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Luton and away to the West 6 - 8 March 2013 - Dave Anderson

I make a few visits to the Luton area on business each year, this meeting coincided with a family visit to Somerset the day after, so rather than driving home picking up the wife and heading back down to Somerset I booked her on an afternoon Easyjet flight from Newcastle to Bristol and I stayed down South do a little spotting en route to pick her up from the airport.

Arriving the day before my meeting, the holiday Inn Express is a good enough place to stay to catch the movements at Luton, after a drive round to the freight area which now due to construction work makes it almost impossible to see anything on the ramp I parked the car in the hotel car park for the night. The hotel has room views across the ramp or the opposite side looks over the runway (room 534), on this side of the hotel you wont miss any movements, where you would not see everything from the ramp side. A steady flow of corporate movements with the usual large number of Easyjet, Ryanair & Wizz Air means there is something going on most of the time, still cant get the one Wizz that I need for the fleet, though some nice bizz jets and my first Gulf 280 made up for that.   

View over the ramp from the Holiday Inn Express

View over the runway from Holiday Inn express room 534

Luton Airport Wednesday 6th March 2013 1600 - 2300

G-IOOZ Agusta A-109 Grand S 22090 Corporate
EI-EWO Airbus A320  232 2496 Livingston
A6-RJZ Boeing  737  7Z5 29269 Royal Jet
VP-BBW Boeing  737  7BJ 30076 Gama Aviation
VP-CLR Boeing  737  7EM 34865 Corporate
M-BIGG Bombardier 605 Challenger 5722 Corporate
M-RLIV Bombardier 605 Challenger 5731 Corporate
OE-INU Bombardier 605 Challenger 5749 VistaJet
M-TOPI Bombardier 605 Challenger 5780 Corporate
VP-CIF Bombardier 605 Challenger 5807 Corporate
G-LEAZ Bombardier Challenger 300 20015 London Executive Aviation
G-MRAP Bombardier Challenger 300 20023 London Executive Aviation
N300MY Bombardier Challenger 300 20062 Corporate
TC-SCR Bombardier Challenger 300 20136 Corporate
N828CC Bombardier Global 5000  BD-700-1A11 9209 Corporate
VT-DBA Bombardier Global 5000  BD-700-1A11 9289 Corporate
M-LWSA Bombardier Global Express  BD-700-1A10 9092 Corporate
A6-BBD Bombardier Global Express XRS BD-700-1A 9335 Mid East Jet
M-GLOB Bombardier Global Express XRS BD-700-1A 9413 RSS Enterprises
OY-LGI Bombardier Global Express XRS BD-700-1A 9433 Execujet Scandinavia
VP-CON Canadair Regional-Jet  850 8083 Corporate
G-YEDC Cessna 525B Citation Jet 3 525B-0162 Air Charter Scotland
M-MIKE Cessna 525B Citation Jet 3 525B-0280 Corporate
D-CJET Cessna 525B Citation Jet 3 525B-0349 Air Hamburg
M-ISLE Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign 680-0265 Corporate
N22RG Cessna 750 Citation X 750-0031 Corporate
VP-BRA Dassault Falcon  2000LX 133 Corporate
N826KR Dassault Falcon  2000 182 Executive Jet Management
N30LF Dassault Falcon  2000DX 602 Corporate
M-YNNS Dassault Falcon 7X 82 Corporate
HZ-SPAH Dassault Falcon 7X 87 Saudia Private Aviation
G-SYLJ Embraer ERJ-135 Legacy 600 BJ 14500937 TAG Aviation
9H-IMW Embraer ERJ-135 Legacy 600 BJ 14501029 Avcon Jet Malta
G-PPBA Embraer ERJ-135 Legacy 650 BJ 14501160 TAG Aviation (UK)
N189J Gulfstream G4 1068 Corporate
N385PD Gulfstream G4 1088 Corporate
N112WJ Gulfstream G4 1112 Corporate
N545CS Gulfstream G4  SP 1361 Corporate
N486QS Gulfstream G4  SP 1386 NetJets
N818ME Gulfstream G4  SP 1431 Corporate
N500RP Gulfstream G450 4057 Corporate
A6-AZH Gulfstream G450 4136 Elite Jets
HB-JKF Gulfstream G450 4203 Corporate
TC-IPK Gulfstream G450 4239 Corporate
N507QS Gulfstream G5 625 NetJets
VP-BNE Gulfstream G550 5051 Corporate
N108DB Gulfstream G550 5180 Corporate
XA-CHR Gulfstream G550 5182 Corporate
D-AVAR Gulfstream G550 5189 Corporate
VT-TMS Gulfstream G550 5294 Corporate
M-YBJK Gulfstream G550 5316 Corporate
M-ATPS Gulfstream G550 5340 Corporate
G-CERX Hawker-Siddeley 125  850XP 258810 Hangar 8
CS-DRU Hawker-Siddeley 125  800XPi 258821 NetJets Europe
CS-DRW Hawker-Siddeley 125  800XPi 258829 NetJets Europe
LY-FSK Hawker-Siddeley 125  900XP HA-0060 Corporate
N280GD IAI G280 2004 Gulfstream Aerospace
VQ-BHO Piaggio P-180 Avanti II 1156 Corporate
       

