Stockholm & the PopulAir F-50 flight to Mariehamm

A couple of hours plane spotting at Stockholm Arlanda &
a flight in a Fokker F-50 to Mariehamn

During the last week of August 2024, I visited Arlanda Airport for a bit of aircraft spotting and to sample a flight to Mariehamn on the island of Aland, onboard a PopulAir Fokker 50. Let's first start with a bit of aircraft spotting at Arlanda!

Departure from Amsterdam.

Arrival at Stockholm-Arlanda, August 28, 2024.

Xfly CRJ-900, tail ES-ACB, operating for SAS, pushing back for another flight.

It was a warm and beautiful August 2024 afternoon when I photographed this Xfly CRJ-900 ES-ACK at the ramp.

Norwegian Boeing 737-800 SE-RTO being prepared for her flight to Prague.

Lufthansa Cargo D-AEUC is seen here departing for Helsinki as LH8355.

The Zimex ATR’s are operating cargo flights within Sweden.

'852' is owned by the Caravelle Club of Sweden and one of the stored Oldjets at Arlanda.

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 Caravelle SE-DAI.

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 several airports in Sweden. Arlanda Airport is also 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. This aircraft first flew on August 14, 1991 as G-LOGA and was accepted by Loganair on November 7, 1991. The 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.

It was a warm and beautiful August 2024 afternoon when I photographed this Global Research Aviation CRJ-200 OY-CRJ taxiing from its stand.

A SAS Airbus 320 seconds before touching the runway at Stockholm, Arlanda.

A Norwegian Boeing 737-800 about to place its set of rubber down on the Stockholm, Arlanda’s runway 19L.

SAS 1783 from Talinn, coming in nice and low over the fence.

I photographed this Scandinavian Airbus, at ARN during landing on 19L.

Sunshine glints off Eurowings Airbus 320 9H-LWC as it powers over the runway threshold of Stockholm, Arlanda.

SAS ATR-72, tail numbed ES-ATG, landing at Stockholm, Arlanda.

Boeing 737-800 of Norwegian seen here just about to touch-down at Arlanda.

SAS ATR-72 ES-ATG makes contact with Stockholm, Arlanda’s runway 19L on August 28, 2024.

9H-EWC of Eurowings is about to touch down on Stockholm’s runway 19L.

Airbus 320 LY-WIL seconds before touch-down on runway 19L.

'SK1812' about to land on runway 19L.

Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-IJR seen in flare for landing on Runway 19L Left at Stockholm, Arlanda Airport (ARN) in August 2024.

An Airbus of SAS smoking some rubber while touching down on runway 19L at Stockholm, Arlanda on August 28, 2024.

Iberia Airbus 320 EC-NTI about to land at Stockholm.

Emirates spotless Boeing 777-300 A6-EPD seen here seconds before touch-down Stockholm, Arlanda’s runway 19L on August 28, 2024.

SE-RTJ landing at Stockholm.

Here Embraer 190 OH-LKH comes over the runway approach lighting at Stockholm, Arlanda.

Halmsjön lake.

Runway 19L landing.

Early afternoon arrival over Halmsjön lake.

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100s whine overhead as a Scandinavian ATR-72 coasts in to touchdown at Stockholm, Arlanda’s runway 19L on an August afternoon in 2024.

'Scandinavian 496' from Oslo-Gardermoen.

'Nordic 2047' from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

'Ryanair 8448' from Riga.

A SAS Airbus inbound on short finals.

'Netjets 906E' from Malaga was operated by this neat Cessna 608A Citation Latitude.

I got rewarded with bright sunshine on this lovely Thursday, August 28, 2024.

D-ABZI Airbus 320 of Eurowings is about to touch down on Stockholm, Arlanda’s runway 19L.

'Swiss 1250' from Zürich-Kloten.

'Scandinavian 009' from Lulea, Sweden.

In a moment SE-ROI will touch down on Stockholm, Arlanda’s runway 19L.

6B/228 from LPA crosses into the sunshine just as it passes over the fence.

Touristik Union International from Gran Canaria crosses into the sunshine just as it passes over piano keys of runway 19L.

'Eurowings 4650' from Rome.

Eurowing Airbus 320 - 9H-EUO 'over the numbers' for ARN's runway 19L.

'Scandinavian 690' from Milan-Linate.

... and one second away from touching down Stockholm, Arlanda’s runway 19L.

'British Airways' from London-Heathrow.

'Sunturk 1281' from Istanbul - Sabiha Gokcen.

SE-RNF, a TUI B.737, is seen rolling on one of Arlanda's taxiways.

