Name: Douglas A-1 Skyraider (F-AZHK) at Hahnweide Air Show 2013 @LEJapproach
Uploaded: 2026-09-25T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: Douglas A-1 Skyraider (F-AZHK) at Hahnweide Air Show 2013

Douglas A-1 Skyraider (F-AZHK) at Hahnweide Air Show 2013

LEJ.approach 2026-09-25 | Douglas A-1 Skyraider (F-AZHK) at Hahnweide Air Show 2013

MUD HEN // F-15E landing at RAF Lakenheath

LEJ.approach 2023-12-22 | When I went over to the UK in November 2023 to meet the lovely people I met on the Ted Coningsby channel ( youtube.com/@TedConingsby ), I also took the opportunity to do a little plane spotting (alongside Ted and Nikos) at RAF Lakenheath, an airbase that has RAF (for Royal Air Force) in its name, but is operated entirely by the USAFE (US Air Force in Europe). Of the 4 flying units based there, 2 fly the F-35A Lightning II, nicknamed 'Fat Amy' and 2 fly the F-15E Strike Eagle, nicknamed the 'Mud Hen', one of which you can see one in this video.The aircraft featured in the video has the tail code 91-321, the first two digits of which indicate that it was ordered in the (fiscal) year 1991. This certainly doesn't mean it entered service that year, but it does give a rough idea of the age of the aircraft and I have to say that, considering the stresses and strains an ultra-high performance jet like the F-15 has to endure, a service life of around 30 years seems pretty impressive to me!The aircraft can be seen here, landing on runway 24 at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, UK.Recorded on 2023-11-29similar videos on my channel: ► 2023: tinyurl.com/y9xyvr9d ► McDonnell Douglas: tinyurl.com/yckrtse3

MILITARY ICELAND // Boeing P-8 Poseidon approaching Keflavík Air Base

LEJ.approach 2023-10-03 | I recently returned from a wonderful vacation in Iceland, and since there's so much to see, I didn't take the time to go plane spotting. Nevertheless, I took some short aviation clips and this is the first of them. A Boeing P-8 Poseidon approaching Keflavík Air Base. I would have liked to show you more of this approach, but unfortunately my camera's battery died, so this video is as short as it is. But I thought I would share it anyway.

The aircraft in the video (MSN 169343) belongs to the US Navy. It was delivered in April 2018 and is assigned to Patrol Squadron One (VP-1), also known as the "Screaming Eagles" ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VP-1 ), which is why you can see an image of an eagle on the tail. However, I have to say that since the P-8 is based on the successful Boeing 737-800 jetliner, there's nothing screaming about this aircraft as you can hear 😉.

In the video, the plane approaches the NATO-operated airbase at Keflavík, right next to Iceland's only international airport (KEF/BIKF).

Recorded on 2023-09-13

similar videos on my channel:
► 2023: tinyurl.com/y9xyvr9d
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq

NO GEAR RETRACTION? // Lufthansa A380 visiting Leipzig/Halle Airport

LEJ.approach 2023-05-29 | With demand for passenger flights plummeting due to the Covid-19 pandemic and newer, more efficient aircraft available, airlines all over the world took their Airbus A380s out of service, stating they weren't efficient enough and in the future, instead of flying to a few big airports and distributing passengers from there to their final destinations with small, highly efficient planes, more direct connections would be established. Lufthansa (LH/DLH) was amongst those.

Now, in 2023, with demand recovering and the major aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing both struggling with production delays, we see many of these A380s reactivated. And again, this includes Lufthansa. Of the 14 Super Jumbos they once had in their fleet, they have sold 6 back to Airbus and of the remaining 8, 4 will be back with Lufthansa this year, 2 will be reactivated in 2024 and there are rumors, that even the last 2 are going to re-enter service!
Did they finally realize that on a busy route, the alternative to an A380 is not an A350 or a Boeing 787 "Dreamliner", but two of those? I don't know. 😉 What I do know is, that D-AIMK, the first A380 Lufthansa reactivated, repeatedly came to my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) for intermediate landings in the last days and weeks, of which I was able to capture one, including the subsequent take-off, following which the plane's landing gear doesn't seem to have been retracted!

0:00 Arrival
0:34 Leaving the runway
1:40 Taxiing in front of LEJ's ATC tower
2:40 Take off

Recorded on 2023-05-18

similar videos on my channel:
► 2023: coming soon
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► Airbus: tinyurl.com/zc3d869

☘️ ST. PATRICKS DAY SPECIAL ☘️ // The Planes of ASL Airlines Ireland at Leipzig/Halle Airport

LEJ.approach 2023-03-17 | When considering to do a video for St. Patrick's Day, the first challenge for me is, to find material connecting Aviation and Ireland. I could have used some unreleased material from my 2019 planespotting session at Dublin airport (DUB/EIDW) or shots of Ryanair's seemingly omnipresent Boeing 737s. But over the last few years, more and more aircraft with registrations starting with EI-, which is Ireland's national aircraft registration prefix, have appeared at my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) and the company behind most of them is ASL Airlines Ireland (AG/ABR), a subsidiary of ASL Aviation Holdings, who are British owned, but headquartered at Dublin.

So here it is, a video combining all shots of ASL Airlines Ireland aircraft I could find on my hard drives. They might not display a harp or a shamrock and not one of them is even green and yet they are certainly Irish enough to wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day with! ☘️

Music:
Doon Reel/Mountain Top/Fred Finn's, created by Breandán Knowlton
source: https://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/doon_reel_mountain_top_fred_finns/
license: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 (CC BY-NC 2.5, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5)

LONG HAUL // Avianca Dreamliner landing at Munich Airport

LEJ.approach 2023-02-06 | I already published several videos I recorded at Dublin airport (DUB/EIDW) when visting Ireland for St. Patrick's Day 2019. But I didn't stop there! On our way back home, we had a stopover at Munich airport (MUC/EDDM) and again we used the time for some nice and relaxed plane spotting. And here's one of the results: An Avianca (AV/AVA) Boeing 787 or "Dreamliner" as Boeing calls it.

