Ronaldsway Mon 22nd July

[marquis]

An earlyish start today with Challenger 350 9H-VCF arriving about 08.30 as "VJT 498".

When one hears a "Cotam" inbound it is generally a Xingu, or occasionally a TBM700, however "Cotam 1417" today was a surprise - DHC6-200 FRACD/298 - almost anonymous in all white with no roundels and the code in light grey just below the tailplane, it flew clockwise round the island before landing around 12.00 - it has parked at PJC and appears likely to be staying a while, possibly night-stopping.

Beech F33 ES-BHB departed about 1300 heading for Scotland.

[marquis]

I could well be wrong, but the only other visit of a French AF DHC6 that I'm aware of was 730/FRACA on the 15th April 2009.

[acklington]

And here are the photos;

9H-VCF, IOM, 22 July 19 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
F-RACD, 298, AA GAM 00.56, IOM, 22 July 19 (13) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
F-RACD, 298, AA GAM 00.56, IOM, 22 July 19 (11) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
F-RACD, 298, AA GAM 00.56, IOM, 22 July 19 (9) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
F-RACD, 298, AA GAM 00.56, IOM, 22 July 19 (6) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

There was a third earlier Twotter visit, No.603 on 19th March 1992, visiting from RAF Valley;
FAF 603, CY, ET65, IOM, 19 Mar 92 pfw by Philip Pain, on Flickr

[michelnstarr]

A first for me. I have just watched Q400 G-JECZ take off on runway 21. It was airborne by the time it reached the main runway.