EPWA 2016.08.27 Summer morning

I wanted to take advantage of the clear skies and sunny weather and take some morning arrivals shots. A plan is always good up to the moment when it stops being plausible. After two arrivals as planned on runway 11, one of the departures reported a heavy tailwind and all was switched. Back to the rather usual 29 ops. I planned to stay only around 1 hour but ended up almost 4. Nevertheless I'm happy about the outcome. Oh, and the MD11 which usually doesn't fly on Saturdays but because its flight got cancelled the day before it did on that day.

SP-LNB

EPWA 2016.06.23 A little closer (and the MD11)

Thanks to the kindness of Warsaw Chopin airport and "Warsaw Spotters" who organized an entry to the other side of the fence for a group of spotters. At first, we've been transported near the glide slope antenna of ILS for RWY 33. As 11/15 have been in use we had the ability to take some pictures from a closer distance than usually of departing aircraft.
Later on, after the MD-11F arrived, we've been transported close to where it's usually unloaded, loaded and prepared for its departure. We took turns in walking around the plane. Time passed by and after 9 pm the plane was almost ready for departure. All looked fine, push-back, engine start and... and the plane had to return back to its stand due to some issues on board. As our time limit at the airport we had to go, and satisfy ourselves with what we got. It was a truly phenomenal evening in some great company.

SP-LLF

N286UP

Prague spotting, day 3 An225 departure 2016.05.12

The moment news about the Antonov 225 "Mriya" coming to Prague spread out I started planning and scheduling a visit in the Czech capital. Together with three other friends we made up a team and planned everything. It ended with three nights and two full spotting days, plus one short, just for the departure of the 225. Everything will be divided in three entries, link to other parts are available at the end of the entry. This was my first visit in Prague for spotting, and I must say, that the spotting locations are good! sometimes you need to walk a little, but hey, that's all in it!

This day we woke up early. I had to give up the previous days night spotting in order to get a rather good sleep before returning to Warsaw today. Another gambling day, weather to go to the hill near runway 24 or one near 12. In case of departing from 12 there was no sensible place to catch the rotation. We decided that the second option will be better. It will give us the possibility to both get the rotation from 24 (a little backlight if it goes too late) and taxiing to runway 12. And so it was. I hoped greatly for a 24 departure, that would have been spectacular from that spot. Anyway, the departure got delayed, so the sun was already on the wrong side of the runway axis, not much but anyway. It was chilly, the sun slowly rising gave a little heat on the faces, but a hat and scarf was necessary.
As usual, the giant needed a couple of minutes standing on the runway to heat-up the engines. That sound was spectacular!
Another thing that was unusual is that on of the wheels didn't hide after take-off (it can be slightly seen on my photos). There are photos showing it en-route with the wheels out. Crazy!

UR-82060

N431UP, now just imagine the An225 in that position, or similar.