Another Scandinavian Airbus arrival.

'Viking 1653' from Rhodes, Greece.

EI-SIX glinting in the sun.

'Scandinavian 1045' from Kiruna, Sweden.

'Nordic 2614' from Helsinki.

SAS Airbus 320, EI-SIF, is seen taxing to her gate.

'Scandinavian 009' from Lulea.

'Finnair 1984' from Doha, Qatar.

Airbus 330-300 OH-LTO is proudly wearing her 'Marimekko Unikko' special livery.

'IceAir 308' from Reykjavik.

'Lufthansa 806' from Frankfurt.

'Finnair 813' from Helsinki.

Seen “over-the-numbers” for landing on Runway 19L is OH-LZI, an Embraer 190, originally delivered to Finnair in June 2007.

'Nordic 816' from Oslo.

Norwegian Boeing 737-800 - LN-ENU landing on runway 19L at ARN.

'Nordic 4222' from Malaga.

This 737 is captured seconds away from touchdown on Stockholm, Arlanda’s runway 19L during a calm summer afternoon in August 2024.

'Scandinavian 1745', operated by Xfly, from Tallinn.

ES-ACD of Xfly smoking some rubber while touching down on runway 19L at Stockholm, Arlanda in August 2024.

'Bee-line 2293' from Brussels.

'PopulAir 282' from Mariehamn, Aland.

This is the reason why I visited Arlanda Airport !

The next day, I sampled a flight to Mariehamn, on the island of Aland, onboard a PopulAir Fokker 50.

Fokker F-50 SE-LTR, which was manufactured in July 1991 and enjoyed a long and various career. She operated respectively for Rio Sul, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Swe Fly, Denim Air, VLM and Amapola Flyg. The latter transferred the Fokker to PopulAir in January 2024.

PopulAir West operates a fleet of F-50’s from its Stockholm, Arlanda base on scheduled passenger and cargo flights to Hemavan Tarnaby, Kramfors, Arvidsjaur, Lycksele, Ornskoldsvik, Vilhelmina and Gallivare in Sweden. In Finland they operate to Turku and Mariehamn on the island of Aland.

SE-LTR jumping the fence !

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 ID overpainted.

Originally built for Singapore Airlines in 1976, this 747 later flew for Pan Am and finally she flew for the Swedish company Transjet. After Transjet went bust, the plane sat collecting dust at Stockholm Arlanda airport until 2007. The conversion to a hotel 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 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.

The interior of the Boeing.

The number of active Fokker F-50’s is rapidly dwindling. Fortunately PopulAir is still operating a fair number of the aircraft type.

This one-time PAL flagship was 35 years old in August 2024.

N433UP arrived from Cologne as 5X/282 in the early hours of August 29, 2024.

Air China Cargo B-6091 arrived from Chengdu as CAO/1007 in the early hours of August 29, 2024.

Star Air OY-SRN arrived from Cologne as DJ/31976 in the early hours of August 29, 2024.

Aviation Service Liege Boeing 737-800F is seen here being loaded for the short hop to Orebro, Sweden.

Boarding time for flight HP281 to Mariehamn.

SE-LIO calmly awaits her passengers.

This aircraft, rolled off the Fokker production line in Amsterdam in January 1989 was delivered to Phillippine Airlines in the next month. Ten years later she was export to Sweden and registered as SE-LIO. The aircraft operated passenger services for Skyways Express and Amapola Flyg. The latter transferred the Fokker to PopulAir in February 2024.

Using the stairs enhanced the experience of getting on an airplane - you see the plane, hear the ambient sounds, smell the Jet A and feel like you are a part of the process instead of filing through a sterile tube from a room into a cabin.

Captian Möller and F/O Alex were the flight crew for flight HP281.

The number of passenger carrying Fokker 50’s are dwindling at an alarming rate during 2024.

After departure from runway 19R, we turned left and had a splendid view on Arlanda Airport.

Crossing the Swedish coast at 7.000 feet and with a groundspeed of 158 knots.

The kind canbin crew of PopulAir. Next of being the cabin attendents on the flights, they are doing the check-in, loadcontrol and operations at Mariehamn Airport.

Mariehamn, Aland Airport terminal is small and practical.

PopulAir Fokker F-50 SE-LIO at Mariehamn, prepping for her run to Turku, Finland.

PopulAir F-50 start-up at Mariehamn, Aland. Aug. 28, 2024. The Fokker (SE-LIO) was operating her daily flight from Stockholm Arlanda to Turku, Finland with a intermediate landing at Mariehamm, Aland.