Glasgow Airport Movements 2021
July
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July 2021
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Throughout July, there were times when things seemed more like normal with record breaking summer weather, sun-seekers cramming beaches and the Olympic Games 2020 (Like Euro 2020, postponed from last year) as a welcome diversion on TV, even though host city Tokyo was under lockdown due to a worryingly high rate of Coronavirus infections throughout much of Japan.
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Spectators, including athletes` family and friends, were not allowed to attend most of the events but despite various challenges, records continued to fall. The games are taking place between Friday 23 July and Sunday 8 August 2021. Team GB have performed particularly well and by 1 August had already exceeded their previous best medal total. In the pool, Glaswegian Duncan Scott`s silver in the men’s 4x100m medley relay made him the first British athlete ever to win four medals at one Olympic Games, and the most successful British swimmer in Olympic history, on the most successful British swimming team in Olympic history. He and the team have broken records that have stood since the London Olympics of 1908. Team GB`s first gold came from Adam Peaty who became the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title after winning the men's 100m breaststroke.
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Gymnast Max Whitlock won the men's pommel horse final with a commanding score; Charlotte Worthington won gold in the first Olympic women's BMX freestyle competition; Beth Shriever won the gold medal in the women's BMX racing; Tom Pidcock won gold in the men's cross-country mountain bike race less than two months after he suffered a broken collarbone when he was hit by a car during a training ride; Plus, Tom Daley and his partner Matty Lee claimed victory in the men's synchronised 10m platform dive at the Tokyo Olympics.It is Daley's first gold at what are his fourth Games, having previously won bronze in London and Rio.
Although the vaccine program continues apace in the UK, Scotland recorded more than 4,000 Coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period for the first time at the start of this month. Six deaths were also registered bringing the total number of COVID-19 related fatalities within 28 days of a positive test to almost 8,000. Despite rising case numbers, Scottish Government figures showed that the death rate and hospital admissions were well down from the peak largely due to the vaccines. As July kicked-off, over 3,800,000 people had received their first dose with almost 2,750,000 having received both. National Clinical Direct Professor Jason Leitch said that a third booster COVID jab could be administered to Scottish people over 55 at the same time as their annual flu jab in autumn. Trials have suggested that using the two vaccines together is safe and equally effective.
Over the period 23 - 25 July, airlines and some airports throughout the UK said they were having their busiest weekend since the pandemic began as schools closed and the summer holidays begin for millions. Heathrow Airport estimated 60,000 passengers departed each day, while Gatwick said it expected 250 daily flights, up from a low of just 15. Glasgow International also saw numerous easyJet, Jet2, TUI and Ryanair holiday flights heading for the sunshine. Many Britons confirmed that travel had been a major motivation for getting jabbed with Spain the top destination for UK travellers, followed by Greece. Air travel companies said that the decision to allow fully vaccinated travellers to visit amber list countries without quarantining on their return had encouraged people to consider more destinations, but added that the government's `chaotic and unpredictable` approach to international travel had damaged confidence.
Jet Airliners
A limited number of Jet2 flights resumed at the beginning of July, gradually picking up so that the company`s stored 737s finally got some business and Lufthansa resumed its Frankfurt - Glasgow connection on Sunday 4 July. Aer Lingus stepped in to cover the service to Dublin after the collapse of Stobart Air, using Airbus jets rather than the now defunct carrier`s ATR turboprops which had become a regular feature in recent years.
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Several highlights on the visiting jet airliner front this month amongst the following: Embraer ERJ-190SR G-LCAC (f/v) British Airways Cityflyer (flew in from London City Airport) (2nd); Lufthansa kicked off its welcome return with Bombardier CRJ-900LR D-ACNV. BA Airbus A319-131 G-DBCG was a Heathrow > Aberdeen weather diversion (4th); Aberdeen-bound BA Airbus A319-131 G-EUPS was forced to make a similar route change on the 5th. Airbus A321-251NX G-NEOV British Airways (arrived for storage/maintenance) (7th); Bombardier CRJ-900LR D-ACNR Lufthansa (8th); Boeing 737-8 MAX A4O-MG (f/v) on delivery to Oman Air (9th); Boeing 737-8 MAX A4O-MJ (f/v) Oman Air (on delivery) (11th).
On 12 July, British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner G-ZBKM (f/v) operating BA49 en route from London Heathrow to Seattle was forced to turn back over the Outer Hebrides, due to a technical issue, possibly centred on a generator. After a couple of circuits of Stornoway Airport the airliner flew down to Glasgow and landed where BA engineers were on hand to fix the problem, enabling the plane to resume its journey after only a short delay. No such luck for the following aircraft though...
