Dublin Flight in the Early 90's.

squonk

This is an odd one probably but I'm sure there are a few here who might have an idea on how to answer this!

I went to college in DCU from 92-96. Around about 94/95 I used to hear a turboprop that was very loud take off from the airport most nights about 3 or 3:30 AM. It was unusual as mostly the traffic was jets. It was also before the days of Aer Aran and FlyBe etc. I remember seeing what I assumed to be the same plane do a flyover around that time of the morning around the Lesson St. area round about 97. I'm not living near the airport anymore but I've often wondered what the flight was. AFAIR it was one of the few aircraft using the airport at that time of night. Anyone have any ideas?

marketty

Would it have been the Air Contractors Hercules by any chance?

Strumms

I don't remember ACL having a Herc around that time frame but I'm open to correction. It could have been the ACL / Hunting Electra or perhaps the Emerald Electra, did it have 2 or 4 engines ?

Blue Punto

More than likely to be the Electra

Just a note
It wasn't before the days of Aer Arann
They are around a lot longer than people think

Simon Gruber Says

Maybe the Heavylift Shorts Belfast?

squonk

Some great ideas there folks! Thanks a million. After having seen a Hercules on approach to Shannon it was definitely something like that. Could have been the electra. I imagine it had 4 engines because from DCU I was able to hear it taxiing out and then accelerate for takeoff. It was some noise. Admittedly the nighttime is quieter so sounds carry further but I alwasy looked forward to hearing it.

Strumms

squonk wrote: »

Some great ideas there folks! Thanks a million. After having seen a Hercules on approach to Shannon it was definitely something like that. Could have been the electra. I imagine it had 4 engines because from DCU I was able to hear it taxiing out and then accelerate for takeoff. It was some noise. Admittedly the nighttime is quieter so sounds carry further but I alwasy looked forward to hearing it.

I think for the brief period that the ACL Herc was operating ( a few years later though i think) a scheduled service ex-DUB it was a 5.30 am arrival and a 6.30 pm departure.

So im still guessing the Electra... otherwise prop wise can only think of the Shorts or an ATP possibly... The Electra was a beautiful aircraft.. i loved being up close and personal with them alas no more...

I lived in Glasnevin and in the dead of night you can hear the hum of the airport activity as in APUs running and so forth so when an aircraft actually takes off or even just starts up you can hear it for many miles so i can imagine how impressive the big Electra or Herc would be

Razor44

It was the heavy lift Belfast id say, used to come in nightly, afaik,my dad worked for service air at the time and they used to unload it and the electra on the same shift. The electra was in earlier in the eve. The belfast came in in the middle of the night. It would look alot like a herc.

de biz

Possibly the Vickers Merchantman operated by Hunting Cargo Airlines for DHL.

Razor44

de biz wrote: »

Possibly the Vickers Merchantman operated by Hunting Cargo Airlines for DHL.

DHL would have been using jets by the mid 90s no?

folbotcar

I worked for Hunting Cargo Airlines at the time, '96-97. You most probably heard one of our Electras which were regulars. The Herc was used more for ad hoc charters. It could randomly have been the last Vickers Merchantman (Vanguard). The one now preserved in Brooklands. That was a regular into Dublin at that time until it was retired to the museum.

At least one of the Hunting Electras is now with Buffalo Airways of Ice Pilots fame.

Great aeroplanes the Electras when they weren't breaking down.

folbotcar

Razor44 wrote: »

DHL would have been using jets by the mid 90s no?

Hunting were contracted to DHL at the time using 727s. They also carried TNT packages using two TNT logo'd 727s. EI-PAK and EI-SKY.

The 727s and Electras were in use at the same time.

EAT of Belgium also used 727s. They were painted in DHL colours.

Razor44

Thanks for all the info guys glad i posted in this thread now

I cant remember which of them it was but did one of the electras come in from kolne aswell?

Growler!!!

Was it the old ELAN Argosy?



