Aircraft spotting in the '50s

[Hagar]

Ben's "What do you see over your house?" thread in the General forum brought back some fond memories for me. I got to thinking about the types of aircraft I saw over my house back in the 1950s when I was about his age. Things were certainly very different in those days.

Apart from the variety of what are now called GA types from Shoreham there was plenty of military activity from the three nearby air bases - RAF Tangmere, RAF Thorney Island & the naval base at RNAS Ford. On a typical day in 1955 (when I was 12 years old) I could expect to see flights of

Canberras, Meteors, Hunters & the occasional Harvard, Mosquito & Spitfire from Tangmere
Sycamore & Whirlwind helicopters from Thorney Island
Gannets, Hunters, Sea Hawks, Sea Vampires, Wyverns plus the odd Firefly & Sea Fury from Ford

A couple of years later I remember flights of Gloster Javelins flying over, almost out of sight with their unmistakable warbling sound. Not sure where they were based. Also the new Supermarine Scimitars & Sea Vixens from Ford & the old Vickers Varsity (flying pigs) at Thorney.

I can't think of a more exciting time for any young person mad keen about aircraft to be growing up. Possibly this was the reason for my obsession with anything that flew. Unfortunately I didn't realise how lucky I was & didn't appreciate that most of these everyday sights would soon become very rare indeed, if not extinct. I often wish I'd had a camera to record it.

[Mr. Bones]

That must have been an incredible sound outdoors!  8)

[C]

I can't think of a more exciting time for any young person mad keen about aircraft to be growing up. Possibly this was the reason for my obsession with anything that flew. Unfortunately I didn't realise how lucky I was & didn't appreciate that most of these everyday sights would soon become very rare indeed, if not extinct. I often wish I'd had a camera to record it.

To quote the genial Python boys (Lif eof Brian I think - Michael Palin?)...

You lucky b*****d

Interestingly enough my first memory of seeing an aircraft was a Hunter, sometime in the mid 80s, probably at Coningsby of Mildenhall. Other than that I grew up on a diet of Hawks, Harriers (proper ones - Gr3s and the FRS 1), Jaguars and Tornados, the odd Canberra here and there, F-111s and A-10s. I can just remember having pictures of the vintage pair (CFS Meteor and Vampire), before their sad demise too. I remember see the Lightning as well...

Still, its the old aircraft that do it for me....

Charlie

[Felix/FFDS]

My first memories - late fifties, would be of Eastern Air Lines Constellations and DC-6s at San Juan (Puerto Rico).

Later, mid-sixties, my school was under the approach into San Juan airport, so I caught the undersides of a lot of DC-6s, 707s, DC-8s, tons of DC-3s, Constellations, Curtiss Commandos, the Air Guard's F-86 Sabres (and for a time, Venezuelan Air Force F-86Ks on TDY).  I remember Air France Caravelle F-BJTA (which sadly would be scrapped years later in Cambodia (or Thailand?)  

Then Caribair started getting it's Convair liners, first 340s, then some converted 600s, and were launch customers for one of the early DC-9 versions.

BWIA flew Viscounts at the time as well.

One memorable day, though, I saw, from my house, Eastern, PanAm, Delta, and American Air Lines 747s as the were on the landing patterns into San Juan International Airport.

I would get to see an ANG F-86 pilot make a tight 360 degree turn around the mountain over my house.



Then there were the ANG F-104s (straight from Vietnam service), later A-7s.

[Craig.]

i would have given my left leg to see all of those. Dang what a selection.

[Hagar]

My first memories - late fifties, would be of Eastern Air Lines Constellations and DC-6s at San Juan (Puerto Rico).

Later, mid-sixties, my school was under the approach into San Juan airport, so I caught the undersides of a lot of DC-6s, 707s, DC-8s, tons of DC-3s, Constellations,

Brings back memories of regular visits to Heathrow. Not sure of the date but this would be after the, then new, Queen's Building was opened. There was a spotting area on top of it. To add to your list* there were the BEA Ambassadors (Elizabethans) & Viscounts plus the BOAC Comets. I remember the SAS DC-7Cs (Seven Seas). I think they were the first to start the regular "over the Pole" service.

So far I haven't mentioned the multitude of different types I saw at Shoreham. My house was right under the circuit & it was a few minutes bike ride away. I spent all my spare time at the airport & also worked there from 1960-62. I saw many interesting things but didn't appreciate quite how interesting they were. That will have to wait for another time.

