Tractacus' photos

Hop Embraer EMB190-100 F-HBLF gets away from Manchester with a flight to Paris CDG. Thu17Sep20.

Ryanair/Malta Air Boeing B737-8AS 9H-QAT has pushed back off Terminal 3 at Manchester, and is ready to move out with a flight to Berlin Schonefeld. Thu17Sep20.

Ryanair Boeing B737-8AS EI-EPH seen here departing Manchester with a flight to Tenerife. Thu17Sep20.

Jet2 Boeing B737-86N G-GDFS departs Manchester, heading to Heraklion. Delivered to Prague based Travel Service Airlines in 2001, it moved to Jet2 in May of 2014. Thu17Sep20.

EasyJet Airbus A320-214 G-EZWP departs Manchester with a flight to Santorini. Thu17Sep20.

EasyJet Airbus A320-214 G-EZUT gets away from Manchester with a flight to Jersey. Thu17Sep20.

EasyJet Airbus A320-214 G-EZOP arrives at Manchester with a flight from Sofia. Thu17Sep20.

The low evening sun reflects off the contrail of Ryanair Sun/Wizz Boeing B737-8AS SP-RSE, as it passes over Manchester at 37000 ft with a flight from Dublin to Budapest. Sun30Aug20.

A pair of Pigeons seemingly engaged in earnest conversation. Sun30Aug20.

A pair of camera shy sparrows. I waited in vain for them to face the camera, but to no avail. Tue18Aug20.

Nikon P1000, with lens fully extended.

My new toy. Nikon P1000

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij = Royal Aviation Company – is the flag carrier of the Netherlands, based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, offering scheduled passenger and freight services to European and worldwide destinations. Founded in 1919 it is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. KLM was the launch customer for the Boeing B747-400M, the passenger/freight combi version, in 1983. The airline entered the record books on 19 June 2012 when it made the first transatlantic flight using biofuels, from Amsterdam to Rio de Janeiro, the longest distance any aircraft had flown on this type of fuel. The airline was also the last commercial passenger operator of the Douglas MD11, which ended service in 2014. Callsign ‘KLM’ Flight codes KL/KLM Aircraft in fleet: 8 x Airbus A330-200. To be replaced by Boeing B787-10 5 x Airbus A330-300. To be replaced by Boeing B787-10. 16 x Boeing B737-700. To be retired in 2022. 31 x Boeing B737-800. 5 x Boeing B737-900. 2 x Boeing B747-400. To be retired by 2021, replaced by Boeing B777 and Boeing B787 Dreamliner. 6 x Boeing B747-400M. A passenger/freight combi version. To be retired by 2021, replaced by Boeing B777 and Boeing B787 Dreamliner. 3 x Boeing B747-400ERF. KLM Cargo. Operated by Martinair. 15 x Boeing B777-200ER. 14 x Boeing B777-300ER. 13 x Boeing B787-9. 5 x Boeing B787-10. Aircraft on order: 2 x Boeing B777-300ER. 10 x Boeing B787-10.

VLM Airlines. VLM – Viaamse Luchttransport Maatschappij = Flemish Air Transport Company - was a Belgian airline providing scheduled and charter flights within Europe, from its base in Antwerp. The airline started operations in May 1993, with a flight from Antwerp to London City, and went bankrupt in August 2018. Callsign ‘Rubens’. Flight codes VG/VLM Aircraft in fleet: At the time of its demise, the fleet consisted of:- 6 x Fokker 50.

Brussels Airlines – branded as brussels airlines – is the flag carrier and largest airline in Belgium, with its base and headquarters at Brussels Airport. Following the bankruptcy of the Belgium national airline Sabena in 2001, SN Brussels Airlines was created, which then later merged with Virgin Express in 2006 and became known as Brussels Airlines, and started operations in 2007. The logo originally comprised 13 dots, but due to concerns from superstitious passengers, it was soon altered to 14. The airline operates flights to destinations in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. Callsign ‘Beeline’. Flight codes SN (Inherited from Sabena) and BEL. Aircraft in fleet: 22 x Airbus A319-100. 16 x Airbus A320-200. 3 x Airbus A330-200. 7 x Airbus A330-300. 5 x Bombardier CRJ900. Aircraft on order: 1 x Airbus A330-300.

The cockpit of the former North Birmingham Busways No 70, originally Greater Manchester Transport/SELNEC – South East Lancs North East Cheshire, fleet number 8700. Mon22Jul19.

Northern Counties bodied Leyland Atlantean AN68, fleet no 70, registration A700 HNB, of the former North Birmingham Busways. This was delivered new as fleet number 8700 to Greater Manchester Transport in January 1984, which later became SELNEC – South East Lancs North East Cheshire. Withdrawn from service in August 1997, by which time SELNEC had become part of the Stagecoach group, the vehicle was purchased by North Birmingham Busways, along with a number of other former SELNEC machines. Retired from North Birmingham Busways in January 2006, the vehicle was purchased by the SELNEC Preservation Society, and moved to a site in Openshaw, Greater Manchester, where it spent the next 12 years in open storage. Examination of the bus in the summer of 2019 showed it to be in remarkably good condition, and it was purchased by a friend of mine and subsequently driven under its own steam to a secure and covered location in Tameside. During its time with GMT/SELNEC, the vehicle was based for all of its working life at the Daw Bank garage at Stockport, so is no stranger to Tameside – one of its regular routes was the service 330 from Stockport to Ashton-under-Lyne. Here we see it at its new home in Tameside, where it will be restored into the original GMT/SELNEC colours of orange white and brown. Mon22Jul19.