A FLIGHT down memory lane was enjoyed by 12 former air hostesses who returned to the skies on Friday (August 28) in a Dakota DC3 aircraft - popularly known as a 'Dak'- a type on which they once worked.

The dozen, who flew from Blackpool Airport during the 1950s and 60s, had answered an invitation to climb aboard the 36-seater plane once again as part of the airport's 90th anniversary celebrations.

As they soared above the Irish Sea, courtesy of Captain Richard Blech, the memories - like the champagne - were flowing.

The girls had served with Aer Lingus, Silver City and British United Airways flying to Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Amsterdam. And as they met up with old friends again, it was obvious that it was a job they had all loved. Said Eileen Ball, from Fleetwood, who flew with Aer Lingus from 1961-68: "It was a real glam position but there were a lot of differences compared to these days. We had to do everything and in training were told to treat our passengers as if they were guests in our own home.

"We were also a lot smarter. You couldn't go up in an aircraft until your hat and gloves were on, your hair wasn't allowed to touch your shoulders and make up had to be spot on."

Hostesses then also had to deal with passengers who had never flown before. "Flying was a new thing and people had no idea of what it was all about", explained Margaret Joyce who served with British United Airways from 1964.

"One elderly man put his life jacket on when he sat down because he said he'd read it on the safety instruction sheet. Another woman asked me for a glass of water to put her false teeth in because it had said they should be removed."

Passengers on Elizabeth Johnson's flight were slightly more dangerous, as she explained: "I remember one man opening the escape hatch thinking it was a window, and things started flying out. I couldn't shut the door so I had to move everyone quickly to the front of the plane while we landed."

Elizabeth, from Lytham St Annes, flew with Silver City in the 1950s. She remembers looking after the likes of Jimmy Young and Arthur Askey when they were appearing in the Isle of Man, but added that all the passengers were treated the same with the hostesses talking to each one personally.

Margaret Joyce recalled problems with the aircraft, saying: "It was absolutely freezing in the winter and the cabins weren't pressurised so your ears used to pop. Sometimes the pilots went above 12,000ft, which was a bit adventurous, and we used to call them god botherers. But there was nothing like flying in the Dakotas. You could really say you were flying in those days.

"Whether the passengers were on business or travelling they were excited, so there was always a happy atmosphere. You did get some nervous passengers but you just took them to the cockpit where they could see that there was someone there who knew what he was doing."

For Marion Stoltz, of Lytham, who flew with Silver City from 1961-63, it was meeting people which made the job worthwhile. "It was hard work but a lot of fun," she said. "I wouldn't like to be an air hostess now because people are so different. You couldn't take 36 people up on your own any more, it wouldn't be safe."

Fylde folk will be able to fly in a Dakota DC3 and a De Havilland Rapide this weekend (September 4-5) as part of the airport's anniversary celebrations. Trips cost £25.

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