Olympic Practice Run (by Chris Smith & Stuart Reid)
I'd long been planning on doing the popular London day trip again with the intention of trying to guestimate what the volumes of road traffic will be like during the Olympics, as well as factoring in other things too. If everything goes according to plan, I'd be making this trip at least twice during the London Olympics.
There were quite a few people who had expressed interest
in joining me on the trip, so I'd spent the last few weeks cross-referencing my
own days off work with theirs and as soon as we were all off at the same time,
the trip would be a go. However, the weeks were passing and no progress was
being made so I ended up grabbing the Bull by the horns and setting a date and
whoever was available was available and whoever wasn't would have to persuade me
to go again some time (won't be hard!). As it turned out, Stu Reid was available
to make the trip and without his eyesight I would have logged up to a third less
than what's listed below!!
Durham Tees Valley Airport
08-09-2011 0600 - 0605
EC-IBK | Raytheon B350 Super King Air | Gestair | |
G-CDEB | Saab 2000 | Eastern Airways | |
M-ERCI | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | Unknown | |
PH-KZB | Fokker 70 | KLM Cityhopper |
Given Gamston's proximity to the A1 you almost have to call in, despite knowing there wouldn't be a great deal to see at that time of day, we noted a few interesting bits.
Retford Gamston Airfield
08-09-2011 0755 - 0825
G-BCPN | Grumman AA-5 Traveller | G-BCPN Group | |
G-BNTD | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Private | Former Teesside resident |
G-BTVX | Cessna 152 | The Flight Centre 2010 | |
G-CCLV | Diamond DA40D Diamond Star | Singers Corporate Asset Finance Ltd | |
G-DJET | Diamond DA42 Twin Star | Papa Bravo Aviation | Former Teesside resident |
G-PNIX | Reims Cessna FRA150L Aerobat | Dukeries Aviation | |
M-EGGA | Raytheon B200 Super King Air | Langley Aviation |
Just South of Gamston, dumped in a scrap yard is a Lightning, it's in a very poor state, covered in graffiti. I'm not sure the Lightning has an owner any more following the rumoured bankruptcy of the scrap yard - perhaps it would be worth trying to salvage it and tidy it up a bit?
Balderton Village
08-09-2011 0840(ish)
XN728/V | English Electric Lightning F2A | Unknown | Very poor state |
Cambridge on hindsight is a little bit off the beaten track, despite Google Earth suggesting otherwise. Nevertheless we made quite a bit here, had I been on my own, I wouldn't have been able to read off half of what we did.
Cambridge Airport
08-09-2011 1020 - 1135
CS-DFA | Dassault Falcon 900 | Netjets Europe | |
CS-DHP | Cessna 550 Citation Bravo | Netjets Europe | |
CS-DHQ | Cessna 550 Citation Bravo | Netjets Europe | |
CS-DNY | Cessna 560XL Citation Excel | Netjets Europe | |
G-781 | Lockheed C-130H Hercules | Royal Netherlands Air Force | |
G-AHIZ | De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth | CFG Flying | |
G-BAIG | Piper PA-34-200 Seneca I | Mid-Anglia School of Flying | |
G-BFWB | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Mid-Anglia School of Flying | |
G-BREZ | Cessna 172M Skyhawk | Pilot Flying Group | Training |
G-EUAB | Europa XS | Private | |
G-FTAX | Cessna 421C Golden Eagle | Unknown | Stored/WFU |
G-GHPG | Cessna 550 Citation Bravo | Concolor Ltd | |
G-HERC | Cessna 172S Skyhawk | The Cambridge Aero Club | |
G-MASF | Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II | Mid-Anglia School of Flying | |
G-MAST | Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow | Unknown | Confirmation needed |
G-MEGS | Cessna 172S Skyhawk | The Cambridge Aero Club | |
G-MICE | Cessna 510 Citation Mustang | Fteron Ltd | |
G-OTYP | Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee | Private | |
G-TABS | Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante | Alan Mann Aviation Group | |
N129TB | Commander 690C Jetprop 840 | Eagle IV LLC | |
N4514X | Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II | Baxter 4514X Holdings Inc | |
N6182G | Cessna 172N Skyhawk | Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc | |
N821CC | Cirrus SR22 | 5 Wild Horses Inc | |
U06 | Fokker 50 | Royal Netherlands Air Force | |
XV208 | Lockheed C-130K Hercules W2 | Marshall Aerospace | Airbus A400M engine testbed |
XV212 | Lockheed C-130K-30 Hercules C3 | Royal Air Force | Stored |
