Thanks EGTC, I did prefer my latest trip photographically.

You certainly don’t want to visit Southend around the Olympics time, as there’s practically nothing (of any description) due. Summer is also the quietest time of year for the maintenance movements. Even I’ll be migrating to Stansted…

To have a chance of getting something decent at Southend you need to be able to visit at a seconds notice. Even when things are supposed to happen, they often don’t. However things are much better at Southend now, as it is unofficially the ATR 42 capital of the UK, and has a few easyJet flights for entertainment!!

I would suggest that over the years far more airlines have visited Southend than Gatwick, Heathrow or Manchester. My shots really do scratch the surface. And certainly in terms of rarity, some very rare and unusual airlines have visited Southend which are never otherwise seen in the UK. Anyone fancy producing a shot of a Starbow or AeroGal (except Norwich of course) somewhere else in the UK?

Thanks again for all of your comments, they are much appreciated. I agree with you Cloud_9 about the BA Saab, it does look great, and I wouldn’t have guessed such a thing would ever exist last year. Really appreciate your feedback. Many thanks.

Many thanks again Culpano. All of my shots are taken from behind the perimeter fence, however there are certainly some fantastic spots. Although some have been lost with all he development, some very nice new ones have been made by the runway extension. I certainly hope Southend is like a mini-Frankfurt for the Olympics, but so little seems known at this late stage. I’m sure plenty of biz jets are almost certain, but they are not my sort of thing.

Garyrussell, I’ve got no more ‘nice light’ shots at the moment, but certainly would like to get some more. Best I can do is a Golden Air ATR72 I got this morning, however the light was a bit harsh bu at least the sun was shining.

SE-MDB Golden Air AT75 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

Thanks for all of you comments. The problem with Southend is that you can wait weeks for an interesting maintenance movement, and then you get several in quick secession!

The AeroGal 757 was really great. I new it was destined for Jet2 and where therefore it was coming from, but did not expect to see it in full livery, as it had been stored for over two years.

~Alan~ – I’m afraid you may have seen the Bingo inbound from its airtest at that time. If so it was making a very distinctive noise since it’s RAT was deployed.

Nice pictures.
Not quite as glamorous as the days when Ford had their own fleet, but a welcome boost for Southend I am sure.

Certainly. I suppose chartering flights in are meant to part of an economy drive over owing aircraft, however with all the positioning flights which are involved for these flights, it most still be very expensive for Ford!

8674planes: Have to wait until Monday 14th May when there will be 6 passenger flight departures between 6:30 am. There will not be enough stands outside the new terminal!!

It is fantastic to see the rebirth of Southend and an upturn in traffic.