Farnborough International Airshow 2018

I attended on the final day of Farborough International Airshow 2018 in Farborough, UK. This year was quite the same as 2016 airshow on weekend only compare to 16th July. Due to time constraint, I only have a few I like to share * I have more on my social media pages.

As you remember, 9H-MIP Airbus A380 landed in Malta from Singapore via Abu Dhabi, UAE in white livery in 4th July. Days before the airshow started, Hi Fly Malta introduced a special livery called Save the Coral Reefs with one side of the current Coral Reefs & one side the Coral Reefs might no longer exist with fish in skeletons by 2050. This is a strong message to the world if they care of underwater wildlife & stop pollution the water this might not have happened in the future. 

Of course, I've find another Maltese airliner which is Vista Jet and Air X Charter. I've seen Vista Jet when I was in security. Then Air X in the runway for a normal flight before the airshow begins. 9H-JPC Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 6000 waited at the runway for departure. 

One of my favorite Military aircraft has to be Boeing C-17A Globemaster III by Boeing & McDonnell Douglas with wonderful engine sound during taxi & landing. The aircraft you see registered 06-6168 is based only at Dover Air Force Base, USA in Delaware which is also home to Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. At the end of the aircraft, you'll see people in line to go inside the aircraft. Their is one different line what you'll about to see that took me almost 2 hours of wait. 

Hear is the cockpit of the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III. In my opinion, the cockpit looks so much like McDonnell Douglas look than Boeing during the end of an era when Boeing merged McDonnell Douglas while other aircraft like MD-11, Boeing 717, MD-90 and C-17 was still in production in Long Beach, USA with Boeing staff before the closure of the assembly point in mid 2000's with only last C-17's left to be built. The cockpit looks abit more retro with LED display & flight stick is on the middle unlike Airbus it's on the left & right side and a HUD is also added.  

One of the main reasons for me to visit Farnborough is the new Airbus A350-1000 a 74-meter long stretched version of the A350 family designed & replace the Airbus A340-600 aircraft and compete the Boeing 777-300ER and upcoming Boeing 777-9. Even though the 1000 series are not in fully operational, only Qatar Airways has two in service as a launch customer since the A350 is also the launch customer of the 900 series as of February 2018. 

The Red Arrows also turned up. However, their has been struck rules in UK's aviation due to the Shoreham Airshow crash in 2015 all aircraft including the Red Arrows are only allow to fly a short display across (some) UK's airfield no aerobatic display according to the UK Aviation Authority. With Bournemouth Air Festival round the corner, it will continue to fly aerobatic by the sea. The Red Arrows took off  Farnborough for the last time before heading to base. When I was exiting the airshow, I hear peple giving complaints to the stewards why didn't they did aerobatic. We just have to put up with it really.

F-16's are beasts! When it done an aerobatic display by the US Air Force, it was so difficult to take photos while flying Super Sonic then BOOM! what a great aerobatic display it was.

And finally the Boeing 727 has made a comeback by T2 Aviation. This was the game G-OSRA in Farborough International Airshow 2016. The aircraft was not on display though, it instead did a short flying display like last time. I was expected to see like it was the last time. If you don't know the full story about this aircraft I'll explain. This is the last 727 ever built by Boeing in 1984 delivered to Fedex ex N217FE till it was withdrawn & stored at Los Angeles, USA in July 2012 then three months later it was stored in Lasham, UK & transformer from a freighter to Oil Spill Response meaning the aircraft flies at low level & spray water to the oil spillage with water encase the event of a fire. 

That's all I have I know it's not a lot it's pretty much like 2016. Hope what we might see in Farnborough International Airshow 2020.

Aviation in Malta June/July 2018 - Regulars

Note: I will not cover almost everything like in April this year as it's pretty much the same visitors. Only visitors with special liveries, leased aircraft & random regulars.

Avion Express LY-NVX Airbus A320 new to China Southern Airlines in 2006 ex B-6276 taken 28th June 2018.

Over the past year, Thomas Cook Airlines operated Malta using their own UK registered aircraft. Turns out their is only a couple who come to Malta once a week with leased aircraft of their Airbus A320 & this first photo & the bottom one is of of them. Last year we've seen Thomas Cook Airlines using their Airbus A321 and Boeing 757-300 and now they've gotten smaller depending what day their travel because some days uses UK's based aircraft for Thomas Cook Airlines. LY-NVX Airbus A320 is an aircraft that's leased by Avion Express based in Lithuania for Manchester, UK.

