RAF Brize Norton, 3rd April, 2021

After seeing the aircraft at Kemble, and enjoying some lunch, it was time to start the long drive home. A very enjoyable journey through some lovely Cotswolds countryside delivered me to a very quiet RAF Brize Norton. 

The VIP configured Voyager was unfortunately impossible to photograph - the only aircraft that came within range of the camera was Globemaster ZZ176:

G-VYGM         Airbus A330-243                         AirTanker/RAF - Royal Air Force

ZM405         Airbus A400M Atlas C.1                 RAF - Royal Air Force

ZM416         Airbus A400M Atlas C.1                 RAF - Royal Air Force

ZZ173         Boeing C-17A Globemaster III RAF - Royal Air Force

ZZ176         Boeing C-17A Globemaster III RAF - Royal Air Force

ZZ336         Airbus A330-243 Voyager KC.3 RAF - Royal Air Force

Kemble, 3rd April, 2021

And so to the main event of the day, Kemble.

The 747 has been my favourite aircraft ever since I got interested in aircraft. I must have spent weeks watching the BA 747s coming and going from Heathrow, starting with the -100 and -200s, and progressing to the -400s, so I wanted to see some of these magnificent aircraft for possibly one last time. 

BA may have been the objective, but the scrapyards were full with all sorts of aircraft. This Corsair 747 was keeping an eye on things:

I had last seen this Plus Ultra A340 at Barcelona in happier times:

The A340 was at the head of a line up of BA747s. I had seen lots of photos of these aircraft lined up by the road, but it was still an impressive sight, and being able to get so close allowed you to really get a sense of the size of the 747: 

747s were all over the airport though - these two were making friends with a Saudi Arabian / Air Atlanta example:

The airport had a real sense of melancholy hanging over it, but hopefully the several Norwegian 737s will fly again: 

Here is what was there:

2-ACSE Airbus A319-112                                 CSA Czech Airlines
2-LYTF Embraer 175                                         Lease Co
2-MMTT Boeing 727-76(RE)                                 Platinum Services
CS-TNG Airbus A320-214                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TNI Airbus A320-214                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TTE Airbus A319-111                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TTF Airbus A319-111                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TTG Airbus A319-111                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TTH Airbus A319-111                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TTI Airbus A319-111                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TTK Airbus A319-111                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TTU Airbus A319-112                                 TAP Air Portugal
CS-TTV Airbus A319-112                                 TAP Air Portugal
EC-MFA Airbus A340-313X                                 Plus Ultra 
EI-FFM Boeing 737-73S                                 Air Italy
EZ-A101 Boeing 717-22K                                 Turkmenistan Airlines
EZ-A102 Boeing 717-22K                                 Turkmenistan Airlines
EZ-A106 Boeing 717-22K                                 Turkmenistan Airlines
EZ-A107 Boeing 717-22K                                 Turkmenistan Airlines
F-GTUI Boeing 747-422                                 Corsair International
F-HSEA Boeing 747-422                                 Corsair International
G-AXIA Beagle B.121 Pup                                   C K Parsons
G-AZWS Piper PA-28R-180 Arrow
G-BPAF Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II                 S&T Gilbert
G-BYGA Boeing 747-436                                 British Airways
G-BYGB Boeing 747-436                                 British Airways
G-BYGE Boeing 747-436                                 British Airways
G-BYGF Boeing 747-436                                 British Airways
G-CEHA British Aerospace 146-RJ85
G-CELW Boeing 737-377(BDSF)                         Jet2.com
G-CELY Boeing 737-377(BDQC)                         Jet2.com
G-CIVB Boeing 747-436                                 British Airways
G-CIVJ Boeing 747-436                                 British Airways
G-CIVN Boeing 747-436                                 British Airways
G-CIVO Boeing 747-436                                 British Airways
G-CJNS British Aerospace 146-RJ100                 Brussels Airlines
G-EDGI Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior Thomas Gilbert
G-EMBC Embraer 145                                         British Airways Express
G-GDFE Boeing 737-3Q8(BDQC)                         Jet2.com
G-LSAD Boeing 757-236ER                                 Jet2.com
G-LSAH Boeing 757-21B                                 Jet2.com
G-MKGA Boeing 747-2R7F(SCD)                         MK Airlines
G-SNUZ Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior Freedom Aviation Ltd
HB-JGK Lockheed L-1329 JetStar II
LN-DYT Boeing 737-8JPWL                                 Norwegian Air Shuttle
LN-DYU Boeing 737-8JPWL                                 Norwegian Air Shuttle
LN-NGD Boeing 737-8JPWL                                 Norwegian Air Shuttle
LY-NVZ Airbus A320-214                                 Sky Angkor Airlines
LY-VEQ Airbus A320-232                                 Sky Angkor Airlines
M-FTOH Boeing 727-269(A)                                 Strong Aviation (BVI) Ltd
OE-IKW Airbus A320-233                                 Atlasglobal Airlines
OH-LVA Airbus A319-112                                 Finnair
OY-JTR Boeing 737-73A(WL)                         Jet Time
OY-JTT Boeing 737-73S(WL)                         Jet Time
OY-JTZ Boeing 737-73S(WL)                         Jet Time
PH-ADO Bombardier/Canadair CRJ-900         Adria Airways
SE-RRI Boeing 737-8JPWL                                 Norwegian Air Shuttle
TF-AAC Boeing 747-481                                 Saudi Arabian Airlines
TF-AAD Boeing 747-4H6                                 Saudi Arabian Airlines
TF-AAH Boeing 747-4H6                                 Saudi Arabian Airlines
XR540 Folland Gnat T.1
 

