London (by Chris Smith)
Haven't had a lot of chance to get down to London this year on spotting trips, so when my Auntie & Uncle mentioned they were going to the capital for a few days break, which happened to tie in with a weeks annual leave I had booked, I arranged to meet up with them which allowed for an 'O'Leary hunt' at the same time. Only easyJet and Ryanair aircraft I needed were logged.
Day One ~ 26/11/13
The obligatory call-in at Gamston produced little to nothing but still worth the visit if only for a break from driving.
Retford Gamston Airport ~ EGNE
0750 - 0800
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| G-AVUG* | Reims Cessna F150H | Skyways Flying Group | |
| G-BCPN | Grumman AA-5 Traveller | G-BCPN Group | |
| G-BRPV | Cessna 152 | Eastern Air Executive | |
| G-JRCR* | Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger | Commercial Legal Ltd | |
| G-XDEA* | Diamond DA 42 Twin Star | Diamond Executive Aviation | |
| N200RE | Beech E90 King Air | MPS Aviation |
Click here for Gamston photos.
I quite enjoyed visiting Peterborough's two airfields just over a year ago, so I included them in the itinerary again this time around. I still can't understand why the better-equipped Conington is less busy than the grass-only Sibson, with minimal expansion it could easily handle most bizjet aircraft.
Peterborough Sibson Airport ~ EGSP
0910 - 0940
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| G-AVIA | Reims Cessna F150G | American Airplane Breakers | PWFU |
| G-AVWU* | Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow | Private | |
| G-AZLH* | Reims Cessna F150L | Private | |
| G-BASP | Beagle B121 Pup I | Private | |
| G-BAXU | Reims Cessna F150L | Private | |
| G-BEIA | Reims Cessna FRA150M Aerobat | Busy Bee Aero Engineering | PWFU |
| G-BGEA | Reims Cessna F150M | Busy Bee Aero Engineering | PWFU, cab only |
| G-BICY | Piper PA-23-160 Apache | Busy Bee Aero Engineering | PWFU |
| G-BIIK* | Morane Saulnier MS.883 Rallye | Private | |
| G-BIOJ | Rockwell Commander 112TCA | Private | Stored |
| G-BNTC | Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Cherokee Arrow IV | Private | PWFU |
| G-BOFM | Cessna 152 | Gem Integrated Solutions Ltd | |
| G-BOVT | Cessna 150M | Busy Bee Aero Engineering | PWFU |
| G-BOYB | Cessna A152 Aerobat | Modi Aviation | |
| G-BPAF | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Private | |
| G-BPTU | Cessna 152 | Private | PWFU |
| G-BSYW | Cessna 150M | Cada Vliegtuilgen BV | CofA expired |
| G-BXVK | Robin HR200/120B | Modi Aviation | |
| G-BYSG | Robin HR200/120B | Modi Aviation | |
| G-CENI* | Spitfire Mk26 | Private | Marked W3257/E-FY, 80% replica |
| G-CHLO* | Grob G109B | Private | |
| G-FAYE | Reims Cessna F150M | Cheshire Air Training Services Ltd | PWFU |
| G-LICK | Cessna 172N Skyhawk | Sky Back Ltd | |
| G-SEEK* | Cessna T210N Turbo Centurion | Private | |
| G-ZION* | Cessna 177B Cardinal | Private | |
| HA-ACO* | Dornier Do-28D-2 Turbo Skyservant | Trener Air |
Click here for Sibson photos.
