Glasgow Airport Movements 2018
May
Emirates Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-EPB arrives from Dubai in the sunshine on Wednesday 16 May 2018.
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United and American Airlines resumed their summer connections with Glasgow International on Saturday 5 May, following on from WestJet`s flights to Toronto and Halifax which kicked-off on Monday 30 April. American seem to be mostly using a batch of aircraft not previously seen at Glasgow, making many of their 757s `first-visits` this month.
Delta began its Glasgow / JFK New York flights on Friday 25th, which coincided with the second of May`s bank holiday weekends. Thomas Cook`s Danish-registered A330 OY-VKG, Virgin 747 G-VROM, and a TUI Dreamliner, all bound for Orlando, plus an Air Transat A310 were among the other `heavies` travelling across the pond that day. |
On 25 May, Boeing 757-231(WL) N723TW (below) heralded the start of Delta`s 2018 summer service between Glasgow and New York (JFK). Although this particular Delta airliner had been here before, 128 individual aircraft of various types visited Glasgow International for the first time during May. The airport saw growth of 2.3% to 928,000 passengers this month.
On 17 May, Glasgow Airport and Shanghai Airport Authority signed a partnership agreement that will see the two cities jointly petition China's main airlines to establish a direct air-link between the West of Scotland and the Chinese powerhouse city of Shanghai. The decision to form the alliance is as a result of months of discussions involving Shanghai Airport Authority's president and senior executives and representatives from Glasgow Airport. Korean Airlines are set to return to Glasgow again this year but with less direct flights than previous summers. Hopefully a similar arrangement with a more robust, year-round, schedule between China and Glasgow will reward the efforts of the new alliance in the not too distant future.
Good spot for a coffee break!
There were more military visitors than usual this month, most of which were probably unconnected with this year`s only Joint Warrior military exercise which ended on 4 May. Aircraft included this C-130J Hercules of the Royal Norwegian Air Force which put in an appearance on Friday 18 May. (see Military Section below for more details).
Corfu
At the end of this month I returned to the Kanoni peninsula for the fourth year in a row, having again opted for the excellent Corfu Holiday Palace Hotel which is only a few hundred metres away from Corfu Airport’s runway. Late May / early June, when I prefer to visit, can be fairly quiet aircraft-wise with prolonged periods of little or no activity as the volume of tourist flights doesn't ramp up fully until July and August. There’s usually something of interest though, plus the tavernas and bars in this area are much quieter if you’re looking to avoid the crowds, get a seat with a great view and relax.
Among the special liveried airliners seen was Belavia`s Boeing 737-3Q8 EW-254PA in `World of Tanks` colour scheme, a surprise visitor from Minsk, which wasn`t showing on Flightradar24. Other arrivals included Finnair Airbus A319-112 OH-LVI and a Glasgow `regular` in the shape of Capital Air Ambulance`s King Air 200 G-WVIP. More shots of aircraft photographed at Corfu Airport this year can be viewed here.
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Back Home: Jet Airliners
The main airline news story relative to Scotland this month was the announcement that Emirates, the largest international airline in the world, will start a daily service between Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh, and Dubai, from 1 October 2018. Edinburgh will become Emirates’ second destination in Scotland after Glasgow and its 8th in the United Kingdom after the airline starts its daily service to London Stansted in June.
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Like Glasgow, the new service between Edinburgh and the UAE carrier`s base at Dubai will be operated by Boeing Triple-sevens. Flight EK023 will depart Dubai daily at 09:55hrs and arrive in Edinburgh at 14:50hrs, while the return flight, EK024 will leave Edinburgh at 20:15hrs and arrive in Dubai at 06:40hrs the next morning.
The arrival of the flight at Dubai is timed to enable passengers to connect with Emirates’ services to popular outbound destinations for Scottish travellers, such as Bangkok, Lahore, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australian cities, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. |
Customers travelling from Edinburgh, as well as Glasgow, can also access over 90 destinations under the Emirates and flydubai network partnership, connecting through Dubai to and from destinations such as Kathmandu, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro. The new service will also enable Emirates SkyCargo to offer up to 20 tonnes of cargo capacity on the aircraft per flight, providing Scottish businesses with opportunities to increase popular exports such as salmon and whisky.
