Sixty Years Aircraft Spotting 01/06/2023

[mrbluesky]

On the 1st of June 1963 moved from Trains and Buses to aircraft spotting and sixty years later still going strong- only seems like yesterday but how things have changed- from when you had to write to airlines to try and obtain the registrations of Flight numbers of flyovers, up to now when you just have to look at an app or on your computer to ID something.

From prop airliners galore DC3/4/6 and 7's and wonderful Jets 707's DC8's, DC9's, DC10's.

Being able to visit airfields and get full access to the hangars.

Plus viewing area's at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester on Terminal not AVP and Liverpool. 

Great Military aircraft such as C124 Globemasters C133 Cargomaster's F100's, F4's too many to list.

Sixty years and I have loved every minute of it-

Happy Days

Bob  

[andypspotter]

Congratulations Bob!

Looks like you've seen a few aircraft types in action with operators and liveries that I can only wished that I'd seen.

My father often recounted the time when, as a teenager, a wave of B-36s flew over West Yorkshire having departed RAF Burtonwood (or the M62 as it's now known). Them's were t'days!

Wait til planes have cloaking devices. Then, we'll be stuffed 🤣

p.s. I still can't believe the Toffies stayed up and the (not so super) Whites got relegated.

[mrbluesky]

Thanks Andy- it was an open day at LPL and the first notable aircraft logged was from a flypast at Speke by aircraft from Burtonwood:-

USAF, 2 x F-101A Voodoo, 2 x F-100D Super Sabre

USAF formation of a KB-50J Tanker with an F-100, F-101 and RB-66B attached.

Oh! to revisit those days with Vikings, Viscounts, Brittannia's,  CL44's, Argosys, Ambassadors etc- and going to the Queens Building at Heathrow and someone shouting "overflight".  Also Sabena 707's calling up their full registration.

Happy Days

Bob

[planefleet]

What a milestone! Many congratulations, Bob.

You have 5 years' lead on my efforts, as I only started at Farnborough Air Show 1968. I was just in time to catch the delights you mentioned in your message.

Just to think, the UK used to have several aircraft factories that you could visit on request ... and they actually built whole planes. Great visits to Kingston, Dunsfold, Filton, etc. Then there were airfields like Hamble and Portsmouth, sadly long gone.

However, many aspects are much easier these days and the preservation scene has advanced markedly. It's still a great hobby and one that provides plenty of enjoyment. Long may it continue!

[mrbluesky]

Thanks Planefleet my First FAB show was 1968 also. I  have still got the B & W picture of the Atlantic's tail section being lifted by a crane following its crash at the show. Have never been to Dunsfold. But did visit the Jetstream production line at Radlett and also the Beagle 206 line at Rearsby Leicestershire. Also not forgetting yearly visits to the 125 production line at Chester and 748's at Woodford. 

72 years of age now- but still feel like 12 when I started, the only thing is now I have lots of aches and pains.

Happy Days

Bob