Toulouse: Blagnac - Saturday 29/08/2009 (09:00-22:15L)

My August visit on what was another very pleasant, sunny day. The conditions caused the doors to the A330/340 FAL to be open, as well as the occupied half of the ZIEGLER DC hangar which allowed close inspection of the 10th A380 for Singapore Airlines, which was noted arriving back from Hamburg shortly before (see my photostream on flickr for more – link below).

The fact that it was holiday season resulted in the number of frames being considerably less than on previous visits, especially A320s and to some degree the widebodies, although the stations directly outside the FAL were full. A highlight was the second A330MRTT for the Royal Air Force, which appeared at the ‘tough’ sometime in the late afternoon.

The first A340-500 originally intended for Kingfisher, and still wearing the carrier’s full colours, was also noted at the ‘trough’, for the first time in many, many months so hopefully this is a positive sign that it is about to find a new home. Similarly, MSN0993 an A340-600 for Iberia was noted at the ZIEGLER DC wash station now back in standard (green) primer after its ugly coat of yellow storage primer had been washed off. Again, hopefully a sign that it is about to be completed.

The midfield apron remains home to no less than four A330-200s originally ordered by Gruppo Marsans for operation by Aerolineas Argentinas. An A330-200 in full AirComet was also noted out of sight, by the (ex. SOGERMA) Airbus Corporate Jet hangars wearing an unhelpful test registration and no other markings making it impossible to tie-up at this stage. This is expected to be either MSN1002 or 1019 which had both been noted in full colours previously.

The number of stored A320s has diminished with the departure of the two long-stored Kingfishers with only MSN3882 – storage primer – visible outside at St. Martin du Touch.

Over at the A380 site, MSN0028 F-WWSZ, destined for Emirates, has now emerged from the FAL to take its place on the production flight line.

A single ‘Mach II’ tour was taken to gain access to the main Airbus plant at St. Martin du Touch, but as noted last trip opportunities for viewing are now significantly diminished due to the construction of the A350XWB FAL and the re-positioning of the Air France Concorde away from the heart of the action. That said the tour is still worthwhile for anyone without access to a car, especially for the stations directly outside the A330/340 FAL.

Shots at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/a380spotter/sets/72157622054953787/

The usual disclaimers apply: Brackets indicate assumed reg. from previous intelligence. No brackets = positive sighting. All times are French local.

All frames parked-up, unless noted.

Toulouse: Blagnac – Saturday 29/08/2009 (09:00-22:15L)

AIRBUS PLANT

A300

238 300B4-203 F-WUAB Tail noted poking out of old hangar at St. Martin du Touch.

751/2 300-608ST F-GSTB Parked-up all day.

765/3 300-608ST F-GSTC Parked-up all day.

776/4 300-608ST F-GSTD Arrived 15:10L.
796/5 300-608ST F-GSTF Parked-up all day.

A320 family
0001 320-200 F-WWBA Airbus. Parked at St. Martin du Touch.

0659 320-232 F-WWDB DLR, testbed. Not seen.

3882 320-216 F-WWIP All yellow (storage) primer. With white tape on tip of tail. Parked on main apron at St. Martin du Touch. Iberia, ntu?

3974 320-214 AP-EDA Air Blue, full colours. Parked at the rear of the ZIEGLER DC.

3976 320-216 F-WWIV Air One/Alitalia, full Alitalia colours. ‘TI’ fin-id. = EI-DTI. Parked at the ZIEGLER DC, terminal-side.

3978 320-216 F-WWIX Air One/Alitalia, full Alitalia colours. ‘TJ’ fin-id. = EI-DTJ. Parked at the rear of the ZIEGLER DC.

3984 320-214 B-6602 Juneyao Airlines, full colours. Parked at the rear of the ZIEGLER DC.

4011 320-214 F-WWIC AVIANCA Colombia, full colours. Parked at the rear of the ZIEGLER DC.

4023 320-232 F-WWDN Dragonair, full colours. At Station Carburant.

Additional frames which could not be read off due to position were:

1. 320-214 AVIANCA Colombia, full colours. Parked on flight line at St. Martin du Touch. Assumed to be MSN4026 (F-WW??).

2. 320-214 Shenzhen Airlines, full colours. At Station Carburant. Assumed to be MSN4028 (F-WW??)

3. 320-2xx All white, including tail. At Station Carburant.

4. 320-232? Standard (green) primer with China Eastern tail colours. Parked, engineless at St. Martin du Touch.

5. 320-2xx All white, including tail. Parked on flight line at St. Martin du Touch.

Bits and pieces:

None noted in open storage, and Plat-forme Logistique was noted closed up.

A330/340 family
0001 340-311 F-WWAI Airbus. Parked on development test flight line.

0360 340-642 F-WWCA Airbus. Parked on development test flight line.

0886 340-542 F-WWTG Kingfisher Airlines, full colours. Parked on l’abreuvoir, terminal-side.