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Airliners visiting Glasgow this May included A321-211 OY-VKD Thomas Cook (f/v), Boeing 737-8K5(WL) G-TAWW TUI (f/v) plus Ryanair Boeing 737s EI-GJO and EI-GJS both (f/v) (1st); Airbus A320-214(WL) D-AIZP Lufthansa (f/v), A320-214(WL) OE-IVW easyJet Europe (f/v), Boeing 737-8K5 G-TAWW TUI, plus Embraer ERJ-195LR I-ADJT Air Dolomiti (f/v) worked a Lufthansa flight to Munich (2nd); Boeing 737-86Q(WL) EC-IDA Jet2 (3rd); A320-214(WL) D-AIUI Lufthansa (f/v), Boeing 737-86N(WL) I-NEOX Neos, Boeing 737-8MG(WL) G-JZBH Jet2 (f/v), Boeing 737-8K5(WL) G-TAWU TUI (f/v) and Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-GJJ Ryanair (f/v) (4th)...
Boeing 757-223(WL) N186AN American Airlines (f/v) arrived on the first of the summer flights from/to Philladelphia and Boeing 757-224(WL) N29124 worked the first of this season`s United Airlines flights from/to Newark, New Jersey. Plus A320-214 D-AIZB Lufthansa (5 Starhansa titles) (f/v) and A321-211 G-TCDV Thomas Cook (I ❤ Cook's Club Livery) (5th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N176AA American Airlines (f/v), Airbus A320-214(WL) D-AIUB Lufthansa (f/v), plus A320-214(WL) OE-IJQ (f/v) and A319-111 OE-LQM (f/v) both easyJet Europe (6th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N192AN American Airlines (f/v) and A320-211 D-AIPR Lufthansa (f/v) (7th)... |
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About to depart, Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-41R G-VXLG heads for `Alpha One` on Sunday 20 May.
Boeing 757-223(WL) N692AA American (f/v), Airbus A320-271N D-AING Lufthansa (f/v), Boeing 737-8K5(WL) G-TAWU TUI, Airbus A320-214(WL) G-EZRV easyJet (f/v) and Avro RJ85 G-JOTR Jota Aviation (plus other dates) (8th); Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-EPO Emirates (Expo2020 colours), Boeing 737-4K5 EC-LTG Alba Star, Airbus A320-214 D-AIZO Lufthansa (f/v) and Embraer ERJ-195LR I-ADJN Air Dolomiti (9th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N187AN American Airlines (f/v), Boeing 737-9K2(WL) PH-BXO KLM (Skyteam colours) and Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-GJR Ryanair (f/v) (10th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N177AN American (f/v), Boeing 757-256(WL) TF-FIU Icelandair (Aurora Borealis colours) and Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-GJT Ryanair (f/v) (11th); A321-231 D-AISC Lufthansa (f/v) and Boeing 737-9K2(WL) PH-BXO KLM (Skyteam colours) (12th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N195AN American (f/v), Boeing 737-8K5(WL) G-TAWC TUI and Airbus A320-232 LZ-BHI BH Air (13th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N172AJ American (f/v) (14th); Airbus A330-243 C-GUBH Air Transat (f/v), Boeing 757-223(WL) N191AN American (f/v) and Boeing 737-8K5(WL) G-TAWM TUI (15th)...
Air Dolomiti Embraer ERJ-195LR I-ADJV in Star Alliance colours worked a Lufthansa flight on May 16th.
Airbus A320-214(WL) D-AIUG Lufthansa (f/v), Airbus A320-214 OE-IVX (f/v) and A319-111 OE-LQS (f/v) both easyJet Europe, plus Embraer ERJ-195LR I-ADJV Air Dolomiti (Star Alliance colours) (16th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N173AN American (f/v) and Boeing 737-436 G-POWS Titan Airways (f/v) (17th); Boeing 767-319(ER)(WL) TF-ISO Icelandair, Boeing 757-223(WL) N175AN American (f/v), Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-GDE Ryanair (f/v), Airbus A320-214 D-AIZB Lufthansa (5 Starhansa titles) and A320-211 D-AIQU Lufthansa (f/v) (18th); Boeing 737-8MG(WL) G-JZBL Jet2 (f/v), Boeing 737-4K5 EC-LNC Alba Star, Boeing 737-9K2(WL) PH-BXO KLM (Skyteam colours), plus A321-231 D-AISO Lufthansa (f/v) and A320-214 `5 Starhansa` D-AIZB returned (19th); Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-EPK Emirates (Expo2020 colours), Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-GJX Ryanair (f/v), Airbus A320-271N D-AINF Lufthansa (f/v), A320-232 LZ-BHH BH Air, A319-111 OE-LKQ easyJet Europe (f/v) and A320-251N G-UZHF easyJet (f/v) (20th)...
Airbus A320-214 D-AIZF Lufthansa (f/v) and A320-214(WL) G-EZRT easyJet (f/v) (26th); Airbus A320-211 D-AIPP Lufthansa (f/v), A320-232 LZ-BHH Balkan Holidays Air (BH Air) and Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-GSA Ryanair (f/v) (27th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N691AA American (f/v), Boeing 737-9K2(WL) PH-BXO (Skyteam Colours) and ERJ-190STD LZ-VAR Bulgaria Air (plus other dates) (28th...
