"Ed Force One" TF-AAK at Cardiff - added departure shots

[welshdan1927]

Evening all, late one tonight, Air Atlanta Icelandic B747-4 popped into the local. Went to catch it.

Bit special.

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr


Thanks for looking. Was VERY busy down there (amazingly), and very muddy, so my tripod was mildly inneffectual. That's just me making terrible excuses for not taking the time and care that's required for night photography mind. And for a first real attempt at photographing aircraft in the dark I'm quite happy with them!

[mach one]

I would say they are very special, it was well worth the trip to see and you caught it well shots are very good

ed force one has grown from a 757 into a 747 is bruce still flying it ?

not sure i like the tail art on this one think i prefered the old tail art

[andygolfer]

superb scheme and captured by superb photos - thanks for making the effort through the mud so that you could share them with us.

I hope I get to see it somewhere but somehow I doubt I will as all the tours venues seem to be foreign apart from Donington (I suppose I could try to make that but I expect the surrounding area will be quite busy.

thanks again
Andy

[Lowfly11]

Cracking and excellent set of shots .Regards Tim

[welshdan1927]

Cheers guys... feeling it now ahead of an 8 hour shift (in bloody half term!)

Andy, it may casually rock up at Stansted at some point. Set to do so. Keep an eye out!

Wherever she goes it'll be busy, I couldn't believe the amount of people there last night, the end of 30 was packed, flying club car park packed and the roundabout by stand 6 became a car park and the fence was totally lined with people. The "Ed" effect.

Bruce wasn't flying her last night, rumour suggests he may be taking it up today for a practise, so keep an eye out if you're south-West based. Leaves for Fort Lauderdalewith kit and band on Friday.

[talldan76]

Great set of images...

For some reason I'm drawn towards the head on shot - kind of a behemoth emerging from the dark!!

I hope I get to see it somewhere but somehow I doubt I will as all the tours venues seem to be foreign apart from Donington (I suppose I could try to make that but I expect the surrounding area will be quite busy.
Andy

Andy, there is a rumour that it will be coming in to Stansted towards the end of May - I'm sure I saw a post last night saying that (but can't find it now).

Dan

[SeanW]

I would say that it will be in Stansted more often than you think while the World tour is in Europe as two of the band members live in within 5 miles of the airport around Bishop Stortford. i believe many of the Bands road crew members still live around Harlow and Chelmsford as well.

[danoz]

Lovely set Dan. Is it shootable from outside of the fence? May make a long trip tomorrow if so. Any help appreciated.

[Danseaman]

Wow wish my night shots were that good!!

Does anyone know if it's in a photographic position? Thinking of coming over tomorrow morning (8:30-9) to photograph it if possible. Will be in a rush as I have work at half 10 in Weston-Super-Mare but I missed the B757 so don't really want to miss this one!
Thanks in advance

[youth]

Superb!!! Many thanks for posting

[andygolfer]

Andy, there is a rumour that it will be coming in to Stansted towards the end of May - I'm sure I saw a post last night saying that (but can't find it now).

Dan

thanks Dan and all, hope I can catch it sometime then.
andy

[welshdan1927]

Ah sorry guys, bit late to the party, very photographable through the fence til 12:00 today when it positions out to Fort Lauderdale. The airport will be rammed however. As you're approaching terminal, you won't be able to miss it. The tail stands out for miles.

Thanks again for all the lovely comments, looks like I need to take my camera out after dark more often! See you all later with some cloudy grey take-off shots!

[Danseaman]

Thanks guys!!!

Went up about 8:40 this morning, got some photos and rushed into work. I will post some on Sunday

Dan

[welshdan1927]

Thanks so much for all the comments, hope those of you who had the chance & wanted to get it managed it!

Well the weather was a bit greyer than it had been earlier in the week but still, what an impressive sight.

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 ln: 1325 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

(Getting your horizons & runways lined up isn't easy when you're stood on top of a bin!)
"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 ln: 1325 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 ln: 1325 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

"Ed Force One" Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-428 ln: 1325 TF-AAK by Dan Williams, on Flickr

One of the longest take-off runs I'd seen at Rhoose in a long time - indeed there were some local non-aviation heads who insisted that it would have to stop off halfway. They were swiftly rebuked by the gathered #avgeek masses, as the young people would put it!

Many thanks for looking and all the kind comments. Here's hoping it'll come back one day, but until then, see you all next week after the French invasion.

[mach one]

departure shots are all Very nice

I was gutted when i heard it was going out on friday as there was just no way that i could get the day off and was praying it would be going out saturday

wonder if it will be back to cardiff due to bruce's connection with st athen