Air Livery Movements

[User0001]

Next into Air Livery is N217FE on 2nd Sept. This is an ex-fedex B727, the last ever B727 to be built. It will become G-ORLA which I may be wrong, but is going to be a North Sea oil spill response aircraft the same as the Air Contractors hercules at EMA.

Been a while since a good old 727 has been into MAN.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I've never flown on a Boeing 727. Don't suppose I ever shall now. The nearest I came was in the 1980s when Dan Air had some in its fleet that were often used on inclusive tour flights.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I think the last time I saw a 727 was when Aviogenex used to operate flights to Yugoslavia which must have been some time around the late 80's.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks User001, that's definitely one to see. I guess it's pretty unlikely we'll be seeing it in the air much if it's going to be waiting for an oil spill?

 

[User0001]

N217FE/G-OSRA B727 is due out next Thursday, to be replaced by the Lufthansa B747-400 that was due last week.

The LH B747 should arrive 19:45 next Wednesday as LH9922 reg is still to be confirmed.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I'm guessing that there's some enthusiast interest in the 727.

It's amazing how quickly what was once commonplace becomes a 'collectors' item'.

 

[User0001]

Yes it did bring a few spotters out, but mainly the 'older' generation who appreciate the machine.

Certainly not even half as many as the A380 brings in each day (still large crowds just to see that, even after 3 years of flights at MAN).

Its even more amazing how commonplace the B787 is at MAN now. Just last week, the A380 took off, and a B787 was number 3 behind it. The crowds went as soon as the A380 was up, only 10 or so people remained to see the B787 go.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

That's an interesting insight. You'd think that the 787, being newer, would be of more interest than the well established 380 at MAN.

I suppose it's the size of the 380 that holds the attention of the onlookers. Subjective opinion of course, but I never think of the 380 as a particularly handsome creature. Maybe a lengthened version in the future (now that would be big!) might improve its looks.

 

[User0001]

Thomas cook Scandinavia A321 OY-VKE is currently in TCX engineering.

With the summer rush on this is about as exciting as it gets in this hangar for a few weeks.

 

[User0001]

The Lufthansa B747 is now due 19th at 1945 as LH9922. Reg is still not known.

G-OSRA B727 is now painted and should be out of the hangar soon.

 

[User0001]

Not sctricly on topic but is a hangar movement.

Air Asia X A33-200 9M-XAD will arrive on 16th September for maintenance with Monarch.

Arrives as D7668 at 0330 from Jeddah, then departs 0615 to Jeddah as D7668 on 18th.

Seems a long way for the machine to come for 2 days of maintenance, especially as the Asian subcontinent is well renowned for aircraft maintenance (even Euro-carriers head there for heavy overhauls).

RayFinkle, it could also be of interest to you as seen as its a MAEL customer. Not sure if its a one off or a new regular contract, but could be one to watch for BHX.

 

[Ray Finkle]

RayFinkle, it could also be of interest to you as seen as its a MAEL customer. Not sure if its a one off or a new regular contract, but could be one to watch for BHX.

I saw a post elsewhere (I assume yours) about this and immediately thought it'd be nice to see one of these at Birmingham in the future.

I've also read that RAF A332's have recently undergone C checks with MAEL at MAN, any idea if this will be an on going thing?

 

[User0001]

Hi Ray,

The majority of RAF A330's MAN has seen is either for paining or initial reg transfer maintenance (Monarch bring the aircraft into service under a civilian G- reg and then transfer it to the ZZ military register for the RAF), so Im not sure if they will be regular visitors or if the RAF will now keep the general work in house.

As for Air Asia X, I personally saw a delegation of D7 managers at a hotel in Manchester, so, Im unsure whether the work will be frequent and they have paid for long term usage of MAN, or if its a one off, or indeed if the work will be transferred to BHX. (I personally think it was a large delegation if just a 1 off visit, which is why I thought maybe Air Asia were starting MAN flights)

As it stands, obviously MAN will require work to complete as well as BHX and LTN, so I think its safe to say BHX will not see all of the future work, and MAN will likely have 1 set of contracts, BHX another and LTN another too (At the moment LTN MAEL sees the 'older' aircraft like the B757's and A300's (as well as those examples from FedEx), and MAN sees the new 'fly by wire' stuff like the A330's and B767's.

Im unsure at this stage just exactly which role BHX will take, but with 2 bays its going to be looking after something!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thanks for the clarification about the RAF.

They sure have spent some money at Birmingham, not just on the building but in recruiting and training staff, so I'm sure it will be worked hard to repay the investment. First aircraft due Nov 1st, it'll be interesting to see what it is.

 

[User0001]

One for Ray Finkle.

It seems the answer to our RAF A330 question has been answered. ZZ330 MRT has arrived at MAN this evening for scheduled maintenance with Monarch.

Looks like BHX could look forward to them after all, however given they are replacing the Tristars/VC-10's I wonder if BHX will see more than they would 'hope' given the nature of RAF visits to Brum.

 

[User0001]

Transavia France B737-800 F-GZHF in the Thomas Cook hangar for a spot of maintenence.

 

[Ray Finkle]

One for Ray Finkle.

It seems the answer to our RAF A330 question has been answered. ZZ330 MRT has arrived at MAN this evening for scheduled maintenance with Monarch.

Looks like BHX could look forward to them after all, however given they are replacing the Tristars/VC-10's I wonder if BHX will see more than they would 'hope' given the nature of RAF visits to Brum.

Only just noticed this, hopefully BHX will see them at some point, for maintenance rather than operating a medevac flight.

 

[User0001]

Virgin A340-600 G-VATL inbound from Manilla to be painted all white as its at the end of its lease.

 

[User0001]

D-AIKK A330-300 of Lufthansa has arrived to enter Air Livery, which will swap with G-VATL A340-600 of Virgin which is now all white as its the end of its lease.

G-DHLE and G-DHLF B767-300F's of DHL have been visitors to Monarch over the past few weeks, and pretty sure G-DHLF is still there but it may have left.

 

[User0001]

D-AIKK A330-300 left air Livery this week and was immediately replaced by D-AIHZ A340-600 of Lufthansa.

RAF A330 due in next week to MAEL and condor will be sending one each of A320, B757-300 and B767-300 to Thomas cook in the next few days.