Hi all,

The weather forecast for last Saturday was really rubbish and so with nothing much else doing, Grahame Allen and I grabbed our waterproof coats and headed off to South Wales for an aviation fix and to chip away at some long needed frames.

After crossing the M4 toll free bridge into Wales, we headed to our first stop which was Tremorfa Heliport, Cardiff. I was after EC.145 G-WENU which was active here the day before. No sign of it this morning though sadly.

Next up was Cardiff;

G-BBTY, Beech Musketeer C23 Sundowner 180 (M-1525)
G-BGGE, Piper PA-38 112 Tomahawk (38-79A0161)
G-BOPC, Piper PA-28 161 Warrior II (28-8216006)
G-BXIF, Piper PA-28 181 Archer II (28-7690404)
G-MAJB, BAe Jetstream 41 -02, , Eastern Airways (41018)
G-NICB, Cessna King Air 200CGT (BY-352)
G-OLIV, Raytheon King Air B200 (BB-1835)
G-OPET, Piper PA-28 181 Archer II (28-7690067)
G-TSAS, Piper PA-28 181 Archer II (28-8190055)
G-VIIA, Boeing 777 236ER, , British Airways (27483)
G-WARO, Piper PA-28 161 Warrior III (2842015)
G-YMMH, Boeing 777 236ER, , British Airways (30309)

Now on to the goal for the day and that was St Athan;

Good result here in getting most of what I needed except for AW.189 G-MCGX which had buggered off to Lee-on-Solent a couple of days before……

The South Wales Aviation Museum is excellent, well worth a visit and deserving of your support. Also worth pointing out is the superb website (and the guys behind it) that can answer most of your questions should you ever visit Cardiff and St Athan;

http://www.southwalesaviationgroup.co.uk/

My pictures from here can be seen at;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums/72157719593888844

Outside and around the main airfield:
XW289/73, British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5A , United Kingdom (EEP/JP/953)
2-ACSJ, Airbus A320 214, (SmartLynx Airlines) (1873)
2-ACSL, Airbus A319 111, (easyJet Airline) (2245)
(2-VIHC)/VT-IHC, Airbus A320 214, IndiGo (2584)
(2-VJGC), Boeing 737NG 95R, SpiceJet (30412)
9H-SLB, Airbus A320 232, (SmartLynx Airlines Malta) (1945)
D-AAAU, Airbus A321 231SL, Avianca (6009)
EI-CSI, Boeing 737NG 8AS/W, Blue Panorama Airlines (29924)
ES-SAW, Airbus A320 232, (SmartLynx Airlines Estonia) (1663)
F-GRHG, Airbus A319 111, Air France (1036)
G-BOIT, SOCATA TB10 Tobago (810)
(G-BWGL)/N-321, Hawker Hunter T.8C (HABL003086)
G-BYGC, Boeing 747 436, British Airways/BOAC (25823)
G-BYGD, Boeing 747 436, British Airways (28857)
G-BYGG, Boeing 747 436, British Airways (28859)
G-EUNB, Airbus A318 112, (British Airways) (4039)
G-EUPB, Airbus A319 131, British Airways (1115)
G-EUPH, Airbus A319 131, British Airways (1225)
G-EZEH, Airbus A319 111, (easyJet Airline) (2184)
(G-JIBO), BAe Jetstream 31-01 (711)
G-MCGP, AgustaWestland AW.189, Bristow Helicopters/UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (92003)
G-TUKF, Boeing 737NG 8AS/W, (TUI Airways) (33605)
G-ZZZA, Boeing 777 236, British Airways (27105)
G-ZZZB, Boeing 777 236, British Airways (27106)
N235KK, Gulfstream GIV SP (1458)
OE-IOV, Airbus A321 211SL (6038)
SX-DGX, Airbus A320 232, Aegean Airlines (1996)
SX-EMM, Airbus A319 132, Ellinair (1703)
(VN-A190), Boeing 737 4H6, Jetstar Pacific (27383)
VP-BTU, Airbus A319 114, S7-Siberia Airlines (1071)
(YR-BMH), Boeing 737NG 8K5/W, Blue Air (27989)

https://www.swam.online/

On display outside South Wales Aviation Museum:
WR974/K, Avro Shackleton MR.3, United Kingdom (unknown)
(XV254)/54, Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2P, United Kingdom (8029)
XL929, Hunting Percival Pembroke C.1, G-BNPU, United Kingdom (PAC/66/87)
54439, Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star, French (580-9883)
G-AZHJ, Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 3 (577)