XV294 | Lockheed C-130K-30 Hercules C3 | Royal Air Force | |
XV295 | Lockheed C-130K Hercules C1 | Royal Air Force | |
XV299 | Lockheed C-130K-30 Hercules C3 | Royal Air Force | |
XV307 | Lockheed C-130K-30 Hercules C3 | Royal Air Force | |
ZD949 | Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar K1 | Royal Air Force | |
ZH880 | Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules C5 | Royal Air Force | |
Agusta A109 | Unknown | Mostly white - mis-read as G-WINA or G-TARA | |
3x Cessna Citation | (Netjets Europe) | Parked amongst CS-DFA/DHQ/DNY | |
Diamond DA42 Twin Star | Unknown | Overshoot 1121 |
Ideally would loved to have spent more time at Stansted, but we were already an hour behind schedule upon leaving Cambridge. Managed to nail a few extra Ryanairs and the highlight was probably the South African Fokker, the only aircraft in the airlines fleet!
London Stansted Airport
08-09-2011 1215 - 1415
A6-HRM | Boeing 747-400 | Dubai Air Wing | |
D-ABAQ | Boeing 737-800W | Aer Berlin | |
D-AVRA | Avro RJ85 | Lufthansa CityLine | |
D-AVRO | Avro RJ85 | Lufthansa CityLine | WFU? |
D-CEBM | Cessna 560 Citation Encore | EBM-Papst Mulfingen GmbH & CoKG | |
EI-DAE | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DCG | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DCL | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | Dreamliner scheme |
EI-DCM | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DCP | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DHH | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DHV | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DHX | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DLE | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DLJ | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DLM | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DPH | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DWF | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-EBB | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-EBM | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-EFN | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-EGB | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-EKF | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-EKO | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-EMC | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
G-BWDB | ATR 72-202 | Aurigny Air Services | |
G-CEAP | Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar 50 | Unknown | Stored/WFU - also marked G-IOIT |
G-CGPT | Dassault Falcon 900EX | TAG Aviation UK | |
G-EZAP | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZAV | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZBO | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZDU | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZEA | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZEW | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZFJ | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZIE | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZIL | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZNC | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-GSSB | Boeing 747-400F | Global Supply Systems | |
G-LALE | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | London Executive Aviation | |
G-ZAPX | Boeing 757-200 | Titan Airways | |
G-ZAPZ | Boeing 737-300 | Titan Airways | |
M-INXY | Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 | Midland Aviation | |
M-NICE | IAI/Gulfstream G200 Galaxy | Unknown | |
M-YONE | Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 601-3A | Inflite Aviation | |
N310UP | Boeing 767-300F | UPS Airlines | |
N742AX | Boeing 767-200SF | ABX Air | |
N747AG | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | Aircraft Guarantee Corporation | |
N799WW | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express | Wells Fargo Bank Northwest | |
P4-MES | Boeing 767-300ER | Roman Abramovich | |
TC-AHP | Boeing 737-800W | Pegasus Airlines | |
YU-BNA | Dassault Falcon 50 | Government of Serbia and Montenegro | |
ZS-SKA | Fokker 70 | Airquarius Aviation |
I've probably mentioned this before in a similar trip report, but my understanding is the general rule at Luton is anything less than 40 Bizjets and you've had a bad result! We were more than chuffed with 55!! They just kept pulling them out of everywhere, it was like they were breeding!