In this case, only my secondary camera (a Panasonic DMC-FZ300) was available and I had no tripod with me, but I think the video doesn't look too bad anyway.

The aircraft featured in the video is N793AV, a Boeing 787-8, which was delivered to Avianca in 2016 and has been in their fleet ever since. In the video, it can be seen landing at runway 08L at Munich Airport.

Recorded on 2019-03-20

similar videos on my channel:
► 2019: tinyurl.com/y4hklvk4
► Boeing aircraft: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Munich airport: tinyurl.com/3k8vhfrr

LIVING LEGEND // Antonov An-2 at Merseburg airfield

LEJ.approach 2022-12-19 | The plane featured in the video wasn't the actual reason I was at Merseburg airfield (EDAM) that day. An aircraft that looks even more bizzare was! A Short Skyvan ( see youtu.be/JnPdcRpZ920 ). Nevertheless, an Antonov An-2 is always an eye-catcher, especially when it's in as good a shape as this one! Luckily, quite a few of those big biplanes still exist in East Germany, where this video was shot. But even here, you don't see one any day and normally, the only way you get as close to one as I did here, is to pay for a flight on one ( which I already did ... twice: youtu.be/y8WfU2PAyk8 and youtu.be/TkUmKvn-b-g ) and so I was really excited to be able to capture this and with me, two fellow YouTubers, @jahuuhuuhuu and πlot.Tv ( tinyurl.com/gt2js6y ) to whom I'd like to say thank you for the video material they allowed me to use!

The An-2 itself may look outdated and unspectacular, but is has a fascinating background! Not only does it mark the beginning of the history of its maker Antonov, it's also one of the most produced aircraft of all time (about 18,000 units), finds itself amongst the airplanes with the longest time in production (1947 to (almost) today) and holds the title of largest single engine biplane in the world!

The plane featured in the video is registered as D-FWJK. It is an An-2T, which means it's the multi-purpose variant of the An-2 and it was build at PZL Mielec in Poland. Its serial number is 1G142-34 and although, against the background of Germany's reunification, the aircraft seems to have quite an eventful history, the only point in it I could find out about for certain was an accident that happened on 6th September 2015, where D-FWJK flipped during landing at Merseburg airfield (where this video was shot) and ended up lying on the runway upside down. I've seen pictures of that and it was a really sad sight! Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured in the accident and as you can see, by June 2016 (when this video was recorded) the plane was up and running again!

Recorded on 2016-06-11

similar videos on my channel:
► 2016: http://tinyurl.com/gvugc48
► Antonov aircraft: tinyurl.com/h3s73oj

OOPS! // P-51 Mustang touches down too early

LEJ.approach 2022-10-24 | Well, I guess the title says it all, apart from one thing maybe: The path hit by the plane was closed and there were people on both ends, making sure nobody enters it anyway, so no lives were in danger because of the premature touch down.

music:
"Drone Home" by Jeremy Black (from YouTube's audio library)

LIMA ECHO JULIET // An Evening at Germanys #2 Cargo Airport

LEJ.approach 2022-07-18 | Aircraft-wise this video is pretty much just what you can see any day at Germany's #2 cargo airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) ... apart from the two Aerotranscargo Jumbos maybe, but even they are more or less regular visitors. But since I filmed this in the evening, the light of the setting sun gives it a special look.

Just in case you wonder what Germany's #1 cargo airport is, it's the coutry's #1 overall airport Frankfurt (FRA/EDDF).

0:00 ER-BAJ landing from Astana
1:01 D-AEAA taxiing towards take-off
2:02 D-AEAA taking off for East Midlands
2:57 D-AALB landing from Bahrain
4:16 D-AALB taxiing towards parking position
6:04 D-AALJ taxiing towards take-off
6:23 D-AALB taxxing to parking position
6:51 D-AALJ taxiing towards onto runway
7:42 D-AALJ taking off for Brussels
10:08 D-AALL landing from Cincinnati
11:28 ER-BBJ landing from Astana
12:43 Outro

Recorded on 2022-05-05

similar videos on my channel:
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► Shot in 2022: tinyurl.com/yckuu8pd

Мрія // Valediction to an Icon

LEJ.approach 2022-05-07 | At the time of release (05/2022), this is by far the longest video on my channel. And although it is full of magnificent memories for me, it is also the saddest, because its creation is a reaction on the destruction of the only complete example of an Antonov An-225 "Mriya", the largest transport aircraft in the world, during the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Vladmimir Putin may call it a special military operation as much as he wants and he may forbid Russians to even call it a war, but he's not fooling anyone, it's a war and moreover it's a war of aggression, period!

The reason this video is so long and took me so long to produce is, that I went through all my material showing this outstanding aircraft, so I could use it for this video. And since I live near Leipzig/Halle airport (LEJ/EDDP), where "Mriya" was often to be seen, we're talking about lots of pictures and videos!

The guys at Antonov seem to be absolutely determined to build a new "Mriya" and of course I'd be delighted to be able to welcome this giant at Leipzig/Halle airport again! Nevertheless, I decided to call this video a valediction, because on the one hand I'm not 100% certain, there will be a resurrection and on the other hand, even if so, the new one will be a another aircraft.

0:00:00 introduction
0:00:57 LEJ 2008-04-24
0:01:22 LEJ 2008-04-25
0:02:01 LEJ 2013-05-24 (youtu.be/sKDAHp8Zf9w)
0:03:15 LEJ 2013-05-25 (youtu.be/Cai4ke5d8dU)
0:06:09 LEJ 2013-07-01 and 02
0:07:03 LEJ 2014-11-21 and 22 (youtu.be/ZR0g9UMn418)
0:12:41 LEJ 2015-04-09
0:14:13 LEJ 2015-11-12 (air-to-air! - youtu.be/A0-xqH3o-Qs)
0:18:05 LEJ 2015-11-17 (youtu.be/KRFKalxC9hA)
0:22:11 LEJ 2016-05-19 and 20 (youtu.be/6Yvst8ZRqCk)
0:30:20 LEJ 2016-11-10 and 12 (youtu.be/_M5-BtcViCA)
0:35:39 LEJ 2018-04-06, 07 and 11 (youtu.be/gH6oKrhGGtQ / youtu.be/ZziHLFd3R2I)
0:46:33 ILA Berlin Air Show 2018-04-28
0:49:17 LEJ 2018-04-29 (water salute - youtu.be/tBKJuwgJXX8)
0:53:54 LEJ 2018-05-06 and 08 (youtu.be/tBKJuwgJXX8 again)
0:58:08 LEJ 2018-05-23
1:02:44 LEJ 2020-04-27 (youtu.be/AJldXNuWmxM)
1:05:34 LEJ 2021-12-12 (youtu.be/DTjV3Kbq9SE)
1:06:50 LEJ 2021-12-15 (youtu.be/0q1TK1D-vIU)
1:11:33 outro