0894 340-542 (F-WWTH) All white fuselage and tail. Parked at rear of St. Martin du Touch apron. (Red) engines could not be seen. Identity confirmed by MSN sticker.

0925 330-203 F-WWKB Low visibility scheme, engineless. Doors, cockpit and undercarriage legs well taped-up against the elements. Now back on the ramp at J-L. LAGARDERE after another brief spell back at St. Martin du Touch. Continued storage.

655/1 300-608ST F-GSTA Parked-up all day.

0993 340-642 F-WWCK Standard (green) primer with full Iberia tail and engine colours. Parked at the ZIEGLER DC wash station, having had its coat of (yellow) storage primer washed off.

0996 330-203 F-WWKT All storage (yellow) primer colours, engineless. Parked at J-L.LAGARDERE (A380) apron. Continued storage.

1024 330-203 F-WWYS Afriqiyah Airways, full colours. Parked at the ZIEGLER DC, terminal-side.

1034 330-223 F-WWKS All (yellow) storage primer, including tail. Parked, engineless, on midfield ramp.

1037 330-343E F-WWYA Thai Airways International, full colours. Parked on l’abreuvoir, terminal-side.

1039 330-223 F-WWYO All (yellow) storage primer, including tail. Parked, engineless, on midfield ramp with undercarriage in storage configuration, i.e. taped and bagged up.

1040 340-642 F-WWCH Etihad Airways, full colours but minus eagle decal on fin. Parked on l’abreuvoir, terminal-side.

1042 330-223 (no registration worn) Parked, engineless, on midfield ramp with undercarriage in storage configuration, i.e. taped and bagged up.

1044 330-243 F-WWKA Oman Air, full colours. Parked on l’abreuvoir, terminal-side.

1045 330-243 F-WWYB/VQ-BBF (both registrations visible) Aeroflot, full colours. Parked at the rear of the DC.

1052 330-243 F-WWKQ All (standard, green) primer, including tail. Parked, engineless, at Stations 18 (outside the C. ADER FAL). Believed to be destined for Garuda Indonesia.

1054 330-223 F-WWYC Parked, engineless, on midfield ramp with undercarriage in storage configuration, i.e. taped and bagged up.

1058 330-343E F-WWYX Standard (green) primer – including tail, with grey winglets. Wearing Aeroflot customer stickers. Parked, engineless, at Stations 18 (outside the C. ADER FAL).

1059 330-223 F-WWKV Standard (green) primer – including tail. No visible customer stickers. Parked, engineless, at Stations 18 (outside the C. ADER FAL). Was destined for AirComet, ntu?

1060 330-343E “F-WW” (last 2 not yet applied) Standard (green) primer with (full) Thai Airways International tail, and purple winglets. Parked, engineless, at Stations 18 (outside the C. ADER FAL).

1063 330-343E Reg, if worn, could not be seen. Standard (green) primer, including tail. Identity confirmed by sticker at base of tail. On the C. ADER FAL, Poste 30D. Believed to be destined for Oman Air.

1066 330-343E Reg, if worn, could not be seen. Standard (green) primer with (full) AirAsia X tail. Identity confirmed by stencil on forward fuselage. On the C. ADER FAL, Poste 30B.

Additional frames which could not be read off due to position were:

1. 330-223 ‘F-WWJKL’ AirComet, full colours. Parked out of sight of the terminal area, outside the (ex. SOGERMA) Airbus Corporate Jet hangars. Believed to be either MSN1002 or 1019 which have both been seen in full colours on previous visits.

2. 1038 330-243 (F-WWYM) Oman Air, full colours. Parked on l’abreuvoir, plant-side.

3. 1041 330-243 (F-WWYT) US Airways, full colours. Parked on l’abreuvoir, plant-side.

4. 1046 330-243 (F-WWKH) Royal Air Force, full low-viz colours and titles, but with plain grey tail with white rudder. Appeared at corner of l’abreuvoir late afternoon.

5. 1065 330-343E Reg, if worn, could not be seen. Standard (green) primer with (full) Aeroflot tail. On the C. ADER FAL, Poste 30C.

6. 1067 330-302E Reg, if worn, could not be seen. Standard (green) primer with (full) Finnair tail. On the C. ADER FAL, Poste 30A.

7. 10xx 3??-??? (F-WW??) All (standard green) primer, including tail. On the C. ADER FAL in mating jig.

Bits and pieces:

None this visit.

A380

001 380-841 F-WWOW Airbus. Parked on Development flight-line (St. Martin du Touch).

002 380-841 F-WXXL Airbus. Not seen. Undergoing re-work to production standard as a business jet.

004 380-861 F-WWDD Airbus. Parked on Development flight-line (St. Martin du Touch).

009 380-861 F-WWEA Airbus. Not seen. Undergoing re-work to production standard as a business jet.

