Zaporizhzhia - Ukraine
September, 2008
In September 2008, my friend and colleague Pieter Alderden and I visited Ukraine. Next to some flights in vintage Russian transports, like; - AeroSvit/Lugansk Airlines An-24RV Kyiv-Boryspil to Dnipropetrovsk, Motor Sich An-140 Zaporizhzhia to Boryspil, and Donbassaero Yak-42D Boryspil to Lviv, we visited the State Aviation Museum at Zhuliany Airport. Very sadly, Pieter passed away in June 2017.
Below, I focus on our flight with the extraordinay turboprop Antonov An-140.
Below, I focus on our flight with the extraordinay turboprop Antonov An-140.
Zaporizhzhia sun rise, September 9, 2008.
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Zaporizhzhia (Запоріжжя) is a city in southeast Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper river. It is the administrative centre of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Zaporizhzhia has a population of 710,052 (2022 est.).
Zaporizhzhia is known for the historic island of Khortytsia; multiple power stations including Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (the largest nuclear power station in Europe), Zaporizhzhia thermal power station and Dnieper Hydroelectric Station and for being an important industrial centre. Steel, aluminium, aircraft engines, automobiles, transformers for substations, and other heavy industrial goods are produced in the region. |
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The Zaporizhzhia airport is hardly recognizable due to the excessive advertising bill-boards.
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Our flight M9/407 was the first departure from Zaporizhzhia.
Passenger check-in was done by two Ukrainian housewives!
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The airport lounge was, in short, spartan.
Our An-140 UR-14005 getting fuel at Zaporizhzhia.
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There was only one An-140 in commercial airline service in 2008. It was with Motor Sich Airlines which is based in Zaporizhia, Ukraine.
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Boarding Motor Sich only An-140 for our 1.10 hour flight to Kiev.
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One of the striking features of Zaporizhia airport is the presence of a large amount of Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft, most of which in poor condition and in long-term storage, unlikely to ever fly again. For example, during my visit I counted at least 32 Il-76 aircraft.
Ukraine Cargo Airlines, UR-UDS, An-26 between missions.
CCCP-76618, an IL-76MD, in Ukrainian Air Force uniform, looked rather lackluster back in 2008.
Most of these leviatans had faded paint and flat tires during my visit in September 2008.
In the wear tear cabin of the An-140.
We sailed in one hour ten minutes serenely toward Kiev Borispol airport.
Yummy ... !
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Entering the gloom of a summer day in September 2008 as our Motor Sich An-140 approaches 36R at Kiev Boryspil Airport.
Motor Sich An-140, tail UR-14005, disembarking pax at Boryspil domestic terminal.
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