On 12 July, British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner G-ZBKM (f/v) operating BA49 en route from London Heathrow to Seattle was forced to turn back over the Outer Hebrides, due to a technical issue, possibly centred on a generator. After a couple of circuits of Stornoway Airport the airliner flew down to Glasgow and landed where BA engineers were on hand to fix the problem, enabling the plane to resume its journey after only a short delay. No such luck for the following aircraft though...
(Photo courtesy UK AAIB)
On 18 June 2021, while being loaded for a cargo-only flight at London’s Heathrow Airport, British Airways 787-8 Dreamliner G-ZBJB suffered an unintended nose gear retraction. This month, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) issued a special bulletin outlining the circumstances and warning 787 operators to remain vigilant when performing ground maintenance operations. The British Airways plane had been due to fly to Frankfurt and as cargo was being loaded, engineers were performing maintenance to clear messages in the aircraft’s systems. One of the required actions included performing a cycle of the landing gear with hydraulic power applied to the aircraft. To prevent the landing gear from retracting pins are inserted into the main and nose gear downlocks. In this instance, the pin that should have been inserted into the nose gear downlock was actually inserted into the nose gear apex pin bore, which is right next to the correct downlock hole. After a similar incident in 2018, Boeing issued a service bulletin requiring the installation of a cover over the apex bore hole to prevent this but BA had not yet completed the installation of the covers. A spokesperson for the airline has since said it will expedite the process.
Above: easyJet Airbus A320-251N G-UZLF. Sunday 11 July 2021.
July`s noteworthy airliners continued with two BA morning charters: Airbus A321-251NX G-NEOT and Airbus A320-251N G-TTNB, plus BAE146-RJ85 G-JOTR Jota Aviation (routing from Biggin Hill to Farnborough) (13th); Airbus A320-214(WL) OE-IJX (f/v) easyJet Europe (14th); Boeing 737-8MG(WL) G-JZBH Jet2 (arrived with Celtic FC from Bristol) and Embraer ERJ-190SR G-LCAE (f/v) British Airways (from/to London City) (15th); A second visit by British Aerospace Avro RJ85 G-JOTR (and other dates), plus Airbus A319-131 G-EUPP British Airways arrived for storage / maintenance (17th); Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-ENT Emirates operated a cargo flight from Dubai, Airbus A319-114 D-AILD Lufthansa and Embraer ERJ-190SR G-LCAF (f/v) British Airways Cityflyer from / to London City) (18th); Airbus A320-214 EI-GAL (f/v) Aer Lingus, plus Bombardier CRJ1000 EI-HBB (f/v) Hibernian Airlines. The latter aircraft arrived with FC Midtjylland from Billund for their UEFA Champions League qualifier against Celtic the following evening (19th); BA Airbus A320-232 G-EUUI departed after storage / maintenance (20th)...
Above: TUI fly Boeing 737-8K5(WL) G-TUKO operated its first holiday service from Glasgow Airport on 6 July, taking holidaymakers to Palma, Majorca.
Above: Jota Aviation`s BAe Avro RJ85 G-JOTR on July 17 was routing from Biggin Hill to Luton.
Embraer ERJ-190LR D-AECA (f/v) Lufthansa CityLine and ERJ-190SR G-LCAD British Airways Cityflyer (22nd); Airbus A320-214 EI-GAM (f/v) Aer Lingus (23rd); Embraer ERJ-170LR G-CIXW Eastern Airways (24th); Embraer ERJ-135ER G-CGMC and ERJ-170LR G-CIXW, both Eastern Airways, plus Airbus A321-251NX G-NEOY and A320-232 G-EUUB, both BA (24th); Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANP (f/v) Air India (Mahatma Gandhi Livery) and Airbus A319-111 EC-JDL (f/v) Iberia (arrived from Madrid with Real Madrid FC, then returned later to collect the team after a pre-season friendly against Glasgow Rangers) (25th); Airbus A320-214 EI-DEE Aer Lingus (26th); Airbus A319-131 G-EUPJ British Airways (BEA Retro livery) (28th); British Airways Airbus A320-232s G-EUUL and G-EUYJ departed after storage/maintenance. Plus Boeing 737-8MG(WL) G-JZHW Jet2 (arrived with Celtic FC from Karup after a defeat that saw them exit the Champions League. Lastly, Embraer ERJ-190LR D-AECE (f/v) of Lufthansa CityLine also called in on the 29th.
