"from logs to blogs" - Elmdon over the years

1971
****************************************************************************************************************************
Highlights of 1971 - 9G-ABO VC10 Ghana, YR-AMO An26 Tarom, ZS-SAD B707 South African, HK-1267 & HK-1347 Viscounts, LN-MTA YS11 - the one and only visit of a YS11 to BHX
****************************************************************************************************************************
Jan 02 - G-AVGP Bac111 Cambrian , EI-ASF B737 Aer Lingus & 9G-ABO VC10 Ghana AW LHR divs
Jan 11 - OY-BDN Pa31
Jan 28 - D-IETT Pa23, XV270 Beaver
Jan 30 - G-AVRL, G-AVRM, G-AVRO, G-AXNB & G-AXNC all B737's Britannia Luton Diversions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb 02 - N8283F C402, G-AWKX Beech 80 & LN-RLW DC9 SAS
Feb 05 - XP805 Beaver
Feb 08 - D-ILKA Beech 90
Feb 10 - I-DIMU DC6 SAM, G-APDG Comet Dan Air
Feb 12 - F-BLLU Marquis
Feb 14 - EI-ATY Hughes 369
Feb 15 - D-IFUM Lear Jet 24
Feb 16 - G-AYLW Beech 100
Feb 18 - LN-VIP Be100, XP819 Beaver & G-ARUJ P166
Feb 25 - XR635 Scout
Feb 26 - I-DIMB DC6 SAM, D-IOGE Lear Jet 24 & CP-31 C119 Belgium AF
Feb 27 - G-AVOI HS125
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mar 01 - G-ATYC Beagle 206
Mar 04 - F-BPJF Beech 55, F-BOJL C337 & G-APDO DH106 Comet Dan Air, XR136 Argosy (ILS runs)
Mar 05 - N8803T C182 & F-BJGL Beech 55
Mar 06 - XR367 Alouette
Mar 07 - G-ATZC B707 British Caledonian
Mar 08 - OY-STT DC6 Sterling
Mar 09 - SE-DBN DC9 SAS & XT124 Scout
Mar 10 - G-AWDT DH114 Heron, G-AYLW Beech 100 & XP808 Beaver
Mar 11 - XT617 & XT804 Scout's and G-APDJ DH106 Comet Dan Air
Mar 15 - N6645Y Pa23
Mar 16 - LN-MTA YS11 Mey Air (first and only visit of type)
Mar 21 - EI-AVF C337 & N8855Q SR2 Thrush Commander
Mar 22 - G-AWYH AC200D
Mar 24 - G-ASYY Aero 45
Mar 25 - D-ICAZ C310, OO-LFC C421 & XV272 Beaver
Mar 26 - XT186 & XT137 Sioux

Dan-Air Comet G-APDJ - photo Terry Lee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apr 01 - I-DIKG DC9 Alitalia, N720F Gulf 2, SE-DBN DC9F SAS, XT645 & XW614 Scout's,
Apr 01 - D-IFVH Pa31
Apr 02 - D-ICAZ C310 & F-BKXT C320
Apr 03 - I-DIBK DC9F Alitalia & EC-BQQ Cv990 Spantax
Apr 04 - G-AXGX B707 BOAC, D-ANNO Bac111 Bavaria
Apr 06 - LN-RLW DC9F SAS
Apr 07 - G-AYAG B707 Lloyd Int
Apr 08 - XP967 Alouette
Apr 11- D-ALFA Bac111 Bavaria & EC-BQA Cv990 Spantax
Apr 13 - XT505 Sioux
Apr 15 - PH-IND Beech 90 & G-ASUU DH114 Heron
Apr 16 - G-ALBM DH104 Dove & EI-ASV Pa28R
Apr 17 - EC-BXI Cv990 Spantax
Apr 18 - D-AMUC Bac 111 Bavaria
Apr 19 - PH-CGD Cv640 Martinair
Apr 20 - OY-STS DC6 Sterling, 4X-FAA N2501 Noratlas Isreali AF (ILS run)
Apr 24 - XP351 Whirlwind RAF, PH-MAO DC9F Martinair
Apr 25 - D-ANAT Bac 111 Germanair
Apr 26 - XR601 Scout Army
Apr 27 - I-DIKF DC9F Alitalia, XP769 Beaver Army
Apr 28 - XR379 Alouette Army
Apr 30 - D-IFUM Lear Jet 24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 03 - K-16 DC3 Belgium AF, D-IFLA Cessna 411
May 06 - XT211 Sioux Army, N9449 Cessna 172
May 07 - F-BNLG C310
May 10 - N6112Y Piper Pa23
May 11 - 180 N2501 Noratlas French AF, 50+27 C160 WGAF, YR-AMO An26 Tarom
May 14 - 53+42 N2501 Noratlas WGAF
May 15 - G-AWKJ Bac111 Channel Airways
May 16 - D-ALLI Bac111 Bavaria
May 17 - RM-5 Pembroke Belgium AF
May 18 - XP855 Scout Army
May 19 - N228W RC680V
May 20 - LN-FOL DC6 Fred Olsen, EI-AOD Cessna 172
May 21 - RM-12 Pembroke Belgium AF, XS520 Wessex Royal Navy
May 23 - LN-SUX Fk28 Braathens SAFE, D-ILDE LJ24
May 24 - LN-RTK C310, D-CGJH Falcon 20
May 25 - XN132 Alouette Army
May 26 - F-BSTS Beech 80
May 29 - I-DABP Se 210 SAM, LN-FON DC6 Feed Olsen, G-AYZE Pa39
May 30 - LN-SUN Fk28 Braathens SAFE, EC-BTE Cv990 Spantax
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 01 - EC-BDC Se210 Iberia, D-ELVD C172
June 03 - XV772 Wessex RAF, HB-GDV Beech 90, XR378 Alouette Army
June 04 - HB-GEA Beech 55, YU-AJB DC9 Inex Adria (Ist visit)
June 06 - PH-MAO DC9 Martinair, LN-SUY Fk28 Braathens SAFE, G-AGJG DH89 Rapide
June 07 - OO-CTK DC6 Pomair, D-ILKA Beech 80
June 09 - OY-APC B720 Maersk Air
June 11 - HB-AAW Fk27 Balair, N1000 Gulf 2, N10AS Beech 18, D-IAAS Cessns 414
June 12 - XS520 Wessex Royal Navy, YU-AHX Tu134 Aviogenex (1st visit)
June 13 - F-BRIO Beech 55, D-AILY Bac111 Bavaria, XT206,134,193,242 Sioux's Army
June 15 - XK895 Sea Devon Royal Navy, XP769 Beaver Army
June 17 - KY-2 DC6 Belguim AF
June 18 - HB-LDG Pa23, XP824 Beaver Army, OO-ALM Jodel, F-BMMC Beech 80
June 19 - YU-AHJ DC9 Inex Adria, YU-AHY Tu134 Aviogenex (1st visit), EI-AVD Pa30
June 22 - N6201V Beech 35
June 25 - CF-AZM BN2A, N7349W Pa28
June 26 - 0-76043 Beech U8D US Army, D-CAHA DH114 Heron
June 27 - YU-AJA Tu134 Aviogenex (1st visit), N9617V Mooney 20
June 28 - G-AZAV Cessna 337
June 29 - OO-SID RC680, D-IAAS Cessna 414
June 30 - D-IEWR Piper Pa23

