I think I heard that it was captured by UK forces, photos about of UK troops stodd in front of it. The plan was to export it but I think it was not cleared by higher authourity and was left in Iraq. Apparently looting of war prizes was frowned upon by higher eschilons.

Looking great, congratulations. Is this the same place as the long standing microlight strip? Went there a few years ago and it was not enthuiast friendley. Or it it on a nother part of the original field?

http://axis.classicwings.com/ gives it as Nord 1002 c/n 163 ‘D-EFAG’ and previously HB-OAR, D-EHUX, D-EAOR,D-EACS formerly at Frankfurt (where I saw it) and Berlin.

Rob

I have had Aerodata for 10+ years and just use it for logging. It is very up to date and comprehensive. Only drawback is that it has not be developed for years so doesn’t have anything more than basic search routines. It is very much construction number driven, for instance you can not produce a historic register, or historic airline fleet list from it.  I would be tempted to switch to something that was more searchable but as up to date. 

Yes they were recorded, however they wern’t always kept. Back in the 40’s-60’s airports nationally were mostly run by the Ministry of Civil Avation, MCA. They did record movements but mostly only kept them only for 5 years. When I was reasearching Blackbushe (MCA airport 1947-60) I found nothing. However some of LGW , and LHR movements books from around 1960 onwards can be found in the Surrey History center in Woking, or could 10 years ago. The Gatwick Aviation Society has a very complete record from 1958 I believe available fi you are a member?

Yes spotting, as in number collecting, is a dying hobby. There are young people taking photos, but not numbers. I find many of those do not have anywhere the depth of knowledge of the number takes as its more about getting a good photo, that what the subject of the photo actually is. 

Yes note taking of military aircraft was very much frowned upon in the 50’s/60’s. Of course cameras were banned at RAF displays until the late 50’s(but not at USAF and FAA ones!). I have a friend who was in the RAF in the 50’s and he had to to to great lengths to disguise serial taking on duty. Particually when faced with training at St Athan and being faced with trying to record dozens of rotting Mosquitos, Spitfires and the like!

Yes defo the Queens building at LHR. Too early to be me. Nowadays us spotters are more likely to on a phone seeing what is on its way.

There were N437GB, N138FS, N15MA, N705GB DC-3’s plus a Canadian Basler conversion, and  Convairs N345GS,N145GT, N343GS. These were the old pistons but there was also a pair of YS-11’s and a pair on An-12’s. I first went in 1990 and is is unrecoginisable today.