Firstly, I apologise if this is a bit rushed. I’ll explain why in a second.
Saturday morning I was up at 3am after 2 hours sleep, to get ready and leave for STN. Was one of the first to check-in for the Ryanair flight to Blackpool, and had a wander around the terminal that I know too well. At 0630 boarded our 737-800 EI-CSS, and we made our way for an on-time departure. Incurred a 25 minute wait for RWY05, with atleast 10 other aircraft taxiing/holding for the runway at the same time as a few arrivals.
One of the best captains I can ever remember. He updated us every few minutes with our position, and gave us the longest flight introduction I’ve ever heard! Started going on about our exact routing, speeds, altitude, what we should be able to see on left/right, etc etc. Even continued whilst on finals for BLK, with “and if you look out on the right you should just have seen Blackburn”. Landed on RWY28 at BLK and made a very sharp halt. The runway length seems very close to the 738 limitations.
Spent a good weekend in Blackpool at the IFC (International Flight-sim Convention), as an exhibitor for our ‘Group Flight’ (http://www.group-flight.org) event. Other forum members attending were Bmi-Star, Mark L and Andrewm.
Flew home this morning on-board EI-DAZ. Lovely clear skies all the way home, and another pleasent flight. Landed on RWY05 at STN after flying over my school, and then I came straight home a couple of hours ago.
Now here’s the awkward bit. As some may know, I’m off to Crete tomorrow morning. However, the morning bus to LGW will get me there too late, and so instead I have to go this evening and sit at LGW all night (from midnight until 8am!). Which means I have just unpacked from this weekend, put everything in the wash, and am now rushing this while I wait to pack again!
So there we go, I do have a few photos but as it wasn’t a spotting weekend don’t expect much + also the fact that I only have time to edit a couple.
Photos coming in a minute..
By: LBARULES - 15th July 2005 at 17:18
Great to hear from you Dan, Did BYAP have the new interior? What did you make of it?
By: wannabe pilot - 15th July 2005 at 17:15
😀 A qucik update from me! Am currently sitting in a small internet cafe with a very poor connection, ready to go and find some of the local sea food. Having a very good (hot) week so far. Flew out on GBYAP. Pleasent flight, terrible leg room but a nice clean aircraft. Departed 08R with some nice overview shots of the terminals. Had clear skies all the way down through the med, got a couple of clear shots of Malpensa which I was very pleased with. Landed in Chania on time, a Monarch 757, Excel 767 and FCA A320 on the ground at the same time. Tiny terminal, but they coped fairly well. Great approach in to Chania, which consisted of a very low pass over the top of the airport, before turning in a huge circle for the final approach.
Im off for now, probably wont hear from me before I get home. Shall be arriving at LGW on Tuesday evening.
And indeed, Belfast shall be fun in a couple of weeks
By: David2386 - 15th July 2005 at 00:14
Interesting, thanks. Planning to head up and haven’t been stopped by security at the entrance in a long time so not sure what the response to the scanner would be, when going to ‘enthuse’
By: Mark L - 15th July 2005 at 00:10
Erm no it wasnt actually. They picked up on it when going through into the airport building actualy. I’m not sure what they would have done if I’d told them I was spotting?
By: David2386 - 15th July 2005 at 00:01
Thanks Andrew.
By: andrewm - 14th July 2005 at 23:56
Mark L,
What security was this? Going through to departures or at the entrance hall?
Departures
By: David2386 - 14th July 2005 at 23:47
Mark L,
What security was this? Going through to departures or at the entrance hall?
By: Robert Hamilton - 14th July 2005 at 22:43
well MARK, DAN, ELGAN, ANDREW, i had a good weekend with you sorry i could not make it on the sunday as i took very ill! and very nearly missed my flight
By: Mark L - 13th July 2005 at 22:30
Ahh I see now, its been a long 10 days!
By: LBARULES - 13th July 2005 at 21:58
I know mate, thats why I said I was lucky!
(Not of course lucky meaning that the bombings happened, just relieved I didnt have to empty my bag at security.The bombings were a terrible tradegy).
By: Mark L - 13th July 2005 at 21:54
Yes but 6th July was last Wednesday. What I am saying is the situation has changed because of the events of last Thursday (the day after you travelled).
By: LBARULES - 13th July 2005 at 21:52
I didnt use it all day, but I travelled with my scanner on the 06th of July to DUB in my hand luggage, guess I was lucky!
By: Mark L - 13th July 2005 at 21:44
Well I’m finally home after a very exhausting, surreal, frustrating, and yet strangely rewarding week. I got G-JEDO on the way out, and this afternoon G-JEDU brought me back, and gave me my first ever missed approach/go around 😀 Apparently there were some seagulls around the threshold and we were told to go around and wait for the ops department to scare them away. They obviously didnt do a very good job as whilst I was sitting waiting for my train another Q400 went around over me!
One word of warning to travellers in the UK post 07/07 – Airband Scanners are NOT permitted in hand luggage anymore. I have always travelled with mine in my hand luggage for the last few years, however security in Belfast made me check my backpack in for the first time, so be warned!
By: CWBalmer - 13th July 2005 at 01:00
@LFC24 – it does look like a Herpa building eh? LMAO !!! Nice one!
By: bmi-star - 12th July 2005 at 21:20
Ah no problemo Mark, was one hell of a weekend, and enjoyed your company, along with AndrewM and Dan 😀
Bring on Belfast in 3 weeks!!
By: Mark L - 12th July 2005 at 21:13
Stunning shots Dan, especially of that rather handsome chap standing to Jeremy’s right behind the software 😀
The last week has been really fun but very tiring, and I’m now having to bash our website lots to try and get it working. I just want to thank everyone who helped us over the weekend, especially Dan (wannabe pilot) and Elgan (bmi-star), we couldnt have done it without you both 🙂
By: RIPConcorde - 12th July 2005 at 16:34
Thanks for the comments everyone! I’m currently sitting in the terminal at LGW, with 1 minute 55 remaining on this internet. Didn’t catch any sleep last night, spent the evening sat around waiting for check-in to open. Assigned 36A for this morning’s flight, so if they’re on 08’s should get some good shots of terminals as we depart. WD, I use Photoshop7. It’s taken a while to use all the editing effecitvely, you have to find out what works best for different shots.
You spent all night at S terminal?! Having spent some of Monday there, that must have been a very rubbish experience. :p
By: Deano - 12th July 2005 at 07:07
Great pics Dan, I echo the sentiment that your old school looks like a plastic model.
And Jeremy Spake just doesn’t look right without his fat lol
Good luck with the business anyway, I am checking out the website right now 😉
Dean
By: wannabe pilot - 12th July 2005 at 06:15
Thanks for the comments everyone! I’m currently sitting in the terminal at LGW, with 1 minute 55 remaining on this internet. Didn’t catch any sleep last night, spent the evening sat around waiting for check-in to open. Assigned 36A for this morning’s flight, so if they’re on 08’s should get some good shots of terminals as we depart. WD, I use Photoshop7. It’s taken a while to use all the editing effecitvely, you have to find out what works best for different shots.
By: steve rowell - 12th July 2005 at 04:48
Very nice pics
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July 11, 2005 at 12:52 pm