Peterborough Business Airport (Conington) ~ XHV / EGSF
1025 - 1045
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| G-BFKF | Reims Cessna FA152 Aerobat | Aerolease Ltd | |
| G-BGKU | Piper PA-28R-201 Cherokee Arrow III | Aerolease Ltd | |
| G-BGNT | Reims Cessna F152 | Aerolease Ltd | |
| G-BHFK | Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior | G-BHFK Warrior Group | |
| G-BNJB | Cessna 152 | Aerolease Ltd | |
| G-BPBO* | Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Cherokee Arrow IV | Private | |
| G-CDAC | Cosmik EV-97 TeamEurostar | Nene Valley Microlights | |
| G-CDDG* | Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II | Smart People Don't Buy Ltd | |
| G-CGXI* | Ikarus C42 FB80 Bravo | Private | |
| G-GCCL | Beech 76 Duchess | Aerolease Ltd | |
| G-GDOG | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | Mutley Crew Group | |
| G-PROW | Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar | Nene Valley Microlights | |
| G-RSMC | Medway SLA 100 Executive | Private | |
| G-TSGA | Piper PA-28R-201 Cherokee Arrow III | TSG Aviation Ltd | |
| G-WRWR | Robinson R22 Beta | MFH Helicopters | |
| M-SAIL* | Pilatus PC12/47E | Corporate |
Click here for Conington photos.
Final call of the day was Stansted, first to the north side GA area where I was quickly collared by a couple of cops, luckily they were top blokes who had a chat and a joke and advised me of the rules but said they weren't going to enforce them this time, so after a whizz around here I then spent a while at spotters row. There's only so long you can watch Ryanair and easyJets come and go so I soon left to check in to my hotel and make my way into central London. When I got back to the hotel later that night I logged what I could from the room, 22 arrivals / 04 departures are visible but distant. Due to price I chose the Travelodge at Great Dunmow, I would have much prefered the one at Bishops Stortford as 04 arrivals / 22 departures are visible from here but much closer and overall it's a better hotel.
London Stansted Airport ~ STN / EGSS
1200 - 1400 & 2130 - 2345
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| A6-GGP* | Boeing 747-412/F | Dubai Air Wing | |
| A7-MBK | Airbus A320-232/CJ Prestige | Qatar Amiri Flight | |
| EI-DHR* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-ENK* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-ESP* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | Stored |
| EI-EVC* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-EVH* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | Stored |
| EI-EVK* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-EVM* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | Stored |
| G-CELA | Boeing 737-377/QC | Jet2.com | |
| G-COBO | ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) | Aurigny Air Services | |
| G-CPRR | Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign | Bookajet Aircraft Management | |
| G-IOIT | Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar | Unknown | Stored PWFU, marked G-CEAP |
| G-NMAK | Airbus A319-115/CJ | Twinjet Aircraft Sales | |
| G-POWC | Boeing 737-33A/QC | Titan Airways | |
| G-TUID* | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Thomson Airways | |
| HZ-ATR* | Boeing 737-9FG/ERW BBJ3 | Corporate | |
| HZ-MEJ1* | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 | MidEast Jet | |
| M-AJWA* | Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 | Global Express Management | |
| N304UP* | Boeing 767-34A/ERF | UPS Airlines | |
| N744AX | Boeing 767-232/SF | ABX Air | |
| P4-GMS* | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express | Premier Avia JSC | |
| TC-AAY | Boeing 737-82R/W | Pegasus Airlines | |
| TC-AAZ* | Boeing 737-82R/W | Pegasus Airlines |
Click here for Stansted day one photos.
Noted OTT:
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| B-2727* | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | China Southern Airlines | Highlight of the trip! |
| G-EZWE* | Airbus A320-214 | easyJet |
Day Two ~ 27/11/13
I tried to log early morning arrivals from the hotel again but they weren't visible due to fog, so after a Full English I headed back to spotters row briefly before going to see what had changed around the north side GA area. The official term for stored Ryanair 737s is 'parked until required' meaning they change a lot and sure enough most had.
London Stansted Airport ~ STN / EGSS
0755 - 0910
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| A7-HHM* | Airbus A330-202 | Qatar Amiri Flight | |
| D-AGWC | Airbus A319-132 | Germanwings | |
| D-AGWO* | Airbus A319-132 | Germanwings | |
| EI-DYD* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-EFG* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-EFL* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | Stored |
| EI-EKV* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-EMI* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-ENY* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | Stored |
| EI-REX | Bombardier Learjet 60 | Airlink Airways | |
| G-FDZE | Boeing 737-8K5/W | Thomson Airways | |
| G-POWD | Boeing 767-36N/ER | Titan Airways | |
| G-POWH | Boeing 757-256 | Titan Airways | |
| G-POWI* | Airbus A320-233 | Titan Airways | |
| HZ-A6* | Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) | Corporate | |
| N331UP | Boeing 767-34A/ERF | UPS Airlines | |
| RA-02777* | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 650 | Premier Avia |
Click here for Stansted day two photos.