Blackbushe, 3rd April, 2021

From Farnborough it is only a 10 minute drive to Blackbushe. 

A lively atmosphere here, with the cafe doing a brisk trade, and several spotters logging the inmates. There were two really interesting aircraft, this German Seneca:

and this Italian Cirrus (albeit the aircraft had been imported into the UK):

D-GJBA     Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II
G-AVSF     Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Monday Club
G-AWEZ     Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow
G-BBRC     Fuji FA-200-180 Aero Subaru
G-BCIR     Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior                 Aerobility
G-BHXA     Scottish Aviation Bulldog Srs.120 Model.1210
G-BICW     Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior                 Blueplane Ltd
G-BOFW     Cessna A.150M
G-BOJI     Piper PA-28RT-201 Cherokee Arrow                 Arrow Two Group
G-BOMU     Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer
G-BPBM     Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II
G-BSYY     Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior                 BDFA
G-BZEA     Cessna A.152                                                 Blueplane Ltd
G-CDTX     Reims/Cessna F152                                         Blueplane Ltd
G-CICG     Comco-Ikarus C42 FB80                                 G-CICG Group
G-CLAC     Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-DANL     Beech 76 Duchess                                         UK Flying Clubs
G-ESSL     Cessna 182R Skylane/Porche FTB
G-FDDB     Piper PA-32R-300 Lance II
G-FFFC     Cessna 510 Citation Mustang                         Synergy Aircraft 

G-ILHR     Cirrus SR22
G-JEOL     Slingsby T.67C Firefly-3                                 LTFT
G-JJAN     Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer                 Blueplane Ltd
G-LKAM     Sonaca S200                                                 Blueplane Ltd
G-OPST     Cessna 182R Skylane                                 ST Flying Group 
G-PDSI     Cessna 172N Skyhawk
G-RAAM     Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior                 AS Bamrah
G-WOWS    Cirrus SR22T Turbo
I-FELC     Cirrus SR22 GTS-G3
N115MD     Commander 114TC                                         Southern Aircraft 
N799DS     Diamond DA40 Star

Farnborough, 3rd April, 2021

After Fairoaks, it was just a short drive to Farnborough for a very quick look at the assembled jets:

