Magnificent Machines on Land & in Air!

By NEIL HODGSON

VINTAGE aircraft will fly into Liverpool next month when the city’s airport celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Hundreds of visitors are expected to flock to John Lennon Airport for the two day event on June 28 and 29 that will mark JLA’s aviation history.

Attractions at Speke include a Dragon Rapide vintage aircraft, similar to the De Havilland Dragon that made the first flight from Speke to the Isle of Man on July 3, 1933.

A 1940s eight-seater De Havilland Dove, a familiar visitor to Liverpool in the 40s, 50s and 60s, is also booked and both aircraft will provide pleasure flights.

An RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, featuring a Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota DC3 will stage a fly past on June 29.

Free transport from the city to the former Speke Airport site, now the Liverpool Marriott Hotel South, will be provided by vintage buses.

The old XL 171 Airporter bus has been pulled out of storage by the Merseyside Transport Trust and is being renovated by bus company Arriva to ferry pleasure flight passengers to check-in points.

Other high-lighights will be a photographic exhibition and access to the Marriott balcony used by thousands of Beatles fans to welcome the Fab Four back from their 1964 American tour.

The weekend event has been organised by The Jet stream Club and the Friends of Liverpool Airport (FoLA).

FoLA spokesman Graham Ward said: “Liverpool JLA is so busy as an airport they haven’t the time to organise these things so their first port of call is us and we are happy to help.

“JLA have also given us a budget for the event. They have been tremendous.”

Liverpool is one of the oldest airports in the UK and a celebratory dinner to mark the 75th anniversary has also been arranged at the Marriott Hotel on July 4. For details please visitwww.fola.org.uk

neilhodgson@liverpoolecho.co.uk

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