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London (by Chris Smith)

It's been well established in recent weeks that a trip to London for the extra Olympic-related traffic is going to be more hassle than it's worth, the roads and public transport networks are going to be operating at well above capacity so day trips are out of the question and hotels are already full as well. So a couple of days down in advance of the games were had to do some 'cleaning up' with easyJet and Ryanair's and photographing an iconic British airline and it's subsidiaries before they disappear for good in the coming weeks (a disgrace, but such is life).

I was hoping to book the Terminal 5 Travelodge at Heathrow due to the excellent views over the airport that some of the rooms offer, but I spent so long debating whether or not to do the trip at all, the price shot through the roof, so I opted for the Travelodge at Great Dunmow, near Stansted instead.

I made the usual call into Gamston on the way down with the usual low expectations for that time of morning, but I was surprised to find a couple of tasty airframes here.

Retford Gamston Airport (EGNE)
28-06-2012 0808 - 0834

G-AVYT Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow Private  
G-BEOK Reims Cessna F150M KPOW Ltd  
G-BRPV Cessna 152 Eastern Air Executive Ltd  
G-BTVX Cessna 152 The Flight Centre 2010 Ltd  
G-CCHA Diamond DA40D Diamond Star Diamond Hire UK Ltd  
G-FOFO Robinson R44 Raven II Kuki Helicopter Sales Ltd  
G-JONM Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer III Private  
G-OTVR Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V IAS Medical Ltd  
G-PNIX Reims Cessna FRA150L Aerobat Dukeries Aviation  
G-RAMS Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP Mike Sierra LLP  
G-RASA Diamond DA42 Twin Star Private  
N60GM Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III Private  

G-FOFO - Robinson R44 Raven II - Kuki Helicopter Sales Ltd

G-OTVR - Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V - IAS Medical Ltd

N60GM - Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III - Private

I wasn't sure whether or not to call into Cambridge, it's a bit further off the beaten track than it looks on Google Earth, plus the vantage points aren't the best in the world and I normally need someone with good eyesight to bag a lot of the aircraft here, but I had time on my hands so I called in and did ok, even getting access to a hangar thanks to some advice from Mr Anderson! Unfortunately the Cessna Citation's that used to reside in this hangar have been moved into a different, inaccessible hangar and all that was in here were three residents, albeit not your usual GA residents.

No photos were obtained at Cambridge.

Cambridge Airport (CBG / EGSC)
28-06-2012 1020 - 1108

G-BFWB Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II Mid-Anglia School of Flying  
G-DLDL Robinson R22 Beta Cambridge Aviation Ltd  
G-EUAB Europa XS Private  
G-FTAX Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III Gold Air International Ltd Stored / WFU
G-IASM Beech B200 Super King Air TAG Aviation (Stansted) Ltd In the hangar
G-JASE Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II Mid-Anglia School of Flying  
G-MASF Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II Mid-Anglia School of Flying  
G-OARS Cessna 172S Skyhawk Whitespace Work Software Ltd  
G-OTYP Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Private  
G-UFCB Cessna 172S Skyhawk The Cambridge Aero Club Ltd  
M-OLLE Hawker Beechcraft 750 Dunard Engineering  
N851WA Socata TBM 850 Private In the hangar
N575GM Socata TB20 Trinidad Venture Aviation Inc  
N821CC Cirrus SR22 5 Wild Horses Inc  
VP-BMZ Rockwell 690D Jetprop 900 Aviatica Trading Company In the hangar
XV196 Lockheed C-130K Hercules C1 Royal Air Force  
XV208 Lockheed C-130K Hercules W2 Marshall Aerospace Airbus A400M testbed

I got to Stansted and went straight to Spotters Row where I spent just over an hour logging the various easyJet and Ryanair movements (I've only logged the ones I needed), I then popped over to Southend to get the stored stuff before returning to Stansted. After getting chased away last time and as a result having logged next to no bizz, I entered the old terminal area very very wary of coppers, I thought I hadn't seen a single one then when I was about to leave I spotted a few likely candidates using unmarked cars, cunning gits. I did very well indeed this time around though!

Then, it was back to Spotters Row to put my feet up for the rest of the day before heading to the Travelodge to log what I could from the room with the SBS-1.