Eastern Airways Embraer ERJ-135ER G-CGMC (below) and ERJ-170LR G-CIXW both called in on Saturday 24 July, the latter aircraft making two visits.
Boeing 737-8 MAX A4O-MG (f/v) was one of two new MAX airliners destined for Oman Air to stop off at Glasgow on delivery from the USA this month. It touched down at 03:25 hours on Friday 9 July and remained on the ground until 22:40 that evening, conveniently parked in an uncluttered position on Stand 40 on the west apron. The aircraft had borne the test registration N1786B at the Boeing Company's Renton production facility (below) in Washington State.
(Above image © Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times)
The second Boeing 737-8 MAX for Oman Air to pass through Glasgow International, A4O-MJ (f/v), is pictured here on 11 July.
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This one landed at 02:40 and stayed, again on Stand 40, until departing for Muscat at 21:45 hrs.
Boeing 737-8AS(WL) SP-RKK (ex EI-FZM) of Ryanair Sun about to depart on Sunday 4 July.
Aer Lingus made a welcome return to Glasgow Airport following the recent collapse of Stobart Air which provided the Irish carrier`s regional link. Rather than Stobart`s ATR turboprops, the Glasgow - Dublin route will be worked by A320 jet airliners for the foreseeable future. Airbus A320-214 EI-GAL (f/v) (above) kicked off the restart on 19 July.
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On 25 July, the captain of inbound A320-214 EI-DEF on finals reported an untethered balloon blowing across his descent path.
KLM Boeing 737s, including PH-BGF, pictured here on Saturday 24 July, began to appear to cope with the increased passenger numbers on the Glasgow - Amsterdam service, Previously during the pandemic, the route was almost exclusively covered by the smaller Embraer regional Jets of KLM Cityhopper.
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.
Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANP (f/v), sporting a special Mahatma Gandhi Livery, flew in from Mumbai on Sunday 25 July with crew and supplies for the Azamara Quest, one of three cruise ships that have been laid up at Glasgow`s King George V Dock since last summer due to the Coronavirus pandemic. A fair number of local enthusiasts had gotten up early to snap the arrival of this aircraft when it landed at 07:40 hours.
The Air India widebody was allocated Stand 30 and stopped over until the following morning.
The Dreamliner set off on the return flight to Mumbai at 09:05 hours on the 26th.
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About 13:15 hrs that afternoon, Azamara Quest finally left the KGV Dock and headed out to sea.
She had been there since 19 June 2020 and is pictured above heading towards the city that evening, just before sundown.
First of the Azamara trio to arrive on the Clyde last year was Azamara Pursuit, which had sailed up the Clyde shortly after dawn on Monday 1 June. Last but not least was was Azamara Journey (above) which arrived on Wednesday 24 June 2020. The above view, taken from the Kilpatrick Hills, showing the Azamara Journey heading for lay-up with her sisters, plus a Virgin A330 and numerous BA Airbuses in long term storage at nearby Glasgow Airport, acted as a small reminder of the catastrophic impact that the pandemic already had on the leisure and travel industry worldwide with worse yet to come.
Although the Braehead Walkway, Renfrew / Yoker and the area adjacent to the Titan Crane on the Clydebank side were packed with spectators waving the `Quest off, numbers were far less than when she arrived. The appearance of these large vessels on the Clyde last year was well publicised and a welcome diversion for many during lockdown but now, with hopefully some light at the end of the tunnel, many people had returned to work or had better things to do.
As can be seen in the above shot there was plenty of room on the Erskine Walkway this time.
I opted to capture the Quest`s departure from the Erskine Bridge. About forty people, some in small family groups, did likewise.
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Turboprop Airliners
Saab 340B G LGNH parked outside the Loganair hangar. Saturday 24 July 2021.
Only one Turboprop worth a mention this month...
On Tuesday 20 July, Icelandair Bombardier DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 TF-FXA made an hour-long fuel stop at 13:10 hrs while en route from Reykjavik to Vienna then again on Friday 23rd, between 00:45-01:30, during the return leg. I didn`t manage any snaps on either occasion, however, I`d previously photographed the same aircraft and other Dash 8s in the Icelandair fleet at Reykjavik Airport several years ago. This is the Icelandic capital`s main domestic airport but having shorter runways than the city's larger international airport Keflavík, which is sited 30 miles (50 kilometres) away, it only serves internal flights within Iceland and to Greenland, small international charters, transatlantic ferry flights and private flights. It can also serve as a diversionary alternate airport for aircraft inbound towards Keflavík, in the event of adverse weather there.