Volpar Turboliner N10AS - photo Will Blunt

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 01 - F-BORJ DH104 Dove, VH-WJD Pa30
July 02 - N6201V Beech 35, G-AYWI Trislander, CF-PWR L100-30 Hercules Pacific Western, F-BOHS Pa23
July 03 - YU-AHW DC9 Inex Adria (1st visit)
July 04 - G-ANCH Britannia Monrach Airlines
July 06 - G-AYSI B707 Britannia Airways (1st visit), PH-DNS DC9 KLM, F-BNLG Cessna 310
July 07 - OO-LFD Cessna 310, LN-MTV DC6 SAGA
July 08 - OO-LME Jodel
July 09 - EI-AUF BN2A, I-DABP Se210 SAM
July 11 - EC-BTE Cv990 Spantax
July 12 - D-IHPA Beech 95, OY-APC Fk27 Maersk Air, HB-LCO Cessna 337, SE-EMT Pa28
July 13 - D-IDHS Sa226, D-IHDA Beech 95, XP805 Beaver Army
July 14 - CP-18 C119 Packet Belgium AF
July 15 - G-APAV Bristol 170 Midland Air Cargo, K-8 C47 Belgium AF
July 16 - C-1 Fk27 RNAF
July 17 - EC-BSQ DC7 Spantax, G-AGOS Desford
July 18 - PH-PBF Fk27 Dutch Royal Flight
July 19 - N4907C DC8 Capitol, F-BRSM Cessna 402
July 20 - D-IHUX Pa23, N720F Gulf 2
July 22 - N8776 DC8 Capitol, N360WT Gulf 2, XT618 Scout Army
July 23 - XW628 Scout Army
July 29 - F-BNPR Piper Pa23
July 30 - HB-VBL Falcon 20, WJ945 Varsity
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aug 01 - G-ASGE VC10 BOAC, EI-AVD Pa30
Aug 04 - EC-BID Se210 Iberia
Aug 06 - D-EOMI Navion
Aug 07 - EC-BFJ Britannia Air Spain, G-AOVF Britannia Donaldson, I-DABG Se210 SAM
Aug 09 - HB-VBZ HS125, F-BLLY Marquis, OY-APC Fk27 Maersk
Aug 11 - HB-GBX Beech 55, D-AISY Bac111 Bavaria, EC-BDC Se210 Iberia, D-IHPA Be55, 5N-AEM Pa23
Aug 13 - D-AILY Bac111 Bavaria
Aug 14 - LN-SUN Fk28 Braathans SAFE, F-BMSY Pa24
Aug 17 - 50+78 C160D Transall WGAF, XN132 Alouette Army
Aug 18 - F-BPJF Beech 55, G-AMZN DH104 Dove, D-EMPK Cessna 210, EC-BIF Se210 Iberia
Aug 19 - N4908C DC8 Capitol
Aug 21 - N804U DC8 Capitol
Aug 23 - EI-ARS DC4 Aer Turas
Aug 24 - CP-40 / OT-CBT C119G Packet Belgium AF
Aug 25 - OY-BKI Piper Pa23
Aug 26 - N88B Lear Jet 23
Aug 29 - F-BMSY Piper Pa24 Comanche
Aug 30 - N14109 Piper Pa27
Aug 31 - D-IKUW Beech 55