London Stansted Airport (STN / EGSS)
28-06-2012 1148 - 1258 & 1648 - 1956

556 Airbus A320-214 Prestige Royal Oman Air Force  
01-0029 Gulfstream C-37A (G-V) United States Air Force  
A4O-SO Boeing 747SP-27 Oman Government  
A6-MRM Boeing 737-8EC/W BBJ2 Dubai Air Wing  
A9C-BA Boeing 727-2M7/A/RE/W Bahrain Government  
D-ABQA Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Q400) Air Berlin  
D-ABQJ Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Q400) Air Berlin  
D-AGWH Airbus A319-132 Germanwings  
D-AGWR Airbus A319-132 Germanwings  
D-AKNL Airbus A319-112 Germanwings  
EC-JBE Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia Swiftair  
EI-DAI Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-DCX Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-DHE Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-DYK Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EBX Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EFD Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EFH Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EFI Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EFW Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EKC Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EMH Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-ENE Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-ENF Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-ESX Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EVL Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-FXJ ATR 72-202/F Air Contractors FedEx Feeder c/s
G-CEAP Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar 50 Unknown Also marked G-IOIT - stored / PWFU
G-EZFC Airbus A319-111 easyJet  
G-EZUD Airbus A320-214 easyJet  
G-GSSE Boeing 747-87U/F Global Supply Systems British Airways World Cargo c/s
G-GSSF Boeing 747-87U/F Global Supply Systems British Airways World Cargo c/s
G-KPTN Dassault Falcon 50 TAG Aviation (UK) Ltd  
G-POWH Boeing 757-256 Titan Airways All white
G-ZAPK BAe 146-200/QC Titan Airways  
G-ZAPN BAe 146-200/QC Titan Airways  
G-ZAPX Boeing 757-200 Titan Airways  
G-ZAPZ Boeing 737-33A/QC Titan Airways  
HZ-DME Dassault Falcon 900B Corporate  
HZ-MIS Boeing 737-2K5/A Corporate  
M-ARIE Pilatus PC-12/47E Guernsey PC-12 Ltd  
M-DSCL Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 Legacy Aviation  
N52MK Gulfstream G-IV Corporate  
N63AG Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 ACM Aviation Very colourful!
N104FT Bombardier BD-100 Challenger 300 FTI Consulting Inc / Summit  
N336MM Beech B350 Super King Air Hawker Beechcraft Corp Delivery flight - fuel stop
N348UP Boeing 767-34A/ERF UPS Airlines  
N445DB Bombardier BD-700 Global 5000 Geoduck Aviation III LLC  
N610FE McDonnell Douglas MD-11/F FedEx Express  
N6450L Beech B350 Super King Air Hawker Beechcraft Corp Delivery flight - fuel stop
N727FD Airbus A300F4-622R FedEx Express  
N742AX Boeing 767-232/F ABX Air  
N757MA Boeing 757-26D Mid East Jet  
N855FD Boeing 777-FS2/LRF FedEx Express  
TC-ATF Airbus A321-211 AtlasJet  
TC-CPB Boeing 737-82R/W Pegasus Airlines  
VP-CME Boeing 767-231/ER Mid East Jet  

A4O-SO - Boeing 747SP-27 - Oman Government

D-ABQJ - Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) - Air Berlin

D-AKNL - Airbus A319-112 - Germanwings

G-GSSE - Boeing 747-87U/F - Global Supply Systems / British Airways World Cargo

G-GSSF - Boeing 747-87U/F - Global Supply Systems / British Airways World Cargo

HZ-DME - Dassault Falcon 900B - Corporate

HZ-MIS - Boeing 737-2K5/A - Corporate

N336MM - Hawker Beechcraft B350 Super King Air - Hawker Beechcraft Corp

N6450L - Hawker Beechcraft B350 Super King Air - Hawker Beechcraft Corp

N757MA - Boeing 757-26D - Mid East Jet

N855FD - Boeing 777-FS2/LRF - FedEx Express

TC-CPB - Boeing 737-82R/W - Pegasus Airlines

Southend was an adventure to say the least! I struggled to find my way around certain parts and I wasn't sure whether I was on public roads or airside areas!! Luckily a second phone call to Dave sorted the job out (cheers Dave!).

I dare say Southend is a perfect example of what Durham Tees Valley should be - a subtle but consistant amount of passenger flights with a wealth of behind-the-scenes activity.

No photos were obtained at Southend.

