An excellent visitor this lunchtime was 5Y-VVW a Dash 8 Q400 arriving for a nightstop whilst on a re-delivery flight to Blue Bird Aviation of Kenya. The aircraft appears to have been converted to cargo configuration whilst in Canada with all the windows blanked out – most unusual for a Q400.
Arriving Runway 24 nice and low – not quite the angle I wanted but unfortunately an easyJet A319 decided to taxi by at precisely the wrong time. 😡
5Y-VVW Blue Bird Aviation DH8D at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr
And taxing in to park on the new terminal ramp:
5Y-VVW Blue Bird Aviation DH8D at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr
I hope this unusual visitor is of interest!
By: Doors4 - 11th February 2013 at 09:42
A strange livery indeed, and not a particularly good looking one either. The other odd thing is it appears to be a freighter without a freight door.
By: AeroPics - 6th February 2013 at 20:28
Culpano / tenthije – the Dash 8 is indeed a mongrel scheme – although its not just based on Austrians – rather Qantaslink…
Bluebird Aviation first acquired a Dash 8-100 in Qantaslink colours, and Painted a green triangle over the Kangaroo! The ‘new’ livery stuck and was applied to the Q400s which came from other sources, albeit with minor variations such as the Austrian style blue engines, along with arrows on the nose is percualiar – its like a combination of two ripped off liveries… Only in Africa would they get away with it…
As with inviting Southend – its a great airport – but only when something interesting is moving. there are some great spots – but scheduled traffic is very limited at the moment. Although something interesting for this summer is a Saturday flight to Palma operated by Volotea 717s from late May… But then I suppose you’ve already seen them in Palma!
By: tenthije - 3rd February 2013 at 22:08
Never been keen on “mongrel” planes.
Funny you should say that. At the Eindhoven forum we said the same (the entire BlueBird fleet was painted here). There is just one little detail though… their entire fleet flew for SAS. Not a single one ever flew for Austrian Arrows. Why BlueBird went for an amended Austrian Arrows design we’ll probably never know.
By: Culpano - 3rd February 2013 at 21:47
Never been keen on “mongrel” planes. Clearly an ex-Austrian scheme. I love the way they’ve painted a green arrow next to the original Austrian one near the nose ! Cheeky ! Southend does get some remarkable stuff. next Heathrow trip this year and I’m popping in for a quick stop.
By: AeroPics - 3rd February 2013 at 21:36
There was no room for it outside the old terminal with a Gulfstream and a couple of Airbuses for ATC Lasham. The Q400 parked in about the only space available on the brand new stands just by where the terminal extension is being built – leaving plenty of room for the scheduled traffic.
By: 8674planes - 3rd February 2013 at 18:55
I would have thought that it would have parked outside the old terminal to save space for the EasyJet’s and Aer Lingus aircraft at the new terminal.
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February 3, 2013 at 4:03 pm