An Afternoon at Prestwick, not a lot to see.

I went to Prestwick today to see what was what after many years away. Not much has changed in the terminal, it still has that 70’s airport look about it. Wooden panelling, formica tables and emulsioned walls. All that was missing were some Hare Krishnas handing out blessings to travellers.

That said it has a nice laid back feel to the place unlike the normal hustle and bustle of major terminals. I tried to head for the spectators gallery upstairs and was met with a sign informing me it would be closed for refurb until June. Remembering that this is the only place in the building from which you can see the planes, I went out for a walk towards old spotting haunts near the cargo centre.

There was just one cargo plane around when I got there, a Cargolux 747-400 freighter which I managed to get close to for some decent pictures. I wandered further round the cargo area towards the Polar Air hangar and came across a Gemini Cargo DC-10 and one of the old Heavylift Belfast’s. I hadn’t realised just how big these beauties were until I got (relatively) close to one.

Hearing the Cargolux’s engines start to wind up, I decided to jump in the car and nip across to the other side of the airfield to where the BAE Systems factory is. I remembered this side affording excellent runway views in both directions and got there just in time to get the CargoLux taking off and another freighter arriving. It said “Time Definite Airfreight” on the side, I think this belongs to a US freight company with an Italian sounding name a bit like Pandolino or something similar, but I’m not sure ?

I was a little dissapointed to note the old main taxiway from the factory to airfield had been fenced off and that weeds were poking their way through cracks in the tarmac. Another sign of the derth in aircraft manufacturing at Prestwick. On a brighter note the Wheatsheaf pub by the factory gates was doing a roaring trade and had a fine supply of real ales (yum yum)

From this side of the airport I was able to see 3 Ryanair 737-200’s and a Globespan 737-3 or 400 ? sitting in front of the terminal. I waited to snap the Globespan taking off and then an hour or so later the three Ryanair’s left in close succession, one was a logo jet in Jaguar’s colours.

Apart from these movements there was the odd Sea King coming in and out of HMS Gannet and a Westland Lynx left from there as well. All in all a quiet afternoon, but some good vantage points for busier days.

Here’s the evidence…

Globespan 737 hurtling down the runway on it’s way to sunny Spain.