As a child I saw it parked up on the westair ramp in shannon.

man98

I'd love to see a return of some of these.

EICVD

Razor44 wrote: »

Thanks for all the info guys glad i posted in this thread now

I cant remember which of them it was but did one of the electras come in from kolne aswell?

The Channel Express electra's done the UPS SNN-DUB-CGN flight, was 2 a night IIRC, would of been the late 90's, replaced by the Channel Express A300 & then the Star Air 767.

smurfjed

I always thought it was an Electra, the sounds of the aircraft would carry over most of north Dublin, it was incredibly unique.

Looking back over the picture of the Argosy, I guess that some of us did live in an great era, we got to watch/listen to the Britannia and CL44, the Electra's, Bristol 170's etc, they were truly amazing, and a lot more fun to watch that A320's

fingal raven

smurfjed wrote: »

I always thought it was an Electra, the sounds of the aircraft would carry over most of north Dublin, it was incredibly unique.

Looking back over the picture of the Argosy, I guess that some of us did live in an great era, we got to watch/listen to the Britannia and CL44, the Electra's, Bristol 170's etc, they were truly amazing, and a lot more fun to watch that A320's

We were lucky indeed, don't forget the Sat night newspaper Air Atlantique DC-6, the star of them all. What variety there was back then, now almost everything looks the same. When the Cityjet 146s go there will be even less variety.

folbotcar

Yes I remember the DC-6, lying in bed you could hear it rumbling away into the distance. A very evocative sound. The only place you can hear it now is probably the Canadian North or somewhere in South America.

Of course I'm old enough to remember seeing Constellations, DC3s, the CL44, Viscounts and all sorts flying into Dublin airport. You really don't appreciate them until they're gone.

stopthepanic

HS-748's were a regular cargo work horse in Dublin in the late 90's. 2 or 3 used to come in each night operating mail flights. Emerald Air were the operator. not sure if they went were operating in the early 90's.

man98

Once the Avro is gone the CS100 (hopefully) will be a new visitor into Dublin. At least there's still the nightly ATP from Coventry, which I've only ever seen on FR24.

smurfjed

DC3s,

Clyden Airways Dublin, i had made and painted airfix models in the their colours....

CS100

Where is the excitement in that?? Are they still building it

squonk

Thanks for all the info! I'm glad I started the thread now. I knew someone out there might remember a thing or two but I didn't expect quite the amount of feedback! Thanks a million! I'm delighted I was around to hear that aircraft. I've kinda figured it must have been the Electra now by the descriptions. If I remember it started taxiing after 3, so maybe about 3:10 AM or so and I'd hear it in the air around 3:15/20. The sound, as I've said before, was fantastic! You really got a sense of power from those engines. I think the sound is something that'll always stay with me.

Kumsheen

Growler!!! wrote: »

Was it the old ELAN Argosy?



As a child I saw it parked up on the westair ramp in shannon.

10 years too late for that, they were gone by the mid 80's.

I'd say it was most likely an Electra you heard, there were lots of them around doing freight in the early 90's.

Another noisy prop would have been the piston engined DC6. But this was more an ad-hoc visitor.

folbotcar

DC3s, Clyden Airways Dublin, i had made and painted airfix models in the their colours....


Quote:
CS100

Clyden Airways, I remember that one. But no I go even further back than that, seventies time frame. As for the modelling DC3s Airfix have brought out a new updated kit this year. I very nearly bought one recently when I saw it in the shop. I fancy one in Aer Lingus colours.
As for the CS100, there was a time when I knew every aircraft there was. Now I'm going to have to google that one. I'm guessing a 737/A320 lookalike bland as a Boeing.

smurfjed

My present boss got his command on a DC-3 at the age of 22, i love listening to his stories, he started flying the 747 in 1985 and is still flying them at the wonderful age of 67-ish I would love to document his stories, but alas they would cause chaos

folbotcar

I think most pilots have stories that would cause chaos. 😊 I know I have a couple. 😎