actually seeeing all these classic airlines and aircraft is cool wish they were still here

How awesome! My dad was based there as a DC-9 Captain with Southern/Republic, and I remember many trips with him as a little girl to the old terminal to turn in his bid sheet & hang out in the crew lounge. Great memories!

That old Delta livery was top notch. They should go back to it or something similar.

Awesome Atlanta Airport footage from 1980. I flew out of the old ATL terminal in February 1977 on Delta JFK-ATL DC-8-61 connecting to Delta ATL-Orlando L-1011. Then one last time Feb 1980 Eastern L-1011 LAX-ATL connecting to Eastern DC-9 ATL-RIC-LGA. I didn't realize how congested the airport was at that time. Thanks for posting this snapshot in airport/airline history. 👍

This is early 80's aviation porn! Love it!!

You captured N8148N, an Eastern 727. The day after Christmas in 1988, a score mark on the fuselage, made by a maintenance person probably years before, caused a tear in the outer skin as the plane was in route to Atlanta from Rochester. The plane suffered a decompression from the 14 inch hole that blew out of the side of the aircraft. It made an emergency landing in Charleston with no injuries.

Those are some real jets

The old super 8 mm film had to be transferred to video tape and then I had to transfer the video to my computer's hard drive. I then used a video editing program to add a music track. Very simple actually. Glad you enjoyed it !

Having grown up near Atlanta and my mom being a Eastern Flight attendant since the late 60's I remember flying out of the old ATL airport very well. In many ways it was better than it is today. Much easier to get around.

As an Atlanta native, this brought back lots of memories. Hard to believe this was 40 years ago. I love your work

One of the absolute best vintage aviation videos i have ever seen!!!! I was just a year old in 1980 when this video was shot!!!! Absolute love it and so many legendary and so missed airlines in this video like Eastern oh how i wish they were still around,and Piedmont 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

The BEST observation deck!!! SO close to the Piedmont 737's, walking to the aircraft from the gate in freezing cold temps, the closeup view of 1011's and A-300's nosed in - in the terminal overlooking the hangar. Flew in there a lot standby with Eastern as my Father was an employee.

What a find! A GREAT memory from my days growing up in Georgia! I may have actually been on one of those Eastern flights departing ATL. WOW! Southern Airlines (by then under Piedmont's guidance). And the airport itself, then a major hub for most flights. Only two terminals IIRC. Now, ATL is this sprawling complex, and damn impossible to get around even changing flights. It's a shame that you can't just go to the airport and watch planes takeoff and land anymore with our state of security .

By 1980 this airport was a hot mess. As the video shows it was horribly over crowded. There was a definite need for the new mid-field terminal. You would sometimes have to walk from one end to the other to make connections. I liked seeing the Republic name on the Southern and North Central aircraft. Piedmont, Republic, all memories now.

Thanks for the compliments. My father took me to the airport that day just to watch airplanes. Best entertainment around if you ask me. Too bad so many observation decks have closed.

What a great video! My earliest memories of ATL date to 1983 or so; I don't remember the old terminal at all. Thanks for capturing the end of an era; looks like the almost-finished new midfield terminal complex is visible in the background a couple times, and I love the Republic DC-9 still in Southern colors.

Absolutely stunning! Amazing piece of nostalgia! The soundtrack fits all too well! I miss these days. Long live the widget and the great giants, Eastern, Braniff.

Atlanta had 3 runways at that time. This was 4 months before the new terminal opened in Sept 1980. I started working for Delta in August of 1980, and was part of the moving crew to set up the new airport. We moved everything in just 2 nights. It was amazing to think how much traffic the old building handled. It was built in 1961 to handle 4 million passengers per year. At this filming, it was handling 43 million/yr. The tarmac looks like a cluster for sure, and for good reason!

My favorite airport when I was a kid, I loved the hustle and bustle of it all. RIP Eastern

Love this video! I was born in the mid-80s, so I obviously never saw the old terminal. It's cool to see the empty new midfield terminal in the background of many of the shots as well (only months before it opened)....just waiting to relieve the congestion.

a wonderful trip back through time. Thanks

WOW! great nostalgia. Thanks for sharing this!

Great film, thanks for posting. I first visited ATL in 84, to interview for Delta. By then, Southern and Republic had been merged, but EAL was still a big presence. I wish I hadbeen to the old terminal. It's awesome to see so many tail engined jets (L1011s, B727s and DC-9s) in the video.

