Fog Bound LHR | SpeedBird 253

[CAY253- Guy]

Hi there,

I am finally back in Cayman after a long stint in England, yesterday I took the infamous BA253 from LHR to GCM via NAS. Here is by 'trip report' of the flight. Sorry, the pics will take a while to load!

Boeing 767-336ER
G-BNWY

After an early start we wound up at London Heathrow's Terminal 5

Check in area.
http://i45.tinypic.com/10fz4h5.jpg

That morning was the first really thick fog this Winter and you couldn't even see T5B, the satellite terminal opposite!

Looking out over an A320 bound for Warsaw
http://i46.tinypic.com/14imzv5.jpg

A 767, not ours, bound for somewhere in Europe.
http://i46.tinypic.com/xqdjbt.jpg

Our gate, B47
http://i45.tinypic.com/xclsme.jpg

Surprisingly the gate agents boarded us all at once rather than by rows, everyone seemed a bit confused by this so didn't get up, meanwhile that meant I was first on board so got a shot of an empty cabin!

http://i48.tinypic.com/amegjb.jpg

The view from my seat, 29K
http://i47.tinypic.com/ftnev6.jpg

Useful for a wingview edit maybe...:lol:
http://i48.tinypic.com/169pwsn.jpg

Pushback, 1 hour late!
http://i45.tinypic.com/211q8hw.jpg

The queue for takeoff
http://i47.tinypic.com/warp51.jpg

Lots of long-hauls at T5B
http://i48.tinypic.com/90pnhs.jpg

Out of the clouds.
http://i45.tinypic.com/amqgih.jpg

Flying past Oxford we passed over Didcot, these plumes you see are from the cooling towers, look at the 'wake' the clouds make as they separate at them!
http://i46.tinypic.com/34h9rgj.jpg

The food on the flight was surprisingly good, the captain warned us of a longer-than-usual flight time due to a more southerly route. He said we would be crossing a few jetstreams making for a bit of turbulence. About mid-way through he advised us of planes ahead reporting 'Moderate Turbulence' from FL260 to FL410 so there was no escaping it, 'prepare for 1/2 hour of bumps.' he said.:O They never happened!whistling

Top of Descent into Nassau
http://i46.tinypic.com/2h2pq55.jpg

Flaps 15, turning onto final for RWY 14
http://i46.tinypic.com/xgic8z.jpg

GA ramp, is that a DC-2 or a DC-3? The tail looks different from a DC-3hmmm
http://i50.tinypic.com/6jkc1t.jpg

Taxiing on stand at NAS, note the marshaller standing on the tug!LMAO
http://i50.tinypic.com/2lm9fdu.jpg

Sitting on the ground, looking up the aisle
http://i45.tinypic.com/vi1sgm.jpg

Since the load was about 50% I switched seats to 28A, a window on the other side as that is the best side to sit on for an approach into GCM!
Descending into GCM
http://i48.tinypic.com/flhh1g.jpg

Very high over North Sound!
http://i45.tinypic.com/2w74nz9.jpg

Ritz-Carlton golf course<<
http://i46.tinypic.com/nlag6w.jpg

7-Mile beach!
http://i45.tinypic.com/11twfte.jpg

We flew WAY out to dump height, then turned in to final.
http://i45.tinypic.com/346p0z9.jpg

Lining up with the runway.
http://i49.tinypic.com/sl41o9.jpg

Landed, turning round at the end.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2d6mddl.jpg

I hope you enjoyed it, I did! You might have noticed no landing/takeoff shots, I have them all on video and will upload them shortly!.cheers

Also, guess who was 'inspecting the runway' behind us as we landed? Oh yes, Mr Schutte!:lol: I managed to catch him as we turned in while he was taking pics, I'm sure he will post one, if not more here!
http://i48.tinypic.com/14cwwg9.jpg

[CAY792-William]

Great Shots Guy! Very nice indeed!

My friend was coming from Dublin actually missed this flight yesterday as they Heathrow wouldnt allow the plane to takeoff due to the fog and they didnt want to clog up the already clogged airspace! And that is indeed thick fog!

Very nice shots of the trip!
I had chicken curry on my flight which was very good! Tasty and filled ya up!

That is also a Super DC3! it has the tail of a Turbine DC3 on it, she has been to MWCR also before!! Here she is below!
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6568/p4170079.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/p4170079.jpg/)

Never guess what cargo tho was in her...... COWS!

Here is a little film also of the visual approach that BA normally shoot coming into MWCR joining on the left downwind!
Its not the best quality as it came from a phone but still better than nothing! lol!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz-EauOWQGc

[CAY036- Moses]

Excellent report Guy!

clap

[CAY029- Pierre]

Beautiful report Guy, loved reading it and viewing the very nice pics. :D

A usual day in the UK, huh? Looked pretty hazy there at Grand Cayman too. Must be great to be back in the awesome weather!

[CAY102- Jon]

Great report Guy, my turn!

BAW253 turning left base for runway 08. You were cleared for the visual at 17DME, joined a very high left downwind as you saw, was most unusual!

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/4361/33636576.jpg (http://img192.imageshack.us/i/33636576.jpg/)

"50.."

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/8983/12607616.jpg (http://img192.imageshack.us/i/12607616.jpg/)

Smack-down:

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2348/48914680.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/48914680.jpg/)

"Backtrack 08, vacate via Delta.."

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/4243/41082069.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/41082069.jpg/)

Got Lights?

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5286/96053824.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/96053824.jpg/)

APU running, about to turn in to stand 1A:

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/712/34068214.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/34068214.jpg/)

One of my favourite tails:

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2756/61790874.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/61790874.jpg/)

Runway 26, ready for departure? .plane

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/8921/93894159.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/93894159.jpg/)

Welcome home Guy. :-)

[CAY253- Guy]

Thanks a lot guys and thank you JON! Awesome pics! Hopefully I will get the videos up soon, that is very interesting about the Super DC-3, thanks Al! It's good to be back!:D

[CAY408- Ralph]

You Cayman guys have all the fun!
Excellent shots gentlemen.

[CAY253- Guy]

Video!

Finally I have done the video, it includes T/O from LHR and landings into NAS and GCM. I managed to switch seats on the second leg and was on the right hand side. See if you can spot Jon's van upon landing in GCM! :D

Takeoff out of LHR was great, I think the plane had been de-iced earlier as green liquid started pouring over the wing on takeoff roll, notice the condensation on climbout! Landing into NAS was very pleasant, the usual firm landing for the 767.:lol: Landing in GCM was smooth and steady on approach but touchdown was rather bone-shaking! I guess there is no room for error on a 7000ft runway!

I don't have a youtube account, and have no desire for one so here it is in .wmv format. It's better quality anyway! Turn up the Volume! (http://www.2shared.com/file/9995589/147f4938/BA253-_11Dec.html)

[CAY029- Pierre]

Great video Guy! I would love to fly down to GCM. The approach is magnificent!

[CAY102- Jon]

there is no room for error on a 7000ft runway!

Downloading the vids now! clap