15th AUGUST 2022 - EARLY MORNING TAKE-OFFS & LANDINGS AT DONCASTER-SHEFFIELD AIRPORT.

An early morning start for me, 04:45am alarm call to watch the early movements of a full list of aircraft at Doncaster-Sheffield airport. After several days of extremely hot weather, I get there to find that there was low-lying mist at the airport. I tend to stand at the southern edge of the runway and this meant that it was almost impossible to see the northern end. I could only see the 5 airplanes parked-up at the terminal building, with the aid of binoculars!

Runway lights on - very misty air conditions.

..and the Moon was still above the southern horizon.

So, I'd arrived before the first departure and that was to happen very soon. Two planes backed out of the terminal area and taxied down to the southern-end of the runway which was good for me as I could get some close photos.

TUI Airways Boeing 737-800 Reg:G-TAWM Doncaster to Zakynthos taxies through the gloom towards the runway.

Now this is better, G-TAWM get closer!

This is what I'm talking about!

G-TAWM ready to go! Engines throttling-up!

There she goes at 6:08hrs! The first of seven departures and two arrivals. Next up without delay is the second of the two planes who rolled-out together. Again a TUI Airways Boeing 737-800, G-FDZS to Burgas.

G-FDZS taxies to runway.

A close-up of Boeing 737-800 Reg G-FDZS.

G-FDZS throttling-up and ready to go!

..and at 0611hrs, G-FDZS is away!

Next to roll-out at 0625hrs were a TUI Airways Airbus A320 and a Getjet Airlines Boeing 737. The Airbus A320 was to depart for Ibiza at 0630hrs, while the Boeing 737 would be flying to Dalaman, but should've departed at 0605hrs. First away was the Airbus, only 1 minute behind schedule! The Dalaman flight would have to wait!

TUI Airways Airbus A320-232, ES-SAM taxies to runway.

Registration number shows on fuselage.

TUI Airways Airbus A320-232 ES-SAM Doncaster to Ibiza ready to roll.

Rounding onto runway.

ES-SAM throttling up and racing down the runway.

TUI Airways Airbus A320-232, ES-SAM takes to the sky.

As  TUI Airways' Airbus A320-232 took the the sky,  Getjet Airlines' Boeing 737 taxied into take-off position.

Getjet Airlines Boeing 737, LY-UNO taxies to runway.

Look at that! 

A good close view of Boeing 737-8FE, Lithuanian registered LY-UNO

Closeup of registration number.

LY-UNO swings round to position itself for take-off.

Off to Dalaman, Getjet Airlines Boeing 737 throttles-up to go!

Time for a quick coffee from the flask as I wait for the last of the five departures, to Lanzarote now due at 0715hrs. 

First there is the small matter of a TUI Airways 787-8 Dreamliner landing at 0655hrs from Melbourne, Florida. But from which direction? The north or south? I was joined by a chap who was going to film the arrival. Fortunately, he had the internet on his phone and was following the Dreamliner's flight. Looking at the flight-path, the 'Liner' tracked north beyond Rotherham and east towards Finningley and in front of us, then south to Clumber Park where it did a right-turn to head north on its glide path to approach the airport runway from the south. 

TUI Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner G-TUIE flies across my view, south of the airport some 3 miles distant over Bawtry. 

The Dreamliner is gradually turning right to head south.

All the time, receding in distance.

Towards its turnaround point... 

...over Clumber Park.

And no apologies for this set of photos.

A few minutes later, the aircraft appeared from the misty sky on its final approach to the airport.

Here it comes!

Closer!

Wow...almost on top of me!

G-TUIE is about 300 feet above me at the edge of runway perimeter! It's a huge aircraft and the noise!

Now the 0715hrs departure to Lanzarote, the last of the 5 aircraft parked at the terminal buildings readies to fly. It will take-off north to south along the runway.

Taking-off, north to south, TUI Airways Boeing 737-800 G-TAWU  climbs away from the airport.

Next to take to the sky was this HM Coastguard Beech 200 Super King Air registration G-HMGB. I almost didn't catch this as I was caught unawares and as can be seen by this blurred photo.

Almost immediately after that departure, a Wizz Air Airbus A321-231 landed from the northern-end from Krakow. I didn't grab much in the way of images due to the mist at the northern end.

See the difference in above photos. The top image has been heavily enhanced. Wizz Air Airbus A321-231 HA-LXV taxies to the terminal after landing. This was late in arrival and so its departure to Warsaw would be a lengthy delay. Time for more coffee!But at 0914hrs, the TUI Airways Dreamliner took to the sky, bound for Cancun, only 44mins late!

G-TUIE taxied down the runway to start its take-off in front of me.

Turnaround to start.

Throttle up and off she goes!

Go!

Right, so I have to wait for the Wizz Air to finish boarding, as I could see through binoculars. At 1008hrs, some 88 mins late, the Wizz Air Airbus A321 took to the sky from the north and wow what a sight as it flew overhead!

There she goes!

A great 4 hours spent watching and photographing 8 take-offs and 2 landings. What better way to spend the very early hours of the morning? 

RJC

END.