A couple of hours plane spotting at Stockholm Arlanda &
a flight in a Fokker F-50 to Mariehamm
During the last week of August 2024, I visited Arlanda Airport for a bit of aircraft spotting and to sample a flight onboard a PopulAir Fokker 50 to Mariehamm on the island of Aland. Lets start with the several aircraft which are stored at Arlanda.
'852' is owned by the Caravelle Club of Sweden.
This aircraft was delivered new to SAS Scandinavian Airlines on February 10, 1966 and registered SE-DAI. When her civilian career with the SAS was over, she was sold to the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) in September 1971. In January 1999 the Caravelle was transferred to ‘Le Caravelle Club’ for static display.
The distinctive Sud-Aviation SE.210 Caravelle pioneered the design of transport with tail mounted jet engines.
Face-to-face with a Caravelle.
SE-DMT in what’s left of her glory. She’s still earning her keep as a ground trainer for Swedavia.
Swedavia is a Swedish state-owned company, which owns and operates ten of Sweden’s busiest airports and also Arlanda Airport is operated by Swedavia.
MD-81 SE-DMT changed hands several times. Her first owner was Swissair HB-IND. In April 2000 she was sold to SAS Scandinavian Airlines as SE-DMT. After her career with SAS the ‘Maddog’ went on to serve with many airlines on short leases. Her last operator was Air Sweden. Since 2013 she is preserved for ground handling training at Arlanda Airport.
Bae ATP SE-MAK. The aircraft first flew on August 14, 1991 as G-LOGA and was accepted by Loganair on November 7, 1991. This airframe enjoyed a long and various career. Next to Loganair, she operated respectively for; - Manx Airlines, British Regional Airlines, British Airways, West Air Sweden and finally NextJet. During May 2018 the latter ceased operations.
Originally delivered to Austrian Airlines in March 1991 as OE-LMD, the ‘Maddog’ passed through a succession of owners, including Royal Falcon and Meelad Air, before ending up with Arlandagymnasiet in June 2020.
Arlandagymnasiet revers to the Aviation Technology School of Stockholm.
SE-DDA in what’s left of her glory. She’s still earning her living as a training object for the Arlandagymnasiet Tech School.
All the recyclable components from the shell of this Saab seems removed.
SE-KXJ first flew in 1990 and served KLM Cityhopper from 1990 to 1998 as PH-KSG. It passed through the hands of several owners before ending up in store at Stockholm-Arlanda, in August 2019.
Still retaining engine nacelles in her Nextjet colors, SE-MAK basked in Stockholm summer sunshine.
This ‘White Ghost’ is the former SAS Caravelle-III SE-DAA and is since 1974 in use by the Stockholm-Arlanda fire brigade. Her cockpit was cut-off in mid-1998 and taken to the Finnish Aviation Museum.
When in Stockholm you might overnight in the Jumbo Stay at Arlanda Airport. I slept in this 747 for only € 39,-.
The livery already shows signs of a hasty splash-n-dash, with previous i/d overpainted.
Originally built for Singapore Airlines in 1976, later flew for Pan Am and last flew for the Swedish company Transjet which went bankrupt in 2002. The plane sat collecting dust at Stockholm Arlanda airport until 2007 when the Sigtuna authorities granted a building permit to convert the plane into a hotel called Jumbo Stay. The conversion began in January 2008 and guests were able to stay overnight in the converted jumbo jet for the first time in January 2009. Since then the jumbo jet has served as an iconic landmark for the airport and a unique and thrilling experience for its guests.
What a coincidence. During the early 80’s my wife and I had travelled onboard this 747 AMS/FCO/BAH/BKK/SIN while operating for Singapore Airlines as 9V-SQE.
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