Farnborough, 9th February, 2014

A reasonable forecast saw me heading to Farnborough for the second time this year. 

It wasn't to be as busy as my earlier visit, but with it being a Sunday, maybe that was to be expected. It took sometime for the first mover of the day, Falcon 2000 LX-EVM:-

When Runway 24 is in use at Farnborough, photography of departing aircraft is poor, as they are high by the time they get to you, and unfortunately, it took sometime before something landed, and that was PC-12 LX-JFS

The highlight of the day waited until the end, when TC-MAN arrived

Eight new aircraft in total made it into my log book - here is the list

A6-GCC	Embraer 135BJ Legacy	Gama Aviation Ltd
CS-DFS	Cessna 560XL Citation Excel	NetJets Transportes Aéreos
CS-DLE	Dassault Falcon 2000EXEASy	NetJets Transportes Aéreos
CS-DRA	British Aerospace 125 Hawker 800XP	NetJets Transportes Aéreos
G-FBJL	Dassault Falcon 2000	TAG Aviation (UK) Ltd
G-KSFR	Bombardier Challenger 300	The Lily Partnership LLP/London Executive
G-LEGC	Embraer 135BJ Legacy 600	London Executive Aviation/Delos Engineering
G-SJSS	Canadair CL605 Challenger	TAG Aviation (UK) Ltd
G-TSJF	Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3	Lunar Jet Ltd/Rayner Essex
HB-JFI	Dassault Falcon 2000LX	Kaupe Aviation Ltd/Jet Aviation Business Jets AG
LX-DEC	Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign	Ste J C Decaux
LX-EVM	Dassault Falcon 2000LX	Fairfield Technologies Ltd/Global Jet
LX-JFS	Pilatus PC-XII-47E	Jetfly Aviation SA
M-ARIA	Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign	Swiss Aviation IM Ltd/Platinum Jet Bayreuth
M-OEPL	Dassault Falcon 900DX	Cloud Services Ltd
N128GV	Gulfstream G550	Millrock Aviation Financial LLC
N300GP	Bombardier Challenger 300	Glen West 300 Inc Trustee
N605NP	Canadair CL605 Challenger	Bank of Utah Trustee
N737M	Boeing 737-8EQ(BBJ2)(WL)	Sanitra Establishments
N841WS	Gulfstream G450	Millburn World Travel Services Inc
OH-TRA	Bombardier Global 6000	Airfix Aviation OY
OY-MHM	Dassault Falcon 900LX	USB AG/Air Alsie A/S
PT-TFT	Embraer 135BJ Legacy 650	Embraer
TC-MAN	Hawker Beechcraft Corp 850XP
VP-BEB	Bombardier BD700 Global Express XRS	Bellon Aviation Ltd
VP-BSQ	Gulfstream G450	Gratefield Ltd
VP-CIC	Canadair CL601-3A Challenger	TGC Aviation/Fakhar Ltd/InvestCorp
VQ-BBS	Boeing 737-7AK(BBJ)(WL)	Gama Aviation Ltd

Biggin Hill 28th January, 2014

A Tuesday afternoon off work sparked a trip to Biggn Hill.

A check on the weather forecast before departure suggested an occasional shower, but it was pouring down for about three quarters of the two hours I spent here. This saw a very different log to my visit ten days before, with the only highlight being the rather nice Falcon 900 N239AX

Here is the rest of the log:-

CS-DNQ	Dassault Falcon 2000	EuropeanNetjets
G-EDCJ	Cessna 525 CitationJet	Jetphase Ltd
G-SOVB	Learjet 45	Murray Air Ltd/Bentley Trust Ltd
G-WYNE	British Aerospace 125-800B	Global Flight Solutions Ltd
M-ALRV	Dassault Falcon 2000LX	Lodgings 2000
N105BK	Dassault Falcon 900	WFBN/Springway Ltd
N239AX	Dassault Falcon 900	Bank of Utah Trustee
N2445V	Cessna 182S Skylane
N30593	Cessna 210L Centurion
N666AW	Piper PA-31-325 Navajo
G-BHOR	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-BICG	Reims/Cessna F.152
G-BMGG	Cessna 152
G-BPPK	Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior
G-BSVM	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-CBWD	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-CPFC	Reims/Cessna F.152
G-GRND	Agusta A.109S Grand
G-LAKE	Lake LA-4-250 Renegade
G-LSFT	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-LUSH	Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior
M-LEYS	Beech C90GT King Air	Heres Aviation Ltd

 

Farnborough 25th January, 2014

The forecast for the weekend wasn't exactly great, but it implied that there would be a break in the endless rain that seems to have been the norm for the last few weeks for most of Saturday morning and early afternoon, so I decided to visit Farnborough.

A weekend visit here has long been on the cards, as I have often wondered how busy it is, or isn't, and as a consequence, I found myself driving over Eelmore Bridge at 1130 to find a reassuring number of spotters already parked up and the cloud that had accompanied me for most of the journey to Hampshire starting to break.

