Remember When: City airport has sprouted wings over the decades

The unveiling of the 5 million, state-of-the-art U-shaped complex that April, marked the climax of a gruelling, three-year operation, allowing visitors to finally enjoy the very best in aviation facilities.

Quite what staff and airport bosses then would have made of current proposals to introduce a 1 "kiss and fly fee" at the airport - a payment for all motorists dropping passengers off at the complex - is not known. But it would likely be surprise.

For three decades ago, the airport, its facilities and passenger numbers were on a far smaller scale than in 2010 when the row over the controversial charge grumbles on - and most people would have been lucky to have even owned a car.

From its early days as Turnhouse Aerodrome, which opened in 1915, the airport has grown steadily over the last 100 years to cater for the millions of people who choose to fly from Edinburgh every day, either on business or for a holiday.

The site has regularly been frequented by Royalty, including Prince Charles, who as a school boy would catch planes from Turnhouse to return back to Gordonstoun School, in Elgin, as well as other famous faces from the stage and screen.

But on October 27, 1965, the atmosphere at the airport was far from one of pre-holiday excitement, as news of the death of 36 people brought a deathly silence.

All 30 passengers and six crew aboard an 11.17pm flight from Edinburgh were killed when the aircraft crashed and burst into flames while coming into land at London Heathrow while visibility was poor.

Among the fatalities was a child.

Workers ploughed through the wreckage all night while scientists from the Ministry of Aviation tried to determine the cause.