"The Algarve" 05/09 - 11/09 Dave Rose
After a few aborted Covid related attemps to get away this year, I finally managed a break in the Algarve. Flying with Ryanair from Manchester, a really old EI-DYO was the chariot southbound, being a based Faro frame, all crew other than flight deck were Portugese. A very smooth 2 hours and 33 minutes later and,sunshine.
Manchester was quiet, with Iran Air A332 EP-IJA and Hi-Fly A333 9H-TAJ of note.
Departure from 23L meant a close taxi past the TUI B738MAX that have been stored here for ages, meaning airliners cant use the full runway length as they are blocking the taxiway.
The routing south afforded some views of airfields in Portugal, firstly Castelo Branco, with 2 water bombers on the apron.
Then came Evora, which has long term resident Convair 440 3C-JJO stored on the right side of the apron.
Finally, Beja which is the home of Hi-Fly. The A380 9H-MIP can be seen along with an A319 and 2 A340's. The military apron is on the left, where 5 Portugese AF Orions are based, and adjacent to them is the stored ex SATA A310 CS-TGU. EMB190 P4-KCJ is also here somewhere after its close call a few years ago, where cables were attached the wrong way round after overhaul!!.
Faro airport was very quiet, although Biz was busy, with B744 A6-HRM, B738 A6-FZZ, A319CJ T7-ACJ, PC12 RA-07870, Citation 2-WOOD, Legacy D-AVIB and AN26 UR-CQE. Stored here are EuroAtlantic B772 CS-TFM and B763 CS-TST. On departure, of note were Glex's N148QS, N944MM, M-CVGL and PH-BEJ and 125 G-RCFC.
Shots are difficult inside the terminal, there are places around the perimeter that are suitable.
We were staying in Lagos, about an hour along the coast, and decided to visit the local field. It was closed up but I could see about 15 light aircraft in the hangars and the following parked outside.
I also visited the busy Portimao airfield, about 8 miles away. This has 2 skydiving schools, and scheduled services to Cascais in Lisbon by SevenAir Do228 twice daily. Two droppers are based here, Grand Caravan G-CKSE and Pilatus PC6 D-FOGO.
On arrival back at Manchester, newly delivered A350-1000 G-VDOT is stored along with 3 A332's on the apron.