HB-JJJ    Airbus A319-133 ACJ         Nomad Aviation AG
M-CHEM    Gulfstream G550                 Ineos Aviation LLP
M-ISTY    Gulfstream G280                 Ineos Aviation LLP
M-USIK    Gulfstream G650                 OS Aviation Ltd/YYA Aviation Ltd
OE-ISP    Gulfstream G450                 Avcon Jet AG
P4-AND    Cessna 750 Citation X         Avangaro Aviation AVV
SE-RMC    Bombardier Challenger 300 Svenskt Industriflyg AB
TR-KSP    Gulfstream 4SP                 Gabon Government
YR-TYA    Cessna 560XL Citation XLS Toyo Motor Group

Fairoaks, 3rd April, 2021

 My first day out spotting of the year was to Kemble, to see the parked British Airways 747s. However, with a long drive ahead, I chose to stop at few few airports en route.

Stop number one was at my old favourite of Fairoaks. Cirrus G-FPRD was looking good with its blue livery, albeit one that spoilt by the cover:

There are usually a few larger aircraft at Fairoaks, such as this Malibu:

Here is what was around:

2-YELL Piper PA-28R-201 Cherokee Arrow
F-JHKP ICP MXP-740 Savannah S
G-BEOG Reims/Cessna F182P Skylane
G-BIOB Reims/Cessna F172P Skyhawk
G-BJCW Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP
G-BOKA Piper PA-28-201T Turbo Dakota                         CBG Aviation Ltd
G-BYFA Reims/Cessna F152                                         Redhill Air Services Ltd
G-CCYY Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior
G-CGZI SOCATA TB-21TC Trinidad
G-ERGP Pilatus PC-12/47E                                                 Solid Rock Aviation GP Ltd
G-EVTO Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior                 Redhill Air Services Ltd
G-FLXI Pilatus PC-12/47E                                                 Flexifly Aircraft Hire Ltd
G-FLYI Piper PA-34-200 Seneca
G-FPRD Cirrus SR22
G-JOYZ Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer
G-KARE Pilatus PC-12/47E                                                 Flexifly Aircraft Hire Ltd
G-KIND Cirrus SR20                                                         Europe Entreprise Innovation
G-LKVA Tecnam P2010 Ptwenty - Ten                                 Kirill Yurovskiy
G-OBAK Piper PA-28R-201T Cherokee Arrow                 G-OBAK Group Aviation
G-PCOP Beech B200 King Air                                         Albert Bartlett & Sons 
G-RATV Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV                 Tango Victor Ltd
G-WNCH Beech B200 King Air                                         Synergy Aircraft 
M-YTAF Raytheon B36TC Turbine Bonanza                 FSB Aviation
N14EF Piper PA-46-350 Malibu Jetprop DLX Conversion
N677CD Cirrus SR22

Biggin Hill, 29th March, 2021

My first visit to an airport in 2021 didn't happen until the end of the third lockdown at the end of March - this was my first visit to an airport since November 4th the previous year, representing the longest period I had between airport visits since 1984!

I drove up to Biggin Hill after work to see what was around. The airport wasn't busy, but it was good to see the Jota 146s, and LX-JNC was good for a photo:

Here is what was around:

2-CINE     Eurocopter AS355 N Ecureuil 2                 Pursuit Aviation UK
G-DCMT     Embraer 505 Phenom 300                         Voluxis Ltd
G-EHMS     MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer         London's Air Ambulance Ltd
G-GHSV     Beech 200 King Air                                 LyddAir Ltd
G-JOTD     British Aerospace 146-300QT                 Jota Aviation
G-JOTE     British Aerospace 146-300QT                 Jota Aviation
G-JOTF     British Aerospace 146-300QT                 Jota Aviation
G-MFLT     Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin II                 Ven Air ULC
G-RANE     Bombardier Challenger 605                 Catreus AOC Ltd/Fly Vectra Ltd
G-RVNJ     Partenavia P.68B Victor                         Ravenair Aircraft Ltd
G-SKAL     Cessna 560XL Citation XLS                 Catreus AOC Ltd/Fly Vectra Ltd
G-ZENJ     Learjet 75                                                 Zenith Aviation Ltd
HA-JEX     Cessna 650 Citation VI                         Jet Stream 2004 KfT/Skylux 
LX-JNC     Bombardier BD700 Global Express XRS LuxAviation SA
M-AERO      Dassault Falcon 2000LX                         Rirox Ltd
N219PM     Cirrus SR22
OE-FFB     Cessna 510 Citation Mustang                 GlobeAir AG
SE-RFH     Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign                 EFS European Flight Service AB
TC-SHE     Hawker Beechcraft Corp Hawker 850XP Bon Air Havacilik
VT-RAK     Bombardier Challenger 300                 Peel Aviation Ltd/Golden Wings 

London Heathrow, 4th November, 2020

An autumn visit to Heathrow saw me arriving at the Urban Farm at 0700, just as it got light enough for photography. 

One of the first aircraft I saw was C-FITW arriving from Toronto - I really like this Air Canada livery, and it looks particularly good on the 777-300:

The highlight of the day was another 777-300, HB-JNB. This was the first Swiss Triple I have seen: 

As has been the norm at Heathrow during the pandemic, there were plenty of Chinese aircraft, including this Air China A350:

Egyptair send a wide variety of aircraft to Heathrow these days - today, it was the turn of the 787:

Another interesting visitor relating to the pandemic was Sunday Airlines 767-300 UP-B6703 which arrived from Xian via Almaty:

JAL 787 JA863J was another notable visitor, being my first JAL Dreamliner 9:

The final arrival of my visit before the runway change was G-NEOY arriving from Edinburgh. 

As I packed up my stuff and left for home, little did I think my next visit to an airport was going to be over four months away! 

2020 was my worst year spotting wise since 1985 when I was an embryonic spotter dependent on the goodwill of my parents to take me to airports!

Here is the log:

A6-BLD     Boeing 787-9         Etihad Airways

A6-EBI     Boeing 777-36NER Emirates

A6-EUT     Airbus A380-842         Emirates

A6-EVH     Airbus A380-842         Emirates

A7-ANO     Airbus A350-1041 Qatar Airways

A7-BBD     Boeing 777-2DZLR Qatar Airways

A7-BEW     Boeing 777-300ER Qatar Airways

A7-BHA     Boeing 787-9         Qatar Airways

B-1083     Airbus A350-941         Air China

B-1266     Boeing 777-300ER Air China

B-6079     Airbus A330-243         Air China

C-FCAE     Boeing 767-375ERF Cargojet Airways

C-FITW     Boeing 777-333ER Air Canada

CS-TVB     Airbus A320-251N TAP Air Portugal

D-AINB     Airbus A320-271N Lufthansa

D-AINM     Airbus A320-271N Lufthansa

D-AINW     Airbus A320-271N Lufthansa

EC-ILP     Airbus A321-213         Iberia

EI-CVA     Airbus A320-214         Aer Lingus

EI-DEE     Airbus A320-214         Aer Lingus

EI-DEK     Airbus A320-214         Aer Lingus

F-GTAD     Airbus A321-212         Air France

G-DBCF     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-DBCG     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-DBCJ     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-ETPE     Airbus AS350 B3         QinetiQ Civil Flying Organisation

G-EUOF     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUOG     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPC     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPD     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPG     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPJ     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPK     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPM     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPN     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPO     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPR     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPS     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPT     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPU     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUPZ     Airbus A319-131         British Airways

G-EUUD     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-EUUO     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-EUUP     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-EUYB     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-EUYG     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-EUYN     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-EUYO     Airbus A320-232(SL) British Airways