Great video!! THis is fantastic... wonderful memories. Thanks for posting.

Ah the good old days in Hotlanta, I was a F/A for Eastern from 1976 to 1989 based in SJU and MIA. Flew on L-1011's most of the time out of SJU, out of MIA & FLL flew on them all DC-9's A-300's 727-200's 757's. Miss the smell of Jet-A and going places on the heavy metal birds. 😎

WOW....I have been looking for some vids of my 'childhood airport ' forever...thanks for putting this up!

This certianly brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for posting!

God _ I miss EASTERN!!

Great Classics....I love the DC8-62 at 2;40 to 2;51 and the Dobbs catering truck..Thanks for sharing!

Nicely done! Footage of airport ops from years gone by are too rare. Thank you for posting!

Amazing time-capsule...thanks for posting this.

Thanks again for posting and sharing. Fond memories. It was a great time to be a kid avgeek. My heart still skips a beat seeing Piedmont Airlines. Never would have thought technology advancements would have replaced all the commercial aircraft DC9-30s, etc....Now retiring 747s. But that technology for the benefit of public safety. I thank God I was around to enjoy the airlines when they were fun with diverse aircraft and trademark branded airlines. The airlines and the airline professionals allowed a kid to dream and forward accomplish goals.

Love this video. I grew up in Atlanta and flew out of the old Heartsfield Airport many times, especially in the late 70's when I was in the military. How I miss that rotunda!

Great footage! I can't even imagine the engine noise back then with all of the tri-jets and DC-9s. It certainly had to be the best sound in the world!

Fantastic! Thank you for posting!

Great stuff! Thanks for putting this up.

Living in Tampa, I've connected thru ATL many times dating back to the early 70s. AARC the Delta gates all had boarding bridges whereas Eastern's did not. And it was great seeing all the 727s and L1011 Tristars. Believe it or not until they were retired Delta flew the Tristar between TPA and ATL. Amazing such a large aircraft for such a short flight.

Second to none! Thank you!!

That was great video, loved it!

Golden age for airlines & the fascination of travel by planes So many carriers and aircraft tyoes

this was nice to watch...thanks

Thanks for sharing this! I had my first flight in 1973 at age 14, from Atlanta to Ft. Myers. And I was traveling alone. One of the most memorable experiences of my life.

The L-1011 was a huge plane. it was almost as wide as it was long! As for Piedmont Airlines, does anyone remember when one of their jets attempted a crash landing on a highway in west Georgia, near Carrollton or Douglasville?

Bravo, the airport now looks so different, but it´s amazing, I love to ride the train between concourses, It´s so organized.

Music kills all the action. Want pure engine noise.

Man , Lockheed L-1011s. Haven't seen one of those in 15 years. FedEx still is flying the look-alike DC-10 as is the Air Force refueling wing based at McGuire AFB in New Jersey. Thank you very much for posting this SD'.

WOW....I never knew what the airport looked like BEFORE it took on it's INTERNATIONAL role. Amazing. Good to see Eastern Airlines in the video.

Flown on L1011 from San Francisco to ATL on Oct 1980 to basic training at Fort Jackson , SC. Nice airplane

I remember those rotundas at the end of the Delta terminals! I flew a Delta L-1011 from the old terminal to Houston on July 20,1977. Still got the ticket haha

Boy, that brings back memories. I was there. Helped open midfield for Eastern Airlines.

The present day terminal opened in Sept 1980. You can really see the overcrowded conditions at the old terminal.

I worked the ramp for eastern in the early 70s at hartsfield,this brings back a lot of memories.

Oh cool these are sounds from garage band. And nice video buddy. love it. The good old days ya? hehe

Nice film thank you for sharing so you've been doing this for some time some? Nice catches and Atlanta with a lot of merger transition liveries Frontier in the Saul bass livery and BI.... I'm just curious has Atlanta had more l-1011 operations than any other Airport?

@kingward100 The old terminal building was situated well north of the current terminals: The Renaissance Hotel now occupies that location. I believe runway 8R/26L was part of the old airport. The old concourse D extended out to where 8L/26R is.

L1011's, DC-9's, DC-8's, 727's, F-27's, DC-10's. Flying was still a bit glamorous and fun. Air travelers gave respect and got respect. A different time.

