Boeing 787 Dream Tour - Manchester (by Chris Smith & Stuart Reid)
When I heard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was to visit Manchester as part of its world "Dream Tour", I decided I would go and see it providing my day off at work fell correctly - which much to my delight it did.
Stu Reid joined me as he also had the day off, so I picked him up from an empty Durham Tees Valley at 0630 and we made our way directly to Manchester Airport. The recently renamed Runway Viewing Park at Manchester was playing host to the majority of the 10000+ spectators that were expected to attend, with aviation experts on hand to discuss the aircraft as well as various other stalls, presentations etc. We chose to go to the runway mound instead though as we felt this location would be better for photos.
Upon arriving, we could see the tip of the distinctive vertical stabiliser just peeking over the terminal rooftop. (The 787 itinerary had the aircraft down as being in the Monarch Engineering hangar until departure, which surprised me since Monarch cancelled their order and it was here on demonstration to Thomson Airways).
When it taxied out it stopped outside the RVP to show off to the crowds, much to the frustration of the three aircraft it was holding up behind it! Despite this, we still didn't regret not going to the RVP as the light would have been poor as we'd have been photographing into the little bits of sun that kept appearing.
As it departed, it was a deathly quiet aircraft, yet the Rolls-Royce engines still managed to give off that lovely rough sound that many enthusiasts love.
Our mistake was to go and seek out some lunch after it left, as whilst we were tucking into a could-have-been-better cheeseburger at The Airport pub, the Dreamliner made a low flyby which would have been ideal for shots.
We called into both Barton Aerodrome and Leeds/Bradford on the way back.
Manchester Airport
24/04/2012
| 9V-SWF | Boeing 777-312/ER | Singapore Airlines | |
| A6-EDF | Airbus A380-861 | Emirates | |
| A6-EKV | Airbus A330-243 | Emirates | |
| A6-EYK | Airbus A330-243 | Etihad Airways | |
| A7-AEM | Airbus A330-302 | Qatar Airways | |
| AP-BGY | Boeing 777-240/LR | Pakistan International Airlines | |
| D-AFKF | Fokker 100 | Lufthansa Regional (Contact Air) | Star Alliance c/s |
| D-AILL | Airbus A319-114 | Lufthansa | |
| EI-DPE | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-DPL | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-EBD | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-ESO | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-FXJ | ATR 72-202/F | FedEx Feeder (Air Contractors) | |
| F-GKXL | Airbus A320-214 | Air France | Revised c/s |
| F-GTAK | Airbus A321-211 | Air France | |
| G-BCCK | Grumman AA-5 Traveller | Prospect Air Ltd | |
| G-CELU | Boeing 737-377 | Jet2.com | Jet2 Scotland billboard titles |
| G-CRPH | Airbus A320-231 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-DBCI | Airbus A319-131 | bmi British Midland International | |
| G-DBLA | Boeing 767-35E/ER | Thomson Airways | First Choice Airways c/s |
| G-ECOI | Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) | Brussels Airlines (Flybe) | Brussels Airlines c/s |
| G-ECOO | Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) | Flybe | |
| G-EMBN | Embraer ERJ-145EP | bmi British Midland Regional | All white, bmi regional titles |
| G-EUPR | Airbus A319-131 | British Airways | |
| G-EUUP | Airbus A320-232 | British Airways | |