Lear Jet 23 N88B - photo Roy Kesterton

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sept 02 - XV632 Wasp Royal Navy, XT551 Sioux Army, XR628 Scout Army, G-ALCS Gemini
Sept 03 - F-BRSP Piper Pa23
Sept 04 - N8761Y Piper Pa30, I-DABV Se210 SAM
Sept 05 - EC-BBK DC6 Spantax, N1350F Cessna 172
Sept 07 - F-BOHS Pa23, N8915Q S2R Thrush Commander
Sept 10 - XT137 Sioux Army
Sept 11 - WJ945 Varsity, F-BNPN Pa23
Sept 12 - OY-BCO Nord 262 Cimber Air
Sept 13 - OY-STO Fk27 Sterling, XV272 & XP825 Beaver's Army,
Sept 14 - LN-NPC HS125
Sept 17 - OY-FAV Piper Pa23
Sept 18 - G-APNA Britannia Donaldson, HB-ELG Sf260, F-BIQJ Jodel, N1603U Cessna 207
Sept 20 - XR385 & XR360 Scout's Army, G-ATAH Cessna 336, G-APCY Auster
Sept 21 - N93M Gulf 2, D-IELB Cessna 411
Sept 23 - D-CASU Hansa Jet, G-AYEL Bell 47, D-IMSH Beech 90, D-IHGF Pa23
Sept 24 - F-BLLU Marquis, G-AXZL Beagle 206
Sept 25 - G-ANCH Britannia Monarch (Luton diversion)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oct 01 - XJ319 Sea Devon Royal Navy, OY-DFD Mooney 20
Oct 02 - G-ATBH Aero 145, I-DABL Se210 SAM, EC-BXR DC8 Air Spain
Oct 06 - F-BOEY Beech 55, OY-AGP Cessna 401
Oct 07 - F-WLKE Nord 262, PH-DNS DC9 KLM, G-ASPA DH104 Dove
Oct 08 - ZS-SAD B707 South African, EI-ANV B707 Aer Lingus, G-AVFE Trident BEA all LHR diversions
Oct 09 -G-AWNU BN2A
Oct 11 - G-AWYG SC7 Skyvan
Oct 12 - CP-14 C119 Packet Belgium AF, XT764 Wessex RAF, G-ASGR VC10 BOAC - LHR diversion
Oct 14 - D-IETT Piper Pa23, XM517 Britannia RAF
Oct 16 - D-IELB Cessna 411
Oct 17 - XT117,181,194,195,542,561 all Sioux's Army, XM489 Britannia RAF
Oct 19 - F-BJTI Se210 Air Charter Int
Oct 20 - N228W RC690, 60-5387 Beech U8D US Army, 66-16377 UH-1D US Army
Oct 21 - XR232 Alouette Army
Oct 22 - XT148 Sioux Army
Oct 23 - VP976 Devon RAF, D-EFNU Cessna 172
Oct 24 - XL660 Britannia RAF
Oct 25 - G-AXFE Beech 90
Oct 27 - D-IKOR Beech 90, 5Y-AHE Cessna 337
Oct 28 - HK-1347 Viscount
Oct 30 - HK-1267 Viscount, XM491 Britannia RAF
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nov 01 - 5B-DAB Trident Cyprus AW, D-ABEP, D-ABEY B737's Lufthansa, OY-KGC DC9 SAS,
Nov 01 - G-AWZI Trident BEA all Heathrow diversions
Nov 02 - G-ASGF, G-ARVI VC10's, G-ARRB B707 all BOAC - Heathrow diversions
Nov 04 - XM491, XN404 Britannia's, XV106 VC10 all RAF
Nov 05 - XL640, XL636 Britannia's, LN-FON DC6 Fred Olsen, XR443 Heron Royal Navy
Nov 06 - G-AYMB BN2A, N8918Q Snow S-2C
Nov 07 - XW614, XT648 Scout's Army
Nov 08 - XR379 Alouette Army, XJ319 Sea Devon Royal Navy
Nov 09 - N228W RC690, 66-16377 UH1D US Army, D-IKOR Beech 90
Nov 10 - XV732 Wessex RAF
Nov 11 - OO-VDF C47, OO-CTK DC6 both Delta Air Transport, N711Z Jetstar, XT552 Sioux Army
Nov 12 - G-ALWH Prince
Nov 16 - G-ALBM DH104 Dove, G-AVCI Beagle 206
Nov 17 - WJ902/C Varsity RAF (ILS run)
Nov 18 - G-ATHO Beagle 206
Nov 19 - G-APWH Herald BIAS, G-ARYU Cessna 320, G-ARFZ DH104 Dove, G-ASZF B707 BOAC (ILS run)
Nov 21 - 84001 C130 Swedish AF
Nov 22 - XT153 Sioux Army, G-APPX Viscount Air International
Nov 23 - XV268 Beaver Army
Nov 24 - 4X-FAV N2501 Noratlas Isreali AF (ILS run)
Nov 25 - LN-SUL Fk27 Braathans SAFE
Nov 26 - WL671 Varsity RAF (ILS run)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec 02 - G-ARPB, G-AWZK, G-ARPD, G-AWZF,G-ARPN, G-ARPW, G-ARPI, G-AWZL, G-AWZE,
Dec 02 - G-AVFK, G-AWZH, G-ARPZ Tridents BAW all LHR divs plus others.
Dec 05 - 9 diversions from LHR including 6 X Tridents
Dec 06 - G-AYEP HS125
Dec 18 - G-AVTW B707 BCAL
Dec 19 - N803WA DC8 World
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Credit - Simon Neville and 'the "2Rs" Roy & Roger

Introduction

"from logs to blogs"

A look back in history at Elmdon airport, Birmingham. Starting at 1955 and ending at 2010 when the bhx movements blog was started. It has been born from the passion of our more senior members to retrace history. A log of the more interesting movements will be built up, accompanied by photographs. If anyone has old logs and/or photographs and wishes to share them, please make contact with Ian or Mick.

We have also added special events, e.g the Kings Cup air race, G8/NATO summits, Ryder Cup Golf, Football finals, Accidents & Incidents to name but a few.

Credit to the following publications, 'A celebration of Birmingham International', 'Past, Present & Future', 'Birmingham International Airport'. Also to the various photographers over the years.