I tried my luck with North Weald next, as I like the fact that they allow you to drive airside around an active, fairly sizeable airfield, and there are some tasty airframes to be found here.
North Weald Airfield ~ EGSX
0930 - 1035
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| 9J-RBC* | Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee | Private | |
| G-AVLI* | Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee | Lima India Aviation Group | |
| G-AWFF* | Reims Cessna F150H | Private | |
| G-AXCA* | Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow | Private | |
| G-BBIL* | Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee | Private | |
| G-BBMN/3* | De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 | Private | |
| G-BFXX* | Gulfstream AA-5B Tiger | Private | |
| G-BKOU* | Hunting Percival P84 Jet Provost T3 | G-BKOU/2 Ltd | Marked XN637 |
| G-BLUV* | Grob G109B | 109 Flying Group | |
| G-BOYP* | Cessna 172N Skyhawk | Private | |
| G-BPCL | Scottish Aviation Bulldog 128 | 121 Group | Marked HKG-6 |
| G-BPVN* | Piper PA-32R-301T Turbo Saratoga | Private | |
| G-BSVB* | Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II | Veebee Aviation Ltd | |
| G-BWGS* | BAC P84 Jet Provost T5A | Private | |
| G-BWOF* | BAC P84 Jet Provost T5 | Techair London Ltd | |
| G-BXFI | Hawker Hunter T7 | Canfield Hunter Ltd | Marked WV372/R |
| G-BXXK | Reims Cessna F172N Skyhawk | Private | |
| G-CBLZ* | Rutan Long-Ez | Private | |
| G-CCAV | Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II | Alpha Victor Group | |
| G-CCKI* | Diamond DA40D Diamond Star | Private | |
| G-CCLJ | Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee | Private | |
| G-FFOX* | Hawker Hunter T7A | Hunter Flight Academy | Marked WV318/D |
| G-FLSH/52* | Yak-52 | Boogair | |
| G-GCDB | Cirrus SR20 | Friends Aloft Ltd | |
| G-HAAT* | MD Helicopters MD902 Explorer | Police Aviation Services | Herts Air Ambulance |
| G-HHDR* | Cessna 182T Skylane | Private | |
| G-IPUP* | Beagle B121 Pup II | Swift Flying Group | |
| G-IVIP* | Agusta A109E Power | Castle Air | |
| G-JWCM/4* | Scottish Aviation Bulldog 121 | Private | |
| G-KAXT* | Westland Wasp HAS1 | Private | Marked XT787 |
| G-LUND | Cessna 340 | Prospect Developments (Northern) Ltd | PWFU |
| G-MIGG/1211* | PZL-Mielec Lim-5 | Private | |
| G-MURG* | Vans RV-6 | Cadmium Lake Ltd | |
| G-MYHM* | Cyclone AX3/503 | G-MYHM Group | |
| G-NUKA | Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II | Private | |
| G-NWFA* | Cessna 150M | North Weald Flying Group | |
| G-NWFC | Cessna 172P Skyhawk | North Weald Flying Group | |
| G-NWFS | Cessna 172P Skyhawk | North Weald Flying Group | |
| G-OKAG* | Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow | Alpha-Golf Flying Group | |
| G-OKTI* | Aquila AT01 | Private | |
| G-ONAV | Piper PA-31 Navajo | Panther Aviation | |
| G-RASA | Diamond DA42 Twin Star | Private | |
| G-SEMI* | Piper PA-44-180 Seminole | Private | |
| G-SRTT | Cirrus SR22 | Private | |
| G-SUEI | Diamond DA42 Twin Star | Sue Air | |
| G-UDOG* | Scottish Aviation Bulldog 121 | Private | Marked XX518/S |
| G-VDIR | Cessna T310R | Private | PWFU |
| G-VIVM* | Hunting Percival P84 Jet Provost Mk5 | Victor Mike Group | |
| G-VTII | De Havilland DH115 Vampire T11 | Vampire Preservation Group | Marked WZ507/74 |
| G-XCCC* | Extra EA 300/L | Private | |
| G-ZZDG* | Cirrus SR20 | F13 Ltd | |
| N3HK | Cessna 340 | Private | |
| N17UK* | Cirrus SR22 | Private | |
| N25XZ* | Cessna 182G Skylane | Private | |
| N63EN* | Cessna 340 | Echo November Inc | |
| N199ZZ | Cirrus SR22 | November Zulu Ltd | |
| N31356 | Douglas DC-4-1009 | Aces High Flying Museum | Marked 44-42914 |
| N38945* | Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance | Private | |
