Here’s a few from a trip to Heathrow on a fantastic November day. The light can be perfect at this time of year, and made a day at Heathrow go exceptionally quickly.
I started off with 27L departures in the morning…
A7-AEB Qatar Airport A332 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
A livery which is rapidly disappearing. Note the ‘soot’ coming from the landing gear.
N654UA United Airlines B763 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
VT-JEL Jet Airways B77W at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
Royal Brunei 777, far better than the new livery which has appeared on an A320.
V8-BLC Royal Brunei Airlines B772 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
Although I like the ‘old’ United livery, this still looks good:
N209UA United Airlines B772 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
And a couple of A380s, first the nice new Malaysian one to Kuala Lumpa.
9M-MNA Malaysia Ailrines A388 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
Immediately followed by a Singapore Airlines on to neighboring Singapore. Looked impressive to see them both heading off in the same direction.
9V-SKT Singapore Airlines A388 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
And a Cathay 747:
B-HOP Cathay Pacific Airways B744 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
The lowest departure was made characteristically by a a Virgin A340-300. Looks great in the latest scheme,
G-VELD Virgin Atlantic Airwaus A343 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
The US Airways A330 looked great also:
N282AY US Airways A332 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
Always nice to see the BA 777-300ERs:
G-STBF British Airways B77W at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
A highlight was the United 747 to San Fransisco!
N177UA United Airlines B744 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
After that, a switch to the arrivals end was in order. A good decision, first a Royal Jordanian A330, fantastic scheme.
JY-AIG Royal Jordanian Airlines A332 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
New Zealand 777-200 from Hong Kong. A site which will become rare as Air New Zealand are ending the Hong Kong service in March next year.
ZS-OKB Air New Zealand B772 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
Followed by a very nice China Southern A330 from Guangzhou:
B-6531 China Southern A332 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
A JAL 777-300ER
JA786A ANA B77W at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
A nice exec. visitor in the form of a Qatar Amri flight A319CJ
A7-HHJ Qatar Airways A319 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
Another stunning A330, this time in the form of a Gulf Air example:
A9C-KC Gulf Air A332 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
Can’t forget the BA Dove, apparently the Firefly is being painted over now…
G-EUPG British Airways A319 at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
A JAL 777-300ER sporting large Oneworld titles:
JA732J JAL B77W at Heathrow EGLL by AeroPics, on Flickr
By: EGTC - 20th November 2012 at 22:03
Interesting, Aeropics! Thanks for the info re to the UA B744. Looks like it has changed to winter ops then.
By: AeroPics - 20th November 2012 at 21:04
Thanks all for your comments once again.
cloud_9 Done a bit of checking and unfortunately the Prime Minister wasn’t on board this time, he was back for the Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
As with the United 747s, I’ve done some checking also, and they weren’t scheduled into LHR this summer, but were scheduled on the Chicago route in Summer 2011. They may be nice for enthusiasts, but not good for passengers in the back, as they dont have personal television screens! At least you can (sometimes) listen to the ATC communications through the audio system. I hope this clears thing up.
By: EGTC - 20th November 2012 at 16:15
Is that new? Because summer 2011 definitely was B744 throughout the season and that’s been the norm for quite sometime, even in the 90’s when I lived by Heathrow I saw them regularly.
There was a discussion on airliners.net about it either this year or last year and it was stated the B744 is summer season only. So it must have changed.
By: cloud_9 - 20th November 2012 at 12:23
Fraid not, we have 777’s in during the summer season.
The only time we might have a 747 during the summer is if/when there is a last minute aircraft substitution.
By: Matt-100 - 19th November 2012 at 22:28
I’m sure United B747-400’s used to fly in during the summer. I got one in August 2011 and also one back in 2009.
That’s what I thought? Aren’t they a year round thing? They fly to/from San Fran
By: EGTC - 19th November 2012 at 20:03
I’m sure United B747-400’s used to fly in during the summer. I got one in August 2011 and also one back in 2009.
By: cloud_9 - 19th November 2012 at 17:16
A fantastic selection of photos there AeroPics, thanks for sharing.:)
Favourite has to be the UA B747 one. We only get to see it during the winter/low season, but it really does look great!
I believe the Twinjet A319CJ was carrying a certain Mr D. Cameron (a.k.a Prime Minister!) onboard as he was returning back from his trip to the Middle East, or it might have been positioning into LHR in order to pick him up to take him there!;)
By: EGTC - 18th November 2012 at 20:34
I was looking on heathrowcam tonight and it seems like you are probably right, the firefly is back in normal boring BA livery.
By: Culpano - 18th November 2012 at 17:09
Great selection. Heathrow is great in the morning. Never so good in the afternoon any time of the year. Still not seen the Royal Brunei B777. Too early for me !
By: AeroPics - 18th November 2012 at 14:04
Thanks Matt-100, Craigston_Tom, MANAIRPORTMAD!!, Bristol_Rob and Doors4 your comments, I’m glad you like them. All made by the very nice light, if only this sort of weather happened more often in winter.
Doors4 – Certainly a shame the Firefly seems to be gone but I think the BA golden ‘pigeons’ are quite nice! Certainly something a bit different.
Not quite sure whether I prefer the new or old United livery, but they are IMO both very nice. Any 747 from an American carrier is a nice catch in the UK.
Agree certainly by738 that the Cathay titles on the 777-300ER are undersized, and the BA ones to a lesser extent.
By: Matt-100 - 18th November 2012 at 11:49
love the United livery on the B747
I don’t really like it, I always thought the Continental tail design was too crude and angular! Bring back the tulips!!! :diablo:
By: Craigston_Tom - 18th November 2012 at 11:15
What a fabulous set of photos…love the United livery on the B747 and I’ve always liked the Qatar Airways livery – think it looks dead smart and professional 🙂
By: Matt-100 - 18th November 2012 at 09:53
Great shots! Blue skies and sunshine + LHR = great photos… There’s blue skies here now, in fact 🙂
By: MANAIRPORTMAD - 18th November 2012 at 01:23
The sunshine sure makes some airline liveries look nicer! Love the United B747 and the Gulf Air!
By: by738 - 17th November 2012 at 20:46
Wonderful pics, and you caught the light well. Always think the titles on the BA and CX 773 are a little undersized
By: Bristol_Rob - 17th November 2012 at 20:43
Great pics in beautiful weather conditions!!
Love the Malaysian A380!
Rob
🙂
By: Doors4 - 17th November 2012 at 19:08
Some great pic’s there.
I’d rather the BA pigeons (sorry, doves!) were painted back to Union Flag before the Firefly. Just MHO.
By: AeroPics - 17th November 2012 at 18:54
Many thanks EGTC and MSR777, glad you liked them. The photos were certainly made by the excellent weather.
I am sure I read that the firefly was being repainted. It was out of service between 11th and 16th of this month, which I would suspect would be long enough to restore it to the standard colours, especially since he tail will not have needed to be touched. A shame if it is the case, and if so, bad luck for missing it.
By: MSR777 - 17th November 2012 at 18:06
Some very nice pics indeed. Thanks for sharing them.
By: EGTC - 17th November 2012 at 15:04
great shots. Very enjoyable set. 🙂
Is the firefly really being painted back to normal livery already? I thought it was going to remain in it for a year! I’ve still not seen it.
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November 17, 2012 at 11:03 am