London Southend Airport (SEN / EGMC)
28-06-2012 1356 - 1517

5N-MJB Boeing 737-322 Arik Air Stored
EI-ELE Airbus A320-232 Yamal Airlines  
EI-ELN Airbus A320-232 Yamal Airlines  
G-BUHB BAe 146-300 Starbow Airlines To be 9G-SBC
G-BZHF Cessna 152 MK Aero Support Ltd  
G-CEBN Avro RJ100 Leasing company  
G-CEWN Diamond DA42 Twin Star Corporate  
G-CGNT Avro RJ100 Aegean Airlines  
G-CGNU Avro RJ100 Aegean Airlines  
G-CGYV Avro RJ85 Leasing company  
G-CGZO Avro RJ85 Leasing company  
G-CHDO Avro RJ85 Leasing company  
G-CHDT Avro RJ85 Leasing company  
G-DWJM Cessna 550 Citation II TL Aviation Instrad LLP Still registered but very poor state
G-FLTA BAe 146-200 Westall Ltd  
G-FLTC BAe 146-300 E3205 Trading Ltd  
G-FLTF BAe 146-200 Rangefield Holdings Ltd  
G-FLTY Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante Skydrift Ltd Dumped, very poor state
G-JBIZ Cessna 550 Citation II 247 Jet Ltd  
G-JOTA Beech B90 King Air Jota Aircraft Leasing Ltd  
G-OCCU? Diamond DA40D Diamond Star Chalrey Ltd  
G-OCLH Avro RJ85 Leasing company  
G-OFMC Avro RJ100 Leasing company  
G-OSTY Reims Cessna F150G Private  
G-OVIN Rockwell Commander 112TC Private  
G-OZRH BAe 146-200 Calder Ltd  
G-RVNP Partenavia P68B Victor Ravenair Aircraft Ltd  
G-STHA Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain Hinde Holdings Ltd  
I-CLBA Avro RJ85 Club Air Sixgo  
N614SC Boeing 737-53S Zambezi Airlines  
OO-DJR Avro RJ85 Brussels Airlines Actual reg G-CHFR but not worn
OO-VEG Boeing 737-36N/W Jet2.com To become G-GDFL
S5-ADK Bombardier CL-600 Challenger 605 Elit Avia  
XL426 Avro 698 Vulcan B2 Royal Air Force  

Noted quite a few overflights whilst at Stansted, some of the ones logged from the hotel may well even have been Stansted departures!!

OTT
28-06-2012

9M-MPK Boeing 747-446 Malaysia Airlines  
9V-SFL Boeing 747-412/F Singapore Airlines Cargo  
A4O-AD Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) Oman Royal Flight  
B-HUB Boeing 747-467 Cathay Pacific Airways  
HA-LPI Airbus A320-232 Wizz Air Hungary  
HA-LWD Airbus A320-232 Wizz Air  
HA-LWH Airbus A320-232 Wizz Air  
HA-LWK Airbus A320-232 Wizz Air  
JA735J Boeing 777-346/ER Japan Airlines  
HL7420 Boeing 747-48E Asiana Airlines  
HL7439 Boeing 747-4B5/ER/F Korean Air Cargo  
HL7756 Boeing 777-28E/ER Asiana Airlines  
LN-RRY Boeing 737-683 SAS Scandinavian Airlines  
PH-BFY Boeing 747-406 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines  
PH-BXE Boeing 737-8K2/W KLM Royal Dutch Airlines  
SE-RER Boeing 737-7BX SAS Scandinavian Airlines  
VH-OQA Airbus A380-842 Qantas  
ZK-OKA Boeing 777-219/ER Air New Zealand  

Heathrow was probably a mistake, if you book the hotel here it's worth it but it's just daft heading south after leaving Stansted just to come all the way back north again. Although I eventually succeeded, I spent a lot of time trying to find Myrtle Avenue again, this time though I did eventually get there, but with the car developing a brake problem and my house developing a utility problem, I lost heart and decided to progress with the rest of the trip.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR / EGLL)
29-06-2012 0915 - 1109