Smartlynx YL-LCL Airbus A320 new to Swissair in 1995 ex HB-IJA taken 28th June 2018.

And of course another Thomas Cook Airlines this time leased from Smartlynx which this particular aircraft do come to Malta in the past for Thomas Cook . This is the first time I've seen Smartlynx in full Thomas Cook Airlines livery compare the past I've seen all white with Thomas Cook heart on the tail with Thomas Cook  text on the fuselage. YL-LCL you see comes to Malta every Thursday & it's based from Bristol, UK for all Thomas Cook flights.

EasyJet G-EZOX Airbus A320 delivered in 2015 taken 28th June 2018.

I've finally got a special livery I am looking for. I've seen liveries around various EasyJet aircraft, I've  got this 20 year special livery "as of 2015" featuring photos of customers on social media who traveled with EasyJet  from the rear to the over wing exits. I'm not a big fan of the livery especially when it's a photo print it's very hard to see which of these people are & for me it might have been pixel from Microsoft Paint in my opinion. 

Air Malta 9H-AHS Airbus A320 new to SriLankan Airlines in 2012 ex 4R-ABP taken 27th June 2018.

I've finally got the latest edition to the Air Malta fleet from April 2018. Funny story, 9H-AHS arrived in Malta the day I departed Malta in 19th April 2018 so I have to wait till the Summer which I succeed my first attempt departing runway 31 short length taken at the right time when climbing so I'm happy to get this aircraft off the list.

Olympic Air SX-OBA Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 delivered in 2009 taken 30th June 2018.

Olympic Air is still with us using their Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 although their have been a fleet mix for Angean they send their Airbus A320's I did not see and then Olympic Air still operating for Angean from Athens, Greece. 

Emorates A6-EPK Boeing 777-300ER delivered in 2016 taken 3rd July 2018.

Emirates is an everyday visitor from Dubai, UAE via Larnaca, Cyprus however the UAE is hosting an Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE from 20th October 2020 - 10th April 2021 featuring Emirates to be painted into Exp 2020 livery with 40 of their fleet that are Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A380 which some have the same look but in different colours & some their A380's have Expo 2020 logo on the front fuselage. You can also see the Emirates have removed their logo on the front fuselage which you can see when you zoom in the photo of see the reflection in general.

Norwegian Air Shuttle LN-DYO Boeing 737-800 delivered in 2011 taken 4th July 2018.

And finally Norwegian Air Shuttle is one of the Summer Seasonal flights with only three destinations throughout the evening. Also Norwegian once a week operates on behalf of TUI Airways from London Gatwick, UK in the evening to Malta. 

That's all of Malta's Summer 2018 it has been great seeing new visitors compare to last year. If you like to see more of my spotting photos, make sure you look at my social media sites where most are not on this blog. 

Aviation in Malta June/July 2018 - Visitors

My aviation spotting back home has been a success with various airliners visiting Malta during the Summer for charters and private. For that reason, I'll explain of these aircraft I've seen from June and July of 2018 in no political order. First, I like to thank for your patience three weeks without using my social media. This is because I'm currently down with a desktop PC my laptop I have for years & years have finally gave up so I'm using a PC till I get a new laptop in the future.  

Ryanair EI-DCL Boeing 737-800 delivered in 2004 taken 27th June 2018.

Ryanair is not mainly a visitor to Malta with 5 aircraft bases their. The reason why this is interesting to me, is that this aircraft you can tell if the Boeing Dreamliner livery in full Boeing livery on the fuselage and the winglet with Ryanair logo on the rear & tail. The reason why Ryanair & other airliners have Boeing Dreamliner livery is because airline companies & Boeing want to share their marketing brand to convince customers to buy newer aircraft for number of reasons I won't explain. So Ryanair's case at the time during painting this livery, is the future of the Boeing fleet like the Boeing 737 MAX series are quiet & eco-friendly. Airliners like Air Berlin "ceased operation", China Airlines, Lion Air and Ryanair I know of have their livery on different aircraft types only China Airlines Boeing 777 and Boeing 747-400 featured the Dreamliner livery 

Anyway, EI-DCL Boeing 737-800 "Boeing Dreamliner" was based in Malta till early July so this is a good catch because you won't find a livery like this in Europe these days. Unless Airbus would copy Boeing livery idea.

