Finally making a return visit to Manchester after a very long time and coinciding nicely with some sunshine AND a day off for me!
Etihad B787-9 wears the stunning Formula One scheme and is seen here landing just before midday on their service from Abu Dhabi.
An evening run over to Durham / Tees Valley (Teesside) International to catch a very rare UK movement, Fiji Airlines B737-700 DQ-FJF was arriving for parting out / scrapping having made the long journey from Nadi (Fiji) via Honolulu, Los Angeles & Bangor, sadly it landed just after sunset meaning it was almost dark!
Another run down south to London Heathrow to catch a few more required subjects including the superb LATAM Star Wars special saw the following pass me in the warm sunshine over the course of the day.......
The sun wasn't quite up for the arrival of the Gulf Air 787-9 A9C-FE or the ACT Cargo B747-400 Freighter TC-ACG sadly,
Finally managed a couple of my targets in the sunshine today!
HiFly Malta A330 9H-TAJ was ferrying in empty to operate the usual PIA Pakistan International flights, seen here landing 05 Left early afternoon.
Arriving at nightfall on a very dull and rainy Liverpool, MyWay Airlines (Georgia) B737-800 4L-BQJ was delivering Dinamo Tbilisi to play against Connah's Quay in the Europa League qualifier.
An early morning run over to Doncaster in the hope of catching the very rare IL62 Freighter EW-450TR of RADA Airlines after it arrived late last night, as there was no known departure time I thought I would take the gamble, luck was on my side as it departed shortly after 11am with the sun still shining!
It taxied out past the pair of Oil Spill Response B727's (three classic airliners in one shot!) before departing off runway 20 with a wonderful roar ..... the first IL62 I had seen flying for over eight years, the last being a Rossiya example at Heathrow way back in 2012!
Making the first visit of a Virgin Atlantic A.350 to Manchester, G-VDOT arrived early afternoon on delivery from Toulouse having been stored there for a couple of years. The aircraft is here for temporary storage until required for service.
Arriving just before midday with a lucky patch of sunshine, another of the Etihad specials ticked off the list with A6-BLF wearing the "Choose China" colours.
Making its first visit to Manchester since acquiring the new scheme (nicknamed as Boris Force One), Royal Air Force A330 MRTT ZZ336 is seen here landing on 23 Right in the evening sunshine.
Two new visitors landing one after the other, a rare occurrence these days!
Pegasus Airlines used one of their new A321 Neos for the first time in the shape of TC-RBB whilst Blue Islands commenced a new Exeter service with ATR72 G-ISLL
