Monday 31 December 2012

Looking Back At 2012

2012 has been a strange year for aviation, with a large chunk of the 'flying season' seeing most of the south east of England 'closed' due to the Olympic airspace restrictions & then a summer which never really seemed to kick off all being finished off by being the wettest year on record! Despite this the optimism of the great British aviator seems to be never failing, with airfields across the country still putting out a wide spread of events to attract people.

Looking back at the post I put together this time 12 months ago & seeing my remark 'Overall 2011 has been a quieter year' I look at the number of posts this year, some 21 less! I think it's a well justified comment to say that 2012 has again not quite delivered the perfect year for aviation that many hoped for, I can certainly say that we've made many last minute cancellations in the face of some questionable weather. There are however some events which shine through & I've listed my favourite 5 from this year in this post, I think it's also worthy of note that the 2012 LAA Rally saw it's largest attendance since it's re-launch this year, maybe it's not all doom & gloom after all...

What I've chosen for number 5 isn't actually an event, rather a visit to the excellent Midland Air Museum back in February. We visited just after the snow had reasonably cleared so that there wouldn't be any problems with getting there, but there was still some snow on the ground which added a nice extra dimension to the pictures together with the warm sun colour tone.
56-0312

My choice for fourth place choice is Otherton's 'Heritage Fly-In' in September, this mainly microlight airfield just off the M6 holds a number of events throughout the year with the aim of attracting a different sort of aircraft to each of them (but anyone is welcome to attend all of them!). Having previously been there for their 'Summer Fly-In' which was another one the weather claimed we headed back for another go! The locals are very friendly & the owner of G-CCXN offered to take me for a quick spin to get some pictures of the airfield from overhead & my sincere thanks to him!
Otherton Viewed From The East

In 3rd place is the only event to appear in both this years & last years top fives and I feel with good reason! It is the Scrumpy N' Cheese Fly-In at WestonZoyland, the 'Zoyz Boyz' put on a top event which seems to offer something a bit different to other events in the calendar and therefore attracts a good attendance! Aviation, live music, all-day BBQ & ample stocks of cider; what more could you want?!
More Hardy Campers Braving The British Summer

Coming in second place is my personal favourite event from Breighton this year, their Hibernation Fly-In in October. This airfield in Yorkshire is a fantastic place to visit as a photographer or for anyone who has an interest in aviation! The light is behind you all day & there's hardly a moment where there's not something going on to look at! You'll always have someone come up to you for a chat about something aviation related & the cafe does a grand job in serving up cups of tea & various pilots favourite (high-cholesterol!) meals. I'd highly recommend a visit in 2013.
G-BVGZ (152-17) & G-BZNW (K2048) 

Taking my top spot in 2012 is a rather chilly day in early November which was spent in the hangar of Huey UK & their Huey, Loach & Wasp helicopters! The Huey & Loach are runners with the Wasp a static exhibit due to the lack of comprehensive records for it. My attention was drawn to this open day by the owner of this site dedicated to supporting the efforts of Huey UK & generally promoting Huey's! Again if you get a chance to book onto a future event I highly recommend that you take it!

G-OHGA (69-16011)

Here's to a dryer 2013!

Saturday 8 December 2012

Kemble 01-12-2012

The final stop of the day was at Kemble or the 'UK BoneYard' as it's now being called! You need to be sure to view the airfield from a number of different angles to see everything that's currently there. The identities associated to the pictures are to the best of my knowledge, but they may not be 100% correct!

