Pouya Air Antonov 74 THR-MHD-THR

Three days have passed, the sightseeing part of my trip to Iran has basically ended. One day in Tehran and two visits south, to Shiraz and Isfahan. It was time to start the flying part. Two days, three visits in Mashhad and a long-haul to KUL. Firstly an round trip Tehran-Mashhad-Tehran on a Pouya Air Antonov 74. What was poor about the flight was the space for cabin baggage. My bag (and not only mine) didn't fit either in the overhead bin nor under the seat in front of me so most of the flight our legs have been in a strange position. Video review at the end of the entry.

Qeshm Air BAe146 THR-IFN-THR

After yesterdays flying we were set to fly to Isfahan on a Qeshm Air Fokker 100. At check-in it come out that today's' also will be operated with the BAe-146.

Mahan Air BAe-146 THR-SYZ-THR

My first full day in Iran passed quickly. On the second one we had a early wake-up (which was anyway pretty late compared to the later ones) so that we could manage to catch our flight to Shiraz. For this day we planned two flights. To Shiraz and back. Video review at the end of the entry!

Tehran Mehrabad spotting OIII/THR 2015.10.02

During my stay in Tehran, we had a opportunity to spend some time at the end of one of the runways. The sun was going slowly to sleep giving us some nice conditions for photography. All didn't last long so just a couple of pictures:

EP-SUS

Flying the Ukraine International Embraer 190

After a 6 hour stopover in Kiev after my previous flight PS802, during which I mostly wandered around the city it was time to depart for the final destination of today: Tehran.

01 October 2015
PS751 (2000-0025) KBP-IKA
UR-EMA Embraer 190

Boarding for the flight started around 15 minutes to departure time and I have luckily made it to the airport. Due to traffic I could have missed my flight. Nevermind. We were taken to the airplane by bus via some dark sides of the airport. Luckily the stands had light so we could make it to the plane without torches :) but yeah, it was strange a bit strange to drive on road with absolute zero light. Waiting for the queue on the stairs to clear up (I was in no hurry, seated at the front anyway so no difference for me) I managed to take two, photos of nicely painted 738s after which I've been told not to take any more photos. Alright, I boarded UR-EMA, a 2011 Embraer 190, sat at my seat and awaited the departure. A red-eye flight for the crew who later on return to Kiev. After the "fasten seat belt" sign was turned off I've changed my seat in order to have two for myself (and for my ex co-passenger to have the same). More or less after 45 minutes the meal was served. Today we had a choice of chicken or chicken. Both came with a cake, some veggies and rice. This was the only meal on the flight. Decent, eatable. Always something compared to my first sector. All ended with an on-time landing and a view on a couple of great machines (old 747s, A300s, A310s and more). I tried to visit the cockpit after landing, but no! company policy doesn't allow (yeah, mhm, let's say so...)
The flight experience in brief: Similar to the first one, a 3+ (on a school grade scale). The food was there (+) and of eatable quality (the cake although was very good). The crew having nothing to do occupied the business class section (empty otherwise on today's flight) sleeping a chatting (bothered me a bit as I sat in the first row of economy class). Not exactly what one would call professional. A negative aspect of their E90 compared to the E-jets I've flown with LOT is the lack of a movable headrest.
Video review available at the bottom of the entry.

With KBP visible at the top

Flying the Ukraine International Boeing 737-500

October first, a Thursday almost like every other but with one small difference. The long awaited trip to Iran is beginning! Two sectors with Ukraine International Airlines are ahead and a 6 hour stopover in Kiev, just enough to have a quick view on a couple of attractions downtown.

01 October 2015
PS802 (1045-1315) WAW-KBP
UR-GAT Boeing 737-500

More or less at 8:30am I take a bus to the airport. As I've previously checked-in already so I just need to drop off my bag for my next two flights: PS802 (WAW-KBP) and PS751 (KBP-IKA). There is a queue at the economy class check-in of UIA that I don't have to stand in. So I quickly drop my bags and proceed to the security control. Meet up with a couple of friends, eat breakfast and finally around 10:30 am board the plane. STD is 10:45. Meanwhile, a friend with whom I'm gonna go on the trip inside Iran is going to fly 5 minutes later to Doha with QR, but he will get earlier to IKA having a more convenient connection. My choice of flying UIA was not only time-based. Let's get back to the flight. We taxi to runway 29 and depart smoothly passing beside the QR A320. A great panorama of the city center is visible before we make a turn to the left and head for Kiev. STA is 1315LT. During this one hour and couple of minutes flight there is no free service, not even water. If you want anything, you have to pay for it. Luckily prices aren't sky high. Anyway I have no need for a single thing so I pass on the occasion. Today's ride is a 1993 Boeing 737-500 UR-GAT, previously operating for Air France (what you can see by some french writings inside the plane). The plane has been retrofitted with winglets but inside it still is the same good, old 737 that I expected. With the yellowish light, characteristic overhead bins and a classic cockpit :) Always leading to a smile :) Landing in Kiev is on time and you can see some true soviet metal classics outside. After my quick cockpit visit I go through emigration and head for a quick visit in the city (did not feel like waiting 6 hours at the airport). To shortly sum up the flight:nothing really above the standard. The crew was there, did their job, absolute zero catering for free is s small minus, but that flight was short, on my longer flight a meal was given. The price is good and it is pretty easy to get a status with UIA frequent flier program. I give them a decent 3+ (on the school scale, but tending to a 4). They got me safely to where I wanted in a reasonable price for my routing (OW to IKA on not exactly a long notice). Video review of the plane at the bottom.

After departure with a nice view on the city