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May`s noteworthy jet airliner movements continued with Boeing 757-223(WL) N197AN American (f/v) (21st); Boeing 757-223(WL) N188AN American (f/v) and A319-111 OE-LQQ easyJet Europe (f/v) (22nd); Boeing 767-336(ER) G-BNWA British Airways, Airbus A320-214(WL) D-AIZW Lufthansa (f/v) and Embraer ERJ-195LR I-ADJN Air Dolomiti on Lufthansa`s Glasgow / Munich service (23rd); Boeing 757-223(WL) N183AN American (f/v) and Airbus A320-271N D-AINC Lufthansa (f/v) (24th); Boeing 757-223(WL) N199AN American (f/v), Boeing 757-231(WL) N723TW Delta Air Lines (start of the US carrier`s summer flight from / to New York JFK), Airbus A321-231 D-AISB Lufthansa (f/v), A320-214(WL) D-AIUF Lufthansa (f/v) and Embraer ERJ-190STD LZ-VAR Bulgaria Air (f/v) which worked a Stobart flight to / from Southend (25th)...
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Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-GJV Ryanair (f/v) (29th); ERJ-195LR I-ADJR Air Dolomiti (f/v) plus Airbus A320-214(WL)s OE-INH and OE-IZF easyJet Europe, both (f/v) (30th); Boeing 737-883 YR-BMO Blue Air (f/v) and Airbus A320-214(WL) OE-IVM easyJet Europe (f/v) (31st).
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Thomas Cook Airbus A321-211 G-TCDV (I ❤ Cook's Club Livery) made a number of appearances this month: It`s pictured above lifting-off on Friday 11 May and landing on the afternoon of Saturday 5th. The airliner is one of two A321s that Thomas Cook has painted in special colours to reflect its latest hotel portfolio, `Cook’s Club`. The brand, which launched earlier this month is, according to the company, "a stripped-back, casual and fun hotel in the heart of the action concept", the first of which is due to open in Hersonissos, Crete, this June. The other recently painted aircraft is OE-IGE (to become D-ATCD), which will be based at Dusseldorf Airport. It sports the “I ❤ Sentido” scheme. The UK-registered aircraft G-TCDV is permanently based at Manchester.
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Thomas Cook`s new venture was launched as the operator announced that it was considering the future of its notorious `Club 18-30` brand which it took over in 1998. From a low-key start in the 1960s, at its peak the company, with a catchphrase of “sun, sex and sea”, had around 100,000 bookings per year, many of which were made by teenagers travelling without their parents for the first time. This brought in £48m in sales annually but, less than two decades on, the brand's appeal is waning with parent company Thomas Cook admitting it is open to selling. They cite the rise of "ego travel" and Instagram for driving young `selfie-stick equipped` people away from cheap package clubbing holidays and towards more photogenic travel opportunities. More than half of 18-24 year olds surveyed recently said they considered potential social media posts when booking a holiday.
Although there`s no chance of seeing them at Glasgow, British Airways has applied for regulatory approval to wet-lease three Airbus A330s from Qatar Airways in order to overcome schedule disruption caused by Boeing 787 Dreamliner engine maintenance. On 4 May, BA requested permission to wet-lease the planes between 1 June and 30 September to "support passenger operations" as it deals with the "impact of aircraft availability within its own fleet as a result of issues, first identified in 2016, surrounding the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Package C engine". The turbine blades aren`t lasting as long as expected and the potential of corrosion on these and the engine`s compressor necessitates that all aircraft fitted with this model will need to be inspected.
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BA seeks to justify the leasing of aircraft from a non-EU carrier on the basis of "exceptional needs". Last summer BA was given the go-ahead to wet-lease nine Airbus A320/A321s from Qatar Airways to alleviate disruption when an estimated 1,400 British Airways staff began a 16-day walk-out as part of a long-running dispute over wages, contracts and working conditions. Under a wet lease agreement, a carrier provides aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance.
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Qatar Airways owns a 20 per cent stake in BA’s parent company IAG, and is also a member of the Oneworld alliance along with BA and fellow IAG carrier Iberia. On 4 May, IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said that "A number" of BA's 787s would be "unavailable" during May, June and July. The Oneworld carrier has eight 787-8 Dreamliners in service and three on order, 16 787-9s in service and one on order, plus a dozen 787-10s on order.
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Wizz Air Airbus A320-232(WL) HA-LWR about to depart on Tuesday 15 May 2018.
Puppy walking in Walkinshaw Road.
Cameras snap away on May 15th as Bucharest-bound Blue Air Boeing 737-85F(WL) YR-BMD lines up for departure.
