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Elmdon Airport

Hi Loisand,

No, they are not from the book you mention. They are from a book on Sheldon. That is a nice tribute you pay to Bob Taylor.

Ann
 
That was 'Buster' crabbe,a very well -known navy frogman.Having said he was well-known,I can't remember his full name,but I remember it caused a bit of a diplomatic incident,as it was widely thought that he had been 'done away with' by the Russians,can anybody throw a bit more light on this?The question about the first flights into Eldon were discussed a few weeks ago in the 'my first flight' thread,it was quite interesting,and worth looking up................Mal.

Hi Mallyb2, At the back of my mind I think the 'Buster Crabb' incident was mentioned in the book 'Spy Catcher'.
I think the MOD or whatever it was called then, was interested in the hull of the cruiser 'Sverdolovsk' which brought Bulganin and Kruschev to Britain.
Crabbe went down to check it out and was found washed up and decapitated some time later.
Unfortunately, so it goes.

ladywood
 
Elmdon Airport was originally going to be built at Longmore Road, Shirley, at a cost of £70,000, but the council failed to reach agreement with the owners of the land, the Engineer changed his mind, due to the rapid building of a housing estate in 1930's, they decided that Elmdon would be the preferable site!
 
First photo is of an Aer Lingus DC-3 in 1963. Elmdon to Dublin scheduled flights began in 1949, carrying passengers and freight. Ireland sent us fresh dairy produce, while Birmingham, in return, sent Atco lawnmowers, which were made in Small Heath.

Second photo is a Douglas DC-3 aircraft, about 1955.

Ann
 
How many of you remember this, I have to be honest I don't. I never even got to Birmingham Airport until 1973, and then I was only flying to Jersey.

Phil

The sign post with distance to each destination used to be at the entrance from the Coventry Road to the original terminal. An area of grass divided the in and out roadways and the sign post was in the centre.
When the new terminal was built it moved across being re-erected in the square in front of terminals 1 and 2. I did see it there but the exact location is forgotten.
With all the changes and expansion on the "new " side it has probably moved again. A recent photograph shows it on the pavement by the bus stop shelters though these have moved yet once more with the latest upheavel. (The Airport management say improvement ! but now its more hastle than its worth to attempt to drop or pick up would be passengers and they now charge you for that and charge for a trolley ! )
Rip off BHX, on the make just like most MP's and bank managers all taking our money !!!! but thats another thread.

One sadness though, it had sixteen finger destinations originally, in the latter photo only eleven are evident.

Next time I am in the area, I will have a look and see if it is still about.

Cheers all Don't let tham grind you down
 
Dont know if it has been mentioned in a previous post,but you can still see the original white building when you come into land ! We used to live in Acocks Green and watching the planes at Elmdon was our day out! We used to dress in our Sunday best and go for a picnic.Didnt have much money ,so that was it. The other thing I remember was going to Tamworth castle for a picnic and kicking a ball about.
 
Hi Suze,

So glad someone else remembers going for a picnic at Elmdon. And yes, it was, as you say, a day out. I mentioned it in post 32, on the previous page.

Ann
 
Hi Suze,

So glad someone else remembers going for a picnic at Elmdon. And yes, it was, as you say, a day out. I mentioned it in post 32, on the previous page.

Ann
Sorry I speed read this link...it was simple pleasures in those days.
 
Ann, I was on the phone today with my older sister and she too can remember days out picnicking at Elmdon. They took the bus along the Coventry Road to the terminus, she thinks it was at the Plough, and then had to walk the rest of the way to the airport.

Graham.
 
Graham,

Glad your sister remembers those trips too. There was no bus from Cockshut Hill, where we lived. So we walked all the way to the Coventry Rd. and on, up to the airport. It was part of the fun of the day out. I think! I'll put on a photo of the terminus.

Ann
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Dont know if it has been mentioned in a previous post,but you can still see the original white building when you come into land ! We used to live in Acocks Green and watching the planes at Elmdon was our day out! We used to dress in our Sunday best and go for a picnic.Didnt have much money ,so that was it. The other thing I remember was going to Tamworth castle for a picnic and kicking a ball about.


Hi Suze
It was a good job that you saw the "old" terminal when you came into land
as it still houses the main control tower and the people sitting in the top bit guided you in for a safe landing.
The old terminal is still used apart from the control tower on top.
All the business aircraft and any private, medical and small charter aircraft
passengers and pilots have to pass through the old part.
The parcel freight aircraft (down to one now ) also operates from that side.
The parking apron in front of the old terminal was renamed "Western Apron" when the new bit was opened but just recently they have had a change of heart and are now calling it "Elmdon Apron"