For more "Mriya", have a look at my An-225 playlist (tinyurl.com/jxjfm7dj) and/or visit Jetheadz AVC, a project for collaborative aviation videos (tinyurl.com/ycchh2z9).

music:
Open the Door of Hope by MusicLFiles
Link: filmmusic.io/song/8602-open-the-door-of-hope
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license

image of destroyed Ukrainian town:
Attribution:
"Destruction by Russian attack of peasant village of Yakovlivka in Kharkiv"
by Mvs.gov.ua (Міністерство внутрішніх справ України; Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs)
License:
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en

STORMWATCH 2 // More Crosswind Landings at Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2022-02-21 | My last video (youtu.be/0nHgtKJ71Mk), which I shot only one week before this one, showed the same kind of aircraft in almost the same kind of conditions, only this time I used two more cameras and chose a different position, which is situated in front of the runway, not behind it. Therefore I couldn't just lock the camera as I did last time, so the lateral movements of the recorded planes are a sometimes overlapped by the movements of the camera, but on the plus-side there are brilliant overflight shots and the fact that you can see the planes actually touch down, which last time was impossible, because the middle of runway 26L at Leipzig/Halle airport (LEJ/EDDP) is elevated.

I stabilized the material I brought back with me from this session as much as I could and the microphones used did a great job in minimizing wind noises, so the results don't really reflect how strong and gusty the wind was that day, so please consider that, especially at the high zoom levels, certain unwanted camera movements were simply unavoidable.

Two of the featured aircraft are owned and operated by Aviastar-TU (4B/TUP), who usually visit Leipzig/Halle airport with their Tupolev Tu-204s, but this time they sent Boeing 757s, which I regret a little, because the Tu-204s are rather rare sights. But hey, what can I do? 😉

0:00 D-AEAJ approaching
0:15 D-AEAJ overflight
0:57 D-AEAJ landing
1:31 D-ACNW approaching runway 26R
2:05 VQ-BCB approaching
2:53 VQ-BCB overflight
3:32 VQ-BCB landing
4:50 My camera equipment
4:59 VQ-BKK taking off
5:36 ATC Tower at LEJ
5:42 EI-AZD approaching
5:52 EI-AZD overflight
6:23 EI-AZD landing
6:57 Local train passing
7:20 D-AALI approaching
7:44 D-AALI overflight
8:15 D-AALI landing
9:48 D-EDDW approaching and passing runway 26L
10:24 EI-OZM approaching
10:43 EI-OZM extending landing gear
12:00 EI-OZM overflight
12:41 EI-OZM landing
13:41 Outro

Recorded on 2022-02-05

similar videos on my channel:
► Crosswind Shots: tinyurl.com/2p86d3bz
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► Shot in 2022: tinyurl.com/yckuu8pd

STORMWATCH // Crosswind Landings at Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2022-02-09 | My local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) isn't exactly known for unpredictable wind conditions, but every now and then we have some strong gusty winds, creating challenging conditions for pilots here as well. So what you see here, are not the sensational near-desasters that are making the headlines, but keep in mind you're looking at several tons of aircraft and cargo, which means even for the kind of lateral movement you can see in the video, it takes a considerable amount of power!

Another effect I'd like to point out to you is the angle in which the featured aircraft come in. Since my camera was positioned to the right of the runway's center line, you would normally see the left side of a landing aircraft. But in order to reach the runway in a straight line despite the heavy winds, they had to come in tilted so far, that it's actually the *right* side you can see here!

Because of the wind, I was quite cold when shooting this, but I hope you are warm and comfortable and have fun watching this video! 😉

0:00 Intro with EI-STW being towed
0:08 LZ-CGQ approaching, doing training flights
0:43 LZ-CGQ landing
1:18 LZ-CGQ taxiing off the runway
1:27 EI-AZD approaching, arriving from Milan (Italy)
1:32 RA-64024 taking off for Moscow in the foreground
1:42 EI-AZD landing
2:56 EI-AZD taxiing off the runway
3:48 EI-AZD reaching parking position
4:00 D-AALE approaching, arriving from Dubai (UAE)
4:26 EI-HEA taking off for Bahrain in the foreground
4:54 D-AALE landing
5:40 D-AALE taxiing off the runway
6:07 D-AALE turning
6:50 D-AALE taxiing towards parking position (timelapse)
7:00 EI-OZM approaching, arriving from Tel Aviv (Israel)
8:32 EI-OZM landing
9:30 EI-OZM taxiing off the runway
10:17 Outro

Recorded on 2022-01-29

similar videos on my channel:
► Crosswind Shots: tinyurl.com/2p86d3bz
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► Shot in 2022: tinyurl.com/yckuu8pd

ISLAND CONNECTION // Flybe DHC-8 at Dublin Airport

LEJ.approach 2022-01-31 | I have already released quite some videos from the same session at Dublin airport (DUB/EIDW) as this on my channel and they all have one thing in common: the aircraft featured in them are jet-powered. That's probably not really surprising, since most people consider jets more impressive than propeller driven aircraft. And while 'impressive' is not the decisive category here as well, this is one of the videos I totally wanted to publish!
Above all, that's because of the plane's livery. I mean, most airlines use blue or red as their main color, a few use green, but when was the last time you saw an aircraft in purple?

The plane itself is a De Havilland Canada DHC-8, in the industry widely knwon as the Dash 8. Being a successful, twin-engined regional airliner, it's by no means special, but it's a prime example of what a difference an unusual livery can make.

