Merry Christmas

This is a Christmas message from Aircraft Aviation in Europe.

What an exiting year has been this year! apart my trip I wen't to Malta & back to the United Kingdom I had an awesome trip to the United States of America! if you wan't to know what I have been up to when I was in the US you can look through my blogs, check out my Facebook and YouTube of my full flight to Las Vegas and helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon. So what will my trips will be in 2016? I'm hoping to go to Tokyo, Japan in Spring or Autumn. Next Tuesday I will be returning to Malta for 10 days only for the New Year with my friends out there. Finally is in summer 2016 not only I'm going to Malta to celebrate my hometown's festa for 2 weeks I might be heading to my second visit to Catania, Italy or possibly Madrid, Spain for 2 days.

I like to thank you who been watching my YouTube videos and liking my photos on Facebook. That's all I have to say, I like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year 2016.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From Aircraft Aviation in Europe

What is Virgin America?

Virgin America Callsign Redwood is an American low-fare and high-quality service based from Burlingame, California in San Francisco started in 8th August 2007 operating within the United States and few international flights to Mexico and Canada. Virgin America has 5 codeshare agreements with China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia for ideal connecting flights it would be nice if Virgin Atlantic will be part to codeshare if any Americans like to travel to the United Kingdom.

Virgin America's current fleet has 10 Airbus A319 and 47 Airbus A320-200 only 6 in current order however for the future in 2017-2018 Virgin America has ordered 10 Airbus A321neo and from 2020-2022 Virgin American will have 30 Airbus A320neo. Unfortunately I don't know more about Virgin America for now if I travel with them in the future I will make a review of the flight.

Top 5 shots of 2015

As we come to 2016 I like to share my best aviation shots of 2015.

5: Fly Banner

You don't see this anywhere across the world apart from the United States. The plane I think it's a Mooney attached an advert banner flying around Santa Monica Pier in LA, California, United States promoting a company Moon Valley Nursery it's not children school I think it's a gardening store bassed in California, Nevada and Arizona. This was taken on 30th August 2015.

4: Lookout it's Airbus A380!

As I watched the view of the North American continent through Greenland I saw British Airways Airbus A380 from London Heathrow, UK. I already mention this on my blog review of my long haul flight experience you can have a read of it. This was taken on 24th August 2015.

3: Emirates up she goes!

Emirates flight EK108 departing Malta bound for Larnaca, Cyprus via Dubai, United Arab Emirates. What is the best shot for Emirates departure from Malta? Because when I see Emirates Airbus A330, A340 and Boeing 777-200 & 300 it appears the aircraft has less cargo in my opinion so it climbs bit early with a good chance to get shot for heavy aircraft. This was taken 2nd January 2015. 

2: Beautiful British sky!

I was thinking to make this number 1 because when I departed London Gatwick, UK the weather looks beautiful around West Sussex and South Down National Park, I have requested Air Malta to publish my photo on their Facebook page & still waiting. This was taken 1st March 2015.

1: Emirates up she goes! Part 2

This was one of Aircraft Aviation in Europe's popular photo with more likes & shares on Facebook. Why is it popular? When the aircraft departed the weather was a bit cloudy & landing gear doors open with the lovely aircraft rotated to the sky that's in my opinion. This was also taken in Malta on 7th January 2015.

I was going to take more photos when I head back to Malta in few weeks I decided not too because I might not be doing aviation photography that much before I get prepared for the New Year. I was also do the same in London Gatwick, UK but when I get there it will be night flight so it will be not include best shots.  

Sundance Helicopter Tour

Let's talk about my first ever helicopter flight! 27th August 2015 I went to the Grand Canyon in Arizona from Las Vegas International Airport's Sundance Terminal. When I walked into the terminal it looks like American bar, overall the terminal inside looks very smart so VIP the staff & pilots are very friendly.

If you are American citizen you can take any photo ID that has your date of birth most people suggest to take their drivers licences, for international tourists 99% of their citizens use their passports & Visas I would use my EU National ID Card because it has my nationality still use passport.

I don't want to spoil much of my trip, what can I say? seeing the Grand Canyon from the sky is beautiful! We landed the Grand Canyon lunch time for a 30 min break to take photos of the Canyon and snacks.The food looks great you'll also get champagne, I can't remember what's inside the wrap sandwich I'm guessing chicken with salad, pasta, fresh apples and neutral grain bar. In general I'm not very keen on cold sandwiches not just American I hate British sandwiches too because I puke and sometimes I get ill. Drinks are also included with water, Pepsi, 7 Up. Dr Pepper, Diet Coke and water.