Happy landings R0Y
 
I believe the Air Ambulance and Polce helicoptor are also based there, plus a large maintainence hanger, also there were 2 flying schools some years ago because I had some flying lessons with one called the Warwickshire Aero Centre, the other was called the Birmingham Flying School or something like that, I dont know if they are still there. Also on the odd occasion military aircraft land they are berthed there too. Eric
 
youve made me think,its ages since i saw that signpost.but one thing i will say i agree with you about the rip off, no porters,pay for a trolley , pay to park.even when dropping off and god help you if you are on the short stay and over run the 15 minutes. its disgusting, no black cabs either as they want them to pay too
 
do you remember the flash of the beacon before automated landings. it used to sweep round every 30 seconds or so. i lived in acocks green and could see it
 
I believe the Air Ambulance and Polce helicoptor are also based there, plus a large maintainence hanger, also there were 2 flying schools some years ago because I had some flying lessons with one called the Warwickshire Aero Centre, the other was called the Birmingham Flying School or something like that, I dont know if they are still there. Also on the odd occasion military aircraft land they are berthed there too. Eric

Hi Cookie

Its all changed, progress they call it.
No flying clubs, very few small private aircraft use the place because the charges are over the top. The only based aircraft are now the Police Helicopter and one twin engined business aircraft .
The hangers are empty except for when "flybe" carry out maintenance
on their meduim sized airliners, usually only one in but sometimes maybe two.
No co-ordination or will to get smaller aircraft in with visitors to the NEC
yet the whole idea and original selling point was that the airport, railway and motorway were all next to the Exhibition Centre for easy access.

Oh! I forgot one more based aircraft, kept behind the fire station,
an old rusty fuselage of a Scottish Aviation Jetstream used for rescue practice but its out of sight except from the golf course.

We do get two to three military visitors per week, helicopters, BN Islanders
and VC-10, Tristar , Hercules and C17 heavies from the battle front.

Regards R0Y
 
Hi Roy, thanks for updated info, you mention Police Heli, where is Air Ambulance based then ??. I worked there for a season in late 80s on a/c cleaning for a firm whos name escapes me (MAL rings a bell) and I remember an Army Harrier jet with problems landing, escorted by 2 other Harriers, who peeled off and did not land, and he taxied over to the old airport, the pilot later came into our crew room for a "cuppa" whilst waiting to be picked up.
I also had lessons in a piper tomahawk and the apron was littered with light a/c, what a shame its all changed. Eric
 
Has anyone ever landed in a commercial flight on runway 06/24? I was in a commercial flight (Short 360) probably late 80's and we came in on 24 when runway 15 was in use. I thought the pilot had lost his way, when we started descending. I think they stopped using 06/24 after a light a/c landing on 24 had a near miss with an a/c taking off on runway 15/33, after a misunderstood instruction.
 
Hi Suze
It was a good job that you saw the "old" terminal when you came into land
as it still houses the main control tower and the people sitting in the top bit guided you in for a safe landing.
The old terminal is still used apart from the control tower on top.
All the business aircraft and any private, medical and small charter aircraft
passengers and pilots have to pass through the old part.
The parcel freight aircraft (down to one now ) also operates from that side.
The parking apron in front of the old terminal was renamed "Western Apron" when the new bit was opened but just recently they have had a change of heart and are now calling it "Elmdon Apron"

Happy landings R0Y

Air Traffic control is still located in the old Elmdon building, the taller tower on the East side covers ground operations only.

As you say what is known as GA still uses the 'old' side.
 
Hi Roy, thanks for updated info, you mention Police Heli, where is Air Ambulance based then ??. I worked there for a season in late 80s on a/c cleaning for a firm whos name escapes me (MAL rings a bell) and I remember an Army Harrier jet with problems landing, escorted by 2 other Harriers, who peeled off and did not land, and he taxied over to the old airport, the pilot later came into our crew room for a "cuppa" whilst waiting to be picked up.
I also had lessons in a piper tomahawk and the apron was littered with light a/c, what a shame its all changed. Eric

There are three Midlands Air Ambulance Eurocopter 135's based as follows.

RAF Cosford, Strenshan services on M5 and Tatenhill airfield..

The RAF Harrier put in after a bird strike, not surprising in view of
their role as a low level strike aircraft in support of ground troops.
 
Hi Roy, thanks for updated info, you mention Police Heli, where is Air Ambulance based then ??. I worked there for a season in late 80s on a/c cleaning for a firm whos name escapes me (MAL rings a bell) and I remember an Army Harrier jet with problems landing, escorted by 2 other Harriers, who peeled off and did not land, and he taxied over to the old airport, the pilot later came into our crew room for a "cuppa" whilst waiting to be picked up.
I also had lessons in a piper tomahawk and the apron was littered with light a/c, what a shame its all changed. Eric

Hi Cookie
If you see a red dayglo helicopter its usually the Eurocopter EC.135
"West Midlands Air-Ambulance Service" from Cosford, but quite often the "Warwickshire & Northampton Air Ambulance" Agusta A109 which is based at Coventry ( Baginton Airfield) follows the line of the Coventry Road on its way to East Birmingham / Heartlands Hospital or Selly Oak. This is yellow with a purple tail.
The registrations for these are appropriately :- G-WMAS and G-NWAA.

They rarely visit the actual airport.

Hope you never need one, but they do a grand job.

Regards R0Y
 
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