| G-EZDJ | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZTT | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-EZUG | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-EZUO | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet | |
| G-FBEG | Embraer ERJ-195-200LR (Embraer 195) | Flybe | |
| G-FBEL | Embraer ERJ-195-200LR (Embraer 195) | Flybe | |
| G-FBJC | Embraer ERJ-175-200STD (Embraer 175) | Flybe | |
| G-FBJE | Embraer ERJ-175-200STD (Embraer 175) | Flybe | |
| G-FLBD | Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) | Flybe | |
| G-GDFF | Boeing 737-85P | Jet2.com | Jet2 Holidays c/s |
| G-GDFJ | Boeing 737-804 | Jet2.com | Jet2 Holidays c/s |
| G-JECH | Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) | Flybe | |
| G-JEDT | Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) | Flybe | |
| G-JEDV | Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) | Flybe | |
| G-LDFM | Cessna 560XL Citation Excel | Granard Ltd | |
| G-LSAA | Boeing 757-236 | Jet2.com | |
| G-LSAC | Boeing 757-23A/W | Jet2.com | |
| G-MIDO | Airbus A320-232 | bmi British Midland International | |
| G-MLJL | Airbus A330-243 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-MONX | Airbus A320-212 | Monarch Airlines | |
| G-OBYH | Boeing 767-304/ER/W | Thomson Airways | |
| G-OMYT | Airbus A330-243 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-OOAR | Airbus A320-214 | Thomson Airways | First Choice Airways c/s |
| G-OOBG | Boeing 757-236/W | Thomson Airways | |
| G-OOBM | Boeing 767-324/ER/W | Thomson Airways | First Choice Airways c/s |
| G-OOBR | Boeing 757-204/W | Thomson Airways | |
| G-OOPH | Airbus A321-211 | Thomson Airways | First Choice Airways c/s |
| G-OZBN | Airbus A321-231 | Monarch Airlines | |
| G-RJXF | Embraer ERJ-145EP | bmi British Midland Regional | |
| G-RJXM | Embraer ERJ-145MP | bmi British Midland Regional | |
| G-TAWB | Boeing 737-8K5/W | Thomson Airways | |
| G-TAWH | Boeing 737-8K5/W | Thomson Airways | |
| G-TCAD | Airbus A320-214 | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| G-TCBC | Boeing 757-236 | Thomas Cook Airlines | Special c/s |
| G-THOO | Boeing 737-33V/W | Thomson Airways | |
| G-VROY | Boeing 747-443 | Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
| G-VSXY | Airbus A330-343X | Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
| G-WJAN | Boeing 757-21K | Thomas Cook Airlines | |
| HB-IXN | Avro RJ-100 | Swiss European Airlines | |
| LN-RMT | McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | SAS Scandinavian Airlines | |
| LN-RRL | Boeing 737-883/W | SAS Scandinavian Airlines | Star Alliance c/s |
| LX-STA | Airbus A320-212 | Strategic Airlines Luxembourg | |
| LX-STB | Airbus A320-211 | Strategic Airlines Luxembourg | |
| LX-STC | Airbus A320-211 | Strategic Airlines Luxembourg | |
| N14121 | Boeing 757-224/W | United Airlines | |
| N153DL | Boeing 767-3P6/ER/W | Delta Airlines | |
| N176AA | Boeing 757-223/W | American Airlines | |
| N185AN | Boeing 757-223/W | American Airlines | |
| N273AY | Airbus A330-323X | US Airways | |
| N787BX | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Boeing Co | |
| N906WK | Dassault Falcon 900 | Kellogg Company | |
| N923FD | Boeing 757-28A | FedEx Express | |
| OH-LKH | Embraer ERJ-190-100LR (Embraer 190) | Finnair | New c/s |
| OO-DWI | Avro RJ-100 | Brussels Airlines | |
| OO-VLQ | Fokker 50 | VLM Airlines | Cityjet c/s |
| OY-KBT | Airbus A319-131 | SAS Scandinavian Airlines | |
| PH-BGU | Boeing 737-7K2/W | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | |
| PH-EZP | Embraer ERJ-190-100STD (Embraer 190) | KLM Cityhopper | |
| PH-EZU | Embraer ERJ-190-100STD (Embraer 190) | KLM Cityhopper | |
