Caen and Jersey

Following the success of Leylstad and Amsterdam last year and Diest, Lille and Popham the year before, Colin, Dave A and David Breden (of G-STEA fame) along with Khalid Khan (another G-BRDO pilot and IAS Medical King Air medical crew) started mulling over this years trip. Along for the ride was Chris Smith, David Breden Sr and Jack Hornby (also from IAS Medical).

We met at Hangar 3 at 0715, where David B was already well underway prepping G-STEA. Colin and Khalid took Chris and Jack, with Dave taking Dave and Dave!!

G-BRDO was first ready for departure, taking off at 0821 and G-STEA following at 0832, though G-STEA arrived 20 minutes ahead of G-BRDO having overtaken whilst passing abeam RAF Benson, thanks to the extra speed gained from being able to raise the undercarriage.

Friday 5th June

Whilst passing east abeam East Midlands, a couple of unusable photos revealed only a DHL 757, two Ryanair 738s and a Flybe Dash 8 that we don't intend to trace, however a Gulfstream G650 parked outside the JCB hangar that we had just heard on the radio using it's fixed call sign "Jayseebee 1" can be assumed to be M-JCBB.

East Midlands Airport
EMA / EGNX

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
M-JCBB Gulfstream G-VI (G650) J.C. Bamford Excavators  
       

A real treat came when we flew over Bruntingthorpe to find GJD Services have barely touched any of the aircraft they've received in the last few years! We haven't listed the outdoor museum exhibits here.

Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
B-HKV Boeing 747-412 Cathay Pacific Airways  
B-HOP Boeing 747-467 Cathay Pacific Airways  
B-HUE Boeing 747-467 Cathay Pacific Airways  
B-HUF Boeing 747-467 Cathay Pacific Airways  
N304CS Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar KC1 Royal Air Force ZD948
N309CS Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar K1 Royal Air Force ZD951
N405CS Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar KC1 Royal Air Force ZD950
N507CS Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar C2 Royal Air Force ZE704
N703CS Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar C2 Royal Air Force ZE705
N705CS Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar KC1 Royal Air Force ZD953
XR808 Vickers VC10 C1K Royal Air Force  
XV104 Vickers VC10 C1K Royal Air Force Cockpit only
XV109 Vickers VC10 C1K Royal Air Force Cockpit only
ZA147/F Vickers VC10 K3 Royal Air Force  
ZD241 Vickers VC10 K4 Royal Air Force Forward fuselage only
SX-OAD Boeing 747-212B Olympic Airways  
VP-BGX Boeing 747-346 Transaero Airlines  
VP-BGY Boeing 747-346 Transaero Airlines  

Aside from David Breden overtaking us whilst pursuing the sound barrier, only two aircraft were noted flying on our way down, the Herc was para-dropping over Weston-on-the-Green and the BA had just departed Heathrow bound for Los Angeles. Heard but not seen whilst coasting out east of Portsmouth was fellow DTVA resident G-GOBD on his way to Brittany, that thing must shift as it was all locked up with no sign of life when we left!!

Miscellaneous / Other

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
G-XLED Airbus A380-841 British Airways London Heathrow - Los Angeles
  Lockheed C-130J Hercules Royal Air Force Para-dropping Weston-on-the-Green

Next we passed over RAF Benson, with three Pumas on the ramp, one of which started up, two Tutors, a light aircraft and the based Air Ambulance which is the only aircraft we can ID with absolute certainty.

RAF Benson
(BEX / EGUB)

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
G-HBOB Eurocopter EC135 T2+ Bond Air Services Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance
       

We arrived in Caen just in time for lunch, where we were met by our tour guide for the day, Fillippe. Before setting off we enjoyed Beer and Baguettes in the airport bar / café which is always busy as it seemed to double up as the 'local' for the nearby community. Caen is the perfect regional airport, with only a couple of HOP! flights per day, a Stobart Air service to Southend, and the odd seasonal charter, it is not much busier than we are. Vibrant with GA, you can walk freely across the main apron with no hi-viz, and they weren't bothered about seeing our passports on arrival. Frankly, it puts the UK to shame.

