The Gambia & Banjul Photo Report! 30+ photos

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20 years 8 months

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Firstly if your a dial-upper this may take a bit, I used to be one so I know how it is ;) :cool:

Well a very good afternoon to all of you! instead of blabbing on I'm going to try and not make this a trip report and not get it shifted to that forum so I'll keep it short and sweet, here we go! :D

1. Waiting at Terminal One aboard G-FCLI, had an interesting visitor taxi past in the form of a Saudi Hercules which I saw on my last visit. Along with MYT 757 (G-WJAN) and another TCX 752.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia1.jpg

2. Taxiing past the 'Business Aviation Centre' with the interesting visitor being a Chinese Gulfstream 4 (B-8080).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia2.jpg

3. Coming towards the 'AVP, tried to get it all in and I think I did, was quiet and the reason for that being it was bloody freezing! I was hoping someone there would snap us but apparently we're just "another boring TCX 75".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia3.jpg

4. Well here we are departing RWY 6L, anyone guess the aircraft in the background? ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia4.jpg

5. Climbing......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia5.jpg

6. Not the most common site from a TCX aircraft, the Sahara Desert - it was a magnificen site and the brilliant weather made it better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia6.jpg

7. No apologies for showing a different angle of it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia7.jpg

8. Turning for the approach to runway 14 at at Banjul, and our first site of The Gambia.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia8.jpg

9. Slowing down, the seats we were given (22F) didn't give the best view.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia9.jpg

10. Exiting, interesting to note that NASA have Banjul down as a 'diversion' airport for the Space Shuttle incase it's required. 11,800ft runway.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia10.jpg

11. Well here was my first interesting site! 'Logistic Air' B747 (5U-ACE) parked on the apron, AFAIK this a/c operates for the UN or does military charters though I cannot be sure.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia11.jpg

Original post

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20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,394

Well here we come to the return journey, Banjul has a very comfy and modern terminal when considering the location. Air conditioned and has an outdoor area with tables etc but it also allows you to get real close to the aircraft on the apron.
We did notice alot of commotion with military figures around the apron and the 'Nigerian President' had been in town for a day or so and thought it was associated with that, ended up speaking to a employee of the airport who works in secruirty and he told us the Gambian President was heading out to the Middle East today and that of course made sense as his private Il-62 was on the apron.
We also asked him if it was OK to take pictures and he gave the thumbs up so I was chuffed about that, after the convo had finished and about 10/15 minutes later he came into the Terminal and asked me and my step-mom if we would like to go out on the apron and get some pictures!
We of course made no hesitation and he took us through to the 'other side' of the Terminal and we had a walk about and a chat, this also allowed me to get some shots of the Presidents aircraft, the ATC Tower and the Terminal etc

I never expected this to happen especially in The Gambia of all places, did show what a fantastic people they were. So here are some of the shots from out venture to the other side and the rest of the journey!

12. The Gambian Presidents private Il-62 parked up awaiting his arrival, very impressive machine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia12.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia13.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia14.jpg

The tail emblem has the words 'Progress, Prosperity and Peace' in it.

13. The rather impressive ATC Tower.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia15.jpg

14. The Terminal from the 'ramp' point of view, not the best angle I know but this was as far as we were allowed out but I wasn't complaining.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia16.jpg

15. Our flight arrives 15 minutes late from Manchester, and the aircraft was G-FCLH. You can see all the members of the military etc awaiting the Presidents arrival.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia17.jpg

16. The nice if small Departure Lounge, it was full to near capacity with our flight of 235 pax.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia18.jpg

17. While waiting aboard the aircraft I got a shot of the old ATC tower, the old Terminal to be fair was nothing more than a shed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia19.jpg

18. Another interesting aircraft sitting on the apron, another was parked next to it and according to our 'mate' at the airport they are used for crop dusting duties. If anyone could confirm the aircraft type for me I would be grateful.
Reg is C5-DOA

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia20.jpg

19. While taxiing out I got a shot of this all white DC-9, reg is N47401 and has been parked here for a couple fo years now. AFAIK it was part of an unsucessful attempt to start a local airline but it was declared unsafe upon arival from MIA and so was grounded and it is in a bad state now.

