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Post by okami on Jan 6, 2009 11:05:13 GMT -5
I've been thinking... (Usually, any post of mine that begins that way turns out into some kind of disaster...  ) Recently I was 'over London' (in the sim), when I saw a DC-7C go into London City (EGLC) - an airport that wasn't even there until 1987 or '88. But it made me think about another airport that isn't anymore: Croydon (EGGC). Even though there are some packages for Croydon on places like Avsim, it doesn't look as though anybody has done one for the post-War airport, as it looked in the '50s 'till it's closure in 1959. From what I gather, it must have been a pretty busy place throughout the '50s, especially with Gatwick (EGKK) closed for expansion works through 1956 to 1958... |
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Post by johnl on Jan 6, 2009 12:25:25 GMT -5
...when I saw a DC-7C go into London City (EGLC)  - that must have been very exciting for all involved. I bet watching it take off again was even more interesting! ;D |
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Jan 6, 2009 12:43:50 GMT -5
That will be changed to Heathrow in the next traffic update.  |
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Post by Adrian Wainer on Jan 6, 2009 16:46:52 GMT -5
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Post by okami on Jan 6, 2009 18:11:49 GMT -5
One of the things that strikes me as odd is, that while just about all sources about Croydon state that it was a grass-strip airfield, a quick search on Google Earth shows what seems to be a surviving piece of paved or tarmaced runway to the eastern border of the former airfield... (search for "Imperial Way, Croydon" - it's just south of that road, next to Purley Way...)
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Post by Adrian Wainer on Jan 6, 2009 20:49:46 GMT -5
One of the things that strikes me as odd is, that while just about all sources about Croydon state that it was a grass-strip airfield, a quick search on Google Earth shows what seems to be a surviving piece of paved or tarmaced runway to the eastern border of the former airfield... (search for "Imperial Way, Croydon" - it's just south of that road, next to Purley Way...) It probably started off as a grass strip but I doubt it was still a grass strip by the 1950s. The internet is great source of mis-information. Best and Warm Regards Adrian Wainer |
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Post by okami on Jan 7, 2009 2:16:33 GMT -5
Yeah, I kinda doubt it as well, especially as toward it's end as an airport, types as large as the HP Herald landed there... Edit: I did find some evidence to support Croydon was a grass airport after all. A search on www.abpic.co.uk did result in following picture of an IL-14 at Croydon in 1958 - www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1021088/ - with accompanying description: This East German built Il-14 was at Croydon for an avionics fit....an unusual visitor to this grass field.The only logical explanation I can think of now for the piece of tarmac visible on Google Maps, is that Croydon's runways were, like some other grass-strip airports, equipped with paved/tarmaced runway ends. Apparently, Gatwick too was, before its 1956-'58 refurbishment, a grass-strip airport. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2009 11:54:52 GMT -5
I'll admit to thread creep at the outset... What a fascinating discussion, though! And what a shame Croydon is no longer open - we'd have liked to take G-APSA in there! In 2008 we landed at two grass airfields (Goodwood and Middle Wallop) and London City (just like your DC-7). You can see photos of these operations on our website at www.thedc6.com. There's a great shot by Andrew Simpson of us landing on the docklands runway at LCY on the front page (wait for the images to fade). There's also a shot on the "Schedule" page of the runway taken from the cockpit. Right. Thread creep over. As you were... |
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