London Luton Airport
08-09-2011 1510 - 1645
4X-CLL | IAI/Gulfstream G200 Galaxy | Unknown | |
5N-BGV | Grumman American G-1159 | Unknown | |
A6-RJA | Gulfstream G300 | Royal Jet | |
C-GCPM | Gulfstream G-IV | PM Air Inc | |
CN-MBP | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | Dalia Air | |
CS-DFX | Raytheon Hawker 800XP | Netjets Europe | |
CS-DRG | Raytheon Hawker 800XPi | Netjets Europe | |
CS-DTF | Dassault Falcon 2000EX | Unknown | |
CS-DXC | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS | Netjets Europe | |
D-ATTT | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 | Windrose Air Jetcharter | |
D-IWBL | Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2+ | Air Traffic GmbH | |
EC-KCA | IAI/Gulfstream G200 Galaxy | Unknown | |
EI-CPT | ATR 42-300 | Aer Arann Regional | |
EI-DLK | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-DPM | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-GDL | Gulfstream G550 | Westair Aviation | |
EI- | ATR | Aer Arann Regional | |
G-CDZL | Boeing 737-800 | Thomson Airways | |
G-CGUZ | Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2+ | Gama Aviation | |
G-CIEL | Cessna 560XL Citation Excel | Enerway Ltd | |
G-EZAJ | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZDC | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZED | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-EZIU | Airbus A319-100 | easyJet | |
G-FDZJ | Boeing 737-800W | Thomson Airways | |
G-HARK | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 | Corbridge Ltd | |
G-IRSH | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | Legemb Ltd | |
G-LEGC | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | Delos Engineering Corporation | |
G-LGKD | Gulfstream G550 | TAG Aviation UK | |
G-MACP | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 | Ocean Sky Aircraft Management | |
G-MPCD | Airbus A320-200 | Monarch Airlines | |
G-ODAG | Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 | Air Charter Scotland | |
G-OOOX | Boeing 757-200 | Thomson Airways | |
G-OZBR | Airbus A321-200 | Monarch Airlines | |
G-TSLS | Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 | TAG Aviation UK | |
HA-LPT | Airbus A320-200 | Wizz Air | |
LN-HST | Cessna 750 Citation X | Sundt Air | |
M-BIGG | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | Signal Aviation | |
M-CELT | Dassault Falcon 7X | Cravant Ltd | |
M-RLIV | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | Mobyhold Ltd | |
M-YBJK | Gulfstream G550 | AC Executive Aircraft | |
M-YJET | Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy | My Jet | |
N12LX | Dassault Falcon 2000EX | Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation | |
N18WF | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express | Westfield Aviation | |
N67TM | Gulfstream G-IV | EMC Corporation | |
N85V | Gulfstream G-V | Wells Fargo Bank Northwest | |
N108DB | Gulfstream G550 | Wilmington Trust Co | |
N125XP | Raytheon Hawker 800XP | Surewings Inc | |
N132SD | Gulfstream G-V | Wells Fargo Bank Northwest | |
N270SC | Gulfstream G-IV | Trans-Exec Air Service | |
N300CR | Gulfstream G-IV | Crane Co | |
N300L | Gulfstream G-V | Colleen Corporation | |
N468GH | Dassault Falcon 900C | Highland Alternate LLC | |
N518FX | Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 300 | Bombardier Aerospace Corporation | |
N528M | Gulfstream G550 | Swiflite Aircraft Corporation | |
N604BC | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 | Ball Corporation | |
N611JW | Dassault Falcon 900B | Tristram Inc | |
N650PL | Gulfstream G550 | Wells Fargo Bank Northwest | |
N778CR | Gulfstream G450 | Unknown | |
N803AG | Gulfstream G450 | Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation | |
N874C | Gulfstream G-IV | Hewlett-Packard | |
N8767 | Boeing 737-700W BBJ1 | Wells Fargo Bank Northwest | |
N900YG | Dassault Falcon 900EX | Wells Fargo Bank Northwest | |
OE-HII | Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 300 | Amira Air | Private jet of Niki Lauda |
P4-KMK | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | Unknown | |
P4-TPS | Gulfstream G550 | Petroff Air | |
VP-CSF | Gulfstream G-IV | Unknown | |
VQ-BLA | Gulfstream G550 | Unknown | |
ZS-BOT | Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 900XP | National Airways Corporation | |
Airbus A320-200 | Wizz Air |
We were approx three hours behind schedule upon reaching East Midlands, but like Gamston, it's proximity to the motorway means you almost have to call in, otherwise it would be almost four hours continuous driving! The two Oman Air (possibly ex-Oman Air given they had no titles?) were a nice surprise.
