VISITORS
Colourful Astra C-GTDO (151 ex N751GA) registered to CPAir Ltd was a most welcome newcomer this morning. Another first-timer at lunchtime was RAF C-130J Hercules C4 ZH865 (5408) from the LTW (the fourth RAF C-130 to visit this year), arriving from Gibraltar & then returning to its home base at Lyneham, while easyJet's latest A320, G-EZTN (4006), arrived on delivery this evening & immediately operated a service to Alicante as EZY8669. The final newcomer of the day was Ryanair B738 EI-EFO (37539) operating this evening's service from Madrid (just EI-EFA/J/P to visit before the next batch of deliveries arrive in September).
FLEET NEWS
EasyJet A320 G-EZTN (4006) was delivered from Toulouse to Gatwick this evening. The airline has appointed BAe Systems to resell its four remaining A321s inherited from GB A/W (G-TTIC/D/E/F) & these will be available for delivery during September & October. It would appear that these could be replaced by an unknown number of new A321s, starting with MSNs 4148 & 4155, especially as I am told that the A319s & A320s are not capable of operating some of easyJet's longer routes. B737 G-EZJF (30243) was cancelled from the UK register yesterday as exported to the USA (currently at Stansted in Aerolineas Argentinas scheme).
Emirates B773 A6-ECT (35591) left Paine Field, WA today on delivery to Dubai.
MK A/L B742F G-MKHA (23071) was due to ferry from N'djamena to Kemble as BGB123 today for scrapping, but diverted to East Midlands due to poor weather. It will join G-MKCA (22482) & G-MKGA (21650) at the Gloucestershire airfield. With G-MKJA (22477) stored at Manston & G-MKAA (22169), G-MKDA (22486), G-MKEA (22237) & G-MKFA (21841) all stored at Bristol/Filton, this only leaves G-MKBA (22481) & G-MKKA (21940) in service.
Ukraine International. Further to yesterday's snippet, some sources are suggesting that B738 UR-PSP (29654) should read UR-PSB. While this would be more logical, given that the first one is UR-PSA, both the US based sites that report on movements at Boeing's are quoting UR-PSP. Does anyone have the definitive answer, please?
ROUTE NEWS
None today.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Citation 510 G-FBKB (0126 ex N826CM) joined the UK register yesterday for Blink Ltd.
Belated congratulations to British A/W on reaching a major milestone yesterday. On 25th August 1919, the world's first daily international service was launched between London & Paris by Air Transport & Travel Ltd, a forerunner of BA. Captained by EH Lawford, the flight departed from Hounslow Heath for Le Bourget at 09.10, took 2 hours & 30 minutes & was operated by an Airco/De Havilland DH4A carrying cargo such as Devonshire cream, newspapers, mail & leather as well as a lone reporter from the Evening Standard, George Stevenson-Reece. The fare was 42 guineas & the aircraft used on that first flight was G-EAJC (ex F2702), which was withdrawn from use on 18/08/20.
CREDITS
John Creasey, Neil Barnes, Roy Luxford, Derek Wakelin, Paul Giblin, Michael Green, Joop de Vries, Steve Pigg, Malcolm Baldry, Simon, Dave Broome, the Wall Street Journal, Jethro, Skyliner, John Logie Baird & anybody else that I have forgotten.
Happy spotting!
John (& "Mad" Max)
MOVEMENTS SUMMARY (most from SBS)
AAW912 - A320 5A-ONA
ADR450 - A320 S5-AAC
AEA1013 - E195 EC-KYO (also AEA1015)
AMC116 - A319 9H-AEJ
AMC118 - A320 9H-AEG
AUI501 - B735 UR-GAU
AWE725 - B752 N938UW
AWE732 - A333 N273AY
BEL2121 - A319 OO-SSG
BEL2129 - B463 OO-DWA
BMA7922 - E145 G-EMBJ
BRU851 - B735 EW-251PA
BTI651 - B733 YL-BBS
CIM261 - CRJ2 OY-MBI (aircraft change from the predicted OY-MBT)
CIM265 - CRJ2 OY-RJD (aircraft change from the predicted OY-MBT)
CIM5761 - B737 OY-MRG
CIM5765 - B737 OY-MRF
CUB400 - Il96 CU-T1254
DAL036 - B763 N177DZ
DAL812 - A333 N815NW
ECA886 - B738 5B-DBZ
EIN23A - A320 EI-CVB
EIN24D - A320 EI-DES
EIN236 - A320 EI-DEL (also EIN246/248)
EZS8469 - A319 HB-JZM
EZS8473 - A319 HB-JZI (also EZS8477)
EZS8532 - A319 HB-JZL (also EZS8471)
EZY8001 - A320 G-EZTN (delivery/first visit)
ISS3531 - A319 EI-DEY (also ISS3535)
LZB497 - A320 LZ-FBC
MAH612 - B737 HA-LOS
MAH614 - B736 HA-LOJ
MGX720 - F100 4O-AOM
MXA1594 - B762 XA-MXO
NAX1302 - B733 LN-KKS
NAX1304 - B733 LN-KKN
NAX1306 - B738 LN-NOM
NAX1318 - B738 LN-NOE
NAX1332 - B733 LN-KKQ
NAX3510 - B738 LN-NON
NAX3514 - B738 LN-NOQ
NAX3521 - B733 LN-KKT
QTR075 - A333 A7-AEE
RYR112G - B738 EI-DLG (also RYR114G)
RYR116G - B738 EI-DHS (also RYR118G)
RYR1124 - B738 EI-DCS
RYR1126 - B738 EI-DLG
RYR1182 - B738 EI-DCH (also RYR1X)
RYR5371 - B738 EI-EFO (first visit)
RYR5562 - B738 EI-DAN
RYR5568 - B738 EI-DCC
RYR6454 - B738 EI-EBL
RYR9228 - B738 EI-DCB
RYR9852 - B738 EI-DLT
SDM297 - B735 EI-CDG
SGX3201 - B738 TC-SGH
TAP332 - F100 CS-TPE
TAP334 - F100 CS-TPA
TAP342 - A320 CS-TNK
TAP348 - A319 CS-TTN
TRK433 - A321 TC-TCF
TSC296 - A313 C-GTSD
UAE009 - B773 A6-ECD
UAE011 - B772 A6-EMH
UAE015 - B773 A6-EBR
VIK124 - B738 C-FYLC (also VIK136)
VIK126 - B733 SE-RHV (also VIK132)
VIK324 - B733 SE-RHU
BIZJETS, ETC
C-GTDO Astra (first visit)
ZH865 C-130J (RRR4589 - first visit)