9M-MMI & Others
9M-MMI Boeing B737 Malaysia Airlines (Scrap) (Belfast Apron)
B-5091
B-5091 Boeing B737 Lucky Air (Stored) (H-Site)
B-5092
B-5092 Boeing B737 Lucky Air (Stored) (H-Site)
B-HOT
B-HOT Boeing B747 Cathay (Scrap) (Belfast Apron)
B-HOX
B-HOX Boeing B747 Cathay (Stored) (Twy C)
B-HUD
B-HUD Boeing B747 Cathay (Stored) (D-Site Apron)
EI-DTU Boeing B737 Transaero (Fuselage Section) (Belfast Apron)
EI-OZB Airbus A300 DHL (Scrap) (Belfast Apron)
EI-OZC
EI-OZC Airbus A300 DHL (Stored) (Belfast Apron)
EI-OZI
EI-OZI Airbus A300 DHL (Stored) (Belfast Apron)
EL-WXA Britania (XM496)
G-AXIA Beagle Pup
G-AZWS Piper PA-28
G-BBXW
G-BBXW Piper PA-28
G-BHAD Cessna 152
G-BHOZ SOCATA TB9
G-BHZT Bulldog
G-BLWY Robin
G-BOVS
G-BOVS Cessna 150 (Fuselage) (Belfast Apron)
G-BPPF Piper PA-38
G-BRNU Robin
G-BVWD 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-BXGV Cessna 172 (Stored) (Western End)
G-BZAZ 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CEMY Pioneer 300
G-CFZM 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CGXS 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CGYR 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CGYU 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CGZB 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CHFE 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CHHA 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CHIN 146 (Stored) (Western End)
G-CMED
G-CMED SOCATA TB9
G-CWFS Tecnam P2002
G-ELUE Piper PA-28
G-EMCA Rockwell 114
G-HOLA Piper PA-28
G-ISCD
G-ISCD Sportcruiser
G-KEJY Eurostar
G-MALA Piper PA-28
G-MKCA Boeing B747 MK Airlines (Stored) (Twy C)
G-MKGA
G-MKGA Boeing B747 MK Airlines (Stored) (Twy C)
G-SNUZ Piper PA-28
G-STRG AX2000
G-UIMB
G-UIMB Guimbal G2
G-VICC Piper PA-28
G-ZAPO 146 (Stored) (Western End)
N19CU 125 (Stored) (South Side)
N19EK 125 (Stored) (South Side)
N19UG 125 (Stored) (South Side)
N19XY 125 (Stored) (South Side)
N25AG
N25AG Jetstar (Fuselage) (H-Site)
N354AC 146 (Stored) (Western End)
N355AC 146 (Stored) (Western End)
N389DF Boeing B737 (Fire Trainer) (South Side)
G-ELUE & OE-LNO Or OE-LNN
OE-LNN Boeing B737 (Scrap) (Belfast Apron)
OE-LNO or OE-LNN
OE-LNO Boeing B737 (Scrap) (Belfast Apron)
OH-SAK 146 (Stored) (Western End)
OH-SKA CAP 232
OO-DJZ 146 (Stored) (Western End)
VN-A190
VN-A190 Boeing B737 Jetstar Pacific (Stored) (H-Site)
VN-A191
VN-A191 Boeing B737 Jetstar Pacific (Stored) (Belfast Apron)
VP-BJX Boeing B737 KD Avia (Nose) (Belfast Apron)
VT-EPX Boeing B747 Air India (Nose) (Belfast Apron)

Germania Boeing B737
Unknown Boeing B737 Germania

Gloucester Staverton 01-12-2012

Thanks to Dave Haines & Keith Wilson for the tour here! A very busy airfield which looks to have a bright future with lots of new infrastructure being put into place.

