After promising more regular posting the last time I posted, I log on to find it's been a over year since I posted images on here
Time really does fly when you're having fun. It hasn't even been that busy at the locals, hence I can do a summary of the year gone in one post for both!
So here it goes, a series of shots from a struggling Cardiff and a recently reinvigorated St Athan (we could do without the Ryanair maintenance contract imo but I suppose it brings the business in)
Sports charters remain the most interesting source of movements at Cardiff;
G-LGNH by Dan W, on Flickr
YL-CSL by Dan W, on Flickr
F-HLUV by Dan W, on FlickrSome have been using the airport for temporary parking;
Air X Charter Airbus A340-312 sn 374 9H-BIG by Dan W, on Flickr
Air X Charter Airbus A340-312 sn 374 9H-BIG by Dan W, on Flickr
G-UNET by Dan W, on FlickrAnd the Oil Spill 727s are semi-frequent visitors for training, given the relatively quite airspace over the Bristol Channel
G-OSRB by Dan W, on FlickrA random freight flight, but what a joy to listen to those engines spooling up. Comfortably beating it on the taxi to the end of the runway was amusing.
Cavok Antonov-12 UR-CKM by Dan W, on Flickr
Cavok Antonov-12 UR-CKM by Dan W, on FlickrThe FBOs continue to pull in transient visitors.
You'll forgive the inclusion of this military frame given many of you will have it in its Kuwait Airways guise.
Canada Air Force Airbus CC-330 Husky 330002 msn 1653 by Dan W, on Flickr
F-HFTV by Dan W, on Flickr
DSC_0034-2 by Dan W, on Flickr
Gulfstream G650ER D-ADLI msn 6528 by Dan W, on Flickr
Redstar Aviation Learjet 45 TC-RSE by Dan W, on Flickr
Draken Aviation Britten-Norman B-2T Islander AL.1 c/n 2194 G-BLNT by Dan W, on Flickr
Xpedition Air Quest Kodiak 100 N133KQ by Dan W, on FlickrWe had a very interesting refuel/night stop visit from a group of chinooks in relation to the POTUS visit to Ireland, which turned into a longer stay than they might have expected given one went tech, ditched in a field two miles from my house, and then limped to the tiny air strip at Old Park Farm across the road from Margam Park. The crew were good as gold and were very happy to take the time to talk about the aircraft and their roles.
Golf line-up shot by Dan W, on FlickrOff airport, Princess Anne visited a local charity and the police were very amenable to me taking some close up shots of this in some excellent light.
Sikorsky S76C G-XXED by Dan W, on Flickr
Sikorsky S76C G-XXED by Dan W, on FlickrAs for St Athan, quite a few interesting bits and bobs, most in for scrapping but a small handful make it back out again. One of the FlyEgypt 738s, for example, went off to Lithuania and has been stored there ever since.
VP-CGS by Dan W, on Flickr
DAN_3893 by Dan W, on Flickr
EI-DIP by Dan W, on Flickr
EI-DIP by Dan W, on Flickr
Brussels Airlines Airbus A320-214 msn 1838 OO-SND by Dan W, on Flickr
Brussels Airlines Airbus A320-214 msn 1838 OO-SND by Dan W, on FlickrAnd that's about it. A few more at Saints include a handful of Ethiopian 737s. One arrived in full ASky scheme, but is now parked behind the new hangar and not photographable as yet. Another was showing as full Malawian scheme on flightradar, but on touchdown proved to be a polar bear. You can imagine my disappointment. I never understand why they feel the need to strip a scheme if they're scrapping it anyway, but there we go.
As always, appreciate the views, and any and all comments are welcomed. Happy new year, and may the sun shine on you all (from behind of course)