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Although Reykjavik Airport can be fairly quiet at times movement-wise, there are some great vantage points dotted around the perimeter and overlooking the site. More information and photos can be found on a dedicated page: Click here to view.
Biz-Jets
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Indian-registered Dassault Falcon 2000 VT-RVL (above) was the only corporate jet to stop over from last month. VT-RVL remained at Glasgow until 18:30 hrs on Monday 5 July when it left for Farnborough. Air Charter Scotland`s based CitationJet CJ2 G-NOCM (left) returned to the airport on the 8th. (other movements not recorded).
Visiting in July were Dassault Falcon 2000EX G-SMSM of London Executive Aviation and Embraer Legacy 500 G-TULI (1st); Learjet 45 M-MRBB and CitationJet CJ4 M-KNOX (2nd); Bombardier Challenger 350 CS-CHD, Cessna Citation Excel D-CDCM Air Hamburg, Citation Mustang G-SCCA and Embraer Phenom 300 G-HNPN (5th); Dassault Falcon 2000 N215RE and Learjet 45 LN-AWB (f/v) (7th); Raytheon Hawker 750 G-STWB, plus CitationJet CJ2s D-IEGA (f/v) (8th); Embraer Praetor 600 G-FHFX (f/v) (9th); Citation M2 G-KSOH (10th)... |
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Also on 10 July, CitationJet CJ4 M-KNOX (above) took off at 12:20 hrs but diverted back in on one engine).
Corporate jets continued with Raytheon Hawker 850XP G-IMGP and Cessna Citation Bravo G-SPRE (11th); Hawker 400XP SP-ATT (12th); Phenom 300 G-JMBO (14th); Embraer Legacy 500 G-TULI (15th); Citation XLS G-OJER and Learjet 35A D-CTRI (17th); Citation XLS G-OJER (17th); Raytheon 390 Premier 1 D-ITOC (f/v), Citation Bravo G-IPLY and Citation XLS G-NJAC (18th); Gulfstream GV-SP N336LS (f/v), Phenom 300 G-CKAZ and Eclipse Aerospace EA500 N352BB (f/v). The latter aircraft called in during the afternoon but diverted back in with a technical issue 20 minutes after departure (19th); Raytheon Hawker 750 9H-BSA and Citation Bravo G-SPRE again (20th)...
Bombardier Challenger 300 G-XATV (f/v) and Beech Nextant 400XT OK-NTD (f/v) Time Air (21st); Embraer ERJ-145EP G-OWTN BAE Systems, plus Embraer Legacy 500 D-BEER (f/v) Air Hamburg repositioned from Edinburgh (22nd); Boeing 737-3L9(WL) G-SWRD of 2Excel Aviation and Cessna Citation XLS G-SKAL (23rd); Gulfstream GV-SP N260DL (f/v), Challenger 300 G-XATV Arena Aviation and Embraer Phenom 100 N456RF (f/v) (24th); Embraer Legacy 650 G-SUGR, CitationJet CJ4s OE-GXT (f/v) and M-KNOX, CitationJet CJ2 G-JNRE and Citation Bravo G-SPRE (25th); Learjet 31A D-CGGG and Citation XLS G-GAAL Luxaviation UK (26th); Embraer Phenom 300 D-CASH Air Hamburg, Citation Bravo OY-EVO, Citation XLS G-NJAB and Citation Mustang G-FFFC (27th); CitationJet CJ1 G-KION (28th); Citation XLSs G-SKAL and G-NJAA, plus CJ1 G-KION made another visit but diverted back in shortly after departure with a technical issue related to its door (29th); CitationJet CJ2 G-JNRE and Cessna Citation Bravo G-SPRE (31st).
Gulfstream GV-SP N336LS (f/v) toched down at 07:10 hrs on Monday 19 July; It disembarked passengers on Stand 7 before relocating to Area R.
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Boeing 737-3L9(WL) G-SWRD of 2Excel Aviation flew in on the evening of Friday 23 July and is pictured here the following morning.
Gulfstream GV-SP N260DL (f/v), Area R, Sunday 25 July 2021.
General Aviation
US-registered Cirrus SR22 N803SR made its first visit to the airport on July 18.
Runway 05 was in use on the morning of Sunday 4 July when Scottish Ambulance Service King Air G-SASD lined up for takeoff.