Hear is our aircraft! This is Airbus Eurocopter EC130 from Airbus the registration is N216SH. I can't find any information on when this aircraft was new to Sundance Helicopter. The fleet Sundance is this aircraft Airbus Eurocopter EC130 and A-Star Helicopter also known as Airbus Eurocopter S350 Ecureuil.

When our time is up it's time to head back to Las Vegas this time I'm in the cockpit! When I headed to the Grand Canyon I was sitting the back of the helicopter. What do I think of my first helicopter flight? it was brilliant! I felt very safe to be on a helicopter than going on a plane. Visiting the Grand Canyon is a memory of a life time I like to visit again in the future. This service is also use to romantic relationships such as engagement and getting married.

If you want to see my full helicopter flight experience I suggest you'll check out my video! 

Las Vegas Airport August 2015

Welcome to the United States of America!

Let's start with Air Force One. 24th August 2015 after we landed in Las Vegas I noticed current US President Barack Obama was onboard that plane it arrived before our Thomas Cook flight landed making the airspace clear. This lovely classic aircraft SAM 28000 is a Boeing VC-25 part of Boeing 747-200B it first flew in May 19th 1987 & first entered service in  August 23rd 1990. First president onboard that aircraft at the time was George H. W. Bush while he had 3 years left of presidency when he got elected in 20th January 1989, then Bill Clinton, George W. Bush then current president Barack Obama. According to the United State Air Force this classic aircraft will be retired after the next US president next year when Obama retires from presidency. This aircraft will be replaced by Boeing 747-8.

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 taken 25th August 2015.

 As we wait for our tourist bus I spotted Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 on final runway 19L from either London Gatwick or London Heathrow, UK. I on't know the registration as the camera can't pick it up when zoom in the image.

American Airlines Boeing 737-800 taken 25th August 2015.

Same situation with Virgin Atlantic this time in different location. I was by the Las Vegas Sign where I noticed when it was 7 miles towards the runway was American Airlines Boeing 737-800 if you remember I saw American Airlines Boeing 757-200 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland last year.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 taken 26th August 2015.

The best part for aviation photography is in Stratosphere (if you have a good camera) Southwest Airlines seems to be a Boeing 737-800 in old livery on final runway 19L I recommend visit Stratosphere for a fee you'll be 1,149 ft high! it's good to see aircraft arriving in my opinion.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 taken 27th August 2015.

New livery of Southwest Airlines! the paint is almost blue with red in the middle & stripe yellow on top the tail it's similar if you compare to Emirates. What do I think of the new livery in person? in general it looks pretty cool much better than the old livery. Important thing about Southwest Airlines it's very similar to Ryanair their destinations and fleets (well only Boeing 737-800 for Ryanair). Southwest Airlines have 121 Boeing 737-300 due to retire in 2020, 12 Boeing 737-500 due to next year, 460 Boeing 737-700 23 in current order and 98 Boeing 737-800 23 in current order. Boeing will deliver 30 737 MAX 7 in 2019 and MAX  8 in 2017.

31st August 2015 

Virgin America is an American airline provide low-fare, high quality service and better flight connections within the United States. It first started on August 2007 by British founder of Virgin Sir Richard Brandson. The main hub for Virgin America is San Francisco and Los Angeles, California 99% travel domestic the only international flight Virgin American go is Mexico.  

Air Canada Rouge is a new Canadian leisure airliner parent by Air Canada Vacations Group. The fleet has 20 Airbus A319's and 14 Boeing 767-300ER 15 more are on order. Airbus A321 are due to deliver before Christmas this year. This aircraft C-FYJP is one of the older Airbus A319's new to Air Canada in 1997. Canada is the next North American Continent to visit in my travel list around 2017.

Another Virgin Atlantic shot in Las Vegas! the main British airliners in Vegas are only British Airways and Virgin Atlantic then Thomas Cook Airlines only in the summer season. G-VLIP Boeing 747-400 new to Virgin Atlantic in 2001 could say it might be a later Boeing 747-400 aircraft been built.

And finally United Airlines. This is also one of the older Airbus A320's most European Airlines have withdrawn them for scrap so it's amazing USA and Canada still operate these old A320's. This aircraft N406UA was new to United Airlines in 1994 arrived in Las Vegas.