A few more were noted the following morning before I left at 8.30am for a meeting near Watford.

Luton Airport Thursday 7th March 2013 0600 - 0830

D-AEAS Airbus A300  B4-622R 737 DHL Worldwide Courier Express
G-BTPG British Aerospace ATP  F 2014 Atlantic Airlines
CS-DXK Cessna 560 Citation Excel S 560-5633 NetJets Europe
N808T Gulfstream G4  SP 1342 Corporate
N529TA Gulfstream G5 529 Corporate
N837BA Gulfstream G550 5122 Corporate
VQ-BLA Gulfstream G550 5215 Corporate
G-OLDT Learjet 45 45-265 Air Partner Private Jets
OE-GVG Learjet 60 60-403 VistaJet

With business over at 2.30 it was off to Heathrow for the night, I did contemplate Northolt but with torrential rain and the option of getting wet or spot from the comfort of the hotel, Northolt was dropped. The new Premier Inn (T5) on Bath Road is easy to find and has a good size car park, with a number of rooms over four floors facing the runway from this side it gives good views of the Western side of the airport. Sadly the top floor was booked so I had to make do with the one floor below, same view but a few more trees to look through, no problem this time of the year but when they are in leaf only the top floor will give a view. With the radarbox, laptop & scanner set up it was techno spotting from the comfort of the bed. Landing on 09L (just in front of the window) nothing moving was missed, even linking the kit to the I pad I went down to the restaurant for a few beers had a nice meal and still logged the landing traffic. I haven't listed the full log only a few of the more interesting movements.

London Heathrow Airport Thursday 7th March 2013 1600 - 2300

D-AEAT Airbus A300  B4-622R 740 DHL Worldwide Courier Express
EI-EPR Airbus A319  111 3169 Aer Lingus
A7-MED Airbus A319  133CJ 4114 Qatar Airways Amiri Flight
4K-AZ80 Airbus A320  214 2991 Azerbaijan Airlines
G-VNYC Airbus A330  343X 1315 Virgin Atlantic
EC-LUB Airbus A330  302 1377 Iberia
B-6505 Airbus A330  243 957 Air China
A6-EDI Airbus A380  861 28 Emirates Airlines
VH-OQF Airbus A380  841 47 QANTAS
VH-OQI Airbus A380  841 55 QANTAS
9V-SKQ Airbus A380  841 79 Singapore Airlines
9M-MND Airbus A380  841 89 Malaysia Airlines
A6-EEC Airbus A380  861 110 Emirates Airlines
A6-EEE Airbus A380  861 112 Emirates Airlines
9V-SFP Boeing  747  412F 32902 Singapore Airlines Cargo
ET-AMU Boeing  757  23N 27975 Ethiopian Airlines
HL7526 Boeing  777  2B5ER 27947 Korean Air
B-16703 Boeing  777  35EER 32643 EVA Airways
B-KPI Boeing  777  367ER 36833 Cathay Pacific Airways
HL8251 Boeing  777  FB5 37639 Korean Air
JA787A Boeing  777  381ER 37949 All Nippon Airways
B-KQB Boeing  777  367ER 39235 Cathay Pacific Airways (1st visit)
A6-ETM Boeing  777  3FXER 39688 Etihad Airways
N528QS Gulfstream G550 5042 NetJets International

Even though you are very close to the runway the rooms are well soundproofed this didn't stop my body clock waking me at 4.45 just to see the first arrival of the day a Saudi 777, so it was kit switched on and a leisurely lie in watching the arrivals till breakfast at the McDonalds next door. I had planned to leave around 11 but by 9.30 I'd had enough and left Heathrow after a drive around the perimeter by 1030. A few of the fleets were topped up and with 6 of the 11 A380's being new ones for me bringing my running total to 68 and including my last Qantas one (for now) it was a worthwhile visit.