The viewing area I was talking about earlier is only a few metres to the left of this aircraft, I tried to get a better picture there but it was hampered by airstairs etc

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia21.jpg

20. While turning onto runway 32 for departure there were yet more hidden treasures taking residence in Banjul - Aircraft ranged from Antonov's to Boeings.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia22.jpg

21. While rotating I managed to get a shot of the apron, you can see the DC-9 mentioned before and the two green B732s belong to an airline called 'Slok Air'

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia23.jpg

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22. Shortly after departure.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia24.jpg

23. Climbing.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia25.jpg

24. Crusing along at FL300.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia26.jpg

25. Never usually take pictures of the saftey cards but I thought this was interesting because it mentions the aircraft registration on it, as you can tell by the 'ETOPS' this a/c is also reconfigured to 187 seats to do the YYZ flights in the summer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia27.jpg

26. Well we finally get back at about 22:50 and park on the other side of Terminal 1, one of the interesting aircraft about was bmi's 'Star Alliance' B767.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia28.jpg

27. Of course I got the flightdeck visit and it's been my first night flight for quite a while so I was chuffed to see the results of this picture, even if it is a little blurry.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia29.jpg

28. Our seat row for the flight home, G-FCLI which took us there hadn't got the leather seats and we really did notice a difference in comfort and it was probably just me but it did feel like we had a tiny bit more legroom. Row 4.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia30.jpg

29. And finally the cabin shot, it does have a very smart interior indeed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/future_pilot17/Gambia/Gambia31.jpg

Well there we go, a photo marathon for me but I thought it would be great to show you what a great country The Gambia is for spotting/photography and not just that but the people and the country are great.

I really reccomend. :D :), sorry for any spelling/grammor errors! :diablo:

Tom

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21 years

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Great stuff Tom, really interesting report, great to see stuff from Africa once in a while!

Member for

20 years 10 months

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anyone guess the aircraft in the background? ;)

Delta 767? I'm not even sure if DL fly into MAN!

1L.

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19 years 10 months

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Yep, Delta do fly here. Great shots, and glad G-FCLH behaved for once! ;)

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18 years 11 months

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Fantastic there Tom, great shots and glad you had a good time!

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18 years 6 months

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Was the aircraft blurred by the sun, is a TCX 757 or LS 757 ?

Fabulous Report! i thought the gambian president was travelling with TCX, then i re read it again lol

Jon

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18 years 9 months

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Amazing photos - thanks for sharing them

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20 years 8 months

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Delta 767? I'm not even sure if DL fly into MAN!

Spot on there mate and thanks for the comments all. :)

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 10,160

Some very good pictures in an excellent trip report there, Tom. I'm glad you saw the Chinese Gulfstream at MAN. :)

Well a very good afternoon to all of you! instead of blabbing on I'm going to try and not make this a trip report and not get it shifted to that forum so I'll keep it short and sweet, here we go!
Hmmm...... "Trip Report". That'll be a report of a trip, won't it? Just like yours, in fact.

We've got a special Forum for those, set up at huge expense and great personal risk.

Hold on to your hats....... :D

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,394

Thanks alot Lance :). I did my best but I knew I'd over-stepped the boundry when I started yakking on about my walk of the airport!

It had probably achieved that status before that anyway...;)

We've got a special Forum for those, set up at huge expense and great personal risk.

I think you make it sound alot more dramatic than it really is :D.

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 313

An excellent trip report there Tom! Honestly one of the best I've seen! Well Done!

I really enjoyed seeing the photos, some really interesting stuff there like the B747 and Gambian Il-62 and all v good quality! Love the FD and cabin shots too!

I'm glad to see you like The Gambia so much, I've always thought it sounds like an interesting destination. Having known a few people who have gone there on holiday in the past and also some people who live there it's made me want to visit even more

It's great to have some unusual destinatians like Banjul, Thanks for sharing! :)

Joe

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19 years 11 months

Posts: 10,160

I think you make it sound alot more dramatic than it really is. :D
You think so, huh?

Maybe one day Moggy might tell you the saga of the Airshow Photography Forum! :eek:

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20 years 10 months

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Brilliant shots Tom, so, how do you rate Thomas Cook then?

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,394

Would fly them again Tom, the return journey made a much bigger impression than the outbound. The leather seats seemed to make all the difference.

An excellent trip report there Tom! Honestly one of the best I've seen! Well Done!

I really enjoyed seeing the photos, some really interesting stuff there like the B747 and Gambian Il-62 and all v good quality! Love the FD and cabin shots too!

I'm glad to see you like The Gambia so much, I've always thought it sounds like an interesting destination. Having known a few people who have gone there on holiday in the past and also some people who live there it's made me want to visit even more

It's great to have some unusual destinatians like Banjul, Thanks for sharing! :)

Joe

And thank you Joe! Very much appreciated :D.

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20 years 1 month

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Great report, Tom! Shame that FCLH had been reconfigured. ;)

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18 years 6 months

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Excellent report and pictures there Tom! :D

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20 years 1 month

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Very nice selection of pictures from Africa

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24 years 2 months

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Nice report!

The crop duster can be either one of these two planes:
1) PZL 106BT Turbo Kruk
2) Ayres S.2R-T34

both planes are the same except made by different manufacturers under license.

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19 years

Posts: 848

Really nice shots there Tom!!