Interesting Story.............

Gatwick South 14th May 1988

The photo of Airbus A320 G-BUSB which may be like a red rag to a bull possibly since it is in early British Airways Livery, which I would sympathise with. I flew on this three week old aircraft on Saturday 14th May 1988 to Heraklion Crete ( I thought I was supposed to have flown in a British Caledonian DC10-that was the aircraft designated when the holiday booking was made a few weeks previously and somewhat surprised on check in to find I was flying in an Airbus). I had one of the engineers seats at the back of the aircraft and was seated next to a charming British Caledonian stewardess (who s name eludes me) who informed me that this was a three week old aircraft, flown by a computer!!!- (cutting edge technology in 1988), and that this aircraft was originally designated for British Caledonian  ( This aeroplane I have since discovered was the 6th one built-last count was about 3,700 have now been built to date). Although all the crew were in British Airways uniforms, the rear section ( the can as it is generally known as) was staffed by British Caledonian flight attendants whereas the front section (Fist class) were staffed by British Airways flight attendants and clearly the British Caledonian attendants were proud of their of the British Caledonian heritage.
  ( The aircraft went to USA in 2008 and is in the process of being (recycled) ie scrapped.) .
 
I  used to fly from London to Scotland quite a bit on business in the mid seventies and remember flying on the BAC 111s- ISLE OF ISLAY and ISLE OF ARRAN (have no idea what the registrations were and much preferred the service by Britcal to that given by BA, clearly I was in the right section Of G-BUSB

Thanks to Chris Hamilton for the photo and letter.