On display outside South Wales Aviation Museum:
F-BTGV, Aero Spacelines 377SGT Super Guppy (001)
(G-APFG), Boeing 707-436 (flightdeck) (17708)
(N858WL), Boeing 737-406 (forward fuselage) (24858)
(B-HUI), Boeing 747-467 (flightdeck) (27230)
XW420/83, British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5A , United Kingdom (EEP/JP/1042)
G-BMMF, Clutton FRED Srs.II (PFA/29-10296)
(WZ869)/6, de Havilland Canada Chipmunk T.10 (fuselage), United Kingdom (C1/0900)
(WD293), de Havilland Canada Chipmunk T.10PAX, United Kingdom (C1/0233)
XK895, de Havilland Sea Devon C.20, G-SDEV, United Kingdom (4472)
XE956, de Havilland Vampire T.11, G-OBLN, United Kingdom (15664)
(WK128), English Electric Canberra B.2 (nose), United Kingdom (6642)
G-BCTT, Evans VP-1 (PFA/1543)
XL500/CU, Fairey Gannet AEW.3, G-KAEW, United Kingdom (F.9459)
(G-BVPP)/XR993, Hawker Siddeley Gnat T.1 (FL536)
XP672/03, Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.4, G-RAFI, United Kingdom (PAC/W/17641)
WP321, Hunting Percival Sea Prince T.1, G-BRFC, United Kingdom (PAC/57/71)
(G-CLAX), Jurca MJ.5 Sirocco (PFA/2204)
XV582/M, McDonnell Phantom FG.1, United Kingdom (3253)
ZA612, Panavia Tornado GR.1T, United Kingdom (150/BT028/3076)
ZA326, Panavia Tornado GR.1T, United Kingdom (016/BT006/3008)
G-MMNN, Sherry Buzzard (1)
ZG822/WS, Westland Sea King HC.4, United Kingdom (WA.1003)
XS507, Westland Wessex HU.5, United Kingdom (WA176)
G-BTUS, Whittaker MW.7 (PFA/171-11999)

 

A very short drive from the museum saw us at Flemingston;

Located within Happy Jakes Caravan Park:
(G-CONY), British Aerospace Jetstream 31 (745)

 

This one has been on my hit list for ages and so it was seen at Llangeinor;

On display outside IrvinGQ:
(35515), SAAB J 35F Draken, On Display, Swedish (35515)

 

Next up was Kenfig Hill;

On display outside :
WT569, Hawker Hunter F.1, 2117 Sqn, ATC, United Kingdom (41H-665419)

 

And just a few minutes drive from here saw us in Pyle. The premises were shut and trees prevented a decent photograph being taken. Easily visible though;

On display outside Aircraft Maintenance Support Services:
(BAPC.552)/EN398/JE-J, Supermarine Spitfire IX FSM (unknown)

 

Next up was a new airfield for me in Old Park Farm, Margam. Lots of small lock-ups here but as the weather forecast was rubbish, very few inhabitants seen;

G-BVFR, CFM Streak Shadow (K.237-SA)
G-LDAH, Best Off SkyRanger 912(2) (BMAA/HB/262)
G-ODGS, Best Off SkyRanger 912(2) (BMAA/HB/241)
G-CCBJ, Jabiru Aircraft Jabiru UL (PFA 274A-13472)

Then on to Swansea/Fairwood Common where I have never really had any luck before. The same this time as I failed to find anyone to ask if they could take us to the hangar and the required para-jumping Cessna 208 G-SYLV was away.

