A special day today, as the Democratic Republic of the Congo 727 9Q-CDC finally departed Southend, it’s first flight since arriving in December 2010.
A departure had been rumored for a very long time, with the aircraft needing a special noise permit as it does not quite fulfill the noise regulations!!
The aircraft departed on a test flight, and I understand then onto Lasham Airfield. As always with these things, the sun wasn’t exactly playing ball, but for the shots on the Runway the light would have been on the nose anyway!
Taxiing out for departure after a technical fault was resolved!
9Q-CDC ‘The Democratic Republic of the Congo’ B721 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr
And finally, she flies:
9Q-CDC ‘The Democratic Republic of the Congo’ B721 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr
A very nice sight and unbelievable sound!
I’m sure these are of interest! 🙂
By: T J Johansen - 4th August 2015 at 17:17
I noticed several photos of this 727 in the new colors on airliners.net. Is the plane still in the UK, or has it left for DRC again?
T J
By: AeroPics - 31st January 2014 at 19:21
Superb! That could well be one of, if not the last 727 departure out of Southend. Great Aeroplane.
Thanks Crispy. Unfortunately you may be right! Even in 2011 727 movements were reasonably frequent with at least 3 different aircraft visiting sometimes multiple times a year for maintenance. In 2012 however there were none at all! I agree, a great aeroplane and still excellent to them fly today.
By: crispy - 25th January 2014 at 07:08
Superb! That could well be one of, if not the last 727 departure out of Southend. Great Aeroplane.
By: AeroPics - 24th January 2014 at 20:11
Thanks All for your comments. Is was brilliant to it finally fly.
EGTC – I understand further maintenance and eventually a new coat of paint (not at Lasham).
Alan – very nice anecdote, must have been quite a sight. I saw a similar effect from a 757 with the left over dirt just after the runway extension opened.
By: AlanR - 24th January 2014 at 09:50
I think I may have mentioned before, when a 727 (maybe DHL?) was doing full power engine runs, at the 06 end of Southend.
It was in the summer shortly after the grass had been cut.
We were sitting outside having a drink at the old B-52 club. It was like one of those films in the desert
where you see a dust storm approaching. Everyone made a hasty retreat inside. 🙂
By: EGTC - 23rd January 2014 at 23:23
Lovely! What’s going to happen to it at Lasham?
By: AlanR - 23rd January 2014 at 23:02
Nice pictures, taken shortly before it flew over home 🙂
By: Newforest - 23rd January 2014 at 20:00
Glad they remembered to attach the rudder or whatever was missing last time we saw a photo here! The plane is recorded as a 727-30 and originally was owned by Lufthansa.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd January 2014 at 19:02
It looks like a modified -100
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January 23, 2014 at 6:53 pm