Civilian Aviation

Hi all
After seeing Clydefyers report from earlier this year it got me thinking about a return to Corfu which is an island I fell in love with many years ago.
No sooner than I was thinking about it I ended up booking a cheap way there with the wife(very understanding may I add).
So on Tuesday 19th September we flew Dublin to Gatwick on FR114(EI-EVL)
EI-EVL by Niall Moran, on Flickr
From Gatwick we flew Easyjet U28757(G-EZUS)to Corfu and I managed to get a few shots on taxi out
EC-LYR by Niall Moran, on Flickr
G-EZUW by Niall Moran, on Flickr
G-DBCK by Niall Moran, on Flickr
G-EZUS by Niall Moran, on Flickr

On arrival at Corfu we got a taxi to the hotel specifically chosen for the trip.
Hotel Pontikonissi is right under the flight path for runway 35 and was great value if anyone is interested.
It has its own cafe/Bar/Restaurant looking straight out on the approach with great food .
The Hotel has free Wifi throughout and the rooms all have a sea view with free aircon ,fridge,hair dryer and mosquito plug in thingy.
In the morning your shooting into the sun but from 12 onwards its on your side
Parama by Niall Moran, on Flickr
The hotel can be seen here in the bottom left hand corner


Early rising the next day I got a few shoots before moving on
Corfu Sunrise by Niall Moran, on Flickr
LY-SPC by Niall Moran, on Flickr
VQ-BIZ by Niall Moran, on Flickr

From my room (510) this was the view I had of everything coming into land & the infamous walkway below the approach
G-EZTZ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
VP-BYL by Niall Moran, on Flickr
OO-JAL by Niall Moran, on Flickr

After these shots I moved to the Royal Cafe overlooking the threshold of 35.
On the way I stopped and got a few on the walkway
HB-IJJ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
SP-ENN by Niall Moran, on Flickr
4122 by Niall Moran, on Flickr

At the Royal Cafe which is part of the Royal Hotel which I also considered the views were quite nice
Mouse Island by Niall Moran, on Flickr

It has a great vantage point over the runway
D-ABKN by Niall Moran, on Flickr
PZL M18B'S by Niall Moran, on Flickr
OO-KIN by Niall Moran, on Flickr
LY-CGC by Niall Moran, on Flickr
Mouse Island by Niall Moran, on Flickr

The cafe is a great spot and serves snacks and drinks.Staff are friendly and they dont mind you staying there once you buy the odd beverage.
I returned to my hotel later when the sun turned
SX-EMI by Niall Moran, on Flickr
746 by Niall Moran, on Flickr
YL-BBQ by Niall Moran, on Flickr

Later that night after a few "light" refreshments I decided i would give some night photography a go from the balcony of the room
Mouse Island At Night by Niall Moran, on Flickr
Vlahairena At Night by Niall Moran, on Flickr

Early start the next morning
OO-JAY by Niall Moran, on Flickr
SX-ROD by Niall Moran, on Flickr
678 by Niall Moran, on Flickr
G-BYAW by Niall Moran, on Flickr
SX-DGZ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
SX-DGZ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
YL-LCQ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
G-OBYG by Niall Moran, on Flickr
PH-HGT by Niall Moran, on Flickr
YU-ANJ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
G-FDZG by Niall Moran, on Flickr
OH-JTZ by Niall Moran, on Flickr

NAM_4880 by Niall Moran, on Flickr
T7-SCR by Niall Moran, on Flickr
SX-HOT by Niall Moran, on Flickr

And a few later that night
G-FDZE by Niall Moran, on Flickr
SE-RFX by Niall Moran, on Flickr

And another early start
OK-TVH by Niall Moran, on Flickr
D-AIAA by Niall Moran, on Flickr
D-ATUM by Niall Moran, on Flickr
OO-TCX by Niall Moran, on Flickr
OO-TCW by Niall Moran, on Flickr
D-AICA by Niall Moran, on Flickr
D-ABKJ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
D-ABNT by Niall Moran, on Flickr
G-EZOJ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
HB-JOX by Niall Moran, on Flickr
OM-GEX by Niall Moran, on Flickr
YU-PZM by Niall Moran, on Flickr
SP-HAX by Niall Moran, on Flickr

A few from the Hotel Bar
NAM_5101 by Niall Moran, on Flickr
LX-JFZ by Niall Moran, on Flickr
D-CJPG by Niall Moran, on Flickr
SP-HAW by Niall Moran, on Flickr
VQ-BRF by Niall Moran, on Flickr
NAM_5146 by Niall Moran, on Flickr
4X-CHL by Niall Moran, on Flickr
LX-LBA by Niall Moran, on Flickr

Onwards then to Gatwick on Eazyjet (G-EZPD)
This was the hardest part of the journey as we had to wait in LGW for 5 hours at night for our return Ryanair flight to Dublin.
This however was passed by getting locked in the airbridge for 45 min as security closed the firedoors from the plane to the terminal.
We boarded EI-DAL(FR121) to Dublin

I managed a few on the plane home including catching my first A350
B-LRF by Niall Moran, on Flickr

A very nice Saab
HB-IZJ by Niall Moran, on Flickr

And a very sad and forgotten Herald - Will it be saved ????
G-CEXP by Niall Moran, on Flickr

The Gatwicks Mad Dog as we took off
NAM_5182 by Niall Moran, on Flickr

Corfu as you can see is full of the A320 family & 737's with the odd 757 & 767 thrown in.
Ive tried to show in the pics the variety of carriers and schemes that you will see from the various vantage points.
Its great for fleet bashing the holiday carriers of Europe while enjoying the sun.
Also you get the odd Military visitor and plenty of Biz.
Its easy enough to walk around from my Hotel to the cafe is about a 15 min walk across the walkway but includes steps up to the cafe itself.
The weather was mixed as can be seen in the photos but generally it was good for this time of year.
Food as always is fantastic although we did have one bad experience but this happens.
Meal for 2 people with wine is aprx 30 Euro and large beer is 4.80 Euro
Taxi from the airport to the Hotel was 25 Euro
From the Hotel to Corfu town a taxi is 20 euro or 2.50 each on the crowded buses.

Its a beautiful place to visit which I would highly recommend for anyone looking to relax for a few days.
Its not a wild party place anymore although Ive heard Kavos down south still is.
Im already looking into a trip again in May next year.
It will give the wife time to buy some new books

I hope the information is useful to people

Thank for taking the time to look at it

Comments are welcome - I need the tips

Fantastic report Niall and some brilliant images. Good to see the view from a couple of different vantage points too. The easyJet Airbus over the causeway with the mountains in the background is quite dramatic. Looks like you had a better variety of planes visiting compared to when I was there in early June but you can`t go wrong - a great place all round. Like yourself, I hope to return sometime next year. All the best.

Looks good

Fantastic set of shots, plenty of variety also, never been somewhere i had even thought of, that will now change. Too many crackers to choose a favourite.