Making a welcome change from the usual Icelandair 757s, Boeing 767-319(ER)(WL) TF-ISO worked the Keflavik / Glasgow route on Friday 18 May.
An unusual visitor in the shape of ERJ-190STD LZ-VAR (f/v) appeared on the 25th. The Bulgaria Air plane was covering a Stobart flight to / from Southend.
United Airlines 757 N29124 arrives from Newark, New Jersey on the morning of May 25th.
Turboprop Airliners
Not much doing again this month: ATR 72-500 G-LERE Aurigny (f/v) worked a rugby charter f/t Edinburgh on May 17th, transferring to Glasgow for overnight parking and returned here two days later. ATR72-202F EI-SLW ASL Airlines (f/v) (22nd); Fairchild Swearingen SA227-DC Metro 23 OY-NPE of Danish air charter North Flying (25th); Britten-Norman BN-2B Islander G-HEBO of Hebridean Air Services appeared on the 28th and 29th; BN-2B Islander G-CZNE (f/v) (30th and 31st).
Earlier this month Flybe confirmed its intention to reduce the size of its fleet to around 70 planes by early 2020 following a comprehensive review of regional aircraft options. Numbers peaked at 85 in May 2017 and the operator, which has since handed back six older end-of-lease Bombardier Q400 turboprops, plans to return all of its nine, similarly sourced Embraer 195 jets.
Flybe are the largest Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 operator and the type will continue as the backbone of the fleet. The turboprops will be supplemented by a number of Embraer E175s for longer or busier routes. Four of these jets, due for delivery in 2019, will be have new ‘winglet technology’ which helps to reduce fuel consumption.
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ATR 72-202(F) EI-SLW of ASL Airlines Ireland makes an early morning arrival on Friday 25 May.
Biz-Jets
With overnight parking of corporate and general aviation planes at Edinburgh no longer possible until early July at least due to construction work and the airport owners selling off a large area of ground to developers, Glasgow has experienced a welcome upsurge in `biz` traffic which increased dramatically towards the end of the month. This trend will hopefully continue throughout the peak summer season with Dundee and Prestwick ready to step in as alternative `biz-jet parks` if space at Glasgow becomes scarce. The old runway at the capital`s airport, Runway 12/30, traditionally the place where non-airliner types went if they weren`t just dropping-off, was withdrawn from use on 29th March 2018.
Biz-jets stopping over from last month at Glasgow were Dassault Falcon 900EX N890BB, Cessna 750 C-FWRX (above) and Citation CJ2+ D-IAKN.
Hyperion Aviation`s Bombardier Challenger 850 9H-VGA (f/v) had flown in from Kiev. Taxiway `Y`, Monday 7 May 2018.
Gulfstream G550 N550GS (f/v) on Area R being prepared for departure. Wednesday 2 May 2018.
Corporate visitors arriving in May included Gulfstream G550 N550GS (f/v), Cessna CitationJet CJ2 OE-FOA, Learjet 45 LX-LAR and Learjet 40 9H-CFL (1st); Learjet 60s D-CFAF and D-CSLT (2nd); Embraer ERJ-145LR N972RP (f/v) and Cessna Citation Excel G-IPAX (3rd); Bombardier Challenger 350 CS-CHF, Dassault Falcon DA2000EX CS-DLD, Falcon 7X OY-EKC c/s `Mermaid 11`, Learjet 45 LX-LAA, Nextant Beechjet 400XT OK-RAH (f/v) and Embraer Phenom 100 D-IAAB (4th);Gulfstream V N209MG (f/v), Bombardier Global Express M-MDBD, Cessna 750 Citation X OE-HUB (f/v) and Citation Latitude G-SHUI (5th)...
Airbus A318-112(CJ) Elite LX-GJC (f/v), Bombardier Challenger 850 9H-VGA Hyperion Aviation (f/v), Challenger 350 CS-CHF, Cessna CitationJet CJ3 LX-SEB (f/v) (6th); Challenger 850 9H-YOU, Embraer ERJ-145LR N971RP (f/v), Gulfstream 200 G-GZOO and Beechcraft 400XTi-Nextant G-FXCR (7th); Challenger 605 9H-VFA and Learjet 45 D-CDOC (8th); Bombardier Global Express XRS LX-ZED (f/v), Learjet 45 CS-TFR plus Beechcraft 400XTi G-FXCR returned (9th); Gulfstream 550 N504AC (f/v), Dassault Falcon 2000 I-KERE (f/v) and Cessna Citation CJ3 G-YEDC (10th)...
Another view of Canadian-registered Cessna 750 C-FWRX on 1 May.