We went from the airport to the stunning American Cemetary, with 9,000 emaculate, perfectly kept graves, with the soldiers names and date of death on the front, and dog tag numbers on the back. Next we took a look at the beaches, where we were surprised at just how steep the cliffs are that they had to climb. We then drove to the scene of the British landings, where the single most impressive and overlooked feat of the whole operation can be found - a man-made port consisting of a number of concrete blocks that was built somewhere in north-east England and transported to Normandy just after the landings and setup (the Germans destroyed the existing ports). A massive pipeline from the UK was then installed to provide fuel!

Next stop was some German batteries, one of which was destroyed, with a further two intact. They were not fully operational at the time of the landings, and had little-to-no accuracy, serving only to strike fear into the forces storming the beaches. We then went a bit further along the coast, to the site of the Canadian landings, where the first building to be liberated - a Café, still stands.

The next day was the 71st anniversary of the D-Day landings, so the town was rammed full of veterans and tourists, though Fillippe said this was very quiet compared to previous years. We stumbled across a group of Americans who had setup a 1940s American camp on a grass area including vintage vehicles and music etc, Dave A said to Chris "some people have strange hobbies", we then both laughed given the irony of the comment!

The final stop of the tour was the famous Pegasus Bridge, where the many Airspeed Horsa gliders landed, we crossed the bridge in it's current form, but this is a replica so we went to see what remains of the actual bridge, which is now a museum piece, along with a replica Horsa glider.

We then went to our digs for the night, an ibis-style hotel, where we quickly got changed ready to go out for steak and a few drinks, though everyone thought Chris was off to a nightclub with his bright orange shirt!

Caen - Carpiquet Airport
(CFR / LFRK)

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
F-BXPY Beech C90 King Air Seine Aviation c/o Chalair Aviation
F-GEXV Beech A100 King Air Phenix Aviation  
F-GRID Cirrus SR20 G1 Private  
F-GRZL Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-702 HOP!  
F-HBCE Raytheon 1900D Airliner Seine Aviation c/o Chalair Aviation
HR-AXH ATR-42-310 Isleña Airlines (TACA Regional) Stored?
N1SN Gulfstream G-IV Sky Night LLC  
N120MX Cirrus SR20 G3 Private  
N854BC Cirrus SR22 G3 Turbo GTS Private  
OO-HBY Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP Belgian Defence Aeroclub  

Saturday 6th June

With a few of us feeling a little rough (I won't specifically mention Dave B), we got up, had breakfast (or at least most of us did - Chris slept in having set his alarm on British time!) and went straight to the airport. Not a lot had changed, mainly more residents being brought out of the hangars. We went through the terminal like normal passengers (the only priviledge we got is we were able to jump the queue), before paying our landing / parking fees all of £7!!! and heading off. G-BRDO did a 'bombing run' down the beaches, where a parade was taking place and a US Army Piper Cub passed us in the opposite direction. Frustratingly, HOP! sent the same CRJ as the prior day despite having another 13 to choose from!

Caen - Carpiquet Airport

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
F-GUXA Robin DR400/120 Petit Prince Aéroclub Régional de Caen  
F-GVLD Socata TB20 Trinidad Private  
F-GYVC Robin DR400/120 Petit Prince Aéroclub Régional de Caen  
F-JVRM/14-NI Aero Services Guépard 912 Private  
F-WFYH Nord 2501F-3 Noratlas Unknown Stored, PWFU
G-BAJA Reims Cessna F177RG Cardinal Private  
N18MV Dassault Falcon 2000 Short Hills Aviators LLC  
N121MC Stinson L-5 Sentinel Private Marked 299186 US Army
N148CD Cirrus SR20 G1 Private  
N870CM Gulfstream G-V-SP (G550) Caremark Aviation LLC  
N918SF Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu Meridian Private  
PF800 Airspeed AS.51 Horsa Pegasus Bridge Memorial Replica, located off airport

Jersey is a superb airport for spotting, we landed almost an hour ahead of G-STEA who had to wait for fuel back in Caen, this gave Chris ample time to walk up and down the approximately five rows of five aircraft, before settling in the superb Aero Club with a viewing terrace overlooking the GA grass parking area and the taxiway that each and every movement uses - meaning the only thing you miss is anything parked at the terminal or bizjets at the Aviation Beauport facility, as both are out of view.

Once G-STEA arrived and Dave A had given me the V sign for tapping at my watch we attended the Jersey International Motor Festival, which included a variety of classic and modern cars, motorbikes, time trials and trade stalls from many, mostly high end, car manufacturers. There was also some beach racing with everything from dune buggies and go-karts through to motorbikes and rally cars, it was during this that we picked off a few OTTs.