The Dash 8 featured in the video is registered as G-PRPA. It was delivered to Colgan Air (9L/CJC) in January 2008 and was in service with them, as N187WQ, until it was stored in 2012. Three years later it was transferred to the United Kingdom and joined the fleet of Flybe (BE/BEE), where it flew until they ceased operations in March 2020. By now (January 2022) they have announced to come back, so there's hope for our plane.

Recorded on 2019-03-19

similar videos on my channel:
► Bombardier (owned DHC until 2019): tinyurl.com/ybf2fwcs
► Dublin airport: tinyurl.com/stknr72w
► shot in 2019: tinyurl.com/y4hklvk4

GHOST TIGER // Eurofighter Typhoon solo display in special livery at ILA 2018

LEJ.approach 2022-01-24 | Fighter jets the likes of a Eurofighter Typhoon are certainly a highlight at any air show, even more so when they feature a special livery. That's of course true for the "Internationale Luft- und Raumfahrtausstelung", the ILA in Berlin as well!

Therefore, I wanted to bring you the flying display of a Eurofighter Typhoon named the "Ghost Tiger" I captured at ILA Berlin 2018, for a long time! Unfortunately my camera work here wasn't quite as good as I had wanted it to be. This is partly because my tripod wasn't set up very well that day and partly because I was standing in a crowd of people, so my camera's view was blocked by other visitors sometimes. However, because of the marvelous livery I now decided to share this anyway, so have fun and be lenient with me. 😉

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018:tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk

YELLOW ANGEL // EC135 Rescue Helicopter on a Mission

LEJ.approach 2022-01-17 | Here in Germany, we call them the Yellow Angels: the rescue helicopters that are operated by the "Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club", the ADAC. And although I have several videos featuring those on my channel already, capturing one is an absolute Must, when I have the chance.

In contrast to all the rescue helicopter videos on my channel so far, I was able to capture this one circling for finding the right place to land and I found it to have landed in a place, where I never saw a helicopter, so everything, but not the same as my previous videos!

The helicopter featured in the video is D-HHTS, an Eurocopter EC135 P2, also known as the H135, as it is called since Eurocopter was restructured to become Airbus Helicopters. It can be seen here, on a mission in the city of Leipzig.

Recorded on 2021-12-13

similar videos on my channel:
► Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters: http://tinyurl.com/y9g99a5l
► Off-Airport: http://tinyurl.com/j3lbk5c
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

RUSSIAN VICTORY // Pobeda Boeing 737-800 Taking Off from Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2022-01-10 | Boeing's 737 series has been very successful for several decades and although the competition in the shape of the Airbus A320 family seems to have the edge now, the little Boeing is still a common sight at airports all around the world. That's why I need a good reason for publishing a video featuring this type of aircraft. And in the case of this video, the reason is the airline. Pobeda (DP/PBD) are a Russian low cost carrier and are 100% owned by former state airline Aeroflot (SU/AFL). But what I find most interesting about them, is their name: Pobeda (Победа) means victory in Russian and reminds me much more of Soviet times, when a car, a brand of watches and several other things bore that name, than of a modern airline. But don't get me wrong! I don't think that's a bad thing, because that gives the company a certain "Russianness" and sets it apart from all the Ryanairs and Easy Jets around.

The plane featured in the video is VP-BQQ, a Boeing 737-800, which first flew in March 2019, which means that by the time I shot this video, it was less than one year old! It's young age is also symbolized by it's winglets, called split scimitar winglets by Boeing. Of course those can be retrofitted, but that's not the case with VP-BQQ.
The aircraft can be seen here, being pushed back from its parking position and taxiing to runway 26R at Leipzig/Halle airport (LEJ/EDDP) for take-off, crossing the airports famous bridges over a motorway and a railroad track.

0:00 VP-BQQ being prepared for pushback
0:05 Pushback in progress
0:10 VP-BQQ being pushed into position
0:56 Pushback tug departing
1:04 Airport equipment being swaying in the wind
1:09 VP-BQQ taxiing
1:43 TF-AMR
1:48 VP-BQQ taxiing over bridge
2:02 VP-BQQ taxiing towards runway
2:31 An-124 with detached engines
2:38 VP-BQQ taking off
3:31 VP-BQQ departing
3:55 Outro

Recorded on 2020-02-29

similar videos on my channel:
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2020: tinyurl.com/yxoobn24

DARK DESIRE😉 // Night Plane Spotting at Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2022-01-04 | There is something I haven't done in quite a while and so I thought it was high time I did it again: night plane spotting! 🙂

Filming aircraft with no daylight left may not sound like such a good idea at first and it sure has its problems, but the results you get when everything works out, are just so completely different! Even the most common aircraft start to look special! In addition, image sensors have become a lot more sensitive in recent years and while the Sony NEX VG20 I used for previous night plane spotting videos ( for example youtu.be/fsi8IqtT09o ) was quite good for its time, it sure can't quite cope with my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. And that's the camera I used for this video!

0:00 Intro
0:06 D-AALB taxiing from parking position towards runway
1:43 The city of Leipzig, seen from the airport
1:50 D-AALB taxiing onto runway
3:20 D-AALB take-off
4:28 DHL hangar beside runway 26L
4:34 G-DHKZ taxiing for take-off
6:02 G-DHKZ take-off
6:41 Porsche Leipzig, visitor center
6:48 VP-BUP approaching
7:20 VP-BUP landing
8:09 Outro

Recorded on 2021-12-29

similar videos on my channel:
► Night Shots: tinyurl.com/jyqkzv2
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► Shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

Flying History: Red Bull DC-6 at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-12-27 | I really wish I had shot a little more material of the beautifully restored DC-6 from the Flying Bulls, but I think the shots I actually have, look too great to keep them for myself.

The plane itself is definitely one of the most interesting historic aircraft in an airworthy condition today and it's accompanied by some other outstandingly restored aircraft, run by the Flying Bulls. Those as well as the DC-6 have a really interesting history, which I don't need to tell you anything about, because you can hear it all in the video in English and in German or if you prefer that, you can read it, because as usual, there are complete subtitles in both these languages.