Global Express XRS G-GLOB and Learjet 45 G-XJET (11th); Gulfstream G550 N550GS, Bombardier Global Express N807DC (f/v), Hawker Beechcraft 800B G-VIPI and Citation Mustang OE-FBD Globe Air (12th); Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 600 D-AVIB Air Hamburg, Dassault Falcon 50EX 9H-AVE, Raytheon Hawker 800XP SE-RLX (f/v), Citation XLS+ G-JALS, CitationJet CJ2s D-IEKU and D-IMAX, plus Learjet 45 G-XJET (13th); Bombardier Global Express OY-MSI (f/v), Gulfstream G100 OE-GKW, Citation XLS CS-DXI, Learjet 45 G-GMAA and Learjet 31A D-CGGG (14th); Gulfstream G550 N537BT (below) and Challenger 350 9H-VCD VistaJet (15th)...
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Gulfstream IV N156WJ (f/v), Gulfstream 150 M-GASG (f/v), Challenger 850 N96AP (f/v), Challenger 604 N267DW (f/v), Dassault Falcon 2000EX N805DB (f/v), Citation I/SP N501NZ (f/v), Learjet 45 G-XJET and Citation Mustang G-FFFC (plus other dates) (16th); Embraer Legacy 500 G-ESNA, Cessna CitationJet CJ2 D-IMAX and Citation Mustang OE-FIT (f/v) (17th); Gulfstream V N169LL (f/v), Falcon 2000 N598WC (f/v), Learjet 35A D-CFAX and Citation CJ1 D-IMOI (f/v) (18th); Boeing 737-3Y0(WL) G-TGPG (f/v), Falcon 900EX N1828S (f/v), Falcon 7X M-CELT, Cessna Citation Latitude G-SHUI and Citation XLS CS-DXZ (19th); Falcon 900EX VP-CMB (f/v) (20th)...
A familiar sight at Glasgow, this shot of VistaJet Challenger 350 9H-VCD was taken on the 16th.
Bombardier Challenger 300 N599HA (f/v), Dassault Falcon 7X HB-JGI (f/v), Gulfstream G150 D-CGEP, Embraer Phenom 300 CS-PHA, Hawker Beechcraft 750 9H-BSA and Citation Mustang OE-FNP (21st); Falcon 2000EX CS-DFG, Learjet 35A D-CCAA and Phenom 300 G-JMBO (plus other dates) (23rd); Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 650 G-WIRG, Bombardier Global 6000 9H-VJP (f/v), Challenger 350 CS-CHF, Cessna 680A Citation Latitude CS-LAU, Citation Excel+ G-JALS, Citation Mustang OE-FZD and Learjet 35A D-CDIM (f/v) (24th); Embraer ERJ-145MP N973RP (f/v), Raytheon Hawker 750XP 9H-BSA, Learjet 75 N751LJ (f/v) and Learjet 60 N202N (f/v) (25th)...
Challenger 850 9H-YOU moments from touchdown on May 7th. Having flown in from Rome Ciampino, it left for Lyon, France, an hour later.
Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy SE-DJG, Bombardier Global 6000 9H-LXX VistaJet, Challenger 300 SP-ZSZ, Cessna 750 Citation X D-BOOC and Citation XLS D-CHDJ (26th); Challenger 300 SP-ZSZ again, CitationJet CJ2 OE-FOA, Learjet 35A D-CEXP and Embraer Phenom 300 CS-PHB (27th); EMB-135BJ Legacy SE-DJG, Global 6000 EC-LTF and Phenom 300 CS-PHK NetJets Europe (f/v) (28th); CitationJet CJ2 OE-FOA, Learjet 45 LX-LAA and Embraer Phenom 300 G-KRBN (f/v) (29th); Dassault Falcon 7X G-MATO (30th); Raytheon Hawker Beechjet 400XP N497XP, Cessna CitationJet CJ2 OE-FOA, Citation Excels CS-DXQ, D-CHDJ and YU-PZM (f/v) (31st).
CitationJet CJ2 D-IEKU on Area J, Monday 14 May.
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Learjet 35A D-CFAX of FAI (Flight Ambulance International) Airservice flew in from Hannover, Germany, on the morning of Friday 18 May. This company was founded as IFA Flugbetriebs, but changed to its current name in 1989. Based at Nuernberg Airport in Northern Bavaria, FAI also has its own flight training centre there and in April 2011 the entire company moved to its own purpose-built hangar.
The current fleet of over 20 aircraft comprises Bombardier Global Express, Canadair Challenger, and Learjet 60 and 55s as well as this Learjet 35A. FAI operates mainly in Africa for the United Nations World Food Program and International Red Cross. WFP is the food-assistance branch of the UN and the world's largest humanitarian organisation addressing hunger and promoting food security.