Acknowlegements: Ian Farquarson, Mick Farley, Roger Chapman, Roy Kesterton, Andrew Jones, Simon Neville, Nigel Osborne, Phil Cross, Peter Collins, Alec Wilson, Simon Butler, Tony Green, Terry Lee, David & Sue Shephard, Coptercrazy, Kevin Farley, David Miller, Tim Newman and to everyone else who has sent in information.

The early years

Birmingham (Elmdon) airport opened for business on 1st May 1939. Although 800 acres of land were available to develop the airport only 215 acres were initially used. The cost of buying the land was £130,613, £28,314 for preparing the site, £144,647 for buildings, roads and equipment and £18,861 for lighting. A further £39,181 was expected to be spent on additional land. The whole project was expected to cost £361,816. Three grass runways of 3000ft in length plus a fourth at 4,700ft were in use.

The first arrival was Swallow G-ACXE, the first scheduled arrival was Great Western & Southern Airlines Dragon Rapide from Liverpool and Manchester, leaving for Brisol, Southampton, Ryde and Shoreham. Next arrival was Railway Air Services DH.86 Neptune from Croydon on route to Liverpool, Belfast and Glasgow.Sadly the onset of war curtailed further schedules from materializing.

The ceremonial opening was carried out by The Duchess of Kent on the 8th July 1939. Other dignitaries consisted of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Air Minister Sir Kingsley Wood plus 60 invited guests. Sadly the weather spoilt the opening with heavy rain and a low cloud base, prevented most aircraft from arriving. The air display to celebrate the opening consisted of Fleet Air Arm Skuas, C.40 Autogyro, Piper Cub, 8 Spitfires, Blenheim, Lysander, Hurricane, Whitney, Blenheim and Hampden bombers. Other visitors included the DH.95 Flamingo, DH.86, Rapides, Dragon and Dragonfly.

The war and post war years

Two months after the opening Elmdon was requisitioned by the Air Ministry and all civil flying ceased. The 14th Elementary Flying School for the RAF and Fleet Air Arm took up residence with Tiger Moths. Close by Austin built a factory on the North side of the railway line. The factory was used for the final assembly of Stirling bombers and later Lancaster bombers. The aircraft were towed to the Elmdon site via a bridge over the railway line for test flying. The grass runways had been replaced by two concrete ones. The airfield stayed under military control until 1946 when it was handed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It was the late 1940's before scheduled services re-commenced again. A number of small companies operated flights to destinations such as the Isle of Man, Isle of Whight,the Channel Islands, Blackpool and Weston-super-Mare. A variety of aircraft were used on the flights from Austers to Dragon Rapides. British European Airways (BEA), controlled all domestic traffic and gradually took over the more profitable routes. 1949 saw the first international route to Paris, operated by a BEA Dakota G-AHCU. The service was poorly supported and other Continental routes were ruled out. In 1949 Aer Lingus introduced a service to Dublin again using the Dakota, EI-ACL operated the 1st service. In contrast to BEA woos, the Dublin service proved to be a great success.

The 1950's

Despite the poor support for the Paris service, new services were gradually introduced using Dakotas to Belfast 1950, Jersey 1950, Glasgow (via Manchester) 1952, Edinburgh (via Glasgow) 1953, and Northolt 1953. Again services were poorly supported resulting in cancellations or additional stops. From 1953 the Paris service originated from Manchester and saw the Dakota being replaced by Airspeed Ambassadors on the route.

In 1954 BEA replaced the Ambassadors with the Vickers Viscount on domestic services and its International route to Paris, cutting the flight time to just 75 minutes.
1954 saw Aer Lingus also replace the Dakota with the Vickers Viscount, flight time on route was 50 minutes. By 1956 BEA had introduced the Viscount on new services to Dusseldorf and Zurich. However the downside of Viscount services to the Continent was Elmdons runway length, it could not support fully laded operations. During 1958 the runway was extended by 800ft and Continental services suspended, re-commencing in 1959 when the extension was completed. Over the coming years flights were added to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Basle and Milan.

The 1960's - the jet age

On April 2nd 1960 Birmingham City Council took over the running of the airport. Lost was the name Elmdon Airport to be replaced by the name Birmingham Airport. 1961 was a significant year, the first jet airliner visited Birmingham in the shape of an RAF Comet, born was the jet age. 1962 saw the arrival of the first BEA Vanguard, the biggest aircraft to use the airport, but could not operate fully laden. Again a decision was taken to extend the main runway to 7400ft to allow jet operations, the extension was completed in 1966. This allowed scheduled airlines and tour operators to introduce jets on its flights from Birmingham, approx 300 jet flight were to operate that summer, including BUA BAC 1-11's and Spantax Coranado's. The first jet to use the extension was a BEA Trident from Heathrow, flight time 15 minutes. 1966 had also saw the introduction of scheduled flights to Amsterdam, flown by KLM using the Lockheed Electra, replaced by the DC9 in 1967. 1967 also saw BEA start serving the Malta route with Comets. Also during that year Air France commenced Caravelle services to Nice, while Iberia operated to Palma with the same aircraft type. 1967 also saw Birmingham's first trans-Atlantic flight in the shape of a Caladonian Britannia diverted in from Montreal. Later that year saw the first BOAC B707 to visit the airport arriving from New York with freight. Another new jet type to grace the tarmac was Seaboard World Airways DC'8s operating from Chicago with freight. 1969 saw the viist of the 1st BOAC VC10 G-ARVE to promote the airlines new service to New York.