As a sad side note: The T-28 "Trojan" that can be seen in the video crashed in June 2021, killing its pilot. The aircraft has already been replaced, which unfortuately is not possible with respect to human beings.

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018:tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk
► Planes by McDonnell Douglas: tinyurl.com/yckrtse3

Old School: Antonov An-2 Pleasure Flight over Leipzig (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-12-20 | The last two videos I published featured the giant Antonov An-225 "Mriya" and this time we stay with Antonov, but that's about all the similarities. The An-2, the plane featured in the video, is not a large jet-powered transport aircraft, but a sturdy piston-engined utility aircraft. It marks the beginning of Antonov's history and beside being the world's largest single-engine biplane it's also one of the most-produced aircraft in history.

In contrast to most videos on my channel, I did not film this aircraft from the airport fence, but went on board for a pleasure flight, giving me the chance to capture the An-2 from the inside as well as my home town Leipzig and its surroundings below us.

The experience of flying on an Antonov An-2 is completely different to what it feels like to fly on modern airliners. Why? Watch the video and you'll know! 😄

0:00 Arriving at the aircraft
0:27 Boarding the An-2
0:40 Flight preparations
1:32 Taxiing towards the runway
1:58 Taxiing onto to the runway
2:27 Take off
3:35 Passing Leipzig/Halle airport
4:19 Leipzig from above
5:22 Approaching the airport
5:49 Landing
6:59 Two An-2s
7:11 Walking around the aircraft
8:03 Driving away from the An-2
8:17 Other aircraft at LEJ
8:41 Returning to the terminal building
9:00 Outro

Recorded on 2018-06-10

similar videos on my channel:
► Antonov aircraft: tinyurl.com/h3s73oj
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► Shot in 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs

Music:
Summer by Liron
Link: filmmusic.io/song/6907-summer
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license

Picture of Reconciliation Church:
"Versöhnungskirche in Leipzig-Gohlis" by Appaloosa (from Wikimedia Commons)
Link: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8578007
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

#2 of 2: Antonov 225 taking off from Leipzig/Halle airport (Germany) on 15/12/2021

LEJ.approach 2021-12-17 | On my channel, there are already quite a number of videos featuring the Antonov An-225 "Mriya" and this time, I publish two of them in direct succession here! That's because after landing at my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) on 12th December 2021, the giant plane took off again only 3 days later and I was able to capture both and so my last video ( youtu.be/DTjV3Kbq9SE ) featured the landing, while this one features the take-off, of course.

A first in this context is the position I shot this video from. Because you don't have an unobstructed overview over the entire runway 26L from there, it's reasonably okay for capturing landing aircraft, because you can usually see the touch down quite well, but for capturing take-offs it has its limits, which is why plane spotters usually prefer other locations. However, since I'm in the fortunate position of having captured the giant Antonov so many times before, I decided to take my video from there anyway, with the result being I was the only one to do so!

Do you wonder what's so special about the Antonov An-225? Well, it's the world's largest cargo aircraft and there's only one complete example of this type! Antonov have started to build a second one, but that has never been finished and although there are rumours of plans complete that one every couple of years, by now they have never proven to be true.

The plane, registered as UR-82060, can be seen here, taking off for Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN/ZBTJ), China on flight ADB349F.

0:00 Intro
0:26 An-225 taxiing towards runway 26L
2:31 An-225 taxiing onto runway 26L
3:58 Engine warm-up, stage 1
5:04 Engine warm-up, stage 2
5:28 Boeing 777F D-AALT taxiing towards runway 26L
5:54 Boeing 777F arriving at holding point 26L
6:20 An-225 taking off
6:41 An-225 passing ATC tower
7:30 An-225 retracting landing gear
8:14 "End titles"

Recorded on 2021-12-15

similar videos on my channel:
► An-225: tinyurl.com/jxjfm7dj
► Antonov aircraft: tinyurl.com/h3s73oj
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

Giant of Giants: Antonov An-225 landing on wet runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport (2021/12/12)

LEJ.approach 2021-12-13 | This is the 14th video on my channel, featuring the one-of-a-kind Antonov An-225, the largest transport aircraft in the world. And with every new one, it becomes harder and harder to come up with something interesting to mention in the description. But that doesn't mean the plane had lost any of its fascination! Standing out there, seeing this giant approach is still as much of an experience as it was when it came here for the first time and as you can see in the video, I'm not the only one who feels like this!

The special thing this time was, that the giant Antonov arrived at a pretty gloomy day with dusk drawing in and shortly after a rain shower, so on landing you can see lots of spray behind the plane and while the low light was a challenge to our cameras, it made the lights on the aircraft and on the ground come out beautifully. And I say *our* cameras, because luckily, one of my best friends brought himself to leaving his nicely heated house, to spend the time for taking the head-on shots in the moist, cold weather that day and give them to me for this video! So, here's a big fat *Thank You* to him!

I do hope you enjoy this video and I would be glad to read what you think about it. Have fun!

Recorded on 2021-12-12

similar videos on my channel:
► An-225: tinyurl.com/jxjfm7dj
► Antonov aircraft: tinyurl.com/h3s73oj
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

Rotorcraft: Helicopters at the Wyk auf Föhr Fly-In 2016

LEJ.approach 2021-12-06 | The Fly-In at Wyk on the German North Sea Island of Föhr is a rallying event for private pilots and so what you see there, is mostly fixed wing aircraft and a couple of Gyrocopters. Nevertheless, in 2016 I was able to capture some helicopters too and they are what this video is about.

Oh, and just in case you wonder, why there are so many shots of that gray Robinson R44 (D-HDLH), that's because it was used for sightseeing flights that day.

Recorded on 2016-08-06

similar videos on my channel:
► 2016: http://tinyurl.com/gvugc48
► Manufacturers, of whose products I have only few videos: tinyurl.com/48dvysj2

Almost a Legend: Dornier 228NG at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-11-29 | Rugged "all-terrain aircraft" the likes of a DHC-2 "Beaver" or an Antonov An-2 tend to become some kind of legend because of the circumstances they fly in and with being one of only a handful of types of aircraft, that can land at the (in)famous airport of Lukla (LUA/VNLK) in the Himalayas, the Dornier Do 228 should be amomgst those, but somehow isn't. That may be due to the fact that the Do 228 hasn't been produced for 9 years! But since 2007 it is back in production and may be it now gets its deserved status as an aviation legend.