D-AFAM Global
D-HCKV Augsta A109 (Fire Dump)
G-ASYJ Beech 95
G-ATBI
G-ATBI Beech 23
G-ATSR Beech 35
G-ATTI Piper PA-28
G-AVGC Piper PA-28
G-AVJJ Piper PA-30
G-AWFB Piper PA-28
G-AWLZ
G-AWLZ RF-4D
G-AXEV Beagle Pup
G-AXVM Campbell Cricket
G-AYCG Stampe
G-AYWM AirTourer
G-AYWT Stampe
G-AZGE Stampe
G-BALF
G-BALF Robin
G-BAUI Piper PA-23 (WFU)
G-BBCH Robin
G-BCUJ Cessna 150
G-BEOH Piper PA-28
G-BEPF Stampe
G-BEZO Cessna 172
G-BFEK Cessna 152
G-BGBA Robin
G-BHCC Cessna 172
G-BHFG Stampe
G-BIAX Taylor Titch
G-BIZF Cessna 172
G-BKDJ Robin
G-BKGT Rallye (Stored)
G-BKIF RF-6
G-BKMA
G-BKMA Mooney M20
G-BKMB
G-BKMB Mooney M20
G-BLWH RF-6B
G-BOPC Piper PA-28
G-BOXT Hughes 269
G-BRBN Pitts Special
G-BSGK Piper PA-34
G-BSWC Stearman
G-BSYU Robin
G-BUSW Rockwell 114
G-BUUF Slingsby T67
G-BWND
G-BWND Cessna 152
G-BWNM Piper PA-28
G-BWOH
G-BWOH Piper PA-28
G-BXRV Vans RV-4
G-BXSG
G-BXSG Robinson R22
G-BYKP Piper PA-28
G-BYPE GY-80
G-BZHU Wag Aero Sport Trainer
G-CAHA Piper PA-34
G-CCFW FW 190 Replica
G-CDLY
G-CDLY Cirrus SR20
G-CDWK Robinson R44
G-CEMI Europa
G-CFPR QuikR
G-CGPY Stearman (671)
G-CGSG Cessna 421
G-DIZY
G-DIZY Piper PA-28
G-DOBS Vans RV-8
G-DSID Piper PA-34
G-EFOX EuroFox
G-EGTB Pipe PA-28
G-EKIM Pioneer 300
G-ESTA Cessna 550
G-FORC Stampe
G-FORZ Pitts Special
G-GALL
G-GALL Piper PA-38
G-GDRV Vans RV-6
G-GEHP Piper PA-28
G-GFCA Piper PA-28
G-GFRO Robin ATL
G-GREY Piper PA-46
G-HELA SOCATA TB10
G-HIVA Cessna 337
G-HPSL
G-HPSL Rockwell 114
G-IASL Beech 60 (Fire Dump)
G-IGHH Enstrom 480
G-JHEW Robinson R22
G-JHPC Cessna 182
G-LADD Enstrom 480
G-LWDC CL 601
G-MAXI Piper PA-34
G-MSPT EC135
G-MWUK Rans S6
G-MYRT Quantum
G-NIFE Stampe (156)
G-OASH Robinson R22
G-OCAC
G-OCAC Robin
G-OJBB Enstrom 280
G-OOMA Piper PA-28
G-OPFA Pioneer 300
G-OPSS
G-OPSS Cirrus SR20
G-OWAP Piper PA-28
G-PRDH As355
G-RAWS Rotorway Executive
G-RCWK
G-RCWK Cessna 182
G-RRAK Enstrom 480
G-RRFC (200)
G-RRFC SOCATA TB20
G-SHMI Eurostar
G-TEKK Tecnam P2006T
G-TLST TL Sting
G-UILE Lancair 320
G-VALY SOCATA TB21
G-WARX Piper PA-28
G-ZOOG Tecnam P2006T
G-ZSDB Piper PA-28
G-ZZDD Sciweizer 269
G-ZZMM Enstrom 480
M-ALUN 125
N147LD Cirrus SR22
N1901K Luscombe 8
N208AJ
N208AJ Cessna 208
N250CC Piper PA-24
N250MD Piper PA-31
N278SA Cessna 177
N440RW
N440RW Cirrus SR22
N521CD
N521CD Cirrus SR22
N669MA Cirrus SR22
N731 Stearman (466)
N750GF Cessna 750
N753TW
N753TW Cirrus SR22
N781CD Cirrus SR20
N96JL
N96JL Cessna 421
WH364 Meteor
XH903 Javerlin

Wellesbourne 01-12-2012

Next stop on the trip was at Wellesbourne for a visit to HeliAir, we asked in the reception & were given a guided tour around with photos now permitted again. A very full hangar!

Spot The R66!


EI-CAW Bell 206 (Stored)
G-ASZS GY-80
G-AVIT Cessna 150
G-AYMO Piper PA-23
G-AYXS SIAI 205
G-BAFL Cessna 182
G-BLME Robinson R22
G-BMIZ
G-BMIZ Robinson R22
G-BNZZ Piper PA-28
G-BPBK Cessna 152
G-BSCY Piper PA-28
G-BSTR AA-5
G-BWNB Cessna 152
G-BXSD Cessna 172
G-BYEE Mooney M20
G-BZMH Bulldog (XX692)
G-CDMH Cessna 210
G-CGNE Robinson R44
G-CHOP Bell 47
G-CKEY Piper PA-28
G-JAFT Diamond DA42
G-MDKD Robinson R22
G-MENU Robinson R44
G-MISK Robinson R44
G-NEWZ
G-NEWZ Bell 206
G-NJSH Robinson R22
G-OAMI
G-OAMI Bell 206
G-OIBO Piper PA-28
G-OJAZ Robinson R44
G-OJRH Robinson R44
G-ORBK Robinson R44
G-OSAZ
G-OSAZ Robinson R22
G-OSKY Cessna 172
G-RAFG Slingsby T67
G-RAGT Piper PA-32
G-ROWL AA-5
G-RUZZ Robinson R44
G-SIMS Robinson R22
G-STOP Robinson R44
G-TEBZ Piper PA-28
G-WAGG
G-WAGG Robinson R22
G-ZAPY Robinson R22
N4502G Robinson R66
N91ME SOCATA TB20