The 1970's-The I.T revolution

The 1970 saw the commencement of a four times summer only weekly service to New York via Manchester. The service struggled to attract passengers and was routed out via Prestwick. Finally in 1973 the route was pulled due to massive losses. The inclusive tour market was really picking up with large numbers of charter airlines being seen at Birmingham on a reguar basis. Flights were operated to Mediterranean hotspots and the USA. An impressive list of Airlines operated the flights including, Air Malta, Air Spain, Aviaco, Aviogenex, Balair, Braathens, Cyprus Airways, Inex-Adria, JAT, SAM, Spantax, Trans Europa and World Airways, plus several British companies. Types used included BAC 1-11's, B720's, Britannias, Caravelles, Coranado's, DC-7's, DC-8's, DC-9's, Tridents, TU134's and Viscounts. The terminal was now bursting at the seams at passenger figures soared to 1 million per year. Urgent action was required to extend the terminal. During the winter of 1972/3, Birmingham became a major diversion field for flights diverted away from the London airports. 45 diversions were handled in one day alone with others being turned away. As a young lad I would go down a help load the coaches with bags as the terminal was at bursting point. On many occasions the short runway would be lined with diverted flights.1978 saw the first visit of type in the shape of a B747 belonging to Qantas, VH-EBH. Followed the next year with scheduled flights to Toronto with CP Air.

The 1980's-the supersonic era

1980 saw the visit to Birmingham of the first supersonic airliner Concorde, an Air France example F-BTSC operated a charter flight. This was soon followed by British Airways examples operating pleasure flights for those who wanted to sample supersonic flight. BEA despite its dominance in Birmingham soon began to struggle, many flights were withdrawn at the start of the decade. 1982 saw Air India operating twice weekly services via Moscow to Delhi and Amristar using B707's. These services lasted to 1984 before being withdrawn. Passenger figures continued to soar and ended the decade at 3.5 million. A new passenger terminal on the east side of the airfield close to the railway station and the National Exhibition centre was given the go ahead in 1980 at a cost of 29 million. The terminal was handed over to the airport on the 11th January 1984, while the 1st departure was on the 22nd March of that year when a BEA BAC 1-11 departed to Bordeaux. The open day and airshow was held over the weekend of 28-30 May 1984 in pouring rain and gales just like the opening of the original terminal way back in 1955. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the new complex on the 30th May. After the opening of the New terminal, International operators started to open up new routes including, Air France, Iberia, Lufthansa, KLM, Swissair and Air Canada. 1987 saw a two week strike that closed Manchester airport for two weeks, Birmingham handled 618 extra movements during this period, which equated to 60,00 passengers.

1996 EU Summit

EU Summit May 6th-7th

May 06 - 93-7026 C650 TuAF, T-18.1 F900 SpAF, 102001 Gulfstream 4 SAF, 0125 Falcon 20 RDAF,LX-GDL C550, 249 Gulfrstream 3 IAC, OE-GCI C550, 034 FA50 FAF, D-CDEN LJ31, HB-VJI LJ31,17+02 VFW614 GAF, SX-ECH F900, MM62012 DC9 IAF, C-1 F27 RNAF, CS-01 HS748 BAF, ZD704 HS125 RAF, 17403 FA50 PAF, 27 FA50 FAF, 240 BE20 IAC, 78 FA50 FAF

May 07 - TF-DCA BE90, 12+04 CL60 GAF, LZ-D-050 TU134 BuAF, 0420 TU154 Czech AF, LN-VIP LJ55, 0601 TU154 Slovak AF, 038 YAK40 PAF, C-3 F27 RNAF, N31LJ LJ31

1996 European Championships

VILLA PARK (Holland v Scotland v Switzerland)(Croatia v Czech R)

Jun 10 - G-AZPK B146, F-GCVM SE210, D-ABNX B757 Condor, G-MAJS A300 Monarch,OO-VLE FK50 VLM, F-GNEM DC10, OO-OLJ B737, OO-IBL JS31, PH-HVG B737 Transavia, G-BUPS AT42, PH-OZA B737, G-BVOV HS748, PH-AHI B757 Air Holland, G-MOND B757 Monarch, G-BIFH SH30, N186AT L101 American Air Tran, D-ADUP F27, TF-ABH L101 Air Atlanta, PH-DNB FK50 Denim Air, C-8 FK50 NAF, OO-IBJ JS31, PH-HVF B737 Transavia, G-MONS A300 Monarch, PH-OZB B737, G-ZAPG SH60, D-IAAV C441, PH-RAZ SW4, PH-FWM MU2, PH-ATM BE20, PH-GYN PA31, N9210Y PA31, PH-FWC C406, OY-CKY Falcon 20, D-ICSM BE20, D-IAMU C421, PH-ECO PA31, OY-JRS B190, PH-IDA PA31, PH-PTE PA31, PH-ABD PA31, PH-DAE PA31, OY-JEO SW4, OO-DFE C421, PH-JMV PA31, PH-PTC PA31, OY-AUP SW4, F-GMRD BE58, D-COOL LJ55

Jun 13 - PH-MCF B747 Martinair, G-MONX A320 Monarch, PH-HVT B737 Transavia, OO-VLE FK50 VLM, PH-AHI B757 Air Holland,PH-IDA PA31, PH-RAZ SW4, PH-BRN B350, D-IHLK C421, TF-ABH L101 Air Atlanta, G-CEAP L101, OO-KNM C441, PH-XPI PA31, PH-HBB TB20, G-MOND B757 Monarch, G-UKLJ A320 Air UK, F-GOMA B146, G-BWJA B737, G-MONC B757 Monarch, HB-IIB B737, HB-ILJ F27, HB-IUH MD81, G-BPND B727, OY-JRS B190, PH-MCT MD11 Martinair, PH-FWC C406, OY-JEO SW4, PH-DNB FK50, HB-INS MD80 Swissair, D-IAMU C421, N528WA C210, N9095Y PA32, OO-ILJ B737 Air Belgium, PH-MFX C650, PH-ABD PA31, HB-VIS C550, PH-DAE PA31, OY-EBA F27, PH-TKC B757 Transavia, HB-VIC C501, G-OBWA B1-11 BWA, G-AYOP B1-11 BWA , PH-MCS MD11 Martinair, N9210Y PA31, F-BPVG B747 Air France, PH-JOE C425, OY-NPB SW3, D-ICSM BE20, HB-IIC B737, PH-ECO PA31, PH-GYN PA31, PH-EEF PA31, D-AITH C414, PH-PRM PA44, I-FFRI LJ24, N541JA BE60, HB-VJZ C560, PH-AIJ PA34, PH-MCH B767 Martinair, PH-HVN B737 Transavia, PH-PTE PA31, HB-LQJ PA34, PH-ATM BE20, OY-BJT SW4, G-OZBA A320 Monarch, OO-VLN FK50 VLM, EC-261 C525