I did not add British Airways Boeing 777 on this because I done a blog when G-VIIO caught fire before departing Las Vegas so I made the clear on that blog. 

And finally British Airways. I done the blog what happen to this Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Little story what happen if you seen my incident blog, British Airways flight BA2276 reg: G-VIIO from Las Vegas, USA to London Gatwick, UK the aircraft caught fire before take off. G-VIIO was new to BA in early 1999 almost 17 years old in couple of months, after the incident the aircraft is still stored in Las Vegas no plans for the future. An update from British Airways it will end flights to London Gatwick on 25th April 2016 so it will be Virgin Atlantic. You can also go from London Heathrow, UK with British Airways. 

My first long haul experience to the United States of America August 2015 Part 2 (Back to the United Kingdom)

31st August 2015 Thomas Cook Airlines flight TCX173 from Las Vegas, United States of America to London Stansted, United Kingdom.

I arrived in Las Vegas International Airport around lunch time. My friends were about to get ready to check-in but before we do that my friends are ready to get out ticket and passports out my best friend was putting his flight socks & shoes on he don't like long haul flights. Little bit about this terminal, it is a brand new building only opened 3 years ago June 27th 2012 which is called Terminal 3 it's mainly international flights they include some domestic flights like Virgin America, Alaska  Airlines, Frontier Airlines Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and United Express. What happened to Terminal 2? it was softly opened in 1986 and officially opened in 1991 know as Charter Terminal for all international flights and charter flights it was closed 1 day after Terminal 3 was opened.

After 20 minutes of my British friends got changed for the flight & been to the toilets we're about to check-in. I thought the queue was going to long I think we arrived roughly 45 minutes before check-in closes.  

After 10 minutes of checking-in we heading through security & headed straight to the gate! United States Immigration does not require passport stamps on departure it's not run by US Customs & Border Protection (arrivals only) it's US Department of Homeland Security they check your boarding pass and passports through UV light and off you go! "Have a good flight." 

After 7 minutes of walking to gate E1 we made it! the gate is located at the end of the left side of the building. Next door gate E2 was Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 arrived from London Gatwick, UK. Our flight was delayed by 1 hour because the aircraft arrived late from Glasgow, UK we mean't to depart 3:15pm. When the aircraft arrived there wasn't a lot of passengers it was a fast process with pilots & cabin crew swapped over at least boarding process was quick with almost every passengers onboard the aircraft. 

Thomas Cook Airlines G-VYGK new to Airbus Military 10th March 2014 ex EC-330

Here is THE Thomas Cook Airlines NOT HI FLY! My friends who organized the booking said never fly with Thomas Cook again because of Hi Fly I fully explained & fully understand why we flew with them due to 1 short aircraft they did quite understand at least they enjoyed the flight home. As you mention on the caption this aircraft was new to Airbus Military last year ex EC-330 last year then handed over to AirTanker 6th February 2015 with new registration G-VYGK it was mean't to join the United Kingdom Royal Air Force however Thomas Cook introduced long haul flights from London Stansted (seasonal), Glasgow and Manchester, UK Thomas Cook have leased few Airbus A330-200 by Air Tanker it was delivered to Thomas Cook in 29th April 2105. Next year Thomas Cook Airlines will be going more long haul flights in the American continent to Los Angeles, & Boston in USA, Grantley Adams, Barbados and Frank Pais, Cuba. 

This was meant to be our original flight map, however because we departed Las Vegas late the flight path changed instead of flying through Greenland we traveled out of Canada by Newfoundland and Labrador and cross the North Atlantic Ocean.

Goodbye Las Vegas! and goodbye United States of America! While the aircraft was climbing the made a sharp turn right as we were heading to the mountain near Mountain Springs.

When I read the safety card it's still from Air Tanker not Thomas Cook Airlines even them monitor by the exit door with seating plan still shows Air Tanker.

It's now dinner time! today's Thomas Cook menu was chicken with rice and tomatoes, then desert was crackers & cheese, roll and chocolate mousse mixed with caramel inside. My friend did not have any dinner on the flight or a snack before we land all he head was breakfast in the States.The food overall is good! 

5 hours in the sky close from Toronto, Canada it's time for sleep! The cabin looks nice with the lights off the cabin. Unfortunately in general I'm not a good sleeper on planes on short haul flights, with long haul I still cannot sleep. I can only sleep with music on but only for couple of hours then I woke straight up. Few of my friends in this cabin are a sleep but my old friend next to me in the middle isle was fully awake so I'm guessing he can't sleep on planes. 