Challenger 604 N267DW and Falcon 2000EX N805DB on Area J, Wednesday 16 May 2018.
A distant view of the executive area on Sunday 20 May.
Cessna Citation Latitude G-SHUI arrived on the morning of Saturday 19 May with Rod Stewart who was attending the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park.
Rod would have been ecstatic with the result as `The Hoops` beat Motherwell 2-0 to become the first Scottish side to win successive domestic Trebles. Jock Stein`s Celtic team in 1970 and Walter Smith`s Rangers side of 1994 came within one game of doing the `Double-Treble` but both fell at the final hurdle.
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Now 73, the world famous rocker was also taking his two youngest children, sons Aiden and Alastair to the match. I last photographed Rod during one of his superb concerts at Edinburgh Castle back in 2002. Obviously he didn`t recognise me this time otherwise I`m sure he`d have given me a wave when he got off the plane!
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Meanwhile, down south at Wembley, a first half penalty decided the FA Cup Final in Chelsea`s favour to leave Jose Mourinho`s Manchester United empty-handed this season. Although United raised their game after the break, Chelsea`s keeper Thibaut Courtois made a succession of fine saves, while Paul Pogba wasted the Red`s best chance late on when he headed wide of an open goal. Chilean forward Alexis Sánchez also had a goal ruled out for straying just offside.
The whole of the UK was blessed with superb summer weather on 19th May with clear blue skies, which suited not just the football fans but the tens of thousands of well-wishers who lined the streets for the day`s main event, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor. Following the ceremony at St George`s Chapel, the happy couple paraded through the streets of the town in an open carriage escorted by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR), the ceremonial wing of the Household Cavalry. Despite the two major football matches, almost 18 million Britons tuned into watch the wedding on TV. Furthermore, it`s believed that more than two billion people worldwide watched the event, making it the fourth most-watched royal wedding ever.
The whole of the UK was blessed with superb summer weather on 19th May with clear blue skies, which suited not just the football fans but the tens of thousands of well-wishers who lined the streets for the day`s main event, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor. Following the ceremony at St George`s Chapel, the happy couple paraded through the streets of the town in an open carriage escorted by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR), the ceremonial wing of the Household Cavalry. Despite the two major football matches, almost 18 million Britons tuned into watch the wedding on TV. Furthermore, it`s believed that more than two billion people worldwide watched the event, making it the fourth most-watched royal wedding ever.
Gulfstream V N169LL (f/v) from Farnborough on Taxiway Y, Friday 19 May 2018.
ex-TAG Aviation Boeing 737-3Y0(WL) G-TGPG (f/v) on Stand 37R, Sunday 20 May 2018. It was operating f/t Dublin.
Jet Executive`s Learjet 35A D-CDIM made its first visit to Glasgow International on May 24 and departed for Pula, Croatia, the following morning.
Serge Dassault (4 April 1925 - 28 May 2018)
The aviation world lost one of its most famous figures on May 28, when French heir, business executive and politician Serge Dassault died of heart failure at his office within the Dassault group headquarters, Paris, aged 93. His pioneering father Marcel, born Marcel Bloch, 22 January 1892 - 17 April 1986, (aged 94) founded Dassault Aviation in 1929 and Serge, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Group, was still working at the company despite his advanced years.
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While Marcel was an aeronautical genius who gave France its legendary Mirage jet fighters, two of which are shown above on the flight-line at Fairford in 2016, Serge expanded the empire, producing the high-tech Rafale fighter-bomber (left) and Falcon series of business jets, including the Falcon 2000EX and Falcon 7X, with examples of each (below) snapped alongside one another on the executive ramp at Glasgow this month.
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Serge Dassault, however, was something of a maverick and fell foul of the law on several occasions. In 1998, he received a two-year suspended sentence for his part in the so-called Agusta scandal when the Italian helicopter maker and Dassault were found to have bribed Belgian politicians in return for helicopter sales and contracts for the refurbishment of aircraft.
The controversial figure was a keen hunter and he had already received a 10,000 Franc fine (approx £1,000) the previous year for using illegal hunting methods on his forest estate near Paris. To save time and ramp-up his bag tally in the process, Monsieur Dassault added a military-style gun turret to one of his 4x4s and was successfully blasting away at deer from the moving vehicle when spotted by forest rangers. The fine was not even an inconvenience as Dassault was France’s fourth richest man, Forbes magazine estimating his fortune at €19 Billion. Despite his flaws, many regard him as a symbol of France’s strategic might and there is no doubt that this colourful character`s life story makes very interesting reading.
General Aviation
Danish-registered Pilatus PC-12 OY-EUR on the Gama Apron shortly after landing on the morning of the 2nd.