In the video, you can see D-CNEU, a Do 228NG, in a flying display at ILA Berlin Air Show 2018 and all the important details can be heard in the video in English and German. Plus: There are complete subtitles available in both these languages.

0:00 The Do 228 on static display
0:29 ILA 2018 static display highlights
0:38 Do 228 taxiing towards runway
0:50 Do 228 taxiing onto runway
1:15 Take off
1:25 Flying Display
5:08 Do 228 taxiing away from runway

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk
► Planes of rare manufacturers: tinyurl.com/48dvysj2

Triple Seven Trinity: Three AeroLogic freighters in a Row

LEJ.approach 2021-11-22 | When being out at my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) for capturing a Boeing C-17 ( youtu.be/ar5nlPpMtHI ), there was of course other traffic to be captured as well and with AeroLogic (3S/BOX) being headquartered here, it's no surprise, that this included some of their Boeing 777 freighters, but 3 of them landing or taking off in the course of just 20 minutes, is still out of the ordinary. Therefore I decided to put all three of them in one video ... and for a little diversity, the last one is painted in DHL colors instead of AeroLogic's own minimalistic livery. 😉

Soundwise, I did my best to convey as much as possible of that famed GE90 sound ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_GE90 ) despite of the windy conditions that day, so don't hesitate to turn the volume up. 🙂

The planes featured in the video are (in order of appearance):
► D-AALG, Boeing 777-FZN, first flight 15/09/2010
► D-AALB, Boeing 777-FZN, first flight 30/06/2009
► D-AALQ, Beoing 777-FBT, first flight 10/11/2020

The letter F in the type designation tells us, they all are freighters, while the last 2 letters show that D-AALG and D-AALB were built for AeroLogic, while the customer who ordered D-AALQ was Lufthansa Cargo (LH/GEC), which is not a coincidence, because AeroLogic is a joint venture between them and DHL.
In the video D-AALG can be seen landing on Leipzig/Halle's runway 26L, while the other two are shown taking off from there.

0:00 D-AALG landing
0:52 LEJ's visitor terrace on the former ATC tower
0:57 D-AALB taxi onto runway
1:39 D-AALB take-off
2:46 DHL apron
2:51 D-AALQ taxi towards runway
3:47 D-AALQ taxi onto runway
4:10 D-AALQ take-off

Recorded on 2021-06-13

similar videos on my channel:
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

Workhorse: Wizz Air A320 Taking Off from Leipzig/Halle airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-11-15 | Airbus' A320 family is one of the, if not THE, best selling types of aircraft in the world and it's a success with classic airlines as well as low-cost carriers. Hungarian Wizz Air (W6/WZZ) is one of the latter and operates flights from my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) since 2019, so it was high time I published a video showing one of their planes, don't you think? 🙂

The plane featured in the video is HA-LYX, an Airbus A320-200, which had its maiden flight in 2018 and was added to the Wizz Air fleet only days after this. It can be seen here, taxiing from the Southern part of LEJ to the airport's Northern runway 26R and taking off from there.

0:00 Holding
0:05 Taxiing towards runway
0:12 Flight control checks
1:01 Panning over Northern apron
1:17 Passing bridge
1:45 Taxiing towards runway
2:26 Taxiing onto runway
2:47 Take off

Recorded on 2020-02-29

similar videos on my channel:
► 2020: tinyurl.com/yxoobn24
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► Airbus: tinyurl.com/zc3d869

All The Rage: Airbus A350 XWB at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-11-08 | In general, you attend an Air Show like ILA Berlin for aircraft you don't see any day and in the last weeks and months, I published videos I shot there and that feature exactly that. But this video shows an aircraft, that is a huge commercial success and has therefore become a common sight at airports all over the world, the Airbus A350 XWB.

Together with Boeing's 787 "Dreamliner", the A350 XWB represents the latest generation of airliners, who excel above all in one point: fuel efficiency. By using highly sophisticated aerodynamics and reducing weight through the use of modern composite materials, those planes achieve impressive reductions in fuel consumption around the 20% mark, compared to their predecessors. That might be considered not enough by environmentalists, but it's what's feasible with today's technology.

The aircraft featured in the video is F-WWCF, an Airbus-owned A350-900 which first flew in 2014 and its MSN suggests, it was the 2nd A350 XWB ever built! It is and has been used for testing and demonstration flights and can here be seen in a flying display at ILA Berlin 2018.

0:00 Walking towards the A350 XWB
0:11 A350 XWB pulled in front of the crowd
0:56 Winglet close-up
1:08 Take-off into the flying display
5:30 Landing
8:44 Taxiing off the runway
6:05 A350 XWB pushed in front of the crowd
6:11 Winglet close-up
6:35 Cockpit windows close-up

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk
► Airbus: tinyurl.com/zc3d869

Backbone: DHL Airbus A300 and Boeing 777 at Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-11-01 | The planes featured in this video aren't rarities. On the contrary! They're the backbone of DHL's operations at their European hub at Leipzig/Halle airport (LEJ/EDDP).

The one you see landing in the video is D-AEAL, an Airbus A300 which is operated by EAT Leipzig (QY/BCS), a subsidiary company of Deutsche Post/DHL, running DHL's own operations at Leipzig/Halle airport. Their fleet consists - apart from a few Boeing 757s - of A300s, most of wich started out life as airliners and have been converted to freighters.
This is also the case with the A300 featured in the video. First flown in 1992, it was in service with Japan Air System (JD/JAS) and Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) before being converted and becoming part of the fleet of EAT Leipzig in 2012.

The plane seen taking off in the video is D-AALR, a Boeing 777F, representing its owner AeroLogic (3S/BOX), a joint-venture of DHL and Lufthansa Cargo and LEJ's 'home carrier'. In contrast to the A300 it was purpose built as a freighter and with a first flight in March this year (2021), it's one of the latest members of AeroLogic's fleet.