028 380-861 F-WWSZ Standard (green) primer with full Emirates tail. Engines now installed. Parked on Aero Constellation production flight line at stand A17.

045 380-841 F-WWSG Singapore Airlines, full colours. Arrived at 12:47L as “Airbus045D” from Hamburg XFW. Into ZIEGLER DC hangar, and noted receiving some attention.

050 380-842 F-WWAE Standard (green) primer with primer tail, and Qantas engine colours. Parked on Aero Constellation production flight line at stand A14. For QANTAS as VH-OQH.

051 380-841 F-WWAH Standard (green) primer with white tail, and grey engines, minus SQ logos. Parked on Aero Constellation production flight line at stand A12. For Singapore Airlines as 9V-SKK.

Bits and pieces:

None noted this visit.

ATR Plant

098 72-600 F-WWEY Full NEW house scheme. Parked on ATR DC, terminal-side.

785 72-212A F-WWED TRIP Linhas Aereas, full colours. Parked at ATR DC, terminal-side. Deccan ntu.

878 72-212A F-WWEG Lao Airlines, full colours. Parked at ATR DC, terminal-side.

Additional frames which could not be read off due to position were:

1. 72-212A BQB Lineas Aereas, full colours. Parked on ATR flight line. Assumed to be MSN805 F-WWEQ.

2. 72-212A fly 540, full colours. Parked on main ramp at St. Martin du Touch. Assumed to be either MSN816 F-WWEF or 826 F-WWEU?

3. 72-212A Wings Abadi Airlines, full colours. Parked on main apron at St. Martin du Touch. Assumed to be either 869 F-WWET or 882 F-WWEL.

4. 72-212A Wings Abadi Airlines, full colours. Parked on main apron at St. Martin du Touch. Assumed to be either 869 F-WWET or 882 F-WWEL.

5. 42-500 Air Saint-Pierre, full colours. Parked on main apron at St. Martin du Touch. Assumed to be MSN801 F-WWLT

Rear of St. Martin du Touch, close to hangars:

6. 72-212A Finncomm, full colours. Assumed to be MSN848 F-WWEN or 851 F-WWEU.

7. 72-212A? (Green) primer with all-white tail. Facing toward hangars.

8. 72-212A? Mostly white, tail could not be seen fully, but was again predominantly all-white. Facing toward hangars.

Rear of the ATR DC:

9. 72-212A Royal Thai Air Force, full colours. Markings obscured by A350XWB FAL construction work. Assumed to he either MSN872 F-WWEZ, 881 F-WWEJ or 887 F-WWE?.

ATR hangar next to A320 FAL:

None seen as the view was blocked by Airbus Development aircraft.

Original A300 hall:

None seen as the view was blocked by Airbus Development aircraft.

Latecoere Aeroservices

010 42-300 Cargo LY-RUM DOT LT, full colours. Parked outside main hangar, by the front gate.

215 VN-B202 Vietnam Airlines. All-white colours, with small Vietnamese flag at top of fin. Parked at main hangar, then towed out to the new ‘apron’ which used to be the approach road.

510 42-500 VT-ADH Full (old) Air Deccan colours, tail section removed, and engines in the process of being removed. Parked outside on storage ramp.

515 42-500 F-WKVK Full (old) Air Deccan colours. ‘DP’ on nose wheel door = ex. VT-ADP. Parked out front, on the new ‘apron’ which used to be the approach road.

666 72-212A F-WKVE All-white, ex. D-ANFK. Parked outside on storage ramp. Beleieved to be destined for Buddha Air.

691 42-500 F-WWLM All-white. Parked outside near the front gate. Cockpit and cabin windows covered with silver tape. Long term storage configuration.

802 42-500 F-WWLU All-white. Parked outside on storage ramp.

836 72-212A F-WWEC fly 540 Rwanda, full colours. Parked outside near the front gate in same configuration as MSN691.

845 72-212A F-WWEK fly 540 Angola, full colours. Parked outside on the storage ramp, in same storage configuration as MSN691.

plus F-GFUF 733 FPO, in the hangar.

Additional frames which could not read-off/tied-up:

1. 72-212A Standard (green) primer with white tail. Test reg. looked like F-WWEM but MSN could not be read off due to haze. Assumed to be either MSN883 or 884.

2. 42-500 All white (freshly painted), with no engines and no markings. Parked outside on the storage ramp, believed to be MSN503 ex. VT-ADI.

3. 72-212A? Ceiba International? full colours. Parked on main ramp at St. Martin du Touch. May have been a mispole as only glimpsed while we were on short finals.

Air France Industries

Nothing visible.

ATE (Aero Technique Espace)

Closed-up.

Selected visitors

CN-ROS 73H RAM

CN-RPF 73H JFU 8J2528 CMN-TLS

D-AEWF 142 EWG

D-AOLH 100 OLT

EC-HHI CR2 ANE

EC-HRG 321 JKK

EC-JJD 320 JKK