London Heathrow Airport Friday 8th March 2013 0445 - 1030

EI-EPS Airbus A319  111 3377 Aer Lingus
G-VWAG Airbus A330  343X 1341 Virgin Atlantic
G-VUFO Airbus A330  343X 1352 Virgin Atlantic
A9C-KB Airbus A330  243 281 Gulf Air
VH-OQA Airbus A380  841 14 QANTAS
9V-SKN Airbus A380  841 71 Singapore Airlines
VH-OQL Airbus A380  841 74 QANTAS
9M-MNA Airbus A380  841 78 Malaysia Airlines
B-KPG Boeing  777  367ER 35300 Cathay Pacific Airways
HZ-AK13 Boeing  777  368ER 41049 Saudi Arabian Airlines
A7-BCK Boeing  787  8 38329 Qatar Airways (stored)

No sooner had I joined the M25 the heavens opened it lashed down all the way to Farnborough, not the best of places to see in the dry but arriving at the Aviator hotel car park the views over to the ramp we dreadful it was misty and still lashing down. Moving round to the business park it wasn't much better, then a local spotter came to the rescue with a log of most of the parked aircraft, a big help without him I'd be lucky to have read half of them, so in the end a respectable log.

Farnborough Airport Friday 8th March 2013 1130 - 1150

VP-CAD Airbus A319  115(CJ) 5040 Corporate
ZZ418 Beech 350C Shadow R.1 FM-17 Royal Air Force
G-REYS Bombardier 604 Challenger 5467 Corporate
M-JANP Bombardier Global 5000  BD-700-1A11 9293 Corporate
N700BX Bombardier Global Express  BD-700-1A10 9068 Corporate
VQ-BJA Bombardier Global Express XRS BD-700-1A 9268 Corporate
LX-GXX Bombardier Global Express XRS BD-700-1A 9306 Global Jet Concept
VP-BEB Bombardier Global Express XRS BD-700-1A 9369 Corporate
ZS-SYH Bombardier Global Express XRS BD-700-1A 9470 Corporate
D-IEFA Cessna 525A Citation Jet 2+ 525A-0358 Corporate
G-PEPE Cessna 560 Citation Excel 560-5265 London Executive Aviation
CS-DQB Cessna 560 Citation Excel S 560-5803 NetJets Europe
N197JK Dassault Falcon  2000LX 182 Corporate
N250LG Dassault Falcon 7X 12 Corporate
CS-DSA Dassault Falcon 7X 30 NetJets Europe
G-PVHT Dassault Falcon 7X 59 TAG Aviation (UK)
N312EL Gulfstream G4 1105 Corporate
N472QS Gulfstream G4  SP 1372 NetJets International
M-KBBG Gulfstream G450   Corporate
N841WS Gulfstream G450 4099 Corporate
VQ-BCE Gulfstream G450 4148 Government of Jordan
N56EL Gulfstream G450 4230 Corporate
CS-DKE Gulfstream G550 5094 NetJets Europe
N3788B Gulfstream G550 5389 Corporate
TY-SAM Hawker-Siddeley 125  700A 257195 Corporate
HB-VOO Hawker-Siddeley 125  1000A 259030 Corporate

Not far away somewhere I haven't been for many years was Lasham so while in the area it had to be visited, there is no access onto the airfield now but it was easy enough to read 99% of what was outside. By heading towards the gliding club as soon as you turn onto the road a very small ATC Lasham sign points up a small lane on your right to the gate overlooking one side of their operation, there's a small lay bye to pull into so you don't block the lane.  The rain had stopped and even a few photo's were taken (just to show you the view), back on the road and up to the gliding club you can park up and walk into the viewing garden and read off a few more (mainly the 727's). The final spot is to come out of the gliding club turn right and follow the road keeping the airfield on your right through to Lasham village, once you see a Church on your right, turn right up a similar lane to the other side, from this side you can see most of the other aircraft you cant see from the opposite side. The only two I didn't read off were a pair of bmi baby's and there were three ex Air Nigeria 737's not visible N279CS/N281CS/N282CS hidden behind the woods which would have meant a walk through the woods in the mud, not this time.

