Post by viscount on Apr 10, 2010 14:29:18 GMT 1
GRAND NATIONAL DAY, AINTREE RACECOURSE HELI-PAD, SATURDAY 10th APRIL 2010, 0900-1300
Thanks to information on this forum, I made my way to a field outside the Aintree chain link fence (adjacent to Becher's Brook Jump) accessed from Trans Pennine Trail LDP.
Met up with ian531, negativeG, parfluer, PlanetAircraft, trijet, a guest user from Manchester and a guy from Derby who doesn't have internet access so had spent an hour walking around trying to find a viewing point.
Watched by Security and Police at times, but once they realised that our business posed no threat, left us alone. So too, for most of the time, did the local kids and dogs!
I was there 0900 until 1300 hours. Every movement descending immediately in front of where we were standing, although the actual landing area was just out of sight to the left, largely hidden behind a hedge. Sun from behind made photography with a 250-300mm lens on a digital SLR a doodle bar the occasional reflective flare.
A number of helicopters involved in a shuttles from various points, so called more than once. All helicopters used call-signs, nearly all of which were noted. Listed in sequence of their first appearance.
Regn. Type. Call-sign. land-depart. comment
M-YHOP A.109, Agusta 06, 0934-0936, 0950-0953, 1014-1015, 1046-1048, 1111-1113, 1144 & parked
G-GTJM EC-120, Euro 14, 0945-0947, 1000-1003, 1038-1040, 1051-1101, 1116-1119.
G-SPVK Squirrel, Squirrel 24, 0956-0957, 1058 & parked
G-MGAN Robinson R.44, Robbie 49, 1023-1025, 1100-1102, 1154-1156, 1246 & parked (may have called Redhead 49 on initial visit)
G-PIXX Robinson R.44, Robbie 40 o/h 1026-1033, landed 1121-1223, o/h 1223-1235, landed 1235 - to be tv photo ship during races.
G-XMII EC-135T, Police 24, o/h 1033-1039, landed 1039-1042, o/h 1042-1046.
G-MDPI A.109, Agusta 01, 1043-1045 to Wrexham, 1117 & parked
M-ONTY S-76, Sky 51, 1118 parked
G-SAMP A.109, Agusta 03, 1125 parked (Titan Airways scheme)
G-XOIL Squirrel, Squirrel 30, 1128 & parked
G-GOWF EC-135, Redhead 98, 1129 & parked (Bond Helicopters titles)
G-TOYZ Jet Ranger, ........... 27, 1134 & parked
G-PLAL EC-135T, Euro 15, 1139 & parked
G-DFOX Squirrel, Squirrel 26, 1142-1146. (to return around 1800 hours)
G-PIDG Robinson R.44, Robbie 44, 1152 & parked
G-CGRI A.109S, Agusta 02, 1155 & parked
G-PFOX Robinson R.44, Robbie 45, 1213 & parked
G-DCSG Robinson R.44, Robbie 48, 1218 & parked
G-IOOZ A.109, Agusta 18, 1222 & parked
G-FUFU A.109, Agusta 17, 1232 & parked
G-CEYF EC-135T, Euro 08, 1233 & parked
EI-LAD Robinson R.44, Robbie 42, 1234-1236, 1254-1256, 1305 & parked (informed by ground he was last one in)
G-CFCM Robinson R.44, Robbie 47, 1241 & parked
That should make a total of 23 different helicopters, and 40 landings in total. Liked the use of type in the call-sign, much improved on every helicopter calling 'Jockey .. '. Really don't know why I've never gone before. Although a little disappointed at the numbers (I thought there maybe more given the perfect weather) I'll be back at the fence in a years time!
Also noted Easyet A.319 G-EZNM at 0950, Eastern Jetstream 41 at 0912 and a Fokker 70 at 1105 inbound LJLA plus a Virgin B.747 i/b M/cr.
Beautiful warm, calm sunny weather .... has summer arrived?....is today the summer? Was it last year or the year before, that I froze to the bone in blowing sleet on the 27 mound on GND?
Thanks to information on this forum, I made my way to a field outside the Aintree chain link fence (adjacent to Becher's Brook Jump) accessed from Trans Pennine Trail LDP.
Met up with ian531, negativeG, parfluer, PlanetAircraft, trijet, a guest user from Manchester and a guy from Derby who doesn't have internet access so had spent an hour walking around trying to find a viewing point.
Watched by Security and Police at times, but once they realised that our business posed no threat, left us alone. So too, for most of the time, did the local kids and dogs!
I was there 0900 until 1300 hours. Every movement descending immediately in front of where we were standing, although the actual landing area was just out of sight to the left, largely hidden behind a hedge. Sun from behind made photography with a 250-300mm lens on a digital SLR a doodle bar the occasional reflective flare.
A number of helicopters involved in a shuttles from various points, so called more than once. All helicopters used call-signs, nearly all of which were noted. Listed in sequence of their first appearance.
Regn. Type. Call-sign. land-depart. comment
M-YHOP A.109, Agusta 06, 0934-0936, 0950-0953, 1014-1015, 1046-1048, 1111-1113, 1144 & parked
G-GTJM EC-120, Euro 14, 0945-0947, 1000-1003, 1038-1040, 1051-1101, 1116-1119.
G-SPVK Squirrel, Squirrel 24, 0956-0957, 1058 & parked
G-MGAN Robinson R.44, Robbie 49, 1023-1025, 1100-1102, 1154-1156, 1246 & parked (may have called Redhead 49 on initial visit)
G-PIXX Robinson R.44, Robbie 40 o/h 1026-1033, landed 1121-1223, o/h 1223-1235, landed 1235 - to be tv photo ship during races.
G-XMII EC-135T, Police 24, o/h 1033-1039, landed 1039-1042, o/h 1042-1046.
G-MDPI A.109, Agusta 01, 1043-1045 to Wrexham, 1117 & parked
M-ONTY S-76, Sky 51, 1118 parked
G-SAMP A.109, Agusta 03, 1125 parked (Titan Airways scheme)
G-XOIL Squirrel, Squirrel 30, 1128 & parked
G-GOWF EC-135, Redhead 98, 1129 & parked (Bond Helicopters titles)
G-TOYZ Jet Ranger, ........... 27, 1134 & parked
G-PLAL EC-135T, Euro 15, 1139 & parked
G-DFOX Squirrel, Squirrel 26, 1142-1146. (to return around 1800 hours)
G-PIDG Robinson R.44, Robbie 44, 1152 & parked
G-CGRI A.109S, Agusta 02, 1155 & parked
G-PFOX Robinson R.44, Robbie 45, 1213 & parked
G-DCSG Robinson R.44, Robbie 48, 1218 & parked
G-IOOZ A.109, Agusta 18, 1222 & parked
G-FUFU A.109, Agusta 17, 1232 & parked
G-CEYF EC-135T, Euro 08, 1233 & parked
EI-LAD Robinson R.44, Robbie 42, 1234-1236, 1254-1256, 1305 & parked (informed by ground he was last one in)
G-CFCM Robinson R.44, Robbie 47, 1241 & parked
That should make a total of 23 different helicopters, and 40 landings in total. Liked the use of type in the call-sign, much improved on every helicopter calling 'Jockey .. '. Really don't know why I've never gone before. Although a little disappointed at the numbers (I thought there maybe more given the perfect weather) I'll be back at the fence in a years time!
Also noted Easyet A.319 G-EZNM at 0950, Eastern Jetstream 41 at 0912 and a Fokker 70 at 1105 inbound LJLA plus a Virgin B.747 i/b M/cr.
Beautiful warm, calm sunny weather .... has summer arrived?....is today the summer? Was it last year or the year before, that I froze to the bone in blowing sleet on the 27 mound on GND?