End of an era...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: London
End of an era...
As the end of what was a testing summer for all of us in the Aviation industry I see Cougar have decided to retire the last 727-pax aircraft operating in Europe G-OPMN. If anybody has any news to where the old girl is to be laid up please can you share it with us.
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,232
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From: Somewhere between here and there....
Probably be at STN, in the northern dump area. There is work out there for it but with no real management structure in place to "manage" them, it's probably best parked. My bet is that the boss will decide to "dump" it rather than "park" it. Will the freighters be next ??
I hear TNT have their own 737's lined up for next year !!
I hear TNT have their own 737's lined up for next year !!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,123
Likes: 23
From: London Whipsnade Wildlife Park
As Heavylift are gone, this probably means the end of the last airworthy Belfast. Very sad! At least the throbbing of Tyne engines will live on for a while with the CL-44 now flying in europe.
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 474
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From: Ayrshire, Scotland
Picked up from another network. Reportedly from Cougar Ops -
I can confirm for all
the fans of the quiet cat the G-OPMN is the last
passenger carrying B727 operating in Europe. The
final passenger flight is planned to be GCR310
KEF-GLA on 13OCT. ETA GLA is 2300UTC. The a/c
will postition to SEN where is will be stored
pending a decision on its future.
For anybody wanting to see it one last time it is
due into GLA 0100 local on the 13th, out again at
1100, into EDI 1730 out again at 1800, and then
back in GLA at Midnight local.
the fans of the quiet cat the G-OPMN is the last
passenger carrying B727 operating in Europe. The
final passenger flight is planned to be GCR310
KEF-GLA on 13OCT. ETA GLA is 2300UTC. The a/c
will postition to SEN where is will be stored
pending a decision on its future.
For anybody wanting to see it one last time it is
due into GLA 0100 local on the 13th, out again at
1100, into EDI 1730 out again at 1800, and then
back in GLA at Midnight local.
so there are people still in Cougar Ops......mmmm but for how long ?? 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 301
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From: United Kingdom
I was taxiing clear of Rwy 05 GLA on the 8th Oct and saw the said 727 arrive. And arrive it did. It touched firmly on the right wheel with a cross wind from the right then bounced over to the left and I was pretty sure the left wing was gonna touch the grass. Indeed, I had to pause my PA to the pax and point frantically to the FO to watch the event unfolding ahead of us. It then locked up both main wheels for about 2000'. Released brakes then locked up again for a further 2000'approx. Pulling off at the cross runway. Loads of rubber burnt and smoke to go with it. We later lined up for departure and you could see the skid marks going from way left of centre line to the right then back on the centreline. Was there any need for such harsh braking. I was amazed ATC never mentioed the smoking wheels or even the crew going to have a look at the wheels after shutdown on stand. It stopped my heart for a few seconds when that thing touched down. Looked very close. The tyres looked rather bald ableit from a distance as we taxiied past stand 8 I think it was. Still a lovely looking bird.
