NATURALLY, when Princess Diana visited Heathrow Airport she made her arrival outside the Queen's Building. It was there, by the flight crew entrance, that crowds looked on eagerly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the most glamorous royal for generations.

The princess visited the airport in April 1984, in the days when Terminal 5 was just a pipedream.

She was there as a guest of British Airways, which was keen for her to have a look at how the world's busiest international airport operates.

On the day of her visit, the sun beamed down, and she greeted BA's Lord King with a kiss, as he was an old family friend.

He guided her through a two-and-a-half hour visit, in which one of the highlights was a dazzling display of runway lights.

The day turned into an unforgettable experience for a Hayes man, David Gubb, when the princess took time out to speak to him.

Mr Gubb, living in Woodrow Avenue, Hayes at the time, was working as an engine airframe engineer, and had a moment to talk to the princess while she was touring a hangar.

She had watched a Boeing 747 dismantled almost to a bare shell while undergoing a major check, and also looked at a Concorde.

She asked Mr Gubb how long the 747 would remain in the hangar, and how much time it would take to put it back together.

Mr Gubb, 25 at the time, said: "I told the princess the aircraft's overhaul would take about 27 days and somehow we managed to get it back together.

"She also said there didn't seem to be much work going on, but I told her usually we were very busy. She remarked on how big the aircraft looked when it was stationary."

Princess Diana was dressed in an Edwardian-style grey coat, which she often wore on public visits.

Mr Gubb told the Gazette: "She looked fantastic. I was stunned when she spoke to me. It made my day and I shall be a keen royal family follower from now on."

The princess also visited the operations control centre and the flight crew reporting centre, where the crew briefing procedure for each flight was explained.

Captain Chris Knowles said: "She seemed to be well-versed on this already. Her family has got a big interest in the business, as Prince Philip and Prince Charles both enjoy flying."

A large crowd gathered at the entrance of BA's Speedbird House, where the princess had lunch.

There were rapturous cheers as she came out and stepped into her Jaguar Sovereign at the end of her visit.