Hi and happy New Year to one and all,
I still have some outstanding reports to send out from last year, so here goes. Like many of you, I concentrated my limited spotting opportunities to the UK mainland and the below was my follow-up attempt at clearing up what I needed in South Wales. I did post the previous log for 24th July which saw me at Cardiff, St Athan (South Wales Aviation Museum), Flemingston, Llangeinor, Kenfig Hill, Pyle, Old Park Farm/Margam and Swansea/Fairwood – a reminder below if needed;
Now Swansea has never been kind to me and with Haverfordwest being that much further West, I have only ever made two visits there before on 28/07/1988 and 04/04/1999. Mick Farley had recently reported extensively from Haverfordwest and renewed my interest in this place. Between us both, the wheels were set in motion for a much needed visit……
A small group of us assembled at Haverfordwest where a pre-arranged walk around the residents had been agreed. The owner of Metal Seagulls (where 9G-ZAF can be found) was very interesting to listen to and had some very interesting stories about some of the aircraft in this hangar. If any of you want to follow our steps following this report, please support the cafe here and donate to the Air Ambulance charity, as we did.
My photographs can be seen at;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums/72157719877215520
(9G-ZAF), Zenith Zenair STOL CH 701 (7-6357)
F-GFOR, Robin ATL L (42)
G-AVJF, Reims/Cessna F172H (0393)
G-BACL, S.A.N. Jodel D.150 Mascaret (31)
G-BAYO, Cessna 150L (15074435)
G-BBHY, Piper PA-28 180 Cherokee (28-7305474)
G-BLTT, Slingsby T.67 B Firefly (2023)
G-BOEE, Piper PA-28 181 Archer II (28-7690359)
G-BPWR, Cessna R172K Hawk XP (R1722953)
G-BRCV, Aeronca Champion 7AC (7AC-282)
G-BROO, Luscombe Silvaire 8E (6154)
G-BSSB, Cessna 150L (15074147)
G-CBBP, Cyclone Airsports Pegasus Quantum 15-912 (7843)
G-CBTB, Iniziative Industriale Italian Sky Arrow 650TS (PFA 298-13832)
G-CDTV, Tecnam P.2002 Sierra EA (PFA 333-14501)
G-FLYK, Beech King Air B200 (BB-921)
G-FLYW, Beech King Air B200 (BB-209)
G-IANJ, Reims/Cessna F150K (0548)
G-IOSI, C.E.A. Jodel DR.1051 (526)
G-JCIH, Vans RV-7 A (72123)
G-KHOP, Zenith Zenair Zodiac CH 601 HDS (6-9109)
G-LEBE, Europa Aviation Europa (PFA 247-12927)
G-SCIP, SOCATA TB20 Trinidad GT (2014)
G-SCOL, Gippsland GA-8 Airvan (GA8-05-088)
G-SENX, Piper PA-34 200T Seneca II (34-7870356)
G-WARP, Cessna 182F Skylane (18254633)
(G-WENY), Zenith Zenair CH 750 STOL Cruzer (75-10875)
G-WINN, Stolp SA.300 Starduster Too (615)
G-ZHWH, Rotorway Exec 162F (modified) (6596)
N100YY, Cirrus Design SR20 (1183)
N583CD, Cirrus Design SR22 G2 GTS (1809)
Then it was a short drive to Haverfordwest Town where the quite surreal sight of a Spitfire in a public shop awaited.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/51457607942/in/dateposted-public/
On display within Welsh Spitfire charity shop:
(G-CFGA), Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire LF.VIIIc (fuselage), Welsh Spitfire Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
Heading back East towards Swansea and a quick diversion was made for Ammanford.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/51459329735/in/dateposted-public/
On display outside:
(WH739), English Electric Canberra B.2 (nose), 2475 Sqn, ATC, United Kingdom (unknown)
Then it was off to Swansea/Fairwood Common. Not wanting another blank here, I had arranged with for access for our group and we got escorted around what was there. This place is under new management and we were told that substantial investment is being made, which will hopefully secure the future of this place which competes with now civilianised St Athan. The new management are friendly should you want to visit but get in touch with them first.