Another month with the King Airs visiting Gama Aviation for maintenance making up the majority of the GA movements, although it was good to see a variety of light aircraft calling in at the Glasgow Flight Centre beside the flying club on the north side of the airfield, usually to top up with fuel. King Air 200 G-IASA parked inside the Gama hangar was the only GA stopover from June. General Aviation visitors this month were Cessna 421B Golden Eagle G-SVIP and Bell 429 GlobalRanger M-YMCM (2nd); King Air 200s G-FLYW and G-FLYK, plus AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGR `Rescue 199`HM Coastguard (3rd); Beech Super King Air 200 G-CIFE and Super King Air 350 G-SRBM (4th); Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II D-ICCC, plus Piaggio P-180 Avanti Evo D-IPPY which arrived about 08:45 hrs and set off for Palma, Majorca, at 09:50 (5th)...
Above: Two Fly Wales` King Airs and Golden Eagle G-SVIP on Area J on the morning of Sunday 4 July after a night stop.
July 2021`s noteworthy GA movements continued with King Air 200 G-BGRE, plus Bell 205A-1 G-UHGB overflew North to South at 16:00 hours (7th); Cessna 421C Golden Eagle G-ISAR, King Air 200s G-BGRE and G-IMEA, plus Diamond DA42 Twin Star G-ZAZU overshot Runway 23 at 10:50 hrs) (8th); King Air 200 G-IASC (9th); King Air 200 G-IMEA (10th); AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGT HM Coastguard (11th); King Air 350 G-SRBM, Eurocopter EC135T2 G-EMAA SCAA (f/v), HM Coastguard Sikorsky S-92A G-MCGL, plus AW189 G-MCGT returned late afternoon (12th); Czech Aircraft Works SportCruiser G-HMPS overflew West to East at 17:45 hrs (13th); King Air 200 PH-SLE (f/v), King Air 90GTx G-MOSJ, Piaggio P-180 Avanti D-INKY, plus Diamond DA 42 Twin Star G-ZAZU overshot Runway 23 at 13:30 and Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II G-FIND of RVL Aviation was operating at low level in the vicinity of the airport, apparently on survey work (15th)...
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HM Coastguard Sikorsky S-92A G-MCGG, Gama Aviation King Air G-PCOP and Manx-registered Sikorsky S-76C M-ONTY were all snapped on Saturday 17 July 2021.
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Pilatus PC-12/47E M-DRIL, Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III G-KIAN (f/v), plus Diamond DA 42 Twin Star G-CIKM and Robin HR-200-120B G-BNIK overshot Runway 23 in the afternoon (16th); King Air 200 G-FLYW, PA-28R Arrow III G-KIAN again, Sikorsky S-76C M-ONTY and S-92A G-MCGG HM Coastguard (17th); King Air 200 G-JASS and Cirrus SR22 N803SR (f/v) (18th); Cessna 208 Caravan Floatplane G-LAUD did a touch-and-go on Runway 23 at 19:45 hrs (19th); King Air 200 G-IASM (plus other dates), King Air BE90GTx M-TSRI, Piper PA-46-500TP Meridian 2-COOK, Pilatus PC-12 M-YBLS, Socata TB10 Tobago G-BHDE, Cirrus SR-22 GTS N214CL (f/v), plus AW189 G-MCGN HM Coastguard (20th)...
Tayside Aviation`s Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II G-BNOF dates from 1987.
Rounding up July were AW189 G-MCGT HMCG (22nd); King Air 200s PH-SLE and G-NICB (f/v), Pilatus PC-12s VP-CPX and F-HDBL, plus Diamond DA 42 Twin Star G-CIKM did an overshoot. Cherokee Warrior II G-BODD and Robinson R66 Turbine G-FLOE overflew the airfield later (23rd); King Air 200 G-CIFE, CSA PS-28 Cruiser G-CRZR (f/v) and Aerospatiale AS355F Ecureuil 2 G-BPRJ (24th); AS355F G-BPRJ returned, plus HMCG AW189s G-MCGN and G-MCGT (25th); Pilatus PC-12 G-KARE (26th); King Air 200s G-FLYK and G-FLYW plus PC-12 G-KARE again (27th); King Air 200 G-FLYW returned (28th); King Air 200s G-CIFE and G-MEGN, Mooney M20M N10KG (f/v), Agusta A-109S Grand G-ETPO (f/v) and HMCG AW189 G-MCGR (29th); King Air 200 G-IASA, Diamond DA 42 Twin Star G-ZAZU overshot Runway 23 at 11:50 hrs, plus Bell 206B Jet Ranger III G-SYDH was operating pleasure flights in the local area throughout the day (30th);
Military
After a relatively slow start there was a bit more interest towards the end of the month: On Saturday 3 July. RAF Beechcraft 350ER Shadow R.1 ZZ419 (f/v), on a training flight from Belfast to Lossiemouth, overshot Runway 05 at 12:30 and 12:50 hrs, but remained at an altitude of around 6,000 feet. (It reappeared late morning on the 17th). Army Air Corps Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin 2 ZJ780 `Hammer 27` (6th). On Saturday 10 July, while on an evening training sortie from Belfast, RAF Shadow R.1 ZZ418 did several circuits and a couple of overshoots. Next was Royal Navy AgustaWestland Merlin HM.2 ZH854 `Tiger 69` which overshot Runway 23 at 17:50 on the 13th. On Thursday 22 July, RAF Embraer Phenom T.1 ZM337 overshot Runway 05 at 16:00 hours. Down at Prestwick, just over 2 hours later, German Air Force Tornado 46+24, callsign `Retro 21` was forced to make an emergency landing while wingman 46+52 `Retro 23` monitored the situation and did a go-around. The `tech` fighter was still on the ground at Prestwick at the end of the month.
