Aeropics, I totally agree. You can never get bored watching propliners! They have so much more character!

Ah that explains it! At least it got me into reminiscing about the magical day in 1958, what a Christmas present that was! I must dig out one of my old Air Pictorials which gave a full list of all the aircraft that had diverted both on the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Very unusual looking aircraft Argonaut, a new one on me.

The Viking was parked in a corner of one of the apron’s but there were plently of heavies iaround that day including 707’s, DC8’s and a Royal Air Maroc Connie. I must dig out the negs and scan them!

This rather derelict Viking was parked at Le Bourget in June 1973 (during the Paris Air Show).

Very unusual to see a BEA Viscount at Southend! It wasn’t part of the 48 diversions on Christmas Eve , 1958 was it by any chance? I seem to rember that there were 19 Viscounts in total, most of which were BEA!

Boeing 307 Stratoliner of Airnautic taxiing passed at Le Bourget in June 1963. A poor quality photograph but what an iconic aircraft!

Britiah Midland Viscount about to roll on runway 24 at Southend in 1973.

Good point! I guess the same people who cleared the ashtrays and emptied the toilets!

Bristol Freighter? A Mk32 on (very) final approach to Southend’s runway 06.