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The following day, Swiss-registered PC-12 HB-FWI made its first visit to the airport. HB-FOZ did likewise on Saturday 19 May.
Pilatus PC-12 LX-JFN on Area J, Friday 25 May 2018. WestJet 737 C-GUWJ from Halifax is moments from touch down.
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King Air 200 G-WVIP and Agusta AW109E Power G-EMHC (1st); Pilatus PC-12 OY-EUR and AW189 G-MCGR HM Coastguard (2nd); Pilatus PC-12s M-YBLS and HB-FWI (f/v) (3rd); Piper PA-34 Seneca G-OBNA (4th); Cessna 421C G-ISAR, King Air 200 G-FLYW and Sikorsky S-92A G-MCGL HM Coastguard (5th); AW189 G-MCGR HM Coastguard (6th); King Air 90GTx G-MOSJ (7th); PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage OO-FOX (f/v), Cessna 425 Conquest D-IAWG (f/v), King Air 200s G-FLYW (plus other dates) and G-WVIP, plus Cirrus SR22 G-GCVV (8th); Airbus Helicopters AS365N2 EI-PRO (f/v) (9th); King Air 200 G-IASA, Cessna 182 G-RACY (f/v), Bell 206 Jet Ranger G-XBOX, Aerospatiale AS365 Dauphin G-NHAB, and Robinson R66 Turbine G-OHAS (10th)...
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Cirrus SR22 N549CD (f/v), pictured above on Sunday 20 May, arrived from Jersey the previous day. Agusta AW109E Power G-EMHC was snapped on the 1st.
AW189 G-MCGT HM Coastguard (12th); AW189 G-MCGT returned (14th); Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain G-LYDF Lyddair (15th); AW189 G-MCGT HM Coastguard (17th); SOCATA TBM-930 N59AA (f/v) (18th); Pilatus PC-12 HB-FOZ (f/v), Piaggio P-180 Avanti II D-IRBS, Cirrus SR22 N549CD (f/v) and Bell 206B Jet Ranger G-JETX was in the general area, crossing above the airport several times during the day (19th); Eurocopter AS.355-F2 G-NLSE (f/v) (20th); King Air 200s G-KVIP and M-WATJ plus Sikorsky S-92A G-MCGG HM Coastguard (22nd); Airbus Helicopters AS355 Ecureuil G-PDGS was operating in the general area (23rd); Pilatus PC-12 LX-JFN and King Air 200 HB-GLA (f/v) (24th); Pilatus PC-12 M-YBLS (25th); AW189 G-MCGT HM Coastguard (27th); Pilatus PC-12 LX-JFN, AW189 G-MCGT "Rescue199" and Eurocopter AS.355N G-VGMC (28th); King Air 200 G-WVIP (29th).
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HM Coastguard AgustaWestland 189 G-MCGR taxis over to Runway 23 for lift-off on May 2nd and was back at Glasgow on the 6th (right).
Military
As previously mentioned, this year`s only Exercise Joint Warrior took place between 24 April and 04 May 2018. I`m unsure as to whether any of the following military aircraft making an appearance of Glasgow over the first few days in May were connected: On the 1st, two Belgian Air Force C-130H Hercules, serial numbers CH-10 and CH-12 (both f/v) which had arrived on 29 April, took off around 10:00 hrs. German Air Force Airbus A319-133(CJ) 15+01 did a touch-and-go on Runway 23 at 10:35 hrs on Wednesday 2 May and returned at 13:45 hrs the following day, this time for an overshoot.
USAF C-146A Wolfhound 12-3050 (f/v) pictured above, routing between Keflavik and Sigonella, Sicily, was a visitor on the 3rd. On Tuesday 8 May, C-130J 5607 of the Royal Norwegian Air Force made a 20 minute stop around lunchtime and US Army Cessna UC-35A 99-010254, call-sign `Duke 64`, called in later.
On Tuesday 15 May, Beechcraft T-6C Texan IIs N2826B (f/v) and N2824B, on delivery to the RAF, arrived just after 13:00 hrs and remained on the ground for 2 hours. Only one of the pair, N2826B, was a first-time visitor to Glasgow as N2824B had made an overnight stop here stop last July while en route to appear at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), Fairford.
The contract for the supply of ten of these aircraft to the UK was signed by Affinity Flying Training Services and Beechcraft Defense on 4 February 2016. The Beechcraft Texan T MK.1 will eventually replace the Tucano T.Mk 1. in the basic fast jet training (BFJT) role for both Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots. Training is currently provided by 72(R) Sqn with No.1 Flying Training School (FTS), at Royal Air Force Linton-on-Ouse. Students will progress onto the new aircraft from the Prefect and then move onto the Hawk T.2.
