Here is my first report but I’d better give a little background to it first.
I travelled with friends in a camper van from my home in the Midlands through the Channel Tunnel and then down through the western side of France before briefly crossing the Pyrennees into Spain (about 500 yds to be precise) and then coming back to Gurmencon. I was then driven to PUF (PAU) for my return flight to STN.
FR2357 PUF – STN 24/04/04.
I arrived in plenty of time for my early afternoon flight from this beautifully clean yet desperately quiet airport. I was there for almost two hours and the only movement was my flight home.
I have to say this was my first flight for almost thirty years, the last being a Dan-Air HS748 in around 1976, and I thought I would be a bit nervous. G-BZZH duly arrived, a 737-300 in Hybrid Ryanair scheme. Boarding was carried out quickly and I managed to grab myself a port side window seat in row10, level with the port engine.
The aircraft taxied out quickly and along the runway before doing a 180 degree turn with just a momentary stop before the power was applied and we were rolling. I was impressed with the acceleration and it seemed to be a very short run before we were airborne. I was loving this! The climb wasmaintained for some time before levelling at FL360. I have to admit I was blown away by the scenery. We appeared to travel up the Western Coast of France across Bordeaux. Around there we were passed by two Mirage jets in close formation heading in the opposite direction. They were really moving. Mind you, so were we, the Captain had just announced we were travelling at 512mph.
Seemed like no time at all before we were into the descent and crossing the English Channel. It started to get slightly bumpy as we descended over the Isle of Wight and across Southern England. We flew over LHR before turning for STN. The rest of the descent was fine and the landing was a little bumpy. Again, super fast taxying by Ryanair saw us soon at the terminal and my trip was at an end.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I’m sure now there will be more. I will post photos later if anyone is interested.
Regards,
kev35
By: Ren Frew - 26th April 2004 at 07:47
Interesting read Kevin, from your shot approaching STN it’s possible to realise the difference in size between a 732 and 737/8, as two are parked side by side. I hadn’t realised the 732 was so small in comparison ?:confused:
By: Duesseldwarf - 26th April 2004 at 00:32
Thanks Hand
I cannot believe I didn’t think to check their website!! 😮 😮 😮
By: Hand87_5 - 25th April 2004 at 23:58
Yes , AF flies ORY – PUF and LYS-PUF
Here is the PAU airport website. You’ll find all the traffic.
By: Duesseldwarf - 25th April 2004 at 23:00
Can Hand87_5 help?
LBARULES
Perhaps Hand87_5 can confirm if Air France or anyone else flies PAR/PUF these days. I know that an airline certainly used to fly this route – it may have been Air Inter?
Are there any other routes from PUF (love that airport code!!:D ) apart from STN and possibly PAR?
By: Papa Lima - 25th April 2004 at 22:15
Oops! lost it on the resize! Sorry!
By: Papa Lima - 25th April 2004 at 22:12
Kev, I have taken the liberty of tweaking your Heathrow picture a bit and hope that you can see wys at his computer now!
By: wannabe pilot - 25th April 2004 at 19:42
Kev, great report and pictures! I’ve just wathed G-BZZH flying into STN from my window now! I’ll try and get back with those reg’s as soon as possible, just looking through my registration logs. So what did you think to our lo-co central then Kev?!
By: LGKR - 25th April 2004 at 19:28
nice report kev…. i too am becoming abit more facinated by the movements RYR are creating at these much smaller fields – it puts them too some good use at least 😀
you were quite lucky getting onboard one of the ex-CO 737’s aswell, i gather they arnt staying with Ryanair for all that long. Can anyone elaborate on Ryanairs fleet plans?
cheers,
LGKR
By: Hand87_5 - 25th April 2004 at 17:08
Goog pictures Kevin.
Kind regards
By: LBARULES - 25th April 2004 at 14:59
Great report and pictures Kev.
Sounds like a typical Ryanair airport with them pretty much the only airline there!
One good thing about them as I imagined happened to you, you could fly from this small airport as it was near your destination rather than fly from an airport in a big city. 80% load factor is very good so more people must think the same.
By: Jeanske_SN - 25th April 2004 at 14:34
Kev35, have a look at LGW-BRU with SN Brussels Airlines, they are damn cheap! The two summer months may be a bit more expensive, but even then. Nice pictures.
By: Mark L - 25th April 2004 at 14:23
Your L1011 is G-IOIT belonging to Classic Airways. I’m not quite sure what it does there, but it has been there for ages. One of your white 742s would also have been G-INTL, again in long term storage, owned once upon a time by AFX.
The 2 744Fs would probably have been Global Supply Systems, but they operate 3 aircraft so it could have been any of those 3.
By: kev35 - 25th April 2004 at 13:52
WYS.
No charge for including your house in the photo.;)
Regards,
kev35
By: kev35 - 25th April 2004 at 13:49
Thanks for the comments all. The flight was at least 80% full and cost the massive amount of 38 Euro’s. I have to say I loved the experience and can’t wait to do it again.
Regards,
kev35
By: wysiwyg - 25th April 2004 at 13:47
When you took your ‘descending over Heathrow’ photo you got my house in the picture! If you look at the upper left side of the picture you can see the M4/M25 intersetion. Just beyond that to the left is a group of 3 roads in the shape of a triangle with a green cricket field in the middle. My road is the further tight one.
By: kev35 - 25th April 2004 at 13:46
Walking away, don’t think this will be my last flight somehow.
And now a question or two. Anyone able to find me the registrations of the following aircraft on my arrival at 14.30 on Sat 24/04 will get a gold star. Those I am looking for are all the Ryanair and EZY 737’s at the terminal as we taxied in, the two white 747’s, the white 757 and the white Tristar opposite the terminal and the two cargo 747’s (Global Express?) and the Flying Colours aircraft. I would be most grateful. Thanks.
And, two at PAU, a white ATR42? and a Hiller uh12E. Now ther’s a challenge.
Hope you all enjoyed.
Regards,
kev35
By: Mark L - 25th April 2004 at 13:45
Its not similar, it is Continentals! That aircraft plus a few other came from CO and FR don’t want to repaint them as they are going to be replaced by more 738s, so just slapped on some Ryanair titles and badly repainted the globe on the tail!
Very nice pics Kev especially the LHR one, roughly how full was the flight?
By: Whiskey Delta - 25th April 2004 at 13:40
Great pictures!
I just realized how similar Ryanair’s livery is to Continental’s.
By: kev35 - 25th April 2004 at 13:40
Down and reverse thrust in operation…
By: kev35 - 25th April 2004 at 13:38
Almost home….
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April 25, 2004 at 11:45 am