Danish Air Transport OY-LHD Airbus A320 new to Adria Airways in 1990 ex YU-AOD taken 30th June 2018.

Danish Air Transport seems to visit Malta often for charter, this is not what I've expected to see till I looked on Flightradar24 & the history of the aircraft it's not only it's the oldest Airbus A320 I've seen from 1990, this aircraft when it was with Adria Airways when it was re-registered as S5-AAB, it worked for Air Malta in March 1996 for six month leasing program by Adria Airways in full Air Malta livery with Slovene registration.    

Hi Fly Malta 9H-MIP Airbus A380 new to Singapore Airlines in 2008 ex 9V-SKC taken 4th July 2018.

The main attraction for me is this big beast! the Airbus A380 arrives in Malta from Singapore via Abu Dhabi, UAE what soon to become HI Fly Malta one of first Maltese Airbus A380 to Malta. Many airliners now are planning to withdrawn the Airbsu A380 starting with the oldest, and with Singapore Airline case they are one of the first ones withdrawal their older A380's. This will mean when the paint job is complete, Hi Fly Malta will be the first charter airliner in the world to own a gigantic super jumbo before it heads off her first charter flight. 

Bulgarian Air Chater LZ-LDM McDonnell Douglas MD-82 new Alitalia in 1995 ex I-DATK taken 8th July 2018.

Recently Bulgarian wet leased by Air Malta due to short of fleet before Airbus A320neo arrived. Since then it used McDonnell Douglas MD-82. Recently this month, Bulgarian Air Charter visited Malta on charter use I've seen them twice in Malta I missed one in 5th July when it was on charter from Sofia, Bulgaria then later to Comiso, Italy. This one you see taken 8th July Bulgarian Air Charter came to Malta to/from Milan-Malpensa, Italy for charter using the old McDonnell Douglas MD-82 again & again, I've haven't seem how often it traveled to Malta when Alitalia used them to Malta.

JOTA Aviation G-JOTR British Aerospace Avro RJ85 new to Delta Air Transport in 1996 ex OO-DJT taken 30th June 2018.

JOTA Aviation has made a comeback as a charter from Sofia, Bulgaria till couple of hours later it traveled to London Southend, UK as a charter.

Smartlynx Estonia ES-SAM Airbus A320 new to JetBlue Airways in 2002 ex N553JB taken 6th July 2018.

Smartlynx have been using Malta as a charter service from Billund, Denmark since June. Unfortunately for me one Smartlynx flight was cancelled till I've found out a week later, Smartlynx Estonia fleet is coming to Malta from Enfidham Tunisia as charter later back to Bullund Denmark in full Smartlynx livery that the tail resembles like Delta Air Lines. Smartlynx also sends out YL-LCL to Malta every Thursday operating for Thomas Cook Airlines based from Bristol, UK.

Saudi Arabian Cargo TF-AMM Boeing 747-400 new to Malaysia Airlines in 1995 ex 9M-MPC taken 10th July 2018.

Finally we have another jumbo visit, this time the old Boeing 747-400 while the Airbus A380 was in in process of re-paint. This was taken during my last couple of days in Malta then I was done after seeing the Boeing 747 my spotting was done so very lucky to see this old bird. The aircraft is Saudi Arabian Cargo which I've seen in the past here somehow the logos was removed  & operating by Air Atlanta Icelandic from Lagos, Nigeria & the next morning after 4am it was on flight to Bridgetown, Barbados.

Airbus A220

Rumors have been exploding about the future of Airbus making smaller aircraft with only A318 the smaller passenger aircraft from Airbus. In April 2018, Airbus announced their will be a brand new smaller aircraft to compete against the Embraer E Family series & worked on.

You might think it looks familiar for start that you think it's a Bombardier CS Series. The information is correct! Airbus decided to takeover the CS Aircraft giving a re-skin & rename the aircraft from Bombardier CS - Airbus A220. The aircraft made it's first flight just recently in full Airbus Industry livery with A220 on the tail & fuselage. The aircraft is still by Bomardier Aerospace & marketing by Airbus making it the first Canadian Airbus manufacturer based in Quebec, Canada. As Airbus is now in partnership with Bombardier Aerospace, Airbus acquired 50.1% majority stake, and Bombardier keeping 31% and Investment Quebec of 19% to expend the market of more than 6,000 new 100-150 seat aircraft for over 20 years.