I didn't have long to wait for some action though, with the landing lights of CS-DLF being visible as I parked

I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than a Netjet though - the next aircraft wasn't much better though, being a Global Express from Netjets competitor, VistaJet

I soon realised, however, that I need not have worried about it not being busy - over the course of my visit something 'moved' on average every 20 minutes. Gulfstream HB-JOE was one of the best

A highlight for me was Global Express 9M-CJG - owned by Tony Fernandes, this was the first time that I have seen the Air Asia/QPR/Caterham F1 owner's Global, but according to several of the other spotters around, it is a fairly regular Farnborough visitor

It was a good day at Farnborough for Malyasian aircraft, since the air force's 737 was parked up - this was the third time that I have seen it at Farnborough, and it has never moved!

That didn't spoil a good day out though. The rain though had set in by 4pm, so I left not long after, travelling through a very heavy downpour just before I joined the M25.

Here is the log:-

Reg	Type	Owner
9H-VJD	Bombardier Global 6000	Vistajet Malta
9M-CJG	Bombardier BD700 Global Express	AXM CS Asian Express
CS-DKE	Gulfstream G550	NetJets Transportes Aéreos
CS-DLC	Dassault Falcon 2000EXEASy	NetJets Transportes Aéreos
CS-DLF	Dassault Falcon 2000EXEASy	NetJets Transportes Aéreos
CS-DRR	British Aerospace 125 Hawker 800XPi	NetJets Transportes Aéreos
CS-DXZ	Cessna 560XL Citation XLS	NetJets Transportes Aéreos
G-OCOM	Canadair CL604 Challenger	TAG Aviation (UK) Ltd
G-PEPE	Cessna 560XL Citation Excel	FRAM Partners LLP/London Executive Aviation
G-RHMS	Embraer 135BJ Legacy 600	Astra Fire Ltd
G-SJSS	Canadair CL605 Challenger	TAG Aviation (UK) Ltd
G-TDSA	Reims/Cessna F.406 Caravan II	Nor Leasing
G-YCKF	Dassault Falcon 900EX	Execujet (UK) Ltd
HB-JOE	Gulfstream G550	Telefonika Kable Sp Z.o.o
I-FXRG	Piaggio P-180 Avanti	K-Air SpA
LX-SEH	Cessna 560XL Citation XLS	Soravia Wing Gmbh/LuxAviation SA
M53-01	Boeing 737-7H6(BBJ)(WL)	Royal Malaysian Air Force
M-HOTB	Gulfstream G550	Darwin Air Ltd
M-JETZ	Dassault Falcon 2000EXEASy	Avtorita Holdings Ltd/FTC Consulting Ltd
M-NELS	Gulfstream G450	Citylink Partners Ltd/TAG Aviation (UK) Ltd
M-PBKI	Gulfstream 4SP	GIV SP Air Service Ltd
N510MD	Cessna 510 Citation Mustang	Bank of Utah Trustee
N841WS	Gulfstream G450	Millburn World Travel Services Inc
OE-ISA	Canadair Challenger 850	JetAlliance Flugbetriebs AG
OO-DFG	Dassault Falcon 2000EXEASy	Abelag Aviation
OY-MHM	Dassault Falcon 900LX	USB AG/Air Alsie A/S
PT-TFT	Embraer 135BJ Legacy 650	Embraer
S5-GMG	Bombardier BD700 Global Express XRS	Elitavia
VP-BGM	Canadair CL605 Challenger	Bombardier Inc
VP-BRA	Dassault Falcon 2000EXEASy	EF Education
VP-BSQ	Gulfstream G450	Gratefield Ltd

Biggin Hill 19th January, 2014

Not finding anywhere that I could really view the action from at Southend, I decided to leave a little earlier than planned and visit Biggin Hill en route to home. 

Biggin isn't exactly the most welcoming of airports either, and I started my visit by having a look at what was going around around the JETS hangar, and found N105BK waiting for its next flight

Before I got caught by security, I made may way back through the barrier, and spent the next ninety minutes watching the coming and goings from the flying club car park. 

One of the more interesting arrivals was based TBM-700 N710M

Even though it was a Sunday afternoon, there was still plenty going on, with regular light aircraft movements such as G-BMGG

There were several biz jets movements as well. Two left just before I departed at 4pm - OK-ESC and F-HADH

All in all, a very sucessful day - here is the log:

Reg	Type	Owner
F-HADH	Dassault Falcon 50	Luxmarine SA
G-AYPE	Bolkow 209 Monsun
G-BICG	Reims/Cessna F.152
G-BLYD	Socata TB-20 Trinidad
G-BMGG	Cessna 152
G-BMKC	Piper J3C Cub
G-BNZB	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-BPPK	Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior
G-BSXA	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-BTDV	Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II
G-BXYT	Piper PA-28RT-201 Cherokee Arrow
G-CEIZ	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-CPFC	Reims/Cessna F.152
G-LAKE	Lake LA-4-250 Renegade
G-LSFT	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-LUSH	Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior
G-MPFC	Grumman-American AA-5B Tiger
HB-JKG	Gulfstream 200	Coracle Aviation Ltd
M-LEYS	Beech C90GT King Air	Heres Aviation Ltd
M-MSGG	Gulfstream 200	Artoc Air Co
N105BK	Dassault Falcon 900	WFBN/Springway Ltd
N421EA	Cessna 421C Golden Eagle Srs.III
N44GV	Gulfstream 4SP	Bank of Utah Trustee
N4NR	Grumman Gulfstream 2B	Global Mission LLC
N542CD	Cirrus Design Corp SR22
N710M	Socata TBM-700C2	ENB Inc Trustee
OK-ESC	Beech 400A	Time Air s.r.o.
P4-NGK	Boeing 737-7HZ(BBJ)(WL)	Itera Holdings

Southend 19th January, 2014

My trip to Southend was my first visit to the Essex airport for three years, and with Easyjet and other airlines moving in, I was curious to see what viewing was like. 

I first arrived by the hangars away from the main airport, to find little had changed, with a group of ATP and 146 aircraft awaiting new owners. One of the more interesting aircraft, though, was King Air G-JOTB

With nothing really outstanding, I was soon on my way to the main terminal side of the airport. The viewing options were not as good as on my last visit, but I think I managed to see everything I wanted. Several Easyjet Airbuses went into the log, including G-EZUS

But it was some of the stored aircraft that had attracted me to the airport, and I wasn't to be disappointed. Aero Contractors 737 was parked up on the apron

Another interesting Nigerian aircraft was First Nation A.320 5N-FNC, now wearing US registration N997AG

Some of the many 146 aircraft that are stored at the airport had made it over to this side of the airport as well, withRJ85 G-CGYV's livery betraying its former Brussels Airlines ownership.

All in all, it was a very sucessful visit, with some interesting aircraft being seen, and I left very pleased with my haul. Here is the log

Reg	Type	Owner
5N-BOB	Boeing 737-42C	Aero Contractors Nigeria Ltd
9Q-CDC	Boeing 727-30	Congo Government
CS-TGX	British Aerospace ATP
CS-TGY	British Aerospace ATP
EI-REX	Learjet 60	Airlink Airways Ltd
G-ATTK	Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee
G-AVNO	Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C
G-AYIM	Hawker-Siddeley HS.748 Srs.2A/270	Janes Aviation
G-AZOG	Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow D
G-BCIR	Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior
G-BFAI	Rockwell International Commander 114
G-BGLO	Reims/Cessna F.172N Skyhawk
G-BHUJ	Cessna 172N Skyhawk
G-BNFR	Cessna 152
G-BOTF	Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior
G-BPME	Cessna 152
G-BZVB	Reims/Cessna FR.172H Rocket
G-CDED	Robinson R-22 Beta II
G-CEBN	British Aerospace 146-RJ100	Lease Co
G-CGYV	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	Lease Co
G-EZAN	Airbus A319-111
G-EZAT	Airbus A319-111
G-EZDD	Airbus A319-111
G-EZFI	Airbus A319-111
G-EZFX	Airbus A319-111
G-EZGL	Airbus A319-111
G-EZUS	Airbus A320-214
G-FCLE	Boeing 757-28A	Thomas Cook Airlines
G-HUFF	Reims/Cessna 182P Skylane
G-JBIZ	Cessna 550 Citation II	247 Jet Ltd
G-JOTB	Beechcraft King Air 90	Jota Air
G-OCLH	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	Lease Co
G-OSOE	Hawker-Siddeley HS.748 Srs.2A/275	Janes Aviation
G-VVBE	Robinson R-22 Beta
N2121T	Gulfstream-American AA-5B Tiger
N253SC	Boeing 737-5H6	Orenair
N662CS	Boeing 737-5H6	Orenair
N977AG	Airbus A.320-212	First Nation

Fairoaks 11th January, 2014

En route home from Heathrow, I stopped at Fairoaks to see if anything worthwhile was around.

Fairoaks attracts some interesting aircraft, but my luck wasn't in today. The best visitor for me was PA-44 N9220G.

Here is the log:-

Reg	Type	Owner
G-ATVK	Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee
G-BDSB	Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer
G-BGVN	Piper PA-28RT-201 Cherokee Arrow
G-BHDX	Reims/Cessna F.172N Skyhawk
G-BPJS	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-BRDG	Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II
G-BYFA	Reims/Cessna F.152
G-CCYY	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-CFKB	Czech Aircraft Works Sportcruiser
G-ELZY	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-GRYZ	Beech F33A Bonanza
G-JETX	Bell 206B Jet Ranger III
G-LTEE	Reims/Cessna F.172N Skyhawk
G-ONPA	Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
G-PFCL	Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP
G-RATV	Piper PA-28RT-201T Cherokee Arrow IV
M-ARTY	Pilatus PC-XII-47E	Creston (UK) Ltd
M-YBLS	Pilatus PC-XII-45	Bruno L Schroeder
N1FD	Socata TB-200 Tobago GT
N55UK	Beech E55 Baron
N9220G	Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage