My flying and aircraft photos

[ETOPS]

I fly the 300ER, 300 and 200. Its a common rating, just minor differences between them. Mostly the ER for me, as I do predominantly long haul, whereas we use the other two for regional flying. We're getting the freighter model soon, which is essentially a 200LR. That'll bugger up the roster nicely!

Not impressive on my part, mate. Just a lifestyle choice now. The 'real' flying jobs were along the way, and were absolutely cracking fun.

[captainflynn23]

Ah yes I understand. You dont fly to heathrow, do you?

Yes I understand totally, flying isnt what it used to be

[Chuck328]

ETOPS said:

I fly the 300ER, 300 and 200. Its a common rating, just minor differences between them. Mostly the ER for me, as I do predominantly long haul, whereas we use the other two for regional flying. We're getting the freighter model soon, which is essentially a 200LR. That'll bugger up the roster nicely!

Not impressive on my part, mate. Just a lifestyle choice now. The 'real' flying jobs were along the way, and were absolutely cracking fun.

Curious hat on: Do you know what kind of routes you'll get with the 200LR? Is it likely to be up to 16hr+ (a guess as I know very little about this A/C) flight times?


(Apologies, captainflynn23 for the thread highjack)

[captainflynn23]

No problem mate, ask away I don't mind I'll continue to chat with you all and add pics along the way too, so feel free to ask anything you like

[ETOPS]

Chuck328 said:

Curious hat on: Do you know what kind of routes you'll get with the 200LR? Is it likely to be up to 16hr+ (a guess as I know very little about this A/C) flight times?


(Apologies, captainflynn23 for the thread highjack)

Well, the 200LR is the mega long range vairant, though our company isn't planning on utilising them on our longest routes. I believe (and this is freight we're talking about, so it may well change every heartbeat), we willbe sending them primarily to Europe. Our 747-400F and jazzy new 747-8 will continue to serve North America, which are our longest routes from Hong Kong.

It does have the longest legs in the industry I think, but each operator uses large aircraft in different ways to suit them. Time will tell, but as a company, we have a great fondness of the triple.

Sorry this doesnt help much!

[Theflyer]

captainflynn23 said:

So just a quick intro of myself - i'm 27, live in Milton Keynes and i've been flying light aircraft since the end of 2003. I have wanted to be an airline pilot since I was about 2yrs old but have recently wondered if its really what I want as aviation has changed too much for the worse over the years. I'm currently unemployed but do have a voluntary job.

I will say one thing, don't be an idiot and let it slip away.

You don't want to be my age and thinking I should have gone for it. You will have some serious regrets.

Passion is passion at the end of the day. You do what makes you happy, screw everything else.

And it's isn't that bad at all, people hear it's bad, that gets spread around and exaggerated, and before you know it, it's fashionable in the industry to say, it's not like what it used to be etc.

Just like driving, it's not like what it used to be, but really? Is it really THAT bad nowadays? No.

[captainflynn23]

You make a good point actually. I suppose you are right really. I dont want to eventually one day think 'why didn't I just carry on?' You are also right in that alot of pilots do moan but none of them change careers! Thanks mate

Perranporth airfield in around 2004 or 2005 (when I used to fly from there)



China claypits in St Austell, Cornwall, in 2004, when enroute from Truro to Bodmin for maintenance in C152 G-TFSA.



Turkish government A319 at LHR, Nov 6th 2010..



Vueling's MTV A320 at Heathrow, Nov 6th 2010..



This Saab Lansen is no longer at Cranfield and was dismantled and move out earlier this year. I believe it's now been put on display in Wolverhampton..



Air France A380 at Heathrow. Taken on my birthday, June 12th 2010..

[Eric Mc]

Didm't realise there was a Lansen lurking in the grass.

Sad how the mighty SAAB have fallen.

[captainflynn23]

Yeah it was at Cranfield for quite a long time. It had its wings intact etc but I took this shot during its dismantling before it was transfered for display elsewhere.
The reg is G-BMSG if you're interested.

[captainflynn23]

Just thought i'd add a few more

Bletchley Park Harrier.



Britannia Flying Club (Thomsonfly) Mooney..



Ex BA flying club Tomahawk in the Blue Poole world tails livery. At Cranfield when it belonged to TA Aviation in 2009.



Aviogenex B737-200 approaching heathrow in cloudy and wet weather..



Taken in September as we returned home to Cranfield after a long days flying..

[wolves_wanderer]

captainflynn23 said:

Wolves Wanderer, thanks for the info Are you still flying now or not?

I am back at it again now. Spent all day yesterday around Liverpool and Manchester and should be heading over as far as Swansea next week. Hopefully we get enough orders over central London to rent a Twin Squirrel to do them, it's nice to go in a real helicopter once in a while

[anonymous-user]

Ah, Perranporth! Fantastic approach in over the cliffs there isn't it.

[captainflynn23]

Wolves wanderer thats great to hear! I bet that its alot of fun! I want to do some flying over Liverpool eventually, I want to take a pic of Anfield from the air (Yep, you've guessed it, Liverpool FC fan here)
I've only ever flown in an R44 helicopter! I bet the Twin Squirrel feels massive compared to a robinson!

Inkyfingers, there sure is! I take it you have flown the approach in to the runways there? Runway 09 was always good fun for landing and 27 was always an interesting departure if there was abit of wind! I always found runway 05/23 fun to take off of, its so long and was always interesting to see how high you could get before reaching the airfield boundry!

[wolves_wanderer]

captainflynn23 said:

Wolves wanderer thats great to hear! I bet that its alot of fun! I want to do some flying over Liverpool eventually, I want to take a pic of Anfield from the air (Yep, you've guessed it, Liverpool FC fan here)
I've only ever flown in an R44 helicopter! I bet the Twin Squirrel feels massive

massive and quick! The work is fun but really tiring, listening to air traffic in one ear, instructing the pilot, finding sites in the middle of a city and interpreting customer instructions. There is a lot going on but I wouldn't swap it. If you want a picture of Anfield I'll do you one next time I'm up there and it is a nice day (was quite grey yesterday). It will keep you going until you get the chance to do your own

[captainflynn23]

Wow that does sound like high stress! Although it must be incredibly fun at the same time
I'd love a pic of Anfield! I really must visit Liverpool one day and fly over the area too!

[onyx39]

captainflynn23 said:

British Airways B757 G-CPET in the retro livery worn for the B757 retirement from British Airways. Taken on November 6th 2011 as G-CPET made the final BA B757 landing..

As others have said great pics, love the 757, makes me feel a little old, I grew up in Hounslow between the approaches of 27l and 27r (or 28 as it was then) and remember being hugely excited as a teenage plane spotter of sorts upon seeing the first 757 being delivered in similar colours to this in (iirc) 1983.

[captainflynn23]

Hey,
The B757 has always been a firm fave of mine. I was born in 1984 and so pretty much grew up seeing the B757's daily aswell! I always thought they had a real good look about them and loved the vorticies coming off of the flaps (very photogenic)
G-CPET was put in to that livery for the final month of B757 service with BA. It was infact that Negus livery that the original batch was delivered in.
Seeing endless A320 series at LHR doesn't compare to the endless B757's we used to see in the 80's and 90's!