*PS. Forgot the Air France Caravelles.

[C]

My first visit to a civil airport was Stansted - the old terminal on the western side of the airport. Air UK HP Heralds were the order of the day then...

Charlie

[Ben_M_K]

I wish I'd been born back in the day.

[Hagar]

I wish I'd been born back in the day.

Don't be sad Ben. I'm just being wistful & reminiscing. That's what us old codgers do, thinking back to when we were young whippersnappers with our whole lives ahead of us.

You will be able to do the same when you're my age but don't wish your life away.

[Bazza]

Well said Hagar, BenMK's comments had me a bit worried too.       I can remember aircraft of the same vintage, also being an old codger, but not living in the UK, under a flightpath, mine are restricted to Tiger Moths and DC3's with the odd show-off visit of an Australian Canberra or an RNZAF Vampire.     At least we can do nostalgia trips with our digital cameras....?

[TacitBlue]

My first aircraft memories are of fighter jets practicing dog fights and such near Edwards AFB in California. I was very small, my mom tells me that I used to call them rockets, because the contrails and the loud roar of the engines. We always lived close to an airbase as my dad was in the USAF at the time. Another fond memory is watching RC-135, KC-135s, C-5s and Starlifters (dont remember the letter-number designation), and B-52s (I think) at Helenikon AFB in Athens, Greece. My mom and I would go to pick my dad up from work, and we always got there early so I could watch the planes. This all took place between 1985 and 1989.

[Hagar]

At least we can do nostalgia trips with our digital cameras....?

Certainly. That's what I'm doing now - trying to make up for all those lost opportunities. Fortunately the vintage aircraft scene is very healthy now & many of those rare birds are airworthy once more, some after possibly many years of careful restoration. I hate it when they're stuck in stuffy museums. A few private individuals like the two Peters, Holloway & Teichman own several vintage types & spend all their spare time displaying them so people like me can see them. I can't tell you how grateful I am, although I have been able to thank Peter Holloway personally. This is him with his immaculate Miles Maggie at Abingdon last year. Would you believe that he told me he has to twist people's arms to fly it to displays for him? I would give anything for a trip in that beautiful old machine. He also owns a very rare Miles Falcon Major & a Ryan PT-22. A little bird told me he's in the market for a P-51D.


This is the other Peter in his beautiful P-51D "Jumpin' Jacques" at the same meeting. I never expected to see a warbird at a vintage light aircraft fly-in. He also owns a Beech Staggerwing & just purchased a Spitfire, I forget the mark.


PS. Ben's already done something I haven't. He had a flight in a Ford Trimotor. Plenty of memories for his dotage.

[beaky]

That's it, Hagar, rub it in...  ;). You are a lucky guy, and from the circle of friends you seem to have, you're still gathering up some beautiful aviation memories. Thanks for sharing them! Love that Miles (thought for sure it was a Ryan at first)... I'll bet people are reticent to fly it for him  'cuz they don't want to risk dinging it. I, however, am not. I'll fly that baby across the Atlantic for him, if he wants (can't guarantee I'll want to bring it back, but...)!

[C]

. A little bird told me he's in the market for a P-51D.

I think he may have lost out on that one for now - I suspect he may have been after the late Paul Morgan's P-51D "Susy", who's just been snapped up my Taff Smith of the Real Aeroplane company..

He also owns a Beech Staggerwing & just purchased a Spitfire, I forget the mark.

...who have just sold their Spitfire PR Mk XI to Peter Teichmann...

It's hard to keep up sometimes.

Charlie

PS - the other great thing about Peter Holloway is where he bases his aircraft...

[Hagar]

PS - the other great thing about Peter Holloway is where he bases his aircraft...

Indeed. I plan to spend a lot of time there this season.

Here's some aerial shots I took there last year. First - Peter Holloway's collection. The Maggie in my previous shot, obviously flown by one of his arm-twist victims.



The Miles Falcon Major. Only airworthy example of its type in the world.


One of my favourite shots of Peter H in his PT-22.


Here's Peter Teichman in his Staggerwing.

Watch this space for some nice aerial shots of his P-51D & Spitfire. Not taken yet though. With a bit of luck I'll get some soon.

I think he may have lost out on that one for now - I suspect he may have been after the late Paul Morgan's P-51D "Susy", who's just been snapped up my Taff Smith of the Real Aeroplane company..

Ah well. Never mind. Maybe he will look round for something else - something a little rarer perhaps.