We then went back to the Hotel de France for some drinks, before getting ready to go out to a top class Fish restaurant, where most enjoyed Lobster. The restaurant in question was the "Roseville Bistro" and we can very highly recommend it!

Chris and Colin went to a nightclub (knew I should have saved that shirt!) whilst the others got a taxi back, but despite the brain wanting to party the night away, the body wasn't as willing and after a couple of Vodka's we were just too tired to get into it! Well, for Col it was probably more of an age thing ;-)

Jersey Airport
(JER / EGJJ)

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
2-BEST Commander 114B Private  
2-GSYJ Diamond DA42 Twin Star Corporate  
D-ABQK Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) Air Berlin  
D-EAGS Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II Private  
D-EFLE Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Archer Private  
D-EMLL Mooney M20K 231 Private  
D-EQAS Beech V35 Bonanza Private  
D-ESHK Robin R3000/160 Private  
D-ETBX Reims Cessna F150L Private  
F-GGTL Piper PA-46-310P Malibu Private  
F-GMRE Reims Cessna FR182 Skylane RG Private  
F-GXGI Robin DR400/180 Regent Private  
G-ASYJ Beech D95A Travelair Crosby Aviation (Jersey) Ltd  
G-ATLT Cessna U206A Super Skywagon Skydive Jersey  
G-ATOT Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Sirius Aviation Ltd  
G-AVLJ Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cherokee Aviation Holdings (Jersey) Ltd  
G-AXZD Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Sirius Aviation Ltd  
G-BAHJ Piper PA-24-250 Comanche Private  
G-BFDO Piper PA-28R-201T Turbo Cherokee Arrow III Private  
G-BGSW Beech F33 Bonanza Private  
G-BHUJ Cessna 172N Skyhawk Uniform Juliet Group  
G-BOET Piper PA-28RT-201 Cherokee Arrow IV Private  
G-BOXA Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II The Channel Islands Aero Club (Jersey) Ltd  
G-BPDT Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II The Channel Islands Aero Club (Jersey) Ltd  
G-BSCS Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II Private  
G-BTYC Cessna 150L Polestar Aviation Ltd  
G-BYTB Socata TB20 Trinidad GT Watchman Aircraft Ltd  
G-ECOT Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) Flybe  
G-EOLD Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II Fly Welle Ltd  
G-EZPG Airbus A319-131 easyJet  
G-FBJI Embraer ERJ-175-200STD Flybe  
G-GFTA Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III One Zero One Three Ltd  
G-ISLG ATR-42-320 Blue Islands  
G-JACB Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer III Private  
G-JECP Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) Flybe  
G-KEEF Commander 114B Private  
G-LGNS Saab 2000 Flybe (Loganair)  
G-OJER Cessna 560XL Citation XLS+ Aviation Beauport  
G-RINZ Vans RV-7 Private  
G-RODD Cessna 310R RJ Herbert Engineering Ltd  
G-SALA Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six Private  
G-VIPX Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain Capital Air Charter  
G-VOUS Cessna 172S Skyhawk FlyGlass Ltd  
G-WARR Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II Private  
G-WINS Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six Cheyenne Ltd  
G-ZIPA Rockwell Commander 114A Private  
M-BISA Pilatus PC12/47E Pilatus PC12 Centre  
N25PR Piper PA-30-160 Twin Comanche C/R Private  
N37US Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II Private  
N145PC Reims FR172J Rocket Private  
N302MC Cessna T310Q Private  
N9680Q Cessna 172M Skyhawk Private  
OE-LDC Airbus A319-112 Austrian Airlines  
OK-LAZ Let L-410UVP-E Turbolet Citywing (Aeroservis)  
OY-KBO Airbus A319-131 SAS Scandinavian Airlines Retro c/s

Sunday 7th June

For the final day, we visited the La Mare Wine Estate, having sampled some of their produce the previous night, and bought a few things from their shop. Next we travelled along the coast on some awful narrow roads, stopping at another German battery and searching (unsuccessfully) for an ice cream parlour. Once at the airport, G-STEA more or less got straight off, whilst G-BRDO waited for fuel. The flight back was bumpy as hell, and when we weren't being thrown about by the thermals, we were throwing ourselves about to avoid nuisance paraglider kites and gliders!