Jun 18 - HB-INR, HB-ISX, HB-IUH MD82 Swissair, HB-IKM MD83, EI-TLB A320, HB-VGS Citation,F-GFBO BE90, MM62153 G222 IAF, HB-IJE A320, OE-LRS DHC8, HB-VKP, HB-VLE C550's, F-GILJ B300

Jun 21 - OK-TCD TU154, OK-VCP TU154, OK-BYA CL60, OK-BYV IL62, OM-AHK B727, CS-ATG FA20, CS-TEQ B737 TAP, D-AIAH A300 Lufthansa, OO-LFL C441, N6315X C421

1998 G8 Meeting

May 15 to 17th
May 01 - 86-8019 C-5B
May 06 - RA-96012 IL96
May 10 - RA-86710 IL62
May 11 - 159357, 159351 VH-3D, 71-0924, 70-01626, 73-1648 MH-53J
May 12 - 86-0015 C-5B, RA-78817 IL76
May 14 - 159351 SH-3D, 82-8000 VC-25A, 72-7000 VC-137B, 20-1102 B744 JAF, 20-1101 B744 JAF , C-FTNL L101 Air Transat
May 15 - RA-86710 IL62, RA-96012 IL96, RA-86561 IL62, 15005 A310 RCAF, F-RADA A310 FAF, OO-LFR LJ25, F-RAFQ F900 FAF, 12+04 CL60 GAF, MM62013 DC9 IAF, 85-6973 VC-137B, N350JF LJET, N117AH WW1224
May 16 - 159351 VH-3D
May 17 - F-RAFL FA50 FAF, F-RADA A310 FAF, RA-78817 IL76, 66-0149 C141B, 86-0022 C-5B, RA-78835 IL76
May 18 - 86-0019 C-5B

1999 EUFA Cup Final

VILLA PARK
May 19 - N73M G5, D-AWDL B146 WDL, I-LIAC FA20, G-OMJB BH06, I-SNAX F900, N560MM C550, I-SNAW F2TH, I-LIAD LJ35, I-AROO C550, I-AVJE LJ25, D-IRKE C525, T-18.1 F900, EC-FQX L1329, EC-GNK F2TH, D-IHHS C525, C-GTSR L101 Star A/L, CS-TEB L101 Air Medeira, D-AHFK B738 Hapag Lloyd, D-AWUE B146 WDL, EC-FXY, EC-GVI MD83 Spanair, EC-GHM B762 Air Europa, EC-GRX, EC-HCN, EC-HCP B734 Futura EC-GUO, EC-HAN B734 Air Europa, EC-HBC B738 Air Europa, EC-HCR A320 Iberworld, EI-CEK, EI-CMM, EI-CMZ, EI-CNR, MD83 Eurofly, EI-COJ B734 Air One, EI-CRD B763 Eurofly, EI-TLE A320 Britannia A/W, EI-TLT A320 Trans Aer, F-GKLJ, F-GSEA, F-GSUN B747's Corsair, F-GKTA B733 Air One, F-GPVC DC10 Air Liberte, F-GRSE A320 Star A/L, I-DACR MD83 Alitalia, I-DEMN B747 Alitalia, I-DUPE MD11 Alitalia, N242GD B734 Blue Panorama

2002 Ryder Cup Golf

Belfry
Sep 20 - LX-PRS C550, SE-DVP DA10, N910JW F900
Sep 21 - N300K GLF5, N800PM GLF2
Sep 22 - EC-HGI C550, CS-DNY C560, N326K F900, C-FIDO LJ60
Sep 23 - G-EVLN GLF4, N521DB B727, HB-VHV H25B, G-OMAK A319, N326K DA900
Sep 24 - N1125S G150, D-ISCH C25A, PT-SUC E135, C-FIDO LJ60, N331P GLF4
Sep 25 - N777KK GLF4, HB-VIS C550, HB-VMH C550, N521DB B727, PH-HMA C550, N82RP F900
Sep 25 - N252JS GLF5, G-LCYA F900, EI-WGV GLF5, EI-CVT GLF4, N404QS GLF4
Sep 26 - N170SW GLEX, N330FX CL60, EI-WJN H25B, CS-DNR F2TH, N2518M WW1124
Sep 26 - HB-IUX F900, CS-DNJ H25B, CS-DNR F2TH,N90AM GLF5
Sep 27 - N255CC CL60, HB-IBQ FA50, HB-VJI LJ31, N122RS GLF4, N777KK GLF4, N176CL F900, G-RIBV C560
Sep 27 - N178HH GLF3, N436QS GLF4, HB-IVN F2TH, EI-PAX C56X, N601WM CL60, N119CS C525
Sep 28 - G-BJIR C550, HB-IUT GALAXY, G-LCYA F900, EI-CVT G-4, N418QA G-4, VP-BKZ GLF5
Sep 28 - N132JC GALAXY, N900VL F900, N501PC GLF4
Sep 29 - N500LS B737 BBJ, N275NM C750, N200UP FA50, N96UT FA50, HB-VHV H25B,N590HM GLF4
Sep 29 - HB-IBG F900, N436QS GLF4, EI-RNJ H25B, OY-LJG LJ45, HB-IVM F2TH, N750NS C750
Sep 29 - G-POAJ CL60, N46WC H25B, D-COKE LJ35
Sep 30 - N403QS G-4, HB-VNI C56X, HB-IUX F900, N368CE B733, N40DK LJ55, EC-FZP C525