3B-NBJ Airbus A340-313E Air Mauritius  
5Y-KQT Boeing 777-2U8/ER Kenyan Airways  
9H-AEP Airbus A320-214 Air Malta  
9K-AOB Boeing 777-269/ER Kuwait Airways  
9V-SKJ Airbus A380 Singapore Airlines  
B-HUG Boeing 747-467 Cathay Pacific Airways  
C-FCAF Boeing 767-375/ER Air Canada  
C-FITU Boeing 777-333/ER Air Canada  
CS-DRO Raytheon Hawker 800XPi NetJets Europe  
D-AIPB Airbus A320-211 Lufthansa  
D-AISX Airbus A321-231 Lufthansa  
EC-JZM Airbus A321-211 Iberia  
G-BNWC Boeing 767-336/ER British Airways  
G-BNWY Boeing 767-336/ER British Airways  
G-EUYA Airbus A320-232 British Airways  
G-STBB Boeing 777-36N/ER British Airways  
G-VIIM Boeing 777-236/ER British Airways  
G-VSSH Airbus A340-642 Virgin Atlantic Airways  
HB-IJF Airbus A320-214 Swiss International Airlines  
HB-IPU Airbus A319-112 Swiss International Airlines  
LN-TUD Boeing 737-705 SAS Scandinavian Airlines  
N217UA Boeing 777-222/ER United Airlines  
N646UA Boeing 767-322/ER United Airlines  
N67134 Boeing 757-224/W United Airlines  
N784AN Boeing 777-223/ER American Airlines  
N797AN Boeing 777-223/ER American Airlines  
N831MH Boeing 767-432/ER Delta Airlines  
PH-BXT Boeing 737-9K2/W KLM Royal Dutch Airlines  
SP-LLC Boeing 737-45D LOT Polish Airlines Gold livery
SX-DVR Airbus A320-232 Aegean Airlines  
TC-JNI Airbus A330-343X Turkish Airlines  
V8-BLA Boeing 777-212/ER Royal Brunei Airlines  
VT-JEM Boeing 777-35R/ER Jet Airways  

9K-AOB - Boeing 777-269/ER - Kuwait Airways

C-FITU - Boeing 777-333/ER - Air Canada

CS-DRO - Raytheon Hawker 800XPi - NetJets Europe

EC-JZM - Airbus A321-211 - Iberia

G-BNWY - Boeing 767-336/ER - British Airways

G-MEDK - Airbus A320-232 - bmi British Midland International

G-VSSH - Airbus A340-642 - Virgin Atlantic Airways

HB-IJF - Airbus A320-214 - Swiss International Airlines

N646UA - Boeing 767-322/ER - United Airlines

N784AN - Boeing 777-223/ER - American Airlines

SX-DVR - Airbus A320-232 - Aegean Airlines

TC-JNI - Airbus A330-343X - Turkish Airlines

Luton was very routine, lot's of biz, I just did the rounds as usual before moving on to East Midlands. The highlight here was probably the Canadian Forces A310.

London Luton Airport (LTN / EGGW)
29-06-2012 1200 - 1329

Airlines / Movements / Other

EI-EBV Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
G-BYAX Boeing 757-204/W Thomson Airways  
G-EZBO Airbus A319-111 easyJet  
G-EZDF Airbus A319-111 easyJet  
G-EZGK Airbus A319-111 easyJet  
G-EZUS Airbus A320-214 easyJet  
HA-LP? Airbus A320-232 Wizz Air  
HA-LWC Airbus A320-232 Wizz Air  
VP-BJW Boeing 737-301 KD Avia Forward fuselage only (fire trainer)

The Pond / Signatures

A6-SMS Dassault Falcon 7X Fujairah Aviation  
G-CGUL Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) Gama Aviation  
G-EDCM Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 Air Charter Scotland  
G-OIRP IAI/Gulfstream G200 Galaxy Air Charter Scotland  
G-RUBE Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 Autumn Breeze International Ltd c/o London Executive Aviation
LX-EAA Bombardier Learjet 45 Ducair  
M-FBVZ Bombardier CL-600 Challenger 605 Gama Aviation  
M-HOIL Bombardier Learjet 60 Begal Air  
N50EE Gulfstream G-IV Idaho Associates LLC  
N282Q Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) GE Management Co LLC  
N300L Gulfstream G-V Colleen Corp  
N524AC Gulfstream G-V G5 Leasing Inc  
N800AL Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) Abbott Laboratories Inc  
VP-CEO Bombardier BD-700 Global Express Corporate  
VP-CTR Gulfstream G-IV Corporate  

Harrods Ramp (new)

