Video - LGW late 60s

[graham]

Some great footage here of some iconic airliner types

[billsamuels]

Brilliant Graham.

Haven’t heard some of those sounds for years, and years…

Thanks mate…

Bill

[dave]

hi Graham,
thanks for the memories, it was like Forrest's mum said "you don't know what you will get", first thing after exiting the lift, was look over to the cargo sheds, i think it had the local airport feel, especially when you could access the piers, i also remember walking round the right hand pier, to see the light aircraft park...and oh for a digital camera.

stay safe, regards,
dave...

[chrisj]

Yet AGAIN you have gone and done it ! More thanks Graham . It is a pity that some shots show one of the problems at Gatwick when taking photos from what was the viewing area - The sun in the wrong place ( as BR would say) . Thanks Graham , I see some others are available so shall have a look later . Chris

[keefyboy]

Hi Graham - once a month from about mid 68 to mid 71, my mates and I would all meet on Bog Island opposite Arding & Hobbs at Clapham Junction and cycle down to Gatwick via what is loosely the A23. It was about a 60 mile round trip for most of us via Tooting, Streatham, Croydon, Purley, Coulsden - where we picked up a dedicated cycle path that ran alongside the A23 IIRC pretty much all the way to Gatwick. The cycle path is long gone (a bit odd these days and perhaps Mr Khan may bring it back given that he has decimated all of central Londons roads with cycle paths). It was always hard work climbing the hill past the old Croydon airport to Purley and the other obstacle was Redhill which was a massive pain on a push bike - but we were young and fit. Anyhow I seem to recall we always tied our bikes up somewhere under the north end of the sole terminal and near to the light aircraft/exective park. There was always a Jetstar or 2 and the odd Sabreliner. There were several occasions when we cycled round to the southside hangars - on at least one occasion we just wandered into the hangers which were stuffed with Morten Air Services Herons and Doves and a few others.

We always did the roof gardens and what I loved were the really exotic colour schemes of airlines like Atlantis with their DC 8's and 9's. I know when we first started - Gatwick was rammed with DC3's, Brits and Ambassadors and the Canadians were always there. Does anyone remember the Beehive?
Cheers
Keith

[graham]

Hi all, thanks for the comments and the memories. A time long ago but we're all old enough to remember it and as tends to be the case, times back then were better than current times in so many respects.

My memories of Gatwick from those far off days are of walking along the pier, seeing all the BEA Comets parked below, the light aircraft and biz that were usually parked up, Court Line 1-11s, BCAL and Donaldson B707s and of course, the visitors from across the pond, Saturn, Overseas National, Trans International and the rest of them. Heathrow always provided the numbers but Gatwick always had the exotica. Oh to have owned a camera in those days.....