Love the video. Good old days of airlines & aircraft not around anymore except Delta Air Lines, still here as airline companies go.

That video is Awsome bring back old times great archival footage make me think what Hartsfields-Jackson going to look like 30 years from now

The name of the song is "Yearbook". All these audio tracks are simply royalty free music scores that came with my video editing program.

Great video - lots of memories in that one. Any chance you could post a list of the music that you used in it?

My husband worked for Eastern.. After it closed , we could not drive down 36th St or Le jeune road for years without him getting emotional. We had wonderful trips, living in Miami, we traveled through Atlanta a lot. I believe that the orange airplane in the video was Frontier.

I remember flying into the old Atlanta Airport in the summer of 1980.

how i miss the days of these graceful birds

Is the control tower in the background at :38 the one that just got replaced?

Wow! Thanks for posting this! I used to love that observation deck. Any way to get this on DVD?

Sigh...long live Braniff, Southern and Eastern. And something neat that I have done here...I'm listening to the audio from the Krofft Supershow intro while while watching this video....sends me into retro sensory overload! No disrespect to SDMullis, but I just like this better. Again, a GREAT video. Miss the old ATL.

My dad might be in one of those SOU DC-9’s, cool!

I searched on iTunes and could not find it. If you don't have access to the editing program (iMovie) I really don't know how you would download it. Sorry.

Flown on every aircraft shown. Including the Convair 580's. It was the "Tri jet" era(727/L1011/DC-10). Frontier was in it's first year of their "new" color scheme as well I see.

Which video editing program did you use? I assume this was shot near where the Raddison stands today?

Could I pinch a few of these clips for a short documentary I'm making, where I need vintage looking flashbacks in the opening sequence, I'd give you all credit of course? :)

great footage. does any 1 kno how many runways atlanta airport had at that time?

I may be wrong but it looks like the new terminals are being built in the backround??

For short, simple projects like this I use iMovie. I filmed from the observation deck of the old terminal and I think you're correct, the Radisson is there now. I am not positive.

Cool video! L-1011 heaven!

And the North_Central/Convair 560s,classic 70s-80s airliners.

This is such a great video! I have one question, Do you know of any observation decks that are still open?

wow...my first time to atl airport was probably in 1978...I was only 7. My sister went into the military that year.

love those eastern and delta L 10 11s

Amazing old footage. It is clear by the huge number of aircraft parked "hardstand" and doubled up on the tarmac, that ATL was indeed obsolete and overcrowded. Besides the EA and DL hubs, it appears the Republic had a pretty sizable presence there (Via the merger with Southern). Love the old liveries and the "token" flights via Northwest and Braniff.

I like the old terminal Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport from 1961 through 1980 before move to Midfield terminal grand opening in September that year I love jet age my favorite Airline brands Delta Airlines

Why do you see mostly L1011s in 1980? Is the tower at 1:55 the one they just demolished?

The present-day Midfield Terminal didn't upen until September 1980, right?

I hated that airport. Delays, delays, delays. I even witnessed a crash there though I can't remember who it was now ( not Eastern). Then they built that giant terminal. I was senior enough to bid around it so I avoided it in my last few years.

Is there any way to download the song?

A wonderful history of what was probably the most overused terminal building in the country, at the time.

Any idea what airline that is @ 3:50? The tail logo almost looks like Alaska Airlines, but I don't think ATL was part of their schedule (at least back then).

Can you imagine how fabulously noisy it would have been ? Man, I miss the scream of the old JT8's and the JT9's...

Luv them 1011s

WHAT SONG IS THIS?

Loved seeing the Republic DC9 painted over old Southern Airways livery. And what were the Republic prop aircraft?

the airport looks soooo different

Worked for Eastern at ATL in 84/85. It was Delta's hub and Eastern tried to compete.

Check out the Republic at 1:50 with the old Southern insignia still on the tail! They merged about this time.

Anybody know the model of that delta in the background that is about to take off at 1:57?

What is the name of thr song from 1:17 to 2:28. I like the guitar..

I remember flying Eastern airlines L1011 in 78 and Delta L1011 in 80, great experiences with both jets, very roomy, Eastern should make a comeback, same as TWA, Northwest, America West, and US Airways.

this is when the airlines had the best liveries and flying was fun

only video i have every seen of the delta dc-8-61

I miss the arcade also..It was mine!