| PH-JXK | Fokker 50 | Blue Islands (Denim Air) | |
| VP-CON | Bombardier Challenger 850 (CRJ-200) | Corporate |
City Airport (Barton Aerodrome)
24/04/2012
| G-AHUF | Morris Motors DH82A Tiger Moth | Dream Ventures Ltd | Marked T-7997 |
| G-AJEE | Auster 5J1 Autocrat | Private | |
| G-APUY | Druine D.31 Turbulent | Private | |
| G-AREV | Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer | Private | |
| G-ASHX | Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee | Powertheme Ltd | |
| G-AVER | Reims Cessna F150G | LAC Flying School | |
| G-AWFJ | Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow | Parplon Ltd | |
| G-AWOF | Piper PA-17 Vagabond | Private | |
| G-AWVA | Reims Cessna F172H Skyhawk | Barton Air Ltd | |
| G-AYEF | Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee | Pegasus Flying Group | |
| G-AZGF | Beagle B121 Pup II | Private | |
| G-BCPG | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | Roses Flying Group | |
| G-BEYW | Taylor Monoplane | Private | |
| G-BEZZ | Jodel D112 | G-BEZZ Group | |
| G-BFHP | Champion Bellanca 7GCAA Citabria | Citabriation Group | |
| G-BHDM | Reims Cessna F152 | Big Red Kite Ltd | |
| G-BITM | Reims Cessna F172P Skyhawk | Dreamtrade Ltd | |
| G-BLDK | Robinson R22 Beta | Flight Academy (Gyrocopters) Ltd | |
| G-BLTM | Robin HR200/100 Club | Barton Robin Group | |
| G-BNTP | Cessna 172N Skyhawk | Westnet Ltd | |
| G-BOPT | Grob G115 | LAC Flying School | |
| G-BPVA | Cessna 172F Skyhawk | South Lancashire Flyers Group | |
| G-BSHP | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Aviation Rentals | |
| G-BTRS | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Airwise Flying Group | |
| G-BTRT | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | Romeo Tango Group | |
| G-BXLT | Socata TB200 Tobago XL | Private | |
| G-BXZA | Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk | Aviatlantic | |
| G-BZXT | Mainair Blade 912 | Barton 912 Flyers | |
| G-CCJL | Spitfire Mk26 | Private | Marked PV303/ON-B |
| G-CCMS | Mainair Pegasus Quik | Barton Charlie Charlie Group | |
| G-CCXZ | Mainair Pegasus Quik | Private | |
| G-CCYG | Robinson R44 Raven II | Moorland Windows | |
| G-CDAP | Cosmik EV-97 TeamEurostar | Mainair Microlight School | |
| G-CDHE | Skyranger 912(2) | Barton Syndicate | |
| G-CDKO | Savannah Jabiru(4) | Private | |
| G-CDMU | P and M Aviation Pegasus Quik | Private | |
| G-CDOM | Mainair Pegasus Quik | G-CDOM Flying Group | |
| G-CDXM | P and M Aviation Pegasus Quik | Mainair Microlight Centre | Wing only |
| G-CDZG | Aerosport Ikarus C42 FB80 | Mainair Microlight School | |
| G-CDZS | Kolb Twinstar MkIII Xtra | Private | |
| G-CEAK | Aerosport Ikarus C42 FB80 | Barton Heritage Flying Group | |
| G-CEHV | Aerosport Ikarus C42 FB80 | Mainair Microlight School | |
| G-CENE | P and M Aviation Flight Design CTSW | The CT Flying Group | |
| G-CEVG | P and M Aviation Pegasus Quik | Barton Quik Group | |
| G-CFLM | P and M Aviation Pegasus Quik | The Jag Flyers | |
| G-CFZX | Rotorsport UK Mtosport | Gyro-1 Ltd c/o Flight Academy | |
| G-CGBM | P and M Aviation Flight Design CTSW | Private | |
| G-CGIZ | P and M Aviation Flight Design CTSW | Private | |
| G-CGVD | Vans RV-12 | RV12 Flying Group | |
| G-CGVT | Cosmik EV-97 TeamEurostar | Mainair Microlight School | |
| G-CLEG | P and M Aviation Flight Design CTSW | Private | |
| G-CONA | Flight Design CTLS | Private | |
| G-CWIC | Mainair Pegasus Quik | G-CWIC Group | |
| G-DAWG | Scottish Aviation Bulldog 120 | Private | Marked XX522/06 |
| G-DOIG | CZAW Sportcruiser | Private | |
| G-EWAW | Bell 206B Jet Ranger III | CY4OR | |