The Texan II replaces the analogue cockpit of the Tucano, which it closely resembles, with a digital glass cockpit featuring modern avionics. The aircraft’s mission system is capable of generating simulated air-to-air targets and scoring against the release of simulated air-to-ground ordnance. The pair of Tucanos shown below visited Glasgow way back in September 2005.
Contemporary RAF basic fast jet training was initially performed on the Hunting Jet Provost, which had entered service in the 1950s and introduced jet power and a tricycle undercarriage to the basic training regime. Almost three decades later, the Tucano made for a radical change, with its turboprop power and tandem, rather than side-by-side seating. Indeed, it was the first tandem seat RAF basic trainer to enter service since the de Havilland Canada Chipmunk of 1950.
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The Tucano`s manufacturer made various changes to the base machine to meet British requirements including a modified canopy which more closely resembled that of the Hawk. Thereafter 130 Tucanos were built under licence by Shorts of Belfast. Shorts flew the first Tucano T.Mk 1 on December 30, 1986 and the type entered service with the Central Flying School at RAF Scampton, for trials, in June 1988. Courses using the new aircraft began in the December of the following year.
Under Raytheon ownership, Beech developed the T-6A Texan II from the Pilatus PC-9, in response to the long-running US Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) requirement to replace the Cessna T-37. After reworking a Pilatus-supplied airframe, Beech flew a production standard Texan II, known then as the Beech Mk II, for the first time in December 1992. On June 22, 1995, Beech was announced the winner of the JPATS competition and the Texan II began re-equipping USAF flying training squadrons in May 2000.
The Texan II name recalls the North American T-6 Texan of World War II, a type used extensively by the RAF and Royal Canadian Air Force as the Harvard. Numerous examples of this mass-produced trainer have been preserved around the world with many still in flying condition. The following example is on display at the British Columbia Air Museum, Vancouver Island.
Other original T-6s I`ve managed to photograph include T-6G Texan 32803 (ex 41-32803) at the Greek National War Museum in Athens and TA-983, which was
built in 1949. It saw combat with the French Air Force in Algeria 1954–1961 and became part of the Polish Aviation Museum`s collection at Krakow in 1993.
built in 1949. It saw combat with the French Air Force in Algeria 1954–1961 and became part of the Polish Aviation Museum`s collection at Krakow in 1993.
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When the T-6A-1 was developed as the CT-156 for the NATO Flying Training in Canada programme, it was appropriately named Harvard II. Subsequent variants include the T-6B for the US Navy and T-6C export version. The new T-6C Texan II, the RAF`s `T. MK.1` will be stationed at RAF Valley alongside the Hawk T.2. Training on the new turboprop is expected to begin early in 2019.
Cessna UC-35B 03-0016, Cessna UC-35C 03-0726 and Beech UC-12R 94-0317, were all US Army first visits on Thursday 17 May. The twin-prop arrived just as the two Citations taxied out for departure with the excellent weather encouraging many local spotters to come and capture the event on camera. The aircraft were all routing Keflavik - Wiesbaden, Germany.
Following on from 5607`s brief visit on Tuesday 8 May, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules 5629 of the Royal Norwegian Air Force appeared on the 18th, spending around 40 minutes on Taxiway Y. US Navy C-37B (Gulfstream G550) 166376 from Andrews AFB made a 2 hour-long stop later that day before continuing on to Naples.
and Finally...
The above slideshow features some shots taken around the airport, plus others taken in the general area including a few of the latest Sparrowhawk to raid my garden. I also managed to get some snaps of a male Whitethroat which was posing in Abbotsinch Road opposite Area J. Although this species is widespread across much of the UK in summer I`ve only glimpsed a handful over the years.
On Tuesday 29 May, I turned onto Inchinnan Drive to find a line of stationary traffic behind the Rolls Royce plant, held up due to some sort of commotion at the roadside. Glancing ahead, I saw a couple of Police vehicles and officers so naturally assumed there had been an accident. It was, however a `Swan Rescue` situation - a couple of parent birds and their brood of six cygnets had strayed onto the carriageway, causing havoc in the process.
Two members of staff from the Scottish SPCA were also in attendance and the amused onlookers watched as the professionals got to work. Rather than just usher the birds into the nearest field, it was decided that getting them back to the banks of the Black Cart Water would be the safest option. The birds were gently persuaded to head in the desired direction and things were going well until the local herd of cattle took an interest and moved in.
Please bear in mind that all my images are subject to copyright. They are not free to use and have been embedded with a digital watermark.
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Once the individual animals in the herd had a closer look and satisfied their curiosity, they took off at a gallop, looking for something a bit more interesting.
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