(RA-01611)/G-STNR, Aero L-29 Delfin (294699)
G-XALT, Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk (38-79A0801)
G-BGKY, Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk (38-78A0737)
G-SACL, Tecnam P.2006T (152)
G-BFNI, Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II (28-7816215)

Last stop for the day as my slack friend needed a bit at Kemble. Virtually no light aircraft were seen in comparison to my last visit and this put me off going to nearby Oaksey Park afterwards. Nice to see the recently arrived second Phantom. An old friend from the 1983 IAT at Greenham Common. Not a full log as I reported a full log from here just weeks ago….

Air Salvage International scrapping area (Belfast Apron):
VP-CNW, Airbus A330 302, (Qatar Airways) (659)

ASI hangars & parking area (D & H sites):
3B-NBF, Airbus A319 112, Air Mauritius (1592)
3B-NBH, Airbus A319 112, Air Mauritius (1936)
(EI-FFM), Boeing 737NG 73S, Air Italy (29082)
LN-NGN, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, Norwegian (39025)
LN-NGP, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, Norwegian (39028)
LN-NHD, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, Norwegian (41131)
OY-JTT, Boeing 737NG 73S/W, Jet Time (29079)

Chevron hangar ramp and disused runway parking area:
XH134, English Electric Canberra PR.9, G-OMHD, United Kingdom (SH1724)
XH135, English Electric Canberra PR.9, United Kingdom (SH1725)
XW544/O, Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.2B, United Kingdom (B3-05-71)
XX894/R-020, Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.2B, United Kingdom (B3-03-74)
G-CIVB, Boeing 747 436, British Airways (25811)
LN-DYT, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, Norwegian (39048)
LN-DYU, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, Norwegian (39008)
(N19CU), Hawker Siddeley 125 Dominie T.1 (25048)
SE-RPX, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, (Norwegian Air Sweden) (39022)
SE-RRH, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, Norwegian Air Sweden (41139)

On display behind C Site hangars:
XM496/496, Bristol 175 Britannia 253F, United Kingdom (13508)
XT597, McDonnell Phantom FG.1, United Kingdom (1611)
XT905/P, McDonnell Phantom FGR.2, United Kingdom (2636)

Southside near to Rapid Racking:
2-ACSE, Airbus A319 112, Eurowiings (3436)
CS-TNG, Airbus A320 214, TAP Air Portugal (945)
CS-TNI, Airbus A320 214, TAP Air Portugal (982)
CS-TTE, Airbus A319 111, TAP Air Portugal (821)
CS-TTF, Airbus A319 111, TAP Air Portugal (837)
CS-TTG, Airbus A319 111, TAP Air Portugal (906)
CS-TTH, Airbus A319 111, TAP Air Portugal (917)
CS-TTI, Airbus A319 111, TAP Air Portugal (933)
CS-TTK, Airbus A319 111, TAP Air Portugal (1034)
CS-TTU, Airbus A319 112, TAP Air Portugal (1668)
CS-TTV, Airbus A319 112, TAP Air Portugal (1718)
EC-MFA, Airbus A340 313X, Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas (212)
LN-NGD, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, Norwegian (39049)
LN-NHC, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, Norwegian (41128)
LY-NVY, Airbus A320 232, Avion Express/Sky Angkor Airlines (1909)
LY-NVZ, Airbus A320 214, Avion Express/Sky Angkor Airlines (921)
LY-SPC, Airbus A320 231, GetJet (415)
LY-VEI, Airbus A320 233, (Avion Express) (902)
OH-JTZ, Boeing 737NG 73S/W, Jet Time Finland (29083)
SE-RRI, Boeing 737NG 8JP/W, (Norwegian Air Sweden) (41136)

Woodside apron and hangar areas:
G-ATXD, Piper PA-30 160 Twin Comanche B (30-1166)
G-BPAF, Piper PA-28 161 Warrior II (28-7716142)
(G-BXZB)/CT180, Nanchang CJ-6 A (2632019)
G-EDGI, Piper PA-28 161 Warrior II (28-7916565)
G-FLOR, Europa Aviation Europa (PFA 247-12793)
G-IANC, SOCATA TB10 Tobago (150)

I returned home with 10 frames in the bag and was good to be out on the road again. We never need the coats as no rain was seen despite the doom and gloom forecast. Hope you’ve enjoyed the report.