Their are two Airbus A220 versions which we have Airbus A220-100 previously known as CS100, and Airbus A220-200 previously known as CS300. At present, only one Airbus A220-300 aircraft is built & made it's first flight in March 2016 previously CS300 Series in Canadian reg C-FFDO.

It's too early to tell about the future of A220 if it succeed after the failure of Airbus A318 in competition of the Boeing 737-600 in my opinion. Only 80 Airbus A318's was made from 2002-2013 so we see how many A220 aircraft can be made & will it succeed. For aircraft that are in service during Bombardier are still in Bombardier name, with aircraft that are due if it will be Bonbardier or Airbus type.

Air Malta the Neo Story

Air Malta's first ever Airbus A320neo has been introduced to the Air Malta family, it gives the airline great opportunity to succeed into the future.


Before before the first Airbus A320neo was introduced, Air Malta had some setbacks. From March till recently before the arrival of two new aircraft, the airline had major criticism with Air Malta because when the airline introduced new & resuming destinations, Air Malta knew the fleets it had eight of the A320 family was not enough. So Air Malta on social media's was looking for wet leasing aircraft while the A320neo is being built & 9H-AHS was in progress. In my opinion, Air Malta should have waited when these two aircraft arrived then focus on the newer destinations so it would have no solve the wet lease delayed & cancellation flights. Customers from Air Malta received major complaints how bad the service was when it comes to operational reasons and cancelled flights such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, France and London Southend, UK

Aircraft listed operated wet lease to Air Malta

• GetJet - Boeing 737-400 & Airbus A320 
• Smartlynx Estonia -  ES-SAO Airbus A320
• Orange2fly SX-ORG Airbus A320
• Sundair - DASEF Airbus A321
• XL Airways France - FHXXL Airbus A330-200 (operated for cancelled flights for Paris CDG & Paris Orly, France in 9th June 2018. 
• Bulgarian Air Charter - LZ-LDU McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (10th June 2018)
• BH Air LZ-BHH Airbus A320 (6th & 11th June 2018)

Their was few more from Bulgarian Air Charter I've miss counted.

Air Malta in June 2018 was in chaos for failing to provide anymore leasing aircraft & operation restrictions forcing flights like Paris, France region and London Southend, UK to be cancelled. And finally on June 16th 2018, 9H-NEO was delivered to Air Malta on whats called to me The Nick Jet.

Taken 27th June 2018

Hear is the overview of 9H-NEO. The fuselage features characters from Nickelodean characters from Spongbob Square Pants, Nella the Princess Knight , PAW Patrol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with the character Leonardo and the Neckelodean logo near the overwing exits. The rear of the aircraft is still the same look from other Air Malta aircraft with big engine painted Air Malta's website and for the first time Air Malta has winglets with the Maltese Cross. The winglets from the cabin you will see a small Air Malta logo. It would be cool to add a Maltese Cross on that instead of the logo.

The only question remains, will the AE registered be replaced with the Neos? it's unknown to say if the airline like Air Malta is fully maintained by Air Malta Engineers & Lufthansa Tecnik but in the end what we've seen on older Air Malta's A320 such as 9H-ABP from 1990 till it was withdrawn in 2003 moved on during the 13 year old gap including 9H-ABQ from 1992 withdrawn in 2004 & moved on. We also have AH registered on two A320's. 9H-AHR is 15 years old from 2003 to Spanair the aircraft is still active. 9H-AHS is a modern A320 from 2012 so it doesn't count because it's six years old. Now 9H-AEI from April 2004 is 14 years old their is still no plans for withdrawn yet. The Boeing 737 Era had the same thing when the 200 series was introduced in 1980's it was withdrawn in early 2004 while the from the 300 series from 1993 lived on till 2008.

In recent news from Air Malta as from 12th July 2018, the airline will be ordering two more aircraft in the Summer of 2019 for North African flights but it can be changed to do the normal destinations when the time comes.

Air Malta special livery list

 (As of June 2018)

• 9H-AEI - 1974 Retro
• 9H-AEO - Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture 2018
  
• 9H-NEO - Nickelodean livery