(Above image © Aviation24.be / Ivan Coninx)
Airbus A400M-180 Atlas CT-02 (f/v) of the Belgian Air Force appeared around midday on Thursday 8 July during a training sortie. Using the callsign `BAF 646`, the big plane, which is pictured above landing at Brussels Airport, did a touch-and-go and an overshoot of Runway 23 before heading back home. It belongs to 15th Wing Air Transport, a bi-national Belgian-Luxembourg unit based at the Melsbroek military area of Brussels Airport (EBMB). This unit operates eight Atlas, one of which, CT-01, is owned by the Luxembourg armed forces, with the remainder Belgian.
(Interior photos © Aviation24.be / BAF Warrant Officer Kristof Moens, BAF Warrant Officer Jozef Vanden Broeck)
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The morning of Monday 26 July saw BAe 146-100 Statesman CC.2 ZE701 (not photographed) make a brief stop. This is one of four of the type used by 32 (The Royal) Squadron, RAF as VIP transports. Proposed budget cuts in the UK Ministry of Defence will likely see all four sold sometime next year with no replacements likely. All of these Queen`s Flight jets have visited Glasgow numerous times over the years. On this occasion, ZE701 was on the ground between 09:20 - 10:00 hrs and returned the next day.
Far more unusual was the appearance on the 26th of two RAF Mildenhall-based Stratotankers. Although these US Air Force planes frequently pass through Prestwick they`re seldom seen at Glasgow International. First to touch down was Boeing KC-135R 58-0100 (f/v) (pictured) at 07:05 hours. I believe it was returning to its Suffolk base but had to divert due to adverse weather. Normally Prestwick would be first choice, but it too was experiencing poor visibility, whereas Glasgow was clear. The veteran aircraft parked up on Taxiway Y and night-stopped. Then, KC-135R 62-3540 (f/v) made a brief visit, early evening, possibly with a change of crew. It was allocated Stand 40 near the Loganair hangar. |
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In addition to BAe 146-100 CC.2 ZE701 on Tuesday July 27, no less than four military helicopters called in later that day, the first pair, `Hammer Formation` comprising Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin 2s ZJ780 `Hammer 1` and ZJ785 (f/v) `Hammer 2` of the Army Air Corps. These dark blue coloured choppers do not look like military machines and are regularly used by the UK`s Special Forces. Both helicopters made a visit to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters in Cambuslang and returned to the airport later. Next, two RAF heavies in the shape of Boeing Chinook HC.6 ZK556 (f/v) `Lifter 1` and Chinook HC.5 ZH898 "Lifter 2`. They landed at 16:20 hours, parking on Taxiway Yankee, and stayed until just after 20:00 hrs. BAe 146-100 CC.2 ZE701 was back on the 29th, and finally, on Friday 30 July 2021, German Air Force Airbus A340-313X 16+01, callsign `GAF 931`, overshot Runway 23 at 10:00 hours during a training flight.
Construction & Development
Just a few shots of the construction work off Abbotsinch Road this month.
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After the 100-metre Black Cart Cycleway Bridge toppled over during the first attempt to move it into position last November, it was dismantled and transported in sections back to the fabricator`s yard in Wishaw. Much of the paintwork had to be stripped before a detailed inspection could take place. Once the damaged sections were repaired, and the 160-tonne structure repainted, it was returned to the Abbotsinch Road site pending the second attempt at putting it in place and, unlike the first time, the move went without a hitch. Hopefully it won`t be too long before the crossing is ready for action.
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Garden
Also, not much with regard to photographs from the garden in July; just Sparrows, a Magpie, a young Dunnock and a squirrel.
