Gatwick Airport - From the 1960s to the 1980s

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Last updated on 22 November 2020.

Gatwick Airport - From the 1960s to the 1980s DVD Cover .

Documentary (2010)

Starring:
Howard Asbridge (Narrator)

This DVD recreates the sights and sounds of Gatwick from as far back as 1959, right up to the late eighties. Using the same high-quality techniques and painstaking attention to detail as we did for our London Airport DVDs; ancient cine film, some more than 50 years old, has been digitally transformed to take you back in time.

Because it was used for charter flights to London, Gatwick always had such a variety of interesting airlines and aircraft. We start with the very early days, as an Air Links Dakota departs from an almost deserted apron. Then the big props arrive; DC6s, Britannias, Viscounts and CL44s. There’s also a delightful Canadian Air Force Bristol Freighter, a Balair DC4 and one of Caledonian’s first DC7Cs.

Soon, the whine of early jets is heard, as the BAC 1-11 era begins. Adding to the din are 707s and DC8s from the USA and Canada, Spanish DC9s, the legendary Dan Air Comet 4s and lots more.

Gradually, the wide-bodied era starts, with early 747s, including a ‘Big Orange’ from Braniff, appearing alongside DC10s and Tristars, featuring airlines like CP Air, Wardair, Air Florida, BCAL, Cal Air, World Airlines, TWA and British Airtours.

Gatwick in its heyday was always a favourite place for airliner enthusiasts. Now you can step back in time and visit it once more!

Also from this series:
Avion Video Series

McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30

The 1984 Control Tower of London Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK) in the background.

McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 of Northwest Airlines.

Various Aircraft

The scene is rather late 1990's than 80's.
1 - Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar 1 of Air Atlanta Icelandic.
2 - Boeing 737 Classic in unknown livery.
3 - Unidentified Aircraft.
4 - Boeing 777-236/ER registration G-VIIK, c/n 28840 from British Airways in Animals and trees - World Art tails livery.]]

Various aircraft at London Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK).

British Aerospace BAe 146-200

Another one to the right of Atlantic Airways from Faroe Islands, and McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 of American Airlines to the left.

British Aerospace BAe 146-200 of Jersey European Airways.

Bristol 175 Britannia C.1

Registration XL639, c/n 13448. Built in 1959, written off in 1980. Same aircraft in other works at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Military Fixed-Wing).

Reg. XL639 Bristol 175 Britannia C.1 Atria of the Royal Air Force Transport Command.

Douglas Dakota IV

Wearing an ex Aer Lingus livery.
In the background, a Vickers 833 Viscount of British United Airways, and an unidentified De Havilland DH114 Heron.

Douglas Dakota IV of Air Links.

Douglas Dakota III

Registration G-AMKE, c/n 25928. Ex RAF, first civilian use with British European Airways from June 1951 to April 1961, then sold to Air Links for service from July 1961 to August 1962. Sold to Salisbury, Rhodesia.

Reg.G-AMKE Douglas Dakota III of Air Links.

Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas

Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas of Caledonian Airways.

Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation of Capitol Airways behind to the right. Listed below.

Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas of Caledonian Airways.

Douglas DC-6B

Douglas DC-6B of SAM-Società Aerea Mediterranea.

Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation

DC-7 of Caledonian already seen above on the left foreground.

Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation of Capitol Airways.

Douglas DC-6B

Registration F-BIAM, c/n 44062.

Reg.F-BIAM Douglas DC-6B of UAT-Union Aéromaritime de Transport.

Douglas DC-6B

Registration F-BHEF, c/n 44697.

Reg.F-BHEF Douglas DC-6B of TAI-Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux.

To the left background, an Intercontinental Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation .

Reg.F-BHEF Douglas DC-6B of TAI-Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux.

Handley Page HP.81 Hermes 4

Registration G-ALDG, c/n 8. This fuselage is the only surviving remnant of the 25 Hermes 4’s built. Delivered in 1950, Horsa operated with BOAC, Airwork and Silver City until 1962, when she was retired to BUA-British United Airways for cabin training, and was later used for smoke evacuation training at London Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK). The fuselage arrived at Duxford in 1981 and has been gradually restored.

Handley Page H.P.81 Hermes 4 of BUA-British United Airways.

Douglas C-54A Skymaster

Douglas C-54A Skymaster of Balair.

Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31M

Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31M of the RCAF.

Bristol 175 Britannia 102

Registration G-ANBA, c/n 12902. Built in January 1954, remained under Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd, then Bristol Aircraft Ltd ownership until August 1957, then delivered to B.O.A.C. Operated until March 1970, on lease under Britannia Airways colours in the mid 1960's.

Reg.G-ANBA Bristol 175 Britannia 102 of Britannia Airways.

McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32

Registration EC-BIO, c/n 47090.

Reg.EC-BIO McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 Villa de Bilbao of IBERIA-Lineas Aereas Españolas.

BUA's BAC-111 One-Eleven in the background left.

Reg.EC-BIO McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 Villa de Bilbao of IBERIA-Lineas Aereas Españolas.

Bristol 175 Britannia 314

Registration G-ATMA, c/n 13428. Delivered to Caledonian Airways on December 1965 and operated until October 1969. Sold to Kenya in April 1971, then returned back to the UK with International Aviation Services Ltd in May 1972. Permanent withdrawn from use in June 1973.

