NEWCASTLE AIRPORT:
75th ANNIVERSARY
by David Gambles
Added to website 29 July 2010
Newcastle Airport is celebrating its 75th Anniversary of operations and today, 26 July, a number of airlines have been assisting the
celebrations by operating aircraft rarely seen at Newcastle. The airport has provided special viewing and parking arrangements on the south
side of the runway close to where the original art deco terminal building is situated. Large crowds assembled to watch the days events which
included the arrival at 10.35am of a KLM Boeing 737 in the original colour scheme from the 1960's.
At 11.10 am a British Airways 747 Jumbo Jet arrived from Heathrow replacing the Airbus 320 normally used on this service and Emirates
Airlines substituted a Boeing 777 in place of their normal Airbus on the daily arrival from Bahrain.
Whilst these aircraft were in place at the terminal, a DeHavilland Dragon Rapide representing the original age of flying, did a circuit
from the airport and landed again at 12 noon to commemorate the exact time the airfield opened in 1935.
All in all the arrangements went well and gave enthusiasts and the public the chance to observe activities at Newcastle Airport, something not
easy these days, since the viewing gallery was closed during the last development phase. The behaviour of the visitors was impeccable and
hopefully will encourage the airport authorities to provide more permanent arrangement for viewing.
Old livery, new plane. KLM B737 on the final approach to Newcastle International Airport.
BA Jumbo Jet flies over Brunswick, north of Newcastle, on approach at 11.10am
The diminutive De Havilland Dragon Rapide approaches from the right to take up a press photo call alongside the two giants.
In anticipation!
The crowds wait patiently for the next event in the programme with the British Airways Hot Air Balloon in attendance in the background.
Heathrow bound at 12.54, over 30 minutes late, but the flight can be done in just over 30 minutes, so passengers hopefully
will be in the terminal at Heathrow on time.
The Jumbo Jet is pushed back from the stand and away from the Emirates 777. The 777 is a large plane, not much smaller than the Jumbo.
The Jumbo is positioned ready to taxi eastwards to the end of the runway where it will take off in a westerly direction dictated
by the prevailing wind which today is from the west.
Before taxiing the Jumbo is held whilst the next flight from Heathrow arrives at the terminal, this time operated by a more usual Airbus 320.