Out and About
I made my first long range trip for almost two years this month, opting to head south. Taking advantage of the superb weather, my first stop was the Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, which gave me plenty of time to get to Bellymack Farm to photograph the daily Red Kite feeding session at 2 pm. Given that it only takes around half-an-hour to drive between the two flight-related venues they make an ideal combination for a day out.
The Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum
Although the Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum occupies a fairly small site, it has around 15 aircraft on display along with an extensive collection of aero engines, photographs, historical artefacts and memorabilia. The museum is entirely staffed and maintained by a band of friendly volunteers who are more than happy to answer any questions and provide detailed background information on the collection. The main ancillary exhibits are housed within the preserved control tower of what was RAF Dumfries during World War 2. Another local military airbase at that time which also gets a mention is RAF Annan, now the site of decommissioned Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station.
Almost 10 years had passed since I last visited the museum and there have been numerous changes since, the most noteworthy is the acquisition and restoration of Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa P7540 which went down into Loch Doon, East Ayrshire, on the 25th October 1941 during a training sortie, killing the Czech pilot, František Hekl. The founders of Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum first commissioned the salvage project way back in 1977 having obtained permission from the Ministry of Defence. However, visibility was far worse than anyone imagined, and below three metres the water was a dark, muddy soup with a thick layer of silt on the bottom. Only a fingertip search of the loch floor had any chance of locating the wreck and several groups of divers helped over the years. It wasn’t until May 1982, just before the decision was made to finally abandon the search altogether, that a diver literally bumped into the fuselage. It was raised with airbags and taken ashore, leaving just the engine to be found. Having broken free from the cartwheeling Spitfire on impact with the water, the engine was eventually found. It had taken six years, 109 individual sub-aqua divers and 567 separate dives to locate the Spitfire, though no trace of the pilot was ever found. The iconic fighter now takes pride of place in a dedicated display hangar.
The three-storey control tower is packed with exhibits with a large collection of aero-engines, ejector seats and model aircraft on the ground floor. The wartime control room has been recreated on the upper level and there are numerous archive photos showing RAF Dumfries and other county airfields in their heyday. Due to the current Coronavirus restrictions, however, the top floors are out of bounds for the time being.
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During the summer of 1940, No.10 Bombing and Gunnery School moved to RAF Dumfries from Dorset and set about training Bomb-aimers and Gunners, initially in Handley Page Harrow and Fairey Battle aircraft, before passing the qualified crews on to Operational Training Units. RAF Dumfries also acted as a ferry airfield with numerous aircraft arriving from the factories to await allocation with many planes ending up overseas. It is estimated that around 5,000 aircraft were prepared and dispatched from here to units during the course of the war. Whitley bombers were introduced by September 1940 and their Navigators were also trained here. Other based aircraft types included the Blackburn Botha and Avro Anson.
A dedicated D&G Aviation Museum page covers my visits in greater detail, plus, the museum`s excellent official website can be viewed here.
Red Kites at Bellymack Hill Farm
The wind direction here on the day meant that most of the birds were swooping down to snatch their food, facing away from spectators.
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The location was backlit too so these shots were about the best of the bunch - good excuse to return and try again later in the year though!
About 150 birds were in the air but this number will swell during August and September when newly fledged chicks join their parents to learn how to feed.
A couple of recent arrivals of the non-feathered variety.
Prestwick Airport
On Wednesday 14 July, on my way back from the Red Kites, I stopped for a quick snap of Antonov An-124-100 RA-82047 of Volga-Dnepr Airlines which had recently landed. The next day sister aircraft RA-82046 was visible on Flightradar24 transiting Montreal to Leipzig. Established in 1990 as a joint stock company, Volga-Dnepr Group is a multinational airline group headquartered in Moscow. The group's core business is the provision of charter cargo services in the oversized and heavy cargo market, utilising freighter aircraft such as the Ilyushin II-76, Antonov AN-124 and Boeing 747s. Scheduled freight services are operated by subsidiary airline, Volga-Dnepr Airlines LLC. The group's wholly owned subsidiary structure includes: Volga-Dnepr Airlines LLC (since 1990) / AirBridgeCargo Airlines LLC (established in 2004) / ABC Express (ATRAN) LLC (joined in 2011).
The afternoon of Tuesday 20 July saw no less than six Embraer EMB-314 A-29 Super Tucanos, on delivery to the Nigerian Air Force, make a night stop at Prestwick. They had been due to pass through a couple of days earlier but a technical issue with one of the aircraft had delayed their departure from Keflavik. All arrived at the Ayrshire airport in two batches of three using the callsigns `Raven 91` and `Raven 92 Flight`and each obliged the waiting band of enthusiasts with a low go-around and break before landing. Four planes were in desert camouflage while two sported a jungle scheme, each with the Nigerian roundel and flag painted over along with the new operator`s serial number.
The Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, developed and built by Embraer of Brazil, is an enhanced version of the EMB-312 Tucano trainer with faster speed and higher altitude capabilities. The prototype of the Super Tucano first flew in 1992 and in addition to basic and advanced pilot training, the type`s main roles are border patrol and counter-insurgency operations. Its small size, small visual and radar signatures, together with high speed and agility, give the aircraft high-survivability. Related features include armour protection and critical systems redundancy.
Embraer and its partner Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) received a contract from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for a total of 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft in December 2018 at a cost of £350 million ($496m), so the second batch may well also route via Prestwick sometime in the future. The serial numbers of the A-29s transiting through Prestwick on this occasion were: 19-2033, 19-2034, 19-2036, 19-2038, 19-2039 and 19-2040. The deliveries couldn`t have come at a better time for the Nigerians as just a few days before, an air force Alpha Jet was shot down while targeting `bandits` in the north of the country. The Alpha jet will gradually be phased out as the workhorse of the NAF, superseded by the Super Tuacno and PAC JF-17 Thunder fourth-generation multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation of China. Nigeria currently flies the German made Alpha Jet A and French made Alpha Jet E.
According to a NAF source, the pilot of the downed plane, Flight Lt Abayomi Dairo (below), ejected after his aircraft came under intense fire, and managed to use his survival instincts and training to avoid capture and find shelter until sunset. NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops, supported by helicopter gunships. were dispatched to the area and quickly located the crash site and the pilot’s parachute. The pilot, who was unhurt, was rescued soon after. (Above image © Nigerian Air Force via Twitter).
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Armed gangs of IS-aligned jihadists, referred to locally as `bandits` have been responsible for a spate of recent kidnappings in this part of north-western Nigeria. Students and schoolchildren have been targeted with more than 1,000 kidnapped since December. Most have since been freed, reportedly after ransoms were paid, but some have been killed.
While there have been several military plane crashes this year, this is the first reported case of armed gangs downing one. In February, a military aircraft in Abuja that was bound for Niger state to search for kidnapped schoolchildren there crashed killing all seven people on board. In April another Alpha Jet crashed in Borno state, one of the areas where Boko Haram militants are most active. Then in May, the Army chief, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, was killed in a plane crash alongside 10 other officers. Reports that it was shot down by the have been denied by the military. (Above images © BBC News / Nigerian Air Force).
While there have been several military plane crashes this year, this is the first reported case of armed gangs downing one. In February, a military aircraft in Abuja that was bound for Niger state to search for kidnapped schoolchildren there crashed killing all seven people on board. In April another Alpha Jet crashed in Borno state, one of the areas where Boko Haram militants are most active. Then in May, the Army chief, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, was killed in a plane crash alongside 10 other officers. Reports that it was shot down by the have been denied by the military. (Above images © BBC News / Nigerian Air Force).
Escorting the ferry operation was Dornier 328-110 D-CAAN of 328 Support Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). In 2019, 328SSG employed over 160 aviation experts, located at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport in Bavaria, some 30 km South West of Munich, Germany. Currently, the company offers a range of aviation-related services and supports more than 180 Dornier 328 aircraft Worldwide. This particular aircraft is a familiar sight at Prestwick, having supported numerous `across the pond` delivery flights in recent years.
I headed down to Prestwick early on Wednesday morning and I wasn`t the only one. Such was the interest in these rarities that some people, including spotters from Suffolk and Lincoln. travelled long distances overnight to capture their departure.
All A-29s departed between 09:30 - 09:45 hrs on the 20th with the Dornier following on approximately 45 minutes later.
The next fuel stop for the latest Nigerian Air Force contingent on its way to its new home was Zaragoza, Spain.
An overshoot by a pair of unidentified RAF Hawks conveniently filled the gap between the departure of the last Tucano and the Dornier taxiing into view.
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US Navy Lockheed C-130T Hercules 165348 was temporarily operating from Prestwick this month and is seen here setting off on a round trip to Stokmarknes, in Norway on July 20.
Other departing night-stoppers on the 20th were Beech King Air 200 PH-SLE and G-IASM. Appearing later in the day, after I`d headed home, were Airbus A319-133(CJ) 15+02 German Air Force (training), Swiss-registered Pilatus PC-12s HB-FQG and HB-FQE, plus US Navy CV-22B Osprey 08-0049, callsign `Knife 71`.
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July 2021
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