| G-EXPL | American Champion 7GCBC Explorer | Private | |
| G-FRZN | Agusta A109S Grand | Chobham Helicopters Ltd | |
| G-GFIB | Reims Cessna F152 | Flight Academy Barton Ltd | |
| G-GMPX | MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer | Greater Manchester Police Authority | |
| G-GOES | Robinson R44 Raven II | Fordville Ltd | |
| G-GOTH | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III | Stamp Aviation Ltd | |
| G-HADD | P and M Aviation Quikr | Private | |
| G-HALC | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | Halcyon Aviation Ltd | |
| G-HINZ | Jabiru SK | Private | |
| G-HJZN | Jabiru J430 | Private | |
| G-IAJJ | Robinson R44 Raven II | O'Connor Utilities Ltd | |
| G-ISHA | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III | LAC Flying School | |
| G-JFWI | Reims Cessna F172N Skyhawk | Staryear Ltd | |
| G-LACB | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | LAC Flying School | |
| G-LEEJ | Hughes 369HS (Hughes 500) | Private | |
| G-LUBY | Jabiru J430 | Private | |
| G-LYFA | Yak 52 | Fox Alpha Group | |
| G-MFAC | Reims Cessna F172H Skyhawk | Cezzy Flying Group | |
| G-MWWD | Renegade Spirit UK | Private | |
| G-MYBM | Team Minimax 91 | Private | |
| G-MZNY | Thruster T600N 450 | Private | |
| G-NWEM | Eurocopter EC135 T2 | Bond Air Services Ltd | North West Air Ambulance |
| G-OFDT | P and M Aviation Pegasus Quik | Private | |
| G-OONZ | P and M Aviation Pegasus Quik | Private | |
| G-PAWL | Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee | G-PAWL Group | |
| G-PLAN | Reims Cessna F150L | G-PLAN Flying Group | |
| G-RACO | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | GRACO Group Ltd | |
| G-RFUN | Robinson R44 Raven | Brooklands Developments Ltd | |
| G-SGSE | Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II | Private | |
| G-SKIE | Steen Skybolt | Private | |
| G-TIFG | Pioneer Aviation Ikarus C42 FB80 | The Ikarus Flying Group | |
| G-XBJT | Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar | Private | |
| G-XJJM | P and M Aviation Pegasus Quik | Mainair Microlight Centre | |
| Robinson R22 Beta | Unknown | Cab only, possible wreck |
Leeds/Bradford International Airport
24/04/12
| EI-ENG | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| G-AYCJ | Cessna TP206D Super Skylane | White Knuckle Airways Ltd | |
| G-BEUX | Reims Cessna F172H Skyhawk | Multiflight | |
| G-BFMH | Cessna 177B Cardinal | Aerofoil Aviation Ltd | |
| G-BXLY | Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior | Multiflight | |
| G-CD?B | Saab 2000 | Eastern Airways | Old c/s |
| G-CELD | Boeing 737-33A | Jet2.com | |
| G-CELG | Boeing 737-377 | Jet2.com | |
| G-CELI | Boeing 737-330 | Jet2.com | Jet2 Manchester billboard titles |
| G-EMBI | Embraer ERJ-145EU | bmi British Midland Regional | All white, bmi regional titles |
| G-FLBB | Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) | Flybe | |
| G-GDFG | Boeing 737-36Q | Jet2.com | |
| G-LSAB | Boeing 757-27B/W | Jet2.com | |
| G-LSAD | Boeing 757-236 | Jet2.com | Jet2 Holidays c/s |
| G-LSAH | Boeing 757-21B | Jet2.com | |
| G-LSAL | Boeing 757-204/W | Jet2.com | Jet2 Holidays c/s |
| G-MFLB | Robin HR200/120B | Multiflight | |
| G-OCCH | Diamond DA40D Diamond Star | Innovative Aviation (Leeds) Ltd | |
| G-SEHK | Cessna 182T Skylane | Private | |
| N40GD | Cirrus SR22 | Private | |
| N75FW | Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III | Forward Aviation Inc | |
| N400MW | Mooney M20K | Private | |
| OE-FWW | Raytheon 390 Premier I | Europ-Star Aircraft GmbH |
Thanks for reading if you got this far.