Reg.G-ATMA Bristol 175 Britannia 314 of Caledonian Airways.

Britannia's Bristol 175 Britannia 102 in the background.

Reg.G-ATMA Bristol 175 Britannia 314 of Caledonian Airways.

To the right Britannia already mentionned above, and BUA's BAC-111 One-Eleven to the left.

Reg.G-ATMA Bristol 175 Britannia 314 of Caledonian Airways.

BUA's BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven behind, and another Caledonian's Bristol Britannia in the far background.

Reg.G-ATMA Bristol 175 Britannia 314 of Caledonian Airways.

BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven

Registration G-ASJA, c/n 005. The first production of BAC-111. Previous identities include G-ASJA with BUA and XB-MUO with the Fuerza Aerea Mexicana (Government VIP transport). Later was owned by Kenny Rogers as N3756F and N97KR. B/U July 1989.

Reg.G-ASJA BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

Bristol Britannia to the right background.

Reg.G-ASJA BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

De Havilland DH106 Comet 4C of Dan-Air London in the background.

Reg.G-ASJA BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

De Havilland DH106 Comet 4C

Already seen above.
Registration G-APDL, c/n 06413. Delivered to B.O.A.C in May 1957. Sent to Kenya in 1965, returned to the UK in 1967 for B.O.A.C then sold to Dan-Air London in 1971.
A BAC-111-509EW One-Eleven of Caledonian Airways is taxiing behind it (listed below), with another Caledonian Airways airplane in the background that seems to be a Boeing 707, and at least a BAC-111 One-Eleven in in the far background to the right.

Reg.G-APDL De Havilland DH106 Comet 4C of Dan-Air London.

BAC-111-509EW One-Eleven

Registration G-AWWY, c/n 185.
G-APDL Comet 4C to the right and a Douglas DC-6 or DC-7 in the far background.

Reg.G-AWWY BAC-111-509EW One-Eleven Isle of Iona of Caledonian Airways.

BUA's BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven and tail fin of a Britannia Airways's Bristol Britannia in the background.

Reg.G-AWWY BAC-111-509EW One-Eleven Isle of Iona of Caledonian Airways.

BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven

BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

Another one on final approach to the runway.

BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven

Registration G-ASJF, c/n 010. Delivered in June 1963. Changed to CALEDONIAN/BUA in November 1970, then as British Caledonian Airways in late 1972. Sold to USA in 1982.
Another one G-ASJ_ in the foreground.

Reg.G-ASJF BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

Another one G-ASJ_ in the background.

Reg.G-ASJF BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

BAC 111-301AG One-Eleven

In the background, a BAC-111-509EW One-Eleven of Caledonian Airways.

BAC 111-301AG One-Eleven of Laker Airways.

BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven

Registration G-ASJH, c/n 012. Delivered in June 1963. Changed to CALEDONIAN/BUA in November 1970, then as British Caledonian Airways in late 1972. Sold to Pacific Express as N105EX in March 1982. Re-registred EI-BWL in 1984 and operated by Braniff Inc. until the late 1980. Then sold to British Air Ferries in 1990, renamed British World Airlines in 1993. Wfu at Southend in 1994.

Reg.G-ASJH BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

BAC-111-201AC One-Eleven of BUA-British United Airways.

Boeing 707-349C

Three Dan-Air's Comet 4 in the background.

Boeing 707-349C of Caledonian Airways.

Tupolev Tu-134A & Bristol 175 Britannia C.1

Tupolev Tu-134A of Aviogenex and Bristol 175 Britannia C.1 of the Royal Air Force Transport Command.

Douglas DC-8-63

Douglas DC-8-63 of Capitol Airways.

Vickers VC10 Srs.1103

Vickers VC10 Srs.1103 of BUA-British United Airways.

Douglas C-53D Skytrooper

Registration G-AOBN, c/n 11711. Delivered to USAAF in May 1953. Bought by AB Aerotransport in 1945, then became SAS until 1951, when she was sold to French airline Cie Aérienne de Transport Indochinoise (CATI), renamed Air Outre Mer in 1953. In 1955 the plane was sold to the Britih company Air Kruise as G-AOBN. When Air Kruise was merged into Silver City Airways in October 1957, the plane adopted the colour of this company. In 1960, she was converted into a Radio Calibration Aircraft. In 1962,Silver City Airways merged into British United Airways and our C-53D wore British United livery with Radio Calibration Unit titles. In November 1968 she became part of British United Island Airways (BUIA) with specific colour of Calibration Unit. In July 1970 G-AOBN was transferred to BIA, sold to Air Anglia in 1971, then Air Freight Ltd, Skyways Cargo. Ended her time in Ethiopia in 1977.
Same aircraft in other works at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg. G-AOBN Douglas C-53D Skytrooper of British United Island Airways - Calibration Unit.

1 - Vickers 755D Viscount of Invicta International Airlines.
2 - Airspeed AS.57 Ambassador 2 of DECCA Navigator. Registration G-AZLP, c/n 5213. Delivered to BEA in 12.51. Acquired by Decca Navigator in 11.63 after serving the King of Morocco as CN-MAK, she was sold to South Seas Airways in 11.71.
3 - Bristol 175 Britannia 314 of Transglobe Airways.
4 - Bristol 175 Britannia with unidentified livery.