London Airport (1958)

Location: London, England / Great Britain
VS Young children playing in a recently built play area at London airport, children in toy rocket and toy helicopter, on climbing frame, slide and seesaw.
VS of and from the observation gallery at the airport. They watch general activity on the tarmac, such as planes taxiing.
LS Swiss Britannia climbing soon after take off. LS Pan of BOAC Stratocruiser climbing soon after takeoff.
MS Woman giving out general information to airport users, talking through a microphone and looking through binoculars. VS Arrivals and departures etc. CU Two boys plane spotting, with a telescope (shot through a telescope). VS General activity, of passengers, visitors and planes taxiing, the boys and sign showing way around the airport.
FILM ID:3134.05
A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT'S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES. www.britishpathe.tv/
FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT www.britishpathe.com/
British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website. www.britishpathe.com/

[@chrispritchard3775]

A massive thankyou when everything and everyone was more honest simple and a lot more civilised

[@brentsummers7377]

Airport tours and viewing areas. And now airports are 100% focused on being shopping malls & if there is any spare money runways might get refurbished.

[@alasdaircook5673]

Even in the departure lounge in T3 you can't even watch the aircraft it is now one big shopping mall as you say

[@mmcbey1401]

I remember being taken there, about 1962. It's such a shame it's not possible to view the aircraft like that any more. Do the authorities REALLY think someone is going to carry a shoulder-launched missile up to the viewing area unnoticed?

[@nigelwilliams9307]

The security at Heathrow is all wrong. If anyone wanted to cause trouble it would be done somewhere on the perimeter road/flightpath.

[@barry5111]

I was there with my schoolfriend Roger. We got a half crown Red Rover each from Kings Cross underground station and together with a free bus map we ended up on the top of the Queens building. I remember the old propeller driven planes before the jets took over. In my seventies I marvel at the way Britain was safe for kids to go off and get lost for the day. Sadly I wouldn't like to see my great grandchildren with such freedoms today.

[@beagle5]

Myself and friends Loved the aircraft spotting, Heathrow was great when you could ,back in the late 60's , I even cycled to Stansted at 14 years old taking 4 hours each way, as many say it was much safer then . Always good to look at past films and Pictures.

[@almuric1baggins337]

This was mine and my younger brother's playground when I was around ten years old! I remember it EXACTLY as the film depicts! Every single Saturday and Sunday we were up there on the roof gardens on top of the Queens building as it used to be called. In the long school holidays, if we weren't in the local (Yiewsley ) swimming pool, we'd be 'going up the airport, as we used to say to Mum. Makes me sad to think of the good old that are now gone for ever! Still, maybe I'm just a grumpy old git now in his sixties, so that's my privilege :)

[@ericlord1796]

I became an aviation enthusiast at airports in NYC. This film brings back memories. Made such an impression when I was young that I made the Air Force my career.

[@antonclark3420]

That viewing platform closed shortly after 9/11. I remember the last time I was on that viewing platform was around 2000 to watch Concorde return after the fleet had been grounded and modified after the Paris Concorde crash.

[@mickboakes7023]

Those were the days. Remember them well. When enthusiasts were catered for, unlike today.

[@jerryconnors8663]

A great video of London Airport and the young planespotters. Reminds me of my youthful days doing the same at Idlewild (now JFK). In 1968 I was on a “pass” while with Pan Am traveling back to JFK on a Saturday. I had some time before so I went over to the Queen’s Bldg, up to the viewing deck. It was mobbed with young & old planespotters. I couldn’t believe this hobby extended across the Pond. And thanks for the vintage film. ✈️

[@sussexflyer6156]

Wonderful memories of my childhood.

[@paulthurlow2396]

That takes me back .Happier days me thinks

[@mickboakes7023]

Spent many happy hours there. It was a day out, with its cafe and shop. Better than any seaside trip. Definitely a step backwards not to have this facility nowerdays. Very few airports cater for the enthusiasts in the U.K. I Remember Gatwick also, with its massive roof viewing area and shop. I would arrive as soon as it opened and be the last to leave at dusk. Those were the days.

[@FIFA_3600]

It's so hard to believe that this was heathrow airport originally called london airport back in the 1950's with a playground, benches as if it was a seaside rather than an airport, it's absolutely extraordinary, unimaginable and unbelievable, wow! wish we could turn the clock back to this time...

[@davidwedlock2622]

My Dad worked for BEA as an electrical engineer at Northolt after WW2. He then moved to London Airport/ Heathrow as soon as it opened. I took up plane spotting at Heathrow in late 1950's. Spent days there alone as a 9 year old .

[@Rasscasse]

Marvellous thank you 👍

[@robharding4028]

The age of innocence !

[@robinholmes571]

Love the kids helicopter ride with the rotating propellers ! Can you imagine that being allowed today !

[@invertmini5996]

I miss the world when it used to be classy and actually style.

[@jimnaylor6009]

Amazing time of transformation. Interesting to see a Panam DC8.

[@davidnavarro4821]

60 years later we still have these machines for kids! Now they’re 70+ years old and probably watching over their own grandchildren in some park!

[@theprior46]

What memories this brings back. The waving bay, and that SPUTNIK thing presumably a children's ride of some kind. Viscounts Constellations all those Turbo Prop aircraft and staff cars parked down near the places the planes park. Those were the days when the worst crime they'd have to think about was whether kids nicked any packets of Spangles from the sweet counter! My Grandmother came back from Holland wearing a trench coat with a poacher's pocket inside and the Customs said "Anything to Declare" and she bawled "OF COURSE NOT" and gave him a filthy look! hahaha she got away with smuggling in bottles of booze!