Both aircraft are using LEJ's runway 26L in the video.

Recorded on 2021-06-13

similar videos on my channel:
► Airbus: tinyurl.com/zc3d869
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

Weird But Interesting: Brditschka HB-23 Scanliner at the Wyk auf Föhr Fly-In 2016

LEJ.approach 2021-10-25 | My visit at the Wyk auf Föhr Fly-In in 2016 definitely is one of the highlights of my "career" as a plane spotter so far and yet I never published any video taken there, with the notable exception of a teaser ( http://tinyurl.com/z3sdwdx ) I did to arouse people's curiosity ... for videos I never published ... ah, ... well, ... yes 😉. Anyway, this is going to end here and now, because this video was taken at the Wyk auf Föhr Fly-In 2016 and it features a rather unusual light aircraft.

The Brditschka HB-23 had its first flight in 1982, but its roots go back to the 1950s, when German aircraft designer Fritz Raab developed the "Motorkrähe", which Austrian Heino Brditschka based the design of his HB-3 on, which in turn was the predecessor of the HB-23. With about 50 units built, this motor glider certainly is a rather rare sight, but for me, it's its weird design that makes stand out. With a pusher propeller and an oddly shaped rear fuselage to house it, the HB-23 is unusual enough, but here we see the "Scanliner" variant, whose most distinctive feature is the fully glazed nose, giving the HB-23 a still more extraordinary look!

The plane featured in the video is an HB-23/2400 Scanliner, built in 1987, which originally flew under Austrian registration OE-9298 before it was sold to Denmark, where it received its current registration OY-TBX. It can be seen here landing at runway 27 at Wyk auf Föhr airfield (EDXY) and taking off from there, all in windy, cloudy weather, which harms the sound of the video in places, but adds a lot to its looks in return. 🙂

Recorded on 2016-08-06

similar videos on my channel:
► 2016: http://tinyurl.com/gvugc48
► Manufacturers, of whose products I have only few videos: tinyurl.com/48dvysj2

Wokka: Chinook Helicopter - External Load Handling Demonstration at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-10-18 | The Boeing CH-47 "Chinook" is one of the most unusual helicopter designs ever built and while, with 1200 units produced, it's not exactly rare, it cannot be seen every day in Germany, where this video was shot. That's why I tried to record as much material of the Chinook's flying display at ILA Berlin Air Show 2018.

The helicopter featured in the video is a Boeing CH-47F Mk. VI, operated by Britain's Royal Air Force. It can be seen here, demonstrating the drop off and pick up of external loads.

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk

Sub Zero Coolness: Learjet 40 at Dublin airport

LEJ.approach 2021-10-11 | Like most plane spotters, I tend to go for the big ones, the Boeings, the Airbusses and the Antonovs. But there's a class of aircraft, people usually find quite cool without them being impressive in size: business jets. And when it comes to coolness, it's pretty hard to beat the Learjet range.
Based on a design for a Swiss fighter jet, that never became operational, the first Learjet, the model 23, entered the market in 1964 as the first aircraft designed as a business jet from the outset.

Since then a whole range of Learjets developed, exciting people for several decades, but this era will end with this year (2021).

The plane featured in the video is M-DMBP, a Learjet 40, which first flew in 2012 and was acquired by its current owner Ven Air in 2015. The aircraft can be seen here, taxiing to runway 28 at Dublin airport (DUB/EIDW) and taking off from there in wonderful evening light!

Recorded on 2019-03-19

similar videos on my channel:
► Bombardier: tinyurl.com/ybf2fwcs
► Dublin airport: tinyurl.com/stknr72w
► shot in 2019: tinyurl.com/y4hklvk4

Inconspicuous: A330 Taking Off from Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-10-04 | In this video you don't see a very special or rare aircraft, it doesn't do anything special and since I recorded this at my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) where the majority of videos on my channel was shot, not even the airport is special. I only chose this, because I like it and because it has been some time since I last published a video, shot from this position.

Nevertheless there is something that sets this A330-200 apart from most airliners around: its history. Since its first flight in 1998, it's owned by Portuguese charter airline HiFly (5K/HFY) and therefore it has been in service with several companies beside its owner (9 of them to be precise) and in 2011 it even flew for Britain's Royal Air Force!

At the time this video was shot, the plane was registered as CS-TQP and flew for now defunct Thomas Cook UK (MT/TCX). It can be seen here taxiing from its parking position on the Southern part of Leipzig/Halle airport to the airport's Northern runway 08L and taking off from there.

Recorded on 2018-05-13

similar videos on my channel:
► Airbus: tinyurl.com/zc3d869
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs

Rare and special: Piaggio P.166C at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-09-27 | Among all the latest airliners, helicopters and fighter jets, you find on a big Air Show like ILA Berlin, a small, twin-engined plane doesn't really stick out, especially so when it's some decades old already. The Piaggio P.166 on the other hand, with its gull-wing configuration and it's pusher propellers, certainly does!
With little more than 150 units built and the majority of them having been used by Italian military and other state agencies, I think it's safe to call the P.166 rare.

With that said, I guess it's easy to see why I was excited to have the chance to capture a flying display of one of those! And to not keep you away from enjoying the same any longer, the last thing I'm going to tell you here is that there are English and German subtitles to this video, so more information on the featured aircraft can be heard and read. Have fun!

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs

► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk

The Police: EC 135 taking off from Jena-Schöngleina airfield (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-09-20 | Airbus Helicopters' H135 (formerly EC 135 by Eurocopter) is one of the best selling helicopters in the world and that means they can be seen everywhere, especially in my home country Germany, where it's used by rescue services and police authorities alike. And of course, I have are several videos featuring those on my channel already.
So, why did I decide publish another one? Well, on the one hand, you don't come this close to a police helicopter every day and on the other hand, I did it for the looks of this, because in the light of the setting sun, a dark blue helicopter just looks phantastic ... at least that's what I think! 🙂

The helicopter featured in the video is a EC 135 T2, registered as D-HVBJ, it's flying for the "Bundespolizei", Germany's federal police agency and it's shown here, taking off from the airfield of Jena-Schöngleina in Thuringia, Germany.

