Polar B747-200f Due In Aldergrove

[BRISTOLRE]

This must be a first! PO B747-200F due into EGAA Belfast Aldergrove tonight 2230z in from LAX.
Can Aldergrove take a B747?? this is odd...
Get your cameras ready for this one!

[Doors to Automatic]

I'm not sure it could fly fully laden to LAX but other than that, yes a 747 can easily get into BFS

[Wycombe]

....the most famous 747 of all was of course there not all that long ago

[NWSRG]

Any ideas why it's coming in?

First 747F into EGAA that I'm aware of, but passenger 747s have made the odd call over the years.

Airtours flew a regular summer service a few years back, Royal from Canada also used a 747. And a couple of shiny blue and silver ones from America have also made the odd call under the callsign "AirForce One"!

[with alacrity]

Air Canada operated a weekly B747 service a few years ago flying between BFS and Toronto.
I have seen the Airtours B747 flown by a New Zealand crew land on runway 35 (The short one 1800m ) and watched in disbelief as another B747 belonging to a short lived ill fated company took a group of reporters up for circuits on runway 17.:eek:

I have also controlled a Virgin B747 training in the circuit using runway 25 on many occasions.

An empty B747 could probably make the west coast of the USA but even the 2780 m length of 25 would not accommodate a fully loaded B747 destined for the west coast.

[NWSRG]

Just checking, but isn't 2230z equal to 2330 Norn Iron summer time?

[jettesen]

Air force one has landed there several times . should not be a problem for polar air

[with alacrity]

NWSRG

You are correct. 2230z or UTC ( Universal Time Constant) is the same as 2330 Norn Iron summer (ha-ha) time.

[Jerricho]

Not entirely unusual to get the occasional An124 in there as well

(Although, I believe it is to the detriment of the odd runway light at times ;) )

[NWSRG]

Doesn't the AN124 take Bombardier fuselages over to Canada?

How often does it happen? Haven't managed to catch one yet.

[with alacrity]

The AN124 used to be quite a regular visitor to BFS taking fuselages to Montreal but I haven't seen it for quite a while now.
As well as smashing runway edge lights it needed a full power run-up at the holding point and then another three minute full power run-up when it lined up.
Not the most popular visitor at the busier single runway airports.

[BRISTOLRE]

Its now due in 1520z today, its running late!
Understand tha ordinary 4s have been to Belfast but its the freighter type thats rare. Yep, hope that theres a highloader.!!

[Kestrel_909]

It's just landed and vacating 35, onto Delta and following the marshaller.
AF1 has probably been the most regular 747 haha, but lastyear we did have Air Atlanta and a NWA 747-2/300s come in from the USA.
Remember Airtours using one too.

[Dee747]

Air Canada used 747s for years on their summer Toronto flights and BA brought 100/200s in to cater for the pre-Christmas rushes back in the 80's and early 90's (as well as those beautiful Tristars).

[Kestrel_909]

Ah yes, remember seeing a BA 747 in, it was either Christmas Eve or Christ Eve EVE :)

[BELHold]

Its here to take 80 odd horses across the pond.

Royal used to operate a Jumbo to Vancouver a few years back.

[with alacrity]

PAC 5471 (N920FT) departed BFS at 0526 to KSWF ( Newburgh NY ) for a refuelling stop. Final destination unknown.
Hope the gee gees enjoy the trip.

[BELHold]

I remember we had a BA 747 on 9/11, diverted on its way to Washington I think.

Didnt really think about it at the time for obvious reasons but would I be right in thinking that this AC may of had to dump fuel before landing or was it already below MLW.