought back happy memory's. Long forgot about Wardair.

Ian :clap:

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