Recorded on 2017-05-20

similar videos on my channel:
► 2017: tinyurl.com/y7gcmxld
► Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters: http://tinyurl.com/y9g99a5l

Dreamliner: Boeing 787 taking off from Dublin Airport (Ireland)

LEJ.approach 2021-09-13 | Despite the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" being in the market for 10 years now, I haven't been able to capture many of them, mostly due to the fact that we don't see those regularly at my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP). Therefore, I'm always happy to be able to capture one, like back in 2019, when I was returning from celebrating Saint Patrick's Day at Galway and spent some time at Dublin airport (DUB/EIDW) the day before returning home, finding the Dreamliner featured in the video preparing for take-off.

I have published several videos from the same session at DUB before and in this video you'll find one plane, you might have seen in one of those: EI-DEI, an Airbus A320 in a special livery promoting Ireland's rugby team took off right before our Dreamliner and was the headliner of my 2021 St Patrick's Day Special: youtu.be/t168tJFmIkk

The aircraft featured in the video is G-CKWF, a Boeing 787-9, which first flew June 2018, just nine months before this video was shot! It then stayed in service with Norwegian Air UK (DI/NRS, radio callsign: REDNOSE) until March 2020, when it was stored in an attempt to reduce cost during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, that has proven to not be enough and so parent company Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY/NAX) decided to cease all long-haul operations in January 2021 following which Norwegian Air UK were put into liquidation.
Personally, I find this a real pity, because Norwegian's livery with the red forward fuselage and a different celebrity painted on each plane's tail (Charles Linbergh in this case) is one of the most interesting around and their decision means, it won't be seen quite as often as before. By the time I publish this video (09/2021) our Dreamliner is prepared to go into service with LATAM Chile (LA/LAN), so at least for this plane, there's a happy end.

The aircraft can be seen here, taxiing to and taking off from Dublin's runway 28.

Recorded on 2019-03-19

similar videos on my channel:
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Dublin airport: tinyurl.com/stknr72w
► shot in 2019: tinyurl.com/y4hklvk4

Domo Arigato: Kawasaki P-1 at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-09-06 | When you think about aircraft makers, you probably do not have Japan in mind. But the Japanese sure know how to build a decent aircraft! And the video shows a prime example for this, the Kawasaki P-1. It's a purpose-built maritime patrol aircraft and features latest technologies, like AI or a control system transmitting its signals using light rather than electricity, in order to avoid/reduce electromagnetic emissions that could interfere with the plane's sensors.

I shot this video at ILA Berlin Air Show in 2018 and not only me, but also the presentors, who can be heard in the video, and I suppose all aviation enthusiasts there, were grateful that we could see this plane in the air, because outside Japan it's a very rare sight and it was the first time ever, the P-1 flew in Germany!

I'm sorry the video is a little shaky in places, but when shooting this, I was standing in the middle of the crowd and my tripod didn't want to work quite the way I wanted it to, so it was a bit of a fight to follow the plane. I really do hope you enjoy this video anyway!

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk

music:
The Voyage by Audionautix is licensed under the Creative-Commons license "Attribution 4.0". creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Artist: http://audionautix.com

Take Your Time, Please: Hot Air Balloon Compilation

LEJ.approach 2021-08-30 | These days, nobody seems to have time to spare. We have means of transportation that can easily cover a hundred miles an hour and more ... even several hundreds in the case of aeroplanes, we can talk to people all around the world in a matter of seconds and we can go shopping without even stepping out of the door. So, shouldn't we have more time than anyone before us?
Trouble is, we almost forgot how to *enjoy* time we have got at our hands and tend to waste every second we gain instead.

This video is supposed to help you out with that dilemma at least a little! As usual on my channel, it features an aviation topic, but this time it's not a supersonic fighter or an overcrowded airliner, but a type of aviation that's contemplative by nature, as it only allows to go as fast as the surrounding air and on take-off, you don't know where you're going to end up: hot air balloons.

So I want you to take your time, watch this entire video without skipping and without doing anything else along the way. I'm sure, there's not such a lot more important to do with a little more than 3 minutes than to calm down, care for yourself and gain a little peace of mind. Have fun!

music:
A Bright Star In The Sky by MusicLFiles
Link: filmmusic.io/song/8093-a-bright-star-in-the-sky
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license

Farewell!: Austrian Dash 8 at Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-08-23 | Some weeks ago, I published a video featuring an Embraer 190 ( youtu.be/3PrR_y2RqZw ), talking about the plane it replaces at Austrian Airlines (OS/AUA), the "Dash 8". But just describing it didn't feel right, so I searched my archive and found some nice footage of a Austrian "Dash 8", visiting my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP).

The plane featured in the video is a DHC-8, as the "Dash 8" is officially called. It was delivered to Austrian Airlines in 2010 and stayed in service with them until March 2021. After that, it was stored and it still (08/2021) is. The aircraft can be seen here, landing on and later taking off again from runway 26R at Leipzig/Halle airport.

Recorded on 2017-05-26

similar videos on my channel:
► Bombardier: tinyurl.com/ybf2fwcs
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2017: tinyurl.com/y7gcmxld

V-tail: Fouga Magister at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-08-16 | The Magister's special design element is easy to see, its V-tail of course. However, its place in German history needs some explaining, but bear with me, it's going to be interesting.

The first aircraft ever to be powered by a jet engine (Heinkel He 178) and the world's first operational jet fighter (Messerschmitt Me 262), both have been developed in Germany. But that was during World War II and when this conflict had ended, the development of this engine technology in Germany couldn't be continued ... for obvious reasons. Of course, the Allies hadn't been terribly keen to re-arm Germany at first. But ironically enough, that changed only a few years after WWII, because differences between the Western Allies (USA, Great Britain and France) and the Soviet Union led to what later became known as the Cold War.
The same development had caused the separation of Germany into two states, the Federal Republic of Germany under Western control and the German Democratic Republic, which was controlled by the Soviet Union, making Germany a front line in the Cold War, which is why both