Spent a week in Nessebar in Bulgaria and hired a car for a few days for the Monday and Friday as these are the busy Russian days at nearby Bourgas Airport. I did a fair bit of research using Google Maps to see if there were any decent vantage points for morning and afternoon. After nearly getting the car stuck in a wheat field I decided morning shooting was impossible unless I parked the car in the village of Sarafovo and walk for miles over fields with very high plants, grass etc.
Eventually sussed out an afternoon spot for 04 arrivals in a lay-by opposite a cement factory. So on Sunday night not long before the sun set I took a picture of a Wizz Air A320. I had to use full 300mm zoom but I was pleased with the result. As long as they used runway 04 the next afternoon I would be in business….
On Monday afternoon we drove from Nessebar to Bourgas (along some very dangerous roads – the drivers over there are crazy) and parked in the runway 04 spot…it was about 15:30 in the afternoon and heat haze was still a bit of a problem especially as full 300mm zoom was required. Therefore the photos are not of optimal quality but acceptable. This arrived soon after we got to the spot…
Some more arrivals between around 4pm and 7pm – not that busy really as a lot of the Russian stuff arrives in the morning as well…
This is a new airline under the TUI Russia brand that was recently Kolavia. It was a nice surprise…
A few more arrivals…
I enjoyed this one…
I then eagerly awaited the Aerflot flight, the last flight of note before heading back to the resort. Disaster struck as the IL-96 landed in the opposite direction and taxied away to stand. A disappointing ending.
More to follow….
By: MSR777 - 23rd June 2012 at 10:11
Some interesting pics. That Rossiya livery, still has that ‘cold war era’ look about it, which I quite like. I don’t think I’ll ever get to like that awful S7 livery though;).
By: Culpano - 23rd June 2012 at 09:38
Great story and welcome to the forum. Shame about the terrace although the new terminal may fix that problem.
By: Danmadole - 22nd June 2012 at 21:23
I remember flying to ‘Bourgas’ in 1992 on a Balkan Airlines Tu154 from Aldergrove not long after the end of communism in Bulgaria.
At that time the outdoor viewing terrace was landside and anyone could visit. I remember seeing some Tu154’s, Tu134s, IL18’s as well as An24’s on internal operations (all Balkan). At that time Aeroflot were one of only a few foreign operators with the Tu154. I recall big excitement when the newly arrived Balkan B767 made an appearance – a western aircraft! Flights were infrequent with maybe nothing moving for an hour at a time.
In front of the terminal was an IL14 in Balkan colours standing guard – I believe it may still be there? On the far side of the field from the terminal was the reminants of a military barracks which appeared to be littered with disused Mil helicopters.
Things appear to have changed significantly since then – particularly the aircraft types and operators!
By: EGTC - 20th June 2012 at 20:50
Lovely shots. Some brilliant catches.
By: The"Eh"Team - 20th June 2012 at 13:48
Great shots and interesting selection.:)Got to admire your efforts during your panic to catch the IL 96,I think we all go through this situation a lot:D:)..Thanks for posting..:cool:
By: Culpano - 20th June 2012 at 13:09
Cheers Eddy. I have to say Bourgas is by far the most difficult airport I’ve tried to take photos at. Hardly any decent vantage points unless you are prepared to walk miles over fields. Even then you’d look conspicuous and probably get a visit from the Police. Perhaps the new terminal being built and finished in 2013 will help things. Makes other airport planning seem a doddle. Planning a week in Gran Canaria in Sept and that looks a piece of cake in comparison.
By: civilspotter - 17th June 2012 at 19:44
Holiday, sun, planes and physical exercise, sounds perfect. 🙂
The kolavia’s and the small planet are my favorites.
I was in Russia and did not see a Tupolev or Ilyushin flying so certainly not bad.
rgds
EC
By: Bristol_Rob - 17th June 2012 at 18:49
Good shots and great variety Culpano 🙂
I have to say the Small Planet A320 is the one for me, Love that Livery!
Rob
🙂
By: Culpano - 17th June 2012 at 17:24
Had one hour on the terrace waiting for our flight home. There was a mesh fence but downstairs you can shoot through glass. I didn’t expect to see anything but my luck was in….this arrived doing the Travel Service flight….
This was parked up…
Our flight arrived to take us home…
Just before we had to leave for the plane this came in !
A happy ending to the trip. Hope you enjoyed the pics.
If anyone needs advice on Bourgas, maps etc let me know.
By: Culpano - 17th June 2012 at 17:16
On Tuesday afternoon we went to Bourgas city to have an hour looking round and on the way back from there I planned a quick stop for an hour as there was a Rossiya B767 and Belavia TU-154 due. As I drove towards the spot the Belavia flew in over my head in glorious sunshine. Drat – it was early. What was much worse though was a Silkway Azerbaijan Cargo B747-400F (reg 4K-SW888 !!!) parked up ! It must have only recently arrived as it wasn’t there when I drove past an hour earlier on way to Bourgas city. Oh dear that was a big miss.
Headed back to the resort in a bad mood 😡
Hired a car again for the Friday to get a few hours shooting in the afternoon.
I was hoping they’d use runway 04 as if they used runway 22 there is not spot to take photos as the road bends away from the airport and it is too far to take pictures. When we got to the 04 spot they were landing on 22 😡
However after trying to see if there was a spot for 22 arrivals it was evident that this day they were using both directions. My wife (who has the patience of a saint) pointed to the right and said “there is an old gravel area with tyres in it – why not try there ?” so I drove in.
The planes were a bit far away so I waded across the field through stinging nettles and got quite a bit closer. There was a swamp which stopped me going further but some acceptable photos could be taken. Not perfect but ok…
Runway 22 arrivals….
I jumped up and down when this gem came in…
All that was left was the Aeroflot flight and it was due in at any moment.
I kept looking left at the approach to see it arrive on finals. To my horror I saw it in the far distance coming in over the sea for the other runway !!! The opposite of what it did a few days earlier. I made a mad dash over the field getting stung by nettles (it was 85 degrees). Stalled the car in panic and then set off at great speed to get it on the 04 runway. I could see the aircraft all the way as it turned right and went onto finals straight towards us. I wasn’t going to make it as it got closer and closer and then as I had only a few seconds before it disappeared behind the fence I literally ditched the car and snapped it over the fence. A posterity shot I thought. Turned out to be one of my very favourite photos I’ve taken…..
My heart was pounding. We headed back to the resort and I was most satisfied with the afternoon session. Tomorrow was the flight home so I hoped to get a couple of bonus shots on the airside terrace. Unfortunately there is no terrace unless you are a passenger.
Sign In
June 17, 2012 at 4:49 pm