When I was 7 I took my first flight on a Tu154 (a or b I have no idea!) from Newcastle to Bulgaria (Sofia, I think)
This would have been in 92. For some reason I remember the aircraft as having green on it??
Just curious, how long after then did Balkan continue? Is “Balkan Air” (or whatever variation of air they use..) still going?
Anybody got any pics of those particular 154s at Newcastle?
Ta 😎
By: NCLflying24 - 21st May 2009 at 19:27
Back in the day of Balkan, Hemus Air and AirVIA who all operated TU154 aircraft into NCL during the summer from BOJ and VAR, I think Servisair retained handling contracts intially, they were certainly interesting to handle – possibly some of the long time staff will share with you the stories, particularly from LZ machines??:diablo:
By: lukeylad - 20th May 2009 at 22:34
Chris! I’ll ask around at work tomorrow for Info about the TU154’s! We May have handled them when they used to be in!
If your after Images i suggest you check out NovemberTango.co.uk Ran by Andy Hutchings! He has a large Archive going back nearly 10 years of NCL Aircraft Movements!
Main site.
http://www.novembertango.co.uk/
Movement Archive
http://www.novembertango.co.uk/reportarchive.php
Image Archive.
http://www.novembertango.co.uk/recentlyatnewcastleairport.html
By: NCL_Chris - 20th May 2009 at 22:19
Thanks for the info so far.
I think it will be extremely unlikely that my mum or dad will still have a passport from 92 but I will ask!
By: rdc1000 - 20th May 2009 at 20:31
I thought so but only did a simple search of Tu-154s at NCL on both sites…
Clearly an oversight, apologies! 😀
It’s ok, you obviously have youth on your side if you don’t remember them…not abad thing!
By: NCLflying24 - 20th May 2009 at 19:27
Balkan Bulgarian Airlines is no relation to BH Air, which operates into NCL at present, using A320 aircraft. Ask any member of the ground staff who used to handle the ‘Billy’ Tupolevs and they’ll tell you a few horror stories!!!
Incidentally, the new ‘national’ carrier of Bulgaria has begun charter flights into NCL on tuesday evenings using 733 equipment.
By: Future Pilot - 20th May 2009 at 17:25
You’re thinking far too late… BH Air was not around in 1992. This I assume this what he needs…
I thought so but only did a simple search of Tu-154s at NCL on both sites…
Clearly an oversight, apologies! 😀
By: DavidS - 20th May 2009 at 16:36
There must be someone around who still has airport logs from those days…there were plenty of spotters around at NCL including a fairly active society who, If I remember correctly, actually published the movements each month.
If you still have your passports, the Bulgarians would have stamped a visa in them so you’ll have a date to go on.
I doubt Sofia…My guess would be Varna or Bourgas tho it depends on sun or ski.
By: NCL_Chris - 20th May 2009 at 16:01
That was the only livery used by Balkan Bulgairan at that time….and unless someone knows differently I am fairly certain there was no such other operator. The pic I posted a link for was in 1992, and was the only livery used by the Airline at that time. Note also, it is a different airline altogether to the airline shown in Future Pilots links (that airline, BH Air is still in operation)
Got you.
Pretty sure the Balkan pic you linked to is what I flew on (in 92 also).
By: rdc1000 - 20th May 2009 at 15:48
Some great pics there! Hopefully someone will have some from the mid 90’s..that livery really doesn’t ring any bells!
That was the only livery used by Balkan Bulgairan at that time….and unless someone knows differently I am fairly certain there was no such other operator. The pic I posted a link for was in 1992, and was the only livery used by the Airline at that time. Note also, it is a different airline altogether to the airline shown in Future Pilots links (that airline, BH Air is still in operation)
By: NCL_Chris - 20th May 2009 at 15:46
You’re thinking far too late… BH Air was not around in 1992. This I assume this what he needs…
That’s ringing bells!!
Would be cool to find the actual aircraft…albeit unlikely!
By: NCL_Chris - 20th May 2009 at 15:42
Some great pics there! Hopefully someone will have some from the mid 90’s..that livery really doesn’t ring any bells!
I didn’t realise it was only fairly recently that they stopped.
My dad recalls the flight with horror…”a bloody steep descent with screaming engines and lots of uneasy faces”…as he put it
I remember nothing of it at all.
By: rdc1000 - 20th May 2009 at 15:40
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Balkan-Holidays-Air/Tupolev-Tu-154M/1016134/L/
You’re thinking far too late… BH Air was not around in 1992. This I assume this what he needs…
By: rdc1000 - 20th May 2009 at 15:37
When I was 7 I took my first flight on a Tu154 (a or b I have no idea!) from Newcastle to Bulgaria (Sofia, I think)
This would have been in 92. For some reason I remember the aircraft as having green on it??
Just curious, how long after then did Balkan continue? Is “Balkan Air” (or whatever variation of air they use..) still going?
Anybody got any pics of those particular 154s at Newcastle?
Ta 😎
No Balkan Air as was then no longer exists. It was the national carrier and operated under the official name of Balkan Bulgarian Airlines. It was 75% owned by an Isreali company called Zeevi, but went out of business because of mounting losses. Although the Government still owned 25%, they had a big argument with Zeevi about who had caused the financial position and so the company was allowed to fold.
By: Future Pilot - 20th May 2009 at 15:18
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Balkan-Holidays-Air/Tupolev-Tu-154M/1016134/L/
By: lukeylad - 20th May 2009 at 15:06
Best person to ask will be “Brittania” I seem to remember he got some shots of it! The TU154’s were coming into NCL up until about 3 years ago!
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May 20, 2009 at 2:47 pm