LTN Treat & STN MD-11 Fest

[TheaLove]

Hi Folks

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I haven't been doing much on the photographic front recently. However, a good and kind friend arranged a day out at a couple of new venues for me recently - LTN & STN. Never been to either before so was excited to see what I could see. A couple of really good spots - makes a refreshing change from LHR for me . Here's a few of the images from the day (only one image from LTN though ), hope you enjoy them:

First stop LTN to catch this gorgeous bird - LaCompagnie 757 F-HCIE
LaCompagnie Boeing 757 F-HCIE by Thea Love, on Flickr

Then off to STN to try and catch the Martinair Cargo MD-11 before they are all taken out of service - it was at STN that the light wasn't really playing ball, and the wind refused to change direction so that we could get some decent landing shots!:

Martinair Cargo MD-11 PH-MCP
Martinair Cargo McDonnell Douglas MD-11 PH-MCP by Thea Love, on Flickr

I thought my day was complete, seeing my first ever MD-11 close up - but then during the afternoon....

Western Global MD-11 N542KD:
Western Global Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-11 N542KD by Thea Love, on Flickr

FedEx MD-11 N528FE
FedEx McDonnell Douglas MD-11 N528FE by Thea Love, on Flickr

FedEx MD-11 N522FE
FedEx McDonnell Douglas MD-11 N522FE by Thea Love, on Flickr

There were of course other aircraft there, including Ryanair 737 EI-EMK (National Express Livery):
Ryanair Boeing 737 EI-EMK by Thea Love, on Flickr

And finally, one Ryanair 737 that didn't get airborne. It had some sort of issue and had to return to the gate - allowing me a close up:
Ryanair Boeing 737 EI-DPJ by Thea Love, on Flickr

An exhausting day, but a good one . Thanks for looking

Thea

[talldan76]

Great set Thea...

Thanks for sharing them!

Dan

[mach one]

very nice shots I like the 757 and I love the three holers

[Bob UK]

Nice set, Martinair MD for me.............

[chrisov4]

Thanks for sharing Thea. Was that really 4 MD-11's in one day and is that normal if so what day please?
I hope to get down from sunny Scotland to see some MD-11 action later in June.
Thanks
Cheers
Chris

[andygolfer]

Thanks for sharing Thea. Was that really 4 MD-11's in one day and is that normal if so what day please?
I hope to get down from sunny Scotland to see some MD-11 action later in June.
Thanks
Cheers
Chris

you will often catch 3 on a weekday, Martinair, Western Global and Fed Ex from memory Mondays and Thursdays and sometimes a second FEd EX but sometimes it's a 777. You will have to be quick for the Martinair ones as they are finishing around end of June though. In April and May if Fed Ex put in 2 you could have seen 5 in a day with the Lufthansa one that operated for 6 weeks on Thursdays!

be aware that the Martinair ones usually arrive mid / late morning and the Fed Ex early evening so it could be a long day. Plenty of Ryanair 737s to keep you interested in between though!
Andy

[chrisov4]

Many thanks Andy
Looks like a Thursday then.
Anything else i should be aware off for photography
From what i have read the mound Belmar road is the place.
Cheers
Chris

[TheaLove]

Thanks all for the kind comments, much appreciated. Just to throw a huge spanner in the works Andy, these were all taken on Friday 06 May (sorry). We went to LTN to catch the 757, then a cross-country drive to STN to catch the Martinair MD-11. The Western Global, and not 1 but 2 FedEx MD-11s were a real bonus - we just got very lucky that day.

Yes, Belmer Road was where we parked, then walked down the fence line until we came to 'THE' mound. And yes, if you like Ryanair 737s you'll be very happy indeed

Thanks

Thea

[andygolfer]

Ooops, where's that red face emoticon?...

There is sometimes a Friday flight but it doesnt seem to be every week, it might be a re-schedule of the Thursday or Saturday flight but I'm not certain

Chrisov4 - have a look at my Stansted guide in the stansted section of the airfields forum, that might help you a bit more. here'a a link: http://www.civilianaviation.co.uk/forum ... m.php?f=37

Andy

(and I must get one really good pic of a Martinair MD.11 touchdown sometime in June )

[TheaLove]

Ooops, where's that red face emoticon?...

No worries, Andy - that's normally my trick

Have to say that we spent the entire afternoon there - the Martinair MD-11 came in around lunch time (from Bogota I think, but don't quote me!) and left after an hour. The Western Global MD-11 came in about 1/2 hour after Martinair and departed after 2 hours. The two FedEx MD-11s came in late afternoon and were still on the ground after we left around 6.30.

Apart from Ryanair, we did see plenty of other 'stuff' - including biz jets, half the Titan fleet and this Saudia 777 on a charter:
Saudia Boeing 777-200 HZ-AKF by Thea Love, on Flickr

Finally, I couldn't resist posting one last cheeky one of the Martinair MD-11 departing:
Martinair Cargo McDonnell Douglas MD-11 PH-MCP by Thea Love, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Thea

[chrisov4]

Thanks again.
Chris

[andygolfer]

okay, I was totally wrong, Martinair seem to have changed days round again (I saw one on a Thursday a few weeks ago), the current scheduled STA & STD from FR24 records are:
Monday MPH6172 arr.13.50 dep.15.20 (times local)
Wednesday MPH6122 arr,09.35 dep.11.05
Friday MPH6742 arr.17.00 dep.18.30

NOW - AND YES I'M E-SHOUTING THIS SO YOU DON'T MISS IT!!!.......
a post on the Stansted Yahoo group says this coming week will be the last operations of the Martinair MD.11 into Stansted so if you want to be sure of seeing one of the remaining 2 (and it's usually PH-MCP now) then plan for the above times but check R24 to make sure it's on time, cargo flights have a habit of changing their plans for no apparent reason (might be why I saw one on a Thursday!).

hope that helps

Andy (and apologies for previous incorrect info).

[TheaLove]

Could be a bit busy up on that mound this week then

Thanks for the info Andy

Thea