For children there are kids TV shows and music from Disney, Barney and Dora. 

I'm a huge Michael Jackson fan that's why I manage to sleep for couple of hours when the playlist was over I was asleep. Michael Jackson - Bad Album was the only music I like during the flight until something happened from my friend... he woken me up with Barney and Dora I was going to explode but it was funny..... then 1 try to sleep again my friend turned the volume up I flinched & immediately woken up. 

5am British Summer Time still at the Atlantic Ocean... We're not that far coming to British Airspace near Northern Ireland.... another 4000 miles to go.

September 1st we finally arrived in London Stansted, UK just after 10am! it didn't take long to get out the plane, got on a monorail at the right time, wen't through immigration quickly at epassport gates and waiting for our bags. My friends got their bags quick however I was the last one took 15 mins! at baggage reclaim their was a Ryanair flight arrived in Faro, Portugal. I think the reason why my bag took so long is that customs wen't through x-ray might have find something odd when it comes with souvenirs before it arrived at baggage reclaim at least through Nothing to Declare channel I did not get stopped. Really Stansted needs to put our flight to a different baggage reclaim number not 2 flights in 1 reclaim. 

So that was the end of my long haul flight experience. What do I think of the flight now? it's very enjoyable compare to Hi Fly... Would I travel with Thomas Cook Airlines on long haul flight again? The answer is yes! I would but not from London Stansted. Thank you Thomas Cook Airlines. 9/10

British Airways Flight BA2276 Incident

British Airways G-VIIO seen in Las Vegas, USA 31st August 2015 9 days before the fire.

8th September 2015 a British Airways Boeing 777 flight BA2276 to London Gatwick, UK from Las Vegas, USA has caught fire at 16:12 Pacific Time on runway 07L the pilots called a "catastrophic engine failure" only 14 people have been injured taken to hospital for minor injuries and possibly burn marks. All passengers and crew have evacuated safely with evacuation slides. The main course of the fire was the #1 engine failure on the left General Electric GE90 it suffered the fuselage and the wing rooted from the fire. The aircraft G-VIIO was a Boeing 777-200 new to British Airways in January 26th 1999 only 16.6 years old .

More news, images and videos can be found on the Daily Mail website. 

My first long haul experience to the United States of America August 2015 Part 1

Well I did it! On 24th August 2015 I went to the United States of America! the first ever long haul flight I have traveled not in history of Aircraft Aviation in Europe it's also in my hole life! If you mention I had a disappointing flight on the way to the US I will tell you why.

First flight wasn't Thomas Cook Airlines it was an airline based from Portugal called Hi Fly. Now Hi Fly has 13 fleets they own 1 Airbus A321 by Belgian Air Component, 5 Airbus A330 200, 3 Airbus A340-300 1 operated for LA Compangine in France and 2 Airbus A340-500. Hi Fly is or was a subsidiary with Hi Fly Malta owned few Airbus A340-600 based from Malta. If you wan't to see my full flight video CLICK ME! on YouTube to watch my video.

When I arrived at the gate for my flight we was giving out a letter from Thomas Cook Airlines about the aircraft we be flying with. Why did we travel with Hi Fly? Because Thomas Cook Airlines is short on 1 Airbus A330-200 aircraft from Air Tanker still on order, because Thomas Cook is ending London Stansted flights because the Summer Season is almost over it will be going to Glasgow, UK and Manchester, UK as it's not Seasonal. I paid £1,200 for this flight NOT travelling on a different airline operating for Thomas Cook!

 Hear is Hi Fly Airbus A330-200 aircraft! the registration as I mention is CS-TFZ. Let's begin with the first issue we had, first the flight was delayed for 2 hours we meant to depart London Stansted at 9am instead we left 11:30am because there have been lack of cleaners or not many staff cleaning the aircraft which is ridiculous!

This is the cabin of Hi Fly's Airbus A330-200 what it looks like. Unfortunately it's nothing special compare to other European airliners I wen't. When I was sitting on the seats they are OK to sit if you are travelling short haul instead long haul, the cabin looks like typical Airbus A320 family. The cabin crew and pilots are full of Hi Fly staff  from Portugal when we landed in Glasgow, UK there has been change some Hi Fly cabin crew to Thomas Cook Airlines cabin crew.
 