Looking toward ATC Lasham from the 1st gate (gliding club site)

Looking at ATC Lasham from the village side gate

Lasham Airport Friday 8th March 2013 1230 - 1300

N409AG Airbus A320  212 409 First Nation Airways
M-FAHD Boeing  727  76 19254 Corporate
VP-CJN Boeing  727  76 20371 Corporate
VP-CZY Boeing  727  2P1 21595 Jet Aviation Business Jets
VP-CMO Boeing  727  212 21948 Corporate
N217FE Boeing  727  2S2F 22938 Fedex Scheme
VP-CAQ Boeing  737  2V6 22431 Jet Connections
LN-KKR Boeing  737  3Y0 24256 All white
VP-BFN Boeing  737  53A 24922 SkyExpress Russia
EI-EYV Boeing  737  5K5 24927 All white
VP-BVU Boeing  737  5Q8 25166 Aeroflot-Don scheme
5N-BLH Boeing  737  522 25383 S7 Scheme
N221CY Boeing  737  58E 25767 Air Busan Scheme was HL7232 till 7th
YA-PIE Boeing  737  4Y0 26086 Pamair
N615SC Boeing  737  5Y0 26100 Zambezi Air scheme (from a report)
N616SC Boeing  737  5Y0 26101 Zambezi Air scheme (from a report)
G-PJPJ Boeing  737  5H6 27355 Iceland Express Titles
G-GFFE Boeing  737  528 27424 All white
G-CHOB Boeing  737  883 28323 Germansky
G-TOYJ Boeing  737  36M 28332 bmi Baby
G-TOYK Boeing  737  33R 28870 bmi Baby
LN-KKX Boeing  737  33S 29072 Norwegian Air Shuttle
G-TOYM Boeing  737  36Q 29141 Bmi Baby
LN-KHC Boeing  737  31S 29265 Norwegian Air Shuttle
N280CS Boeing  737  33V 29338 Air Nigeria tail
EI-CXD Boeing  737  76N 29885 Smart Wings
D-ALEF Boeing  757-236 22189 EAT / DHL

I hadn't planned to do Kemble on my way to Bristol but now had a little more time after leaving Heathrow early it wasn't too far off the M4 and there were a few in store that I hadn't seen. The picture almost changes daily here, in fact the following Monday A340 CS-TQL arrived for the scrap man, the list is complete anything else would have only been bits that are left or hangared.

  Kemble Airport Friday 8th March 2013 1400 - 1445

EI-OZI Airbus A300  B4-203F 219 DHL scheme
F-GHQP Airbus A320  211 337 Air France Scheme
PR-MAJ Airbus A320  232 1818 All white
F-GIXI Boeing  737  348F 23809 Europe Airpost
N389DF Boeing  737  3M8 25017 Fire Dump
OY-EDO Boeing  737  548 25738 Leasing Company
VN-A190 Boeing  737  4H6 27383 Jetstar Pacific
VN-A191 Boeing  737  4H6 27306 Jetstar Pacific
G-OGBD Boeing  737  3L9 27833 bmi Baby
B-5091 Boeing  737  705 29091 Lucky Air scheme
B-5092 Boeing  737  705 29092 Lucky Air Scheme
G-MKGA Boeing  747  2R7F 21650 Transatlantic Aviation MK Scheme
G-MKCA Boeing  747  2B5BF 22482 Transatlantic Aviation MK scheme
B-HOT Boeing  747  467 24851 Cathay Pacific Airlines scheme
B-HOX Boeing  747  467 24955 Cathay Pacific Ailrines scheme
F-HKIS Boeing  747  422 25380 Corsair
G-ZAPO British Aerospace 146-200QC E2176 Leasing Company
G-BZAZ British Aerospace 146-RJ100 E3369 Leasing Company
G-CGXS British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2269 Leasing Company
G-CGYU British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2275 Leasing Company
G-CGZB British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2288 Leasing Company
G-CHFE British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2294 Leasing Company
G-CHHA British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2295 Leasing Company
G-CHIN British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2296 Leasing Company
G-CFZM British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2299 Leasing Company
G-CHPB British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2305 Leasing Company
OH-SAJ British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2388 Leasing Company
G-CHSF British Aerospace 146-RJ85 E2389 Leasing Company
N19CU Hawker-Siddeley 125  Dominie T.1 25048 Corporate
N19UG Hawker-Siddeley 125  Dominie T.1 25050 Corporate
N19XY Hawker-Siddeley 125  Dominie T.1 25055 Corporate
N19UK Hawker-Siddeley 125  Dominie T.1 25081 Corporate
N25AG Lockheed Jetstar  2 5202 Aircraft Salvage International

With the Friday traffic running smoothly and my wifes EasyJet running on time I had an hour at Bristol to watch a steady flow of EasyJet & Ryanair and a couple of based Citations with an unidentified Eurocopter EC135 callsign Redhead 68 overshot.

Bristol Lulsgate Airport Friday 8th March 2013 1530 - 1630

D-CPMI Cessna 560 Citation Excel S+ 560-6121 Corporate
G-ECOH de Havilland Canada DHC-8  Q-402 4221 Brussels Airlines


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