G-EUYP     Airbus A320-232(SL) British Airways

G-EUYR     Airbus A320-232(SL) British Airways

G-EUYS     Airbus A320-232(SL) British Airways

G-EUYT     Airbus A320-232(SL) British Airways

G-EUYW     Airbus A320-232(SL) British Airways

G-EUYY     Airbus A320-232(SL) British Airways

G-MIDO     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-MIDT     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-MIDX     Airbus A320-232         British Airways

G-NEOT     Airbus A321-251N British Airways

G-NEOU     Airbus A321-251N British Airways

G-NEOV     Airbus A321-251N British Airways

G-NEOX     Airbus A321-251N British Airways

G-NEOY     Airbus A321-251N British Airways

G-STBG     Boeing 777-336ER British Airways

G-TTNA     Airbus A320-251N British Airways

G-TTND     Airbus A320-251N British Airways

G-TTNF     Airbus A320-251N British Airways

G-TTNH     Airbus A320-251N British Airways

G-TTNI     Airbus A320-251N British Airways

G-TTNJ     Airbus A320-251N British Airways

G-TTNL     Airbus A320-251N British Airways

G-VAHH     Boeing 787-9         Virgin Atlantic

G-VBEL     Boeing 787-9         Virgin Atlantic

G-VFAN     Boeing 787-9         Virgin Atlantic

G-VIIG     Boeing 777-236ER British Airways

G-VIIL     Boeing 777-236ER British Airways

G-VIIN     Boeing 777-236ER British Airways

G-VJAM     Airbus A350-1041 Virgin Atlantic

G-VLUX     Airbus A350-1041 Virgin Atlantic

G-VPOP     Airbus A350-1041 Virgin Atlantic

G-VPRD     Airbus A350-1041 Virgin Atlantic

G-VSPY    Boeing 787-9         Virgin Atlantic

G-VWHO     Boeing 787-9         Virgin Atlantic

G-XWBA      Airbus A350-1041 British Airways

G-XWBD      Airbus A350-1041 British Airways

G-XWBE      Airbus A350-1041 British Airways

G-YMMA      Boeing 777-236ER British Airways

G-YMMI       Boeing 777-236ER British Airways

G-YMMO     Boeing 777-236ER British Airways

G-ZBJA     Boeing 787-8         British Airways

G-ZBJD     Boeing 787-8         British Airways

G-ZBJG     Boeing 787-8         British Airways

G-ZBJK     Boeing 787-8         British Airways

G-ZBKE     Boeing 787-9         British Airways

G-ZBKF     Boeing 787-9         British Airways

G-ZBKO     Boeing 787-9         British Airways

G-ZBKR     Boeing 787-9         British Airways

G-ZBLA     Boeing 787-10         British Airways

HB-JNB     Boeing 777-3DEER Swiss International Air Lines

HL8226     Boeing 777-FB5         Korean Air

JA788A     Boeing 777-381ER All Nippon Airways

JA863J     Boeing 787-9         Japan Airlines

N14001     Boeing 787-10         United Airlines

N2140U     Boeing 777-300ER United Airlines

N226CY     Boeing 767-383ERF ABX Air

N27901     Boeing 787-8         United Airlines

N27908     Boeing 787-8         United Airlines

N719AN     Boeing 777-323ER American Airlines

N729AN     Boeing 777-323ER American Airlines

N732AN     Boeing 777-323ER American Airlines

N735AT     Boeing 777-323ER American Airlines

N823NW     Airbus A330-302         Delta Air Lines

N840MH     Boeing 767-432ER Delta Air Lines

OH-LKM      Embraer 190         Finnair

OO-SNJ     Airbus A320-214         Brussels Airlines

PH-BGN     Boeing 737-7K2WL KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

SU-GEU     Boeing 787-9         EgyptAir

SX-DVP     Airbus A321-232         Aegean Airlines

SX-NEC     Airbus A320-271N Aegean Airlines

TC-JJN     Boeing 777-3F2ER THY-Turkish Airlines

UP-B6703   Boeing 767-332ER Sunday Airlines

VP-BPG     Boeing 777-300ER Aeroflot Russian Airlines