Antalya(AYT) Turkey, 22-27 August 2013
Hi there guys and gals,
A report from Europe again, this time “Russian Heaven” Antalya in Turkey. After seeing many photos of all the Russian(and former CIS states) metal on internet and in magazines, we decided on a trip to this oasis. Main goal was scoring as many airlines as we could. Hoping some of them would bring true Russian metal. Alas, we did not see any T154’s even though Tatarstan had been using them vigorously in the weeks before our arrival but we were treated to some other Russian built aircraft.
I will post 4 updates the coming days. Here are the first 25, I hope you enjoy them:
We saw a total of twelve different TSO B747’s, some of them operating twice or even three times a day! VP-BKL was the 1st photo taken at AYT:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8615/ttko.jpg
VP-BCN of Yamal Airlines:
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/9360/3p2x.jpg
Still fresh from the paint shop in Manchester(UK), Wind Rose Aviation A332 UR-WRQ:
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4018/emgo.jpg
Ut Air have a very large presence and it is not uncommon for them to have 20 plus arrivals a day. Shame we didn’t see any of their B762’s but we managed to polish of a lot of 757’s. VQ-BKF an example with winglets:
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/4682/uvzi.jpg
TC-JHU of Turkish Airlines sporting Borussia Dortmund(German soccer team) special colors:
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/6808/9kjt.jpg
I believe TSO still have 2 -300’s in their fleet, VP-BGW still looking good for a ‘classic’:
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9969/k2ku.jpg
Kolavia of Russia have a couple of A320’s, both operated by Onur Air of Turkey, hence both have Turkish registrations . TC-KLB in full c/s:
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4388/el0d.jpg
Ut Air Ukraine operate 3 B738’s, UR-UTQ is one with winglets:
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1339/h29x.jpg
One of the locals, FreeBird have different tail c/s on nearly all their aircraft. A320 TC-FHE returning:
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8292/rpx3.jpg
One of FreeBird’s A321’s TC-FBT showing of another tail color:
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1115/6u80.jpg
UP-F1001 F100 of Kazak outfit Caspiy, operating for Investavia:
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7875/q7n1.jpg
RA-96015 being the first of four AFL IL96’s we saw in Antalya! :
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2351/4egl.jpg
Even though they operate frequently into AYT, we only managed to photograph one Sar Avia YK42, RA-42432 being the lucky one:
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7841/3jv7.jpg
Tarom operate nearly every day, twice a day using their A310’s. We only got to photograph YR-LCB:
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/4875/m8o6.jpg
Smart Wings of the Czech Republic have some machines on lease from Spicejet India, VT-SGU still with it’s Indian reg:
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/5989/dohz.jpg
Not a T154, shame! VQ-BMM in the dull Tatarstan c/s:
http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/2757/e3wi.jpg
Another Kolavia scheme, EI-ETK in the rather boring TUI/MetroJet c/s:
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/3664/8fmq.jpg
VP-BAS being one of the many Ut Air B752’s, no winglets on this one:
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2331/zd8c.jpg
Luk Aero have not come around to painting their sole A320 yet, so the very early morning sun has to bring some color to UR-CKR:
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8696/zu6n.jpg
B739 UR-PSK still wearing the basic Sky Airlines livery:
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/4845/ns5f.jpg
Nordwind’s Ukrainian division is called Kharkiv Airlines, we saw both their B738’s. UR-CLR soaking up the morning sun.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2091/mz82.jpg
Number 2! Can’t get enough of these beauties! This time it’s RA-96007:
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3402/p1o9.jpg
Pegasus is another Turkish outfit, TC-CPG:
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/2400/kqkd.jpg
VP-BGP of Orenair:
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/4296/oewu.jpg
I love the c/s of I-Fly, they look stunning on the 757! EI-DUC still looking smart:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1341/0uz8.jpg
