Return to the Balkans ~ Sofia (SOF) 5th & 15th October 2023
Nov 12, 2023 22:42:58 GMT 1
northbynorthwest, andyh, and 6 more like this
Post by Airbus A346 on Nov 12, 2023 22:42:58 GMT 1
Having forgone a Spring trip this year, and with the appalling British weather I decided an Autumn trip to somewhere warmer was needed.
I returned home from Bulgaria unwell last year and vowed "never again" I also vowed that "I would never fly on a Boeing 737 Max" - you can see where this is heading 😂
A Dutch contact (Hans) did a trip in the Spring and his photos set the wheels in motion, I had a 10 day trip planned out and 'oven ready' it was just a case of finalizing flights, car hire and accommodation.
I had changed my mobile provider earlier from a well known rip off company to one that provided free unlimited data roaming, and installed Google Translate. So game on.
A Dutch contact (Hans) did a trip in the Spring and his photos set the wheels in motion, I had a 10 day trip planned out and 'oven ready' it was just a case of finalizing flights, car hire and accommodation.
I had changed my mobile provider earlier from a well known rip off company to one that provided free unlimited data roaming, and installed Google Translate. So game on.
The LPL > SOF route is now operated by a Sofia based Max which meant a 8am departure, or 9am in my case because
SP-RZI was an hour late arriving in Liverpool. The return flight leaves Sofia at 6.30am which meant getting there at an ungodly 4.30am. I ended up staying in an Airport hotel with a shuttle bus having returned the hire car on Sunday afternoon.
SP-RZI was an hour late arriving in Liverpool. The return flight leaves Sofia at 6.30am which meant getting there at an ungodly 4.30am. I ended up staying in an Airport hotel with a shuttle bus having returned the hire car on Sunday afternoon.
The only spotting done was on arrival, and was limited on departure due to it being pre-dawn.
Thursday, 5th October 2023
CS-LTN Cessna 680 NetJets
D-CCHB LearJet 35A
G-NPTX B737F West Air
HZ-ASF A320 Saudia - Skyteam c/s
HZ-AS45 A320 Batik Air full c/s
LZ-ASR Piaggio 180 Avanti
LZ-CVA Cessna 560XL
LZ-FIB IAI Galaxy
LZ-FSC A321 Fly2Sky
LZ-TRH LearJet 60
LZ-ROM A220 Bulgaria Air
N342AX B767 Omni Air Int'l
N441AX B767 Omni Air Int'l
OE-IAT B737F all white
OE-LNA B757F DHL
SP-RZI B737Max Ryanair (my ride out)
TC-ALT Hawker 800XP
YR-BUL Cessna 525
YU-BZZ Cessna 550
9H-NATE Gulfstream 5
?? Gulfstream 4 house c/s
?? B747 all white no titles
Plus unidentified on the Northside
HB- ?? ATR72 Zimex
?? ATR72 ASL c/s
?? ATR72 all white?? ATR72 all white/blue rudder
15th October > early hours 16th October 2023
A6-FME B737Max Air Dubai
CS-DLC Falcon 2000 NetJetsCS-LTW Cessna 680 NetJetsD-CCCC Metroliner BinAirEI-STK B737F ASL Airlines (stored)
EI-STJ B737F all white (stored)
LZ-BVD Challenger 604
LZ-EAB A320 Electra
LZ-EAF A320 Electra
LZ-GPD Cessna 680
LZ-KPD Cessna 680
LZ-LDJ MD80 European Air Charter (stored)
LZ-LON A220 Bulgaria Air
N225AX B767 Omni Air Int'l
SP-RZE B737Max Buzz (my ride home)
TC-LCD B737Max Turkish
YU-ALW ATR72 Air Serbia
YU-ALY ATR72 Air Serbia
9H-ASB Global Express 6000
9H-LAX A320 Lauda
9H-VDS A320 all white
9H-XRJ LearJet 60
LZ-BUR, FBD, FBH, FBI, PLO, SOF, VAR Â A319s & Emb-190s Bulgaria Air were also noted.
Most of the derelict and stored inmates I noted in my October 2022 report appear to be still present.
The 2 x Yak 40s and 4 x BAe 146s near the new tower and Terminal 2 still linger on.
Numerous B737s on the Northside with a couple of MD80s, three ex Alitalia A319s and the Astra ATR42.
N225AX by MARTIN CHELL, on Flickr