We landed in Glasgow, UK roughly 12:30pm for re-fuel and pick up more British Nationals and Thomas Cook cabin crew most are from Scotland. When we stopped I saw two aircraft  at the same parking bay where KLM is. First aircraft KLM is PH-BGI Boeing 737-700 just started boarding to Amerdam, The Netherlands when it left Glasgow Jet2 arrived G-GDFN Boeing 737-300 new to EasyJet in 1998 ex G-EZYH. We had another issue when other passengers finished boarding & re-fuel... we got delayed for 3 hours! I couldn't understand what the crew said by Portuguese cabin crew said...

We finally left Glasgow at 3:30pm so I decided to rest my eyes for a little bit till the pilot said we are flying above Greenland after couple of hours flying above North Atlantic Ocean. I quickly switch the camera on and took any decent photos I can take! however the next photo you'll about the see makes my day after many long delay.

Yes it's British Airways Airbus A380 in Greenland's Airspace! I have no idea where it was heading to I could guess San Francisco or Los Angles, USA or anywhere in Canada from London Heathrow, UK.

Anyone for dinner? Today's food from Thomas Cook is either beef or curry. I choose chicken curry with rice then crackers, rolls and chocolate mousse mixed with crunchy chocolate and caramel then coffee afterwards. The food was OK I guess.

I haven't mention about in flight service yet! Unfortunately it's not really that good the touchscreen is very poor, all movies & tv shows are dubbed in Portuguese language and live in flight map don't work! the only part it works is how long you arrive in Las Vegas, time of duration and time you have departed from Glasgow not London Stansted.

Finally we are over the Nevada Desert not far to Las Vegas! there was another problem of landing it's not the airline's fault it's the Air Traffic Control. It's because there was a very important aircraft coming to land in Las Vegas. Do you wan't to know who was that very important person is? If you been following me on Facebook I mention what it is, it's US President Barack Obama! In November 2016 President Obama will be Vice President of the United States. Candidates for next US President are Lincoln Chafee, Hillary Clinton, (wife of former US President Bill Clinton) Martin O'Malley, Bernie Sanders and Jim Webb. Anyway it was awsome seeing current President Obama's Boeing 747 aircraft I'll mention on another blog soon.

Finally I have arrived in the United States of America! also the first time I got my passport stamped in Las Vegas on my current passport for the first time in 10 years I last got stamped on my previous passport in the UK before Malta joined the European Union in 2004. We come to the end of part 1 of my first long haul flight experience. What do I think of the flight? VERY DISAPPOINTING! I will start doing part 2 it will be on here later.

KLM in Planes@Plaza

After a year of lack of my research I have finally found information of this mystery KLM aircraft in Planes@Plaza in Amsterdam Airport! So lets find out about this aircraft!

We have to go back to 1968. First I thought it looks like Fokker look however this aircraft is a McDonnell Douglas DC-9! it was new to Delta Air Lines on April 7th 1969 ex N3333L. In 10th June 1980 it brought over to Ozark Airlines in the US it was re-registered as N929L in May 1981. Finally it was handed over to Trans World Airlines (TWA) in October 26th 1986 till it was withdrawn in in 5th April 2001. The aircraft was ferried to Marana - Pinal Air Park, USA waiting to be scrapped which it did in 2007 but KLM was interested to buy half of the plane & preserved it at Amsterdam Schipol Airport in The Netherlands. As I said half was chopped up for scrap the only part you'll see inside is the cabin & the cockpit. After it arrived in Amsterdam in October 2007 all painted up in KLM livery it's on display and opened to the public in November 2007.

The biggest attraction for customers who shop in Amsterdam Airport is the engine. I seen a lot of people taking photos of them with the turbine engine in the background thinking they get sucked into the engine or be like a cabin crew I saw few that did. 

We come into the cabin! There is nothing much to see inside because the right side has been cut open to see toys and aircraft models (This is a store) you can sit back, relax and enjoy your flight with KLM! There is a TV I can't remember what it is so it might be the history of KLM.

And finally we come into the cockpit! It's so typical 1960/70's look! This was hard to take a photo of the hole cockpit because it's pretty small plus there are kids who wan'ts to take a look. When I put the pilot seat belt on I had very hard time taking the seat belt off I was stuck for 15 mins till I know how to take the seat belt off! 

If you are visiting Amsterdam, The Netherlands I highly recommend visiting Planes@Plaza to get in is free of charge or you can go to the viewing gallery upstairs where Fokker 100 is there.