Birmingham's 70th Anniversary

9th September 2009
A6-EDE Airbus A380861 Emirates Airlines
G-ADND de Havilland DH-87B (Marked W9385.)
G-AERV Miles M.11A
G-AGTM de Havilland DH-89A Air Atlantique Classic Flight
G-AKWS Auster 5A/160 (Marked RT610.)
G-ARGY Piper PA-22160
G-ATSR Beech M35
G-AWFP Rollason CondorD.62B
G-AWFZ Beech A23-A19
G-AYTR Menavia CP.301A
G-BBMO de Havilland Canada DHC-1 (Marked WK514.)
G-BCDJ Piper PA-28140
G-BFHP Champion 7GCA
G-BKJB Piper PA-18135
G-BNVB American Aviation AA-5A
G-BROR Piper J/3C 65
G-BTZX Piper J/3C 65
G-BVAF Piper J/3C 85
G-CBEF Scottish Aviation SA.120T.1 (Marked XX621.)
G-CHAP Robinson R44
G-MOOV Czech Aircraft Works SportCruiser
G-UTSY Piper PA-28R-201

Accidents and Incidents

March 5 1960 -A Douglas C-47A (registration G-AMSF) operated by Don Everall Aviation crashed on takeoff from Birmingham International Airport due to engine failure; all three crew and 28 passengers survived, but the aircraft was written off.
9 January 1973 - A Viscout of British Midland Airways G-AZLR suffered a landing accident at Elmdon Airport, Birmingham during a positioning flight from Leeds.As the aircraft touched down the port main undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft skidded along the runway and slewed off to the left, and onto the grass. There was no fire but the aircraft was very close to the runway and the airport was closed. It was only a positioning flight crew and all on board were unhurt. After an extensive investigation it was determined that the port undercarriage leg was not locked down properly. This showed in the cockpit but no blame was attached to the crew as they had noted the unsafe cockpit light and checked the port wing indicator before they landed which showed it was in a safe position The mechanical indicator on the port wing had frozen solid overnight at Leeds and broke when the undercarriage was retracted, thus giving false information to the crew. The aircraft returned to service after repairs.
29 November 1975 - The accident occurred when the aircraft returned at night to its home base after an international private flight and the pilot attempted to make a landing in fog. Three unsuccessful approaches were made using the Instrument Landing System (ILS) but on each occasion the pilot made an overshoot.
After initiation of the third overshoot the aircraft lost height and struck the ground 670 feet to the right of the runway and 4,800 feet beyond the threshold. The aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. All four occupants lost there lives.
The report concludes that the reason for the loss of height could not be determined but in the light of the handling pilot's medical history it is considered possible that he became incapacitated and that the other pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft.
21 March 1985 - Cessna 150 G-AZHF crashed on to a warehouse roof while making an emergency landing to runway 15 at Birmingham. The flight from Prestwick en-route to Coventry initially diverted to Liverpool due to a low pressure oil warning. After rectification 'ZHF' carried on to Coventry, as he approached Birmingham the pilot declaired an emerency with a rough running engine. While attempting to land on runway 15 all power was lost and the pilot initiated a landing in the dark on to a football pitch. At the last momement the pilot stalled the aeroplane in an attempt to land on the football pitch, but caught a tree and was cartwhelled in to the warehose roof. The pilot walked away with minor injuries, the cause of the accident was fuel starvation due to empty tanks. The pilot had not accounted for the diversion to Liverpool, taxi etc and ran out of fuel.
27 November 1985 - C404 G-BKTJ belonging to Donington Aviation Crashed on take-off from Birmingham Airport (BHX/EGBB), Elmdon, Birmingham, West Midlands on route to Norwich Airport with a crew of 1 and 11 passengers. Of the 12 persons on board, 4 were seriously injured, the aircraft came to a stop in an alotment at the end of the runway.
The subsequent AAIB report attributed the accident to accumulated icing on the wings and flying controls. This prevented the aircraft from gaining sufficient airspeed to gain altitude and climb away from the airport.
4 January 2002 – A Bombardier CL604 Challenger business jet crashed on take-off from runway 15 at Birmingham. The aircraft with registration N90AG was on lease by AGCO corporation and was carrying two company executives, two pilots and an observer. After arriving from Palm Beach International airport the previous evening, the aircraft was parked overnight at Birmingham where ice formed on the wings due to the cold weather conditions. The following morning the pilots did not request de-icing of the aircraft before their flight to Bangor airport in Maine. The ice on the wings caused one wing to dip on take off, the aircraft inverted, crashed into grass beside the runway and caught fire. There were no survivors. Sleeping pills taken by both pilots the night before the crash are thought to have been a factor in reducing the pilots' judgment.
23 February 2006 – Mahan Air Airbus A310 operating a flight from Tehran, Iran, was involved in a serious incident while on approach to Birmingham International Airport. The aircraft descended to the published minimum descent altitude of 740 ft despite still being 11 nm from the runway threshold. At a point 6 nm from the runway the aircraft had descended to an altitude of 660 ft, which was 164 ft above ground level. Having noticed the descent profile, Birmingham Air Traffic Control issued an immediate climb instruction to the aircraft, however, the crew had already commenced a missed approach, having received a GPWS alert. The aircraft was radar vectored for a second approach during which the flight crew again initiated an early descent. On this occasion, the radar controller instructed the crew to maintain their altitude and the crew successfully completed the approach to a safe landing. The accident investigation determined that the primary cause was use of the incorrect DME for the approach, combined with a substantial breakdown in Crew Resource Management. Three safety recommendations were made.
15 June 2006 – A TNT Airways cargo B737 300 made an emergency landing at Birmingham with damaged landing gear.The aircraft, registration OO-TND, had been flying from Liege in Belgium to Stansted. Due to poor visibility at Stansted the flight diverted to East Midlands Airport As the weather at East Midlands was also poor, the aircraft performed a full autopilot approach. During this approach the autopilot momentarily disengaged causing it to deviate from the course. The aircraft hit the grass to the side of the runway, which caused the right main gear to detach. The crew initiated a go-around, declared an emergency and diverted to Birmingham. After it landed on Birmingham's main runway, the airport was closed for a number of hours. The pilots were unharmed. However, the company ascribed the incident to human error and both pilots were dismissed.The official report into the accident highlighted a number of factors contributing to the accident - poor weather forecast information; a message passed from Air Traffic Control to the aircraft at an "inappropriate" time; the pilot accidentally disconnecting the autopilot when attempting to respond to the message; the pilot losing "situational awareness" and failing to abort the landing.
19 November 2010 – A Cessna Citation aircraft, registration G-VUEM, crashed at Birmingham Airport during final approach in thick fog. Reports from West Midlands Police were that there were two casualties, one critical. The aircraft was bringing a human liver from Belfast airport, for a transplant operation which was subsequently completed successfully.The airport reopened at around mid-day the following day.
21 September 2012 - A Monarch chartered jet skidded off the runway at Birmingham Airport when it touched down from Nice in the South of France this afternoon.The Aurela Boeing 737 LY-SKA, leased to Midlands-based Monarch Airlines by the Lithuanian operator. The packed flight ZB 467 careered off the tarmac after it touched down in heavy rain and the runway was closed. All flights were suspended for more than two hours while airfield emergency services assisted the crew to evacuate the aircraft. Its wheels overshot the runway and got stuck in a grass verge alongside the tarmac. A spokesman for the airport confirmed that there were no injuries among the passengers on board the 23-year-old jet leased by the Midlands-based airline.“We are working with Birmingham Airport to move the aircraft and is fully assisting with the authorities. As a standard precaution emergency services have attended the aircraft,” she added. Heavy lifting gear eventually towed the stricken aircraft away from the vicinity of the runway, two hours after it had touched down.