D-AJJK Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) Windrose Air  
N2CC Gulfstream G-IV Tonkawa Inc  
N104SG IAI/Gulfstream G200 Galaxy Screaming Eagle Air Inc  
N407NS Gulfstream G-IV Corporate  
N516QS Gulfstream G-V NJI Sales Inc  
N707EA Gulfstream G-IV Emmanuel Aviation Inc  
PR-PMV Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy Morro Vermelho Taxi Aereo  
SX-GAB Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) Gain Jet  

Harrods Ramp (old)

A6-KBB Bombardier CL-600 Challenger 604 Corporate  
CS-DXH Cessna 560XL Citation XLS NetJets Europe  
HZ103 Gulfstream G-IV Royal Saudi Air Force  

South Stands / Ocean Sky

15001 Airbus A310-304/F Canadian Forces  
A6-DEJ Gulfstream G-V Dana Executive Jets  
D-CADY Cessna 560XL Citation Excel Jetline  
G-IDAB Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Mail Handling International Ltd  
G-LATE Dassault Falcon 2000EX Hangar 8 Management Ltd  
G-WLVS Dassault Falcon 2000EX Trinity Aviation Ltd  
HB-JGJ Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) G5 Executive AG  
M-JETZ Dassault Falcon 2000EX Avtorita Holdings Ltd  
N338TP Bombardier BD-700 Global Express Washington Times Aviation Inc  
N842PA Gulfstream G-IV Aircraft Holdings LLC  
N888HK Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) Corporate  
N888ZF Gulfstream G-IV Ponderosa Asset LLC  
VP-CJL Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) Corporate  

North West Corner / Gulfstream

G-GSSO Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) TAG Aviation (UK) Ltd  
G-HOTB Eurocopter EC155 B1 Noirmont (EC155) Ltd  
G-SONE Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 CJ 525 Ltd  
N288Z Bombardier BD-700 Global Express XRS Corporate  
N680GA Gulfstream G-V BMA Charter  
N7799T Gulfstream G-IV Corporate  
OY-VEG Canadair CL-600 Challenger 850 Execujet Europe A/S  
VP-BZE Dassault Falcon 7X Stork Ltd / Flying Lion  
  Challenger? Corporate  

15001 - Airbus A310-304/F - Canadian Forces

East Midlands was pretty quiet, very little in the way of biz but a good selection of airliners present. A new hangar around the back of the bmi hangar houses RVL Aviation and a few of their GA airframes can be seen and photographed depending on their position.

East Midlands Airport (EMA / EGNX)
29-06-2012 1535 - 1638

EI-DHY Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-DPT Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-DWW Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EBK Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EBL Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-EFS Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-JIV Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules Air Contractors  
G-BGGO Reims Cessna F152 East Midlands Flying School Ltd  
G-BPRY Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II White Wings Aviation Ltd  
G-BVKB Boeing 737-59D bmibaby  
G-CELF Boeing 737-377 Jet2.com  
G-FDZA Boeing 737-8K5/W Thomson Airways  
G-FIFA Cessna 404 Titan RVL Aviation Ltd  
G-GBMR Raytheon B200 Super King Air M and R Aviation LLP  
G-NIKO Airbus A321-211 Thomas Cook Airlines  
G-OBMP Boeing 737-3Q8 bmibaby  
G-ODSK Boeing 737-37Q bmibaby  
G-OMYJ Airbus A321-211 Thomas Cook Airlines  
G-RJXP Embraer ERJ-135ER bmi British Midland Regional  
G-TOYF Boeing 737-36N bmibaby  
G-TOYG Boeing 737-36N bmibaby  
G-TOYH Boeing 737-36N bmibaby  
M-WOOD Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Horizon Air  
N71VE Rockwell 690 Turbo Commander Corporate  
TC-ALM Boeing 727-230 Air Alfa WFU
YL-RAE Antonov An-26B RAF-Avia Airlines  
  BAe ATP/F Atlantic Airlines  

G-BGGO - Reims Cessna F152 - East Midlands Flying School

N71VE - Rockwell 690 Turbo Commander - Corporate

That's it, the first day was rather enjoyable but the second, although profitable from a spotting perspective, was clouded by worry and I just wanted to get back as soon as possible, so Heathrow, Luton and East Midlands were all a little 'rushed'. As usual thanks for reading if you got this far!

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