My photographs can be seen at;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums/72157719828022676
G-ARYK, Cessna 172C Skyhawk (49288)
G-BFNI, Piper PA-28 161 Warrior II (28-7816215)
G-BGKY, Piper PA-38 112 Tomahawk (38-78A0737)
G-BIBT, Grumman American AA-5B Tiger (AA5B-1047)
G-BSZB, Stolp SA.300 Starduster Too (545)
G-BYBM, Jabiru Aircraft Jabiru SK (PFA 274-13377)
G-CERK, Vans RV-9 A (PFA 320-14049)
G-CFWD, RotorSport UK MTO Sport (RSUK/MTOS/006)
G-CGWG, Vans RV-7 (PFA 323-14486)
G-CINV, Aeroprakt A-22 LS Foxbat (LAA 317B-15316)
G-GTHM, Piper PA-38 112 Tomahawk (38-81A0171)
G-KIMS, Comco Ikarus C42 FB100 (1704-7497)
G-MVYV, Noble Hardman Snowbird Mk.IV (SB-024)
G-ORMW, Comco Ikarus C42 FB100 (0501-6653)
G-PUPP, Beagle B.121 Pup 150 (B.121-174)
G-SACL, Tecnam P.2006T (152)
G-TENN, Vans RV-10 (LAA 339-15222)
G-VLET, Comco Ikarus C42 FB100 Bravo (2002-7587)
G-XALT, Piper PA-38 112 Tomahawk (38-79A0801)
G-ZASH, Comco Ikarus C42 FB80 (1304-7257)
(RA-01611)/G-STNR, Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin (294699)
Pyle
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/51458815933/in/dateposted-public/
On display outside Aircraft Maintenance Support Services:
(BAPC.552)/EN398/JE-J, Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire IX FSM, On Display (unknown)
Kenfig Hill
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/51458574186/in/dateposted-public/
On display outside:
(WT569), Hawker Hunter F.1, 2117 Sqn, ATC, United Kingdom (41H-665419)
Flemingston
Located within Happy Jakes Caravan Park:
(G-CONY), British Aerospace Jetstream 31 (fuselage) (745)
St Athan
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/51459564100/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/51459344564/in/dateposted-public/
Outside and around the main airfield:
(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)
B-HSK, Airbus A320 232, Cathay Dragon (1721)
EI-CSI, Boeing 737NG 8AS/W, Blue Panorama Airlines (29924)
F-GRHG, Airbus A319 111, Air France (1036)
G-EUNB, Airbus A318 112, (British Airways) (4039)
G-EUPH, Airbus A319 131, British Airways (1225)
G-EZEH, Airbus A319 111, (easyJet Airline) (2184)
G-MCGX, Leonardo AW.189, Bristow Helicopters/UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (92010)
OE-IOJ, Airbus A321 211SL (6056)
OE-IOV, Airbus A321 211SL (6038)
OE-IZX, Airbus A321 231SL, Avianca (6294)
VP-BTU, Airbus A319 114, S7 Airlines (1071)
VT-IHW, Airbus A320 232, IndiGo (2097)
(YR-BMH), Boeing 737NG 8K5/W, Blue Air (27989)
Cardiff
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/51459380059/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/51458649851/in/dateposted-public/
G-AYNJ, Piper PA-28 140 Cherokee C (28-26810)
G-BOPC, Piper PA-28 161 Warrior II (28-8216006)
G-BXIF, Piper PA-28 181 Archer II (28-7690404)
G-CGMC, Embraer ERJ-135 ER, Eastern Airways (145198)
G-CRIL, Rockwell Commander 112 B (521)
G-OPET, Piper PA-28 181 Archer II (28-7690067)
G-SUEM, Diamond Aircraft Twin Star DA42 (42.332)
G-TSAS, Piper PA-28 181 Archer II (28-8190055)
G-VIIA, Boeing 777 236ER, British Airways (27483)
G-VIIJ, Boeing 777 236ER, British Airways (27492)
G-YMMH, Boeing 777 236ER, British Airways (30309)
N4BZ, Bombardier Challenger 350 (20814)
N95VB, Beechcraft Corp King Air C90GTX (LJ-2091)
PH-EXG, Embraer EMB-175 STD, KLM cityhopper (17000546)
Best regards,
Grant Robinson
Photograph credits: Grant Robinson