Local Airfields

Castle Bromwich Aeroplane Factory - The City of Birmingham III Spitfire.

As the Second World War approached, the Air Minister (Sir Kingsley Wood) asked Lord Nuffield (William Morris) if he would establish a new shadow factory to produce aeroplanes. This was to be built between Fort Dunlop and Castle Bromwich airfield. Construction commenced on 14 July 1938 and an initial order for 1,000 Spitfires was placed on 12 April 1939.

Castle Bromwich Aeroplane Factory was then the largest of its kind in Britain.

It covered 345 acres and employed 12,000 people. The site plan shows main offices, drawing offices, tool rooms, stores for finished parts, areas for the assembly of wings and fuselages, and covering of tailplanes and fins, drape shops (for covering of parts including petrol tanks), canteens, surgeries, sports and social clubs, and power-generating plants.

During March 1940, Vickers-Armstrongs was placed in charge of the factory. The factory built somewhere between 11,555 and 11,939 Spitfires, over half of the total number produced. Often 50 Spitfires a week were made with a peak of 320. In 1941, 200 Avro Lancaster Mk II bombers were ordered, by the end of the war 300 Lancaster of various marks had been built. Fifty Seafire 45s were also made.

In 1943, a bomb was dropped on the factory, causing some production to be dispersed to other sites around the Midlands. There had been a fatal bombing at the factory on 13 August 1940, in which six workers were killed.

When aircraft were completed, they were towed across the main Chester Road to the airfield where they were flown by test pilots and delivered to the RAF by Air Transport Auxiliary pilots. Alex Henshaw was Chief Test Pilot from 1940 to 1945, personally putting more than 10% of the aeroplanes produced through their paces, and providing some spectacular air displays with Spitfires.

Post war...The aeroplane factory was closed in 1945 and became a car factory. It was first sold to Fisher and Ludlow Ltd, which was acquired by BMC in 1953. Later, it became part of Jaguar. Part of the original site was also bought by Dunlop to extend their premises and house their research programme.

source:ForcesWarRecords.

June 1951 and Birmingham was chosen for a trial service linking Birmingham and London. Three flights a day with tickets costing £2/10s single, or £4/10s return.

Helicopters operated from a dedicated site on a recreation ground in Hay Mills, 3 miles from the city centre.

Flight Magazine described the Hay Mills ‘RotorStation’ as “two asphalt touchdown points and a small wooden traffic building.”

The daily flights stopped at Northolt Airport, West London, before reaching Heathrow.

Authors of a university paper, Martin Dodge and Richard Brook are puzzled by the location of Birmingham’s heliport.

“It was only a couple of miles away from Birmingham’s existing airport at Elmdon,” The location probably matched the ‘make do’ circumstances of the time, contingent on available land that was vaguely suitable.”

The grand plans were scaled down somewhat. The journey from Hay Mills and Northolt took 70 minutes in a Westland-Sikorsky S-51 copter, which could only carry 4 passengers.

Under used and propped up by Government subsidies, the passenger service was scrapped in April 1952.

Costs were high and operating precautions severe.

"from logs to blogs" - Elmdon over the years

Elmdon Building

Blog Archive

Contributors