Jersey Airport

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
G-AVGE Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Spirit of Flight Ltd  
G-BRKH Piper PA-28-236 Dakota Private  
G-CJDB Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 Breed Aircraft Ltd  
G-EUOE Airbus A319-131 British Airways  
G-GBSL Beech 76 Duchess Private  
G-IJAG Cessna 182T Skylane AG Group  
G-JEDM Bombardier DHC-8-402Q (Dash 8-Q400) Flybe  
G-NIND Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Aquarelle Investments Ltd  
G-OFCM Reims Cessna F172L Skyhawk Sirius Aviation Ltd  
G-SIGN Piper PA-39 Twin Comanche C/R Private  
G-XAVB Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Aviation Beauport  
G-ZEBS ATR-42-320 Blue Islands  
M-PREI Raytheon 390 Premier I Craft Air  
N225RB Cirrus SR22T G3 Private  
N414FZ Cessna 414 Lizard Aviation Inc  
N542AP Dassault Falcon 2000EX Corporate  
PH-VSX Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II Private  
XP573 Hunting Percival P.84 Jet Provost T4 Royal Air Force Instructional airframe

Noted OTT over the Saturday and Sunday

OTT

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
CS-TKK Airbus A320-214 SATA International  
CS-TTD Airbus A319-111 TAP Portugal  
CS-TTH Airbus A319-111 TAP Portugal  
CS-TQZ Airbus A340-313X Hi Fly  
D-AEBA Embraer ERJ-195-200LR Lufthansa Regional (Lufthansa Cityline)  
D-ASTX Airbus A319-112 Air Berlin  
EC-HQL Airbus A320-214 Vueling Airlines  
EC-KOY Airbus A319-111 Iberia  
EI-FEF Boeing 737-8AS/W Ryanair  
EI-FHA Boeing 737-8JP/W Norwegian Air Shuttle  
EI-FHB Boeing 737-8Q8/W Norwegian Air Shuttle  
F-GKXL Airbus A320-214 Air France  
F-GLZK Airbus A340-313X Air France  
F-GSEU Airbus A330-243 XL Airways France  
F-GSQO Boeing 777-328ER Air France  
F-GZCD Airbus A330-203 Air France  
F-HCAT Airbus A330-243 Corsair  
F-HXLF Airbus A330-303 XL Airways France  
G-VBUG Airbus A340-642 Virgin Atlantic Airways  
G-ZBAL Airbus A321-231 Monarch Airlines  
G-ZBAS Airbus A320-214/S Monarch Airlines  
HB-JHE Airbus A330-343E Swiss International Airlines  
N291AY Airbus A330-243 American Airlines  
N415MC Boeing 747-47U/F Atlas Air  
N919SB Gulfstream G-VI (G650) Corporate  
N66056 Boeing 767-424ER United Airlines  
OE-LIB ATR-72-600 InterSky  
PZ-TCP Airbus A340-311 Surinam Airways  

After hearing about B2s and B52s at Fairford, Colin very kindly adjusted our route home so we could go and take a look, and a couple of my aerial shots of them almost went viral on social media. At the same time on the right hand side of the aircraft was Brize Norton, where an Indian Air Force C-17 put the cherry on the cake.

RAF Fairford
FFD / EGVA

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
60-0018/MT Boeing B-52H Stratofortress US Air Force - (69th BS / 5th BW)  
60-0047/MT Boeing B-52H Stratofortress US Air Force  
61-0040/MT Boeing B-52H Stratofortress US Air Force - (23rd BS / 5th BW)  
82-1068/WM Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit US Air Force (13th BS / 509th BW) "Spirit of New York"

RAF Brize Norton
BZZ / EGVN

REG A/C TYPE OPERATOR NOTES
CB-8003 Boeing C-17A Globemaster III Indian Air Force (81 Squadron)  
G-VYG? Airbus Voyager KC? Royal Air Force (10/101 Squadrons) / AirTanker Services  
ZM402 Airbus A400M Atlas C1 Royal Air Force (24 Squadron)  

All in all a fantastic long weekend, I don't think it could have been much better. Thanks must go out to our guide in France Fillippe, to Colin, Khalid and Dave B for 'driving', and from me (Chris) to the rest of the group for the invite!!

Caen Airport photos | Caen non-aviation photos | Jersey Airport photos


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