[@redblade8160]

Cosens-Prior. My mum and I came back from Italy and she smuggled back a live pheasant in a suitcase through customs at Heathrow Airport in 1962.

[@jamesinameti6184]

Hahahahahahahaha

[@strafrag1]

This is a terrific, historic film.

[@gm16v149]

Plenty of big radial engines there until those new fangled jets took over lol. We used to live near the flight path at Brentford when the first 707s flew over, about the time of the film I think.

[@keenahockey9682]

The boys/lads have their hair cut like that now x We used to go there in the 70s I loved it Good Times x

[@bobm198]

Wonderful, in all the times in the 60's, I ever went there in a suit and tie though...superb!

[@florescentadolescent8534]

Wouldve loved to have seen a constellation, so elegant.

[@michaelcobb3347]

As shown in this film, we used to go plane-spotting from the terminal roof and and visit other parts of the airport. Nobody gave a damn let alone asked you to prove your identity or which adult you were with (actually, usually none!)

[@SuperScratch1]

First time I have seen multiple shots of AS57's. What a beautiful aircraft.

[@mikepullen8028]

Good Times✈

[@danieljames2015]

Kids doing normal things, instead of rotting their minds on Social Media.

[@Indoguru26]

That copy of Civil Aircraft Markings - so thin in those days!

[@simonf8902]

Zero jets. Nice Strats and Connies. 1958 was the beginning of the true jet era. Comet made a brief faIled start in 1952.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Pity it's not in sound, imagine the sounds of the Viscount and that DC-4 (or 6) And2:15a BOAC Boeing 377!

[@brianholihan5497]

My first overseas trip began with a non-stop flight from San Francisco to Heathrow. Boarding a regal 747 and getting off on the other side of the Atlantic was magical. No COVID risks--I really took the ability to casually globe-trot for granted.

[@philipsudron]

Aircraft identified include DC 4's, Canadair Argonaut, BEA Vickers Viscount, Airspeed Ambassador, DC 6's, Air France Lockheed Super Constellation, Finnair Convair, BOAC Boeing Stratocruiser

[@andrewchaston503]

Remember it well. Great days..4 years old on the roof of the Queen's building.

[@alanjones6359]

My mum used to take me to Liverpool airport that had a viewing area also she asked someone if it was ok to go into a dakota that was parked up , no problem at all even got into the flight deck , couldnt do that now !

[@birdman4274]

Todays Elf & Safety wouldn't accept that helicopter blade on the kids ride today.

[@elainekerslake6865]

I saw the first Jumbo at Heathrow but my first flight was Luton to Amsterdam late 60s. The small jet flew very low as it was not pressurised. You could see the ground thru a keyhole in an inspection plate in the gangway. Came back in a four prop engine which flew low and real slow all the way making the girls upset. In eighties used to go to Stansted and sit at top of runway turn fence and watch everything in and out ...a real up close experience. Suppose you can't do that now.

[@hughoxford8735]

Memories of a Christian Britain.

[@alasdaircook5673]

Remember visiting this area when I was a kid and my 1st flight in 1961 on a BOAC Britannia from London to Montreal departing from the prefabs just off the A4 road.

[@redblade8160]

Alasdair Cook Were those the prefabs on "Hounslow Heath"; I Remember them? I used to live on the "Woodlawn Estate" from 1962 - 1982.

[@alasdaircook5673]

@@redblade8160 The terminal I went from was on the North side of the Airport. Think there is some prefabs still there between the perimeter road and the A4 . Most of the area is now where the airport hotels are.

[@westonwindsorian]

Wonderful

[@AndreiTupolev]

The film doesn't seem to have been sped up, but those Viscounts didn't half seem to be taxying quickly

[@brianfearn4246]

Fabulous video and a shame that you carnt view aircraft like that anymore. It used be similar at Manchester Airport many years ago.

[@MultiPorkpie]

I was born in 1958 amazing film

[@easydrive3662]

Not a single jet aircraft yet just 11years later the mighty B747 plus other early jet aircraft! How quickly it changed

[@malcolmjawohowelll2892]

Sadly it was terrorism that put a stop to the innocent fun of viewing galleries.and the pastime of kids plane spotting with their i spy book and airband FM radios since then security and making money have been probably rightly ,the main priorities

[@Roland8879]

The BOAC Stratocruiser at 2:14 could have been captained by my father who flew them until transferring to the Comet.

[@JohnnyTheFrog0]

My Father was a Flight Engineer on the BOAC Stratocruiser's, until he went onto the Comet around 1958 i believe. Just like you, i thought, i wonder if my Father was on The Flighdeck of that aircraft!

[@JohnnyTheFrog0]

Just checked my Father's log books and he did a flight with a Captain Manning in January 1959 on the Boing 377 Stratocruiser. Almost certainly your Father i would imagine. My Father went onto Comet later that year.

[@josephinebennington7247]

I believe it all ended when the IRA started their campaign on the British mainland, including blowing up the BT tower. But was never reinstated, although it could have been.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Oh no, there was still one right up until "9/11", when the Blair government did the usual kneejerk "We've got to be seen to be doing something!!" and closed it because I don't know, "Terrorists" might try to leap aboard planes or something 🤷‍♂️

[@trevoraustin6356]

Greed and sod the public, now rules! 🙁

[@nigelwilliams9307]

Why were they allowed to demolish the old control tower?

[@inkats]

It was so nice when we were not overpopulated! Curse the Commonwealth and the excess people we have had to accept..