| N41098 | Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II | Hughston Aircraft Corp | PWFU |
| N44914 | Douglas C-54Q Skymaster (DC-4) | Aces High Flying Museum | Marked 56498 |
| N9141Z* | Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP | Paragon Air Leasing LLC | |
| V7313/US-F | Hawker Hurricane | Gate Guardian | Replica |
| XP540* | Folland Fo.144 Gnat T1 | Unknown | Very poor state |
| XR541* | Folland Fo.144 Gnat T1 | Unknown | Marked PF179 |
| XS100* | Folland Fo.144 Gnat T1 | Unknown | |
| XW311/W/MF* | BAC P84 Jet Provost T5 | Unknown |
Click here for North Weald photos.
Next it was across to Luton for a biz-hunt, I didn't stop overly long, just noted what was on the ground before making my way home via East Midlands. There's still a lot of construction on-going here, including a big hangar, possibly the biggest on-site, which I assume will cater for the airliners rather than the biz.
London Luton Airport ~ LTN / EGGW
1125 - 1230
Airlines / Movements / Other
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| G-EZBX* | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-EZDH* | Airbus A319-111 | easyJet | |
| G-OBYG | Boeing 767-304/ERW | Thomson Airways | |
| G-OZBE | Airbus A321-231 | Monarch Airlines | |
| HA-LPN* | Airbus A320-232 | Wizz Air | |
| HB-JFD | Cessna 750 Citation X | Nomad Aviation AG |
Signature / The Pond
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| B-LSM* | Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) | MetroJet | |
| G-CGUL | Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) | Tesco Stores Ltd | |
| G-LEAA | Cessna 510 Citation Mustang | London Executive Aviation | |
| G-LEAB | Cessna 510 Citation Mustang | London Executive Aviation | |
| G-MRAP | Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 300 | Ability Air Charter LLP (c/o London Executive Aviation) | |
| G-WIRG* | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 650 | Air Charter Scotland | |
| G-WWFC* | Dassault Falcon 2000EX | London Executive Aviation | |
| HZ-A5* | Airbus A318-112CJ Elite | Alpha Star | |
| HZ-HHT* | Gulfstream G-1159A (Gulfstream III) | Corporate | |
| M-PPBA* | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 | Corporate | |
| N473CW* | Gulfstream G-IV | AVN Air LLC | |
| N908VZ* | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | Gulfstream Aerospace Corp | |
| P4-AIM* | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | Corporate | |
| S5-ZFL* | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 | ElitAvia | |
| VT-HGL* | Dassault Falcon 2000 | Ashley Aviation | |
| YU-BZZ* | Cessna 550 Citation Bravo | Air Pink |
North West Corner
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| N507DW# | Gulfstream G-V | Colleen Corp | |
| VP-BRA* | Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy | Corporate |
Gulfstream
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| M-GLFV* | Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) | G550 Investments | |
| N318GA* | Dassault Falcon 50 | Garden Air LLC |
South Stands
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| N18CJ* | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | Corporate | |
| OE-ILX | Boeing 737-8DR/W BBJ2 | Global Jet Austria |
Harrods Ramp (new)
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| 9M-TAN | Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 | Corporate | |
| A7-CEB* | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | Qatar Executive | |
| C-FSEP* | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | Image Air Charter | |
| G-LGKD | Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) | TAG Aviation (UK) | |
| HB-JRE* | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | ExecuJet Europe AG | |
| LX-AMB | Dassault Falcon 7X | Global Jet | |