East Midlands Airport
08-09-2011 1820 - 1915
CS-TEI | Airbus A310-300 | Oman Air | |
CS-TEX | Airbus A310-300 | Oman Air | |
EI-DLH | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
EI-EKM | Boeing 737-800W | Ryanair | |
G-BFBU | Partenavia P68B Victor | Reconnaissance Ventures Ltd | |
G-BIKM | Boeing 757-200SF | DHL Air | |
G-BLZP | Reims Cessna F152 | East Midlands Flying School | |
G-BODY | Cessna 310R | Reconnaissance Ventures Ltd | |
G-BVKB | Boeing 737-500 | bmibaby | |
G-BVZE | Boeing 737-500 | bmibaby | |
G-COBO | ATR 72-500 | Aurigny Air Services | |
G-DHLE | Boeing 767-300ERF(W) | DHL Air | |
G-DHLG | Boeing 767-300ERF(W) | DHL Air | |
G-EXEX | Cessna 404 Titan | Reconnaissance Ventures Ltd | |
G-GBMR | Raytheon B200 Super King Air | M and R Aviation | |
G-HEMZ | Agusta A109S Grand | Sloane Helicopters | |
G-MANO | BAe ATP(F) | West Atlantic | |
G-ODSK | Boeing 737-300 | bmibaby | |
G-OETV | Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain | Hinde Holdings | |
G-OMAP? | Rockwell Commander 685 | Cooper Aerial Surveys Ltd | Confirmation needed - in Hangar 31 |
G-VIPP | Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain | Capital Air Charter | |
G-VIPY | Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain | Capital Air Charter | |
G-VKGO | Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 | M-KICK LP | In Hangar 31 |
LZ-BHC | Airbus A320-200 | BH Air | |
M-RWGW | Bombardier Learjet 45 | Woodlands Air LLP | |
N289CW | Cessna T303 Crusader | T303 Holding Inc | |
N497XP? | Raytheon Hawker 400XP | Aircraft Guarantee Mgmt and Tr. | In Hangar 31 |
N642P? | Piper PA-31 Turbo Navajo B | Corporate Air (Ireland) Inc | Confirmation needed - in Hangar 32 |
N709EL | Beech 400A Beechjet | Gal Air Inc | In Hangar 31 |
XW664 | Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R1 | Royal Air Force | |
ZS-JIZ? | Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules | United Nations | |
BAe 125 / Hawker ?? | In Hangar 31 |
Knowing a DC-8 was waiting for us back at base finished the trip off nicely, although it's a shame we weren't there to see it land and I sure wasn't getting up early the following morning to see it depart!! After the amount of driving I'd done today, I was planning a six-month hibernation!
Durham Tees Valley Airport
08-09-2011 2135 - 2145
G-DPJR | Sikorsky S-76B Spirit | Blackbird Logistics Ltd | |
G-MAJC | BAe Jetstream 41 | Eastern Airways | |
I-TOPH | Raytheon Hawker 850XP | Sirio | |
M-ERCI | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | Unknown | |
N872CA | Douglas DC-8-71F | National Airlines |
I'd budgeted 13 hours for the trip and it took 16, so taking into account the additional traffic on the roads for the Olympics, it's probably unfeasible to do this trip in a single day, it may even be unfeasible to do it over two of three days given Hotel rooms will be pretty much non-existent, but if you can figure a way around these obstacles, I would imagine it will be more than worth it.
Pictures were not very plentiful, what with the lousy weather conditions, and the lack of opportunities due to ridiculous fences, below is a selection of what we were able to get.