Some Photos of Heathrow in the 1960's

Just a quick glace reveals Caravelle, Trident, Superconnie, DC 8, Comet 4, possibly Argosy. A closer look might reveal more……

in pic 3 there’s an Argosy out side BEA, is that the Connie that can’t be found

Are there any photos in existence on the web of the lineups of Argonauts and Stratocruisers awaiting disposal in 1958 I wonder?

Somewhat randomly I’d guess the weird slide size is either cut down to square from a half-frame camera (ie half the normal width for a 35mm frame), or taken on 127 film with a Purma Plus. I don’t think there’s any way of finding out which as the film will have been cut to mount it which will have removed any numbers on it in the latter case (and besides, why should you pull your grandad’s slides apart just for that?), but other than the Purma range square format cameras with negs that small were pretty uncommon in the UK. I think there might have been a (very rare) square-format Ilford 35mm camera, plus the American Mercury camera or the German Robot range, but that’s about it until you get to TLRs taking 127 film, which would give slides around 40mm square, so called “Superslides”.

OK, back to aircraft!

Adrian

The ‘Austrian’ Viscounts are Cambrian Airways Viscount 701s. Note the former BEA red wings colour retained. This dates the photo to after March 1963, the British Eagle (not just Eagle) Viscount likely to after January 1964, the presence of a Trident to after entry into service March 1964; the British Eagle aircraft have to be before November 1968, the BEA aircraft all in the same scheme points to before late ’68 also. However, the general lack of Tridents in the wider ramp shots make me think spring/early summer 1964 as the likely time-frame for this set of nostalgia.
In slide 2 the 4 prop nose-on with a white nose I take to be an IL-18, likely Malev?

Yes agree with Cambrian Viscounts and not Austrian and also with IL-18
I lived nearby in West Drayton for a few years and was walking/cycling distance away-so spent many happy hours there too-starting off in the late 50s with Yorks/Connies/Strats/Vikings etc.

On the LH side of Photo 2, I see in the distance a BEA Vanguard, with a British Eagle Britannia this side of it, then another aircraft parallel to the Britannia on the nearside of it. Likely a Britannia or possibly Viscount, but with a straight cabin top, not gracefully curved as a Constellation was. “Charliehunt” who originally ‘saw’ a Constellation in one of the shots, has already edited into a subsequent post stating he accepts it is a Britannia.

Mind you that was frequent at Heathrow as a teenager spotting from the Queens Building – the ‘locals’ could always see something exotic out over on the far side that us strangers from the north could not just quite see. But we would say we could, log it anyway and let them have their little joke, crossing it out later (or just very rarely ticking it when whatever it was taxied out to take-off!). Great times, good memories.

In slide 2 the 4 prop nose-on with a white nose I take to be an IL-18, likely Malev?

Also in the same slide, upper LH side, side on? Is that what has been described as a Constellation?

I always find 1960s Heathrow fascinating. I have some similar black and white shots, but so much more interesting in colour. Has Vanguard PEU got an engine problem or is it just routine maintenance?

The ‘Austrian’ Viscounts are Cambrian Airways Viscount 701s. Note the former BEA red wings colour retained. This dates the photo to after March 1963, the British Eagle (not just Eagle) Viscount likely to after January 1964, the presence of a Trident to after entry into service March 1964; the British Eagle aircraft have to be before November 1968, the BEA aircraft all in the same scheme points to before late ’68 also. However, the general lack of Tridents in the wider ramp shots make me think spring/early summer 1964 as the likely time-frame for this set of nostalgia.

In slide 2 the 4 prop nose-on with a white nose I take to be an IL-18, likely Malev?

Definitely Argosy. And the rest of what Charlie said. Apart from the Connie – haven’t spotted that yet.

Never mind the aircraft. I’ve an sneaking suspicion that I’m in the crowd shot!

:applause:

Haha! Me too!! Second photo -middle distance left of frame. Front fuselage in view. Or is something else?

Ah yes Britannia(s) now spotted.

Cant see a Super Connie on any of them?

Slide 1. 2 BEA Vanguards and a Trident plus a British Eagle Britannia over the back
Slide 2. Lots of BEA Vanguards 2 or 3 /British Eagle Britannias/SAS Caravelle/Austrian Airlines Viscount
Slide 3. Aer Lingus Viscount and BEA Vanguard with 707s in background-possibly TWA?
Slide 4. Air France Caravelle taking off with BEA and Austrian Viscounts on ground.
Slide 5. BEA Comet/Argosy and Vanguard in background.Air Canada DC-8 to left/Eagle Viscount to right. and tail of an Alitalia Caravelle to right.
Slide 6. 2 BEA Comets/Argosy/Vanguard in background .Sabena Caravelle and BEA Vanguard nearer front.
Slide 7. 2 BEA Vanguards.

A few distant bits and bobs in background.

There was another fascinating Heathrow thread running here going back to the immediate post war period 1948/1955 – lots of marvellous mono pictures of the time I used to be there nearly every weekend! Nostalgia in buckets!!

Definitely Argosy. And the rest of what Charlie said. Apart from the Connie – haven’t spotted that yet.

Never mind the aircraft. I’ve an sneaking suspicion that I’m in the crowd shot!

:applause:

I wish I could find my 1959 shots (Kodak Brownie) that included a very early Comet picture and a York on the ramp.

Moggy

Just a quick glace reveals Caravelle, Trident, Superconnie, DC 8, Comet 4, possibly Argosy. A closer look might reveal more……