| M-GLOB | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express | Colovic Investment Holdings | |
| M-YGLK | Gulfstream G-IV-X (G450) | Overseas Operations Ltd | |
| M-YULI | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express | Primavalue Trading | |
| N410M* | Gulfstream G-V | Ripplewood Aviation LLC | |
| P4-JET* | Dassault Falcon 50EX | Global Jet Luxembourg | |
| VP-BJT* | Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 300 | Corporate | |
| VP-CIF* | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 605 | TAG Aviation |
Harrods Ramp (old) / Cargo
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| CS-DFV* | Cessna 560XL Citation XLS | NetJets Europe | |
| CS-DUC* | Hawker Beechcraft 750 | NetJets Europe | |
| G-DAGS | Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2+ | Air Charter Scotland | |
| G-KALS | Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 300 | Air Charter Scotland | |
| G-OWAY# | Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 601-3A | Air Charter Scotland | |
| N30GD# | Gulfstream G-IV | Advanced Air Management Inc | |
| N450JE | Gulfstream G-IV | N450JE LLC | |
| N895CL* | Bombardier CL-600-2B19 Challenger 850 | Averitt Air Inc | |
| OE-ILI* | Bombardier CL-600-2B19 Challenger 850 | VistaJet | |
| OE-INC | Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 | Global Jet Austria | |
| S5-GMG* | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express | Corporate | |
| VP-BHR | Gulfstream G-1159A (Gulfstream III) | Saudo Oger Ltd | Stored |
| VP-CFA* | Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 650 | Samco Aviation | |
| VT-HMA* | Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express | Reliance Commercial Dealers Ltd |
RSS Jet Centre
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| HB-JGR* | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 | Nomad Aviation | |
Click here for Luton photos.
East Midlands was about the same as always, limited GA and a handful of cargo aircraft and airliners, again I just logged what was on the ground before making my way home.
East Midlands Airport ~ EMA / EGNX
1410 - 1505
| REG | A/C TYPE | OPERATOR | NOTES |
| EI-ENV* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-EVP* | Boeing 737-8AS/W | Ryanair | |
| EI-JIV | Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules | Air Contractors | |
| G-BGGP* | Reims Cessna F152 | East Midlands Flying School | |
| G-BMRE | Boeing 757-236/SF | DHL Air | |
| G-BUUP | British Aerospace ATP/F | Atlantic Airlines | |
| G-BWDB | ATR 72-202 | Aurigny Air Services | |
| G-BWSG | BAC P84 Jet Provost T5 | Private | Marked XW324/U |
| G-CLOW* | Beech B200 Super King Air | Clowes Estates Ltd | |
| G-EGLT | Cessna 310R | RVL Aviation | |
| G-GDFF | Boeing 737-85P | Jet2 Holidays | |
| G-JECG | Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) | Flybe | |
| G-LEAF | Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II | RVL Group | |
| G-TAAS* | AgustaWestland AW109SP Grand New | Sloane Helicopters | Air Ambulance |
| G-TAWJ | Boeing 737-8K5/W | Thomson Airways | |
| G-VKGO | Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 | M-KICK Ltd | |
| G-WCCP* | Beech B200 Super King Air | William Cook Aviation | |
| G-XBLU* | Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign | Datel Holdings Ltd | |
| G-ZBAH* | Airbus A320-214 | Monarch Airlines | |
| LY-ETM* | ATR 42-300/F | Aviavilsa | |
| M-GDRS* | Raytheon 390 Premier I | Surf-Air | |
| M-TOMS* | Pilatus PC12/47E | CJ Airways | |
| N497XP | Raytheon Hawker 400XP | Corporate | |
| OE-INY* | Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 | VistaJet |
Click here for East Midlands photos.
* = required / # = scrape
That's it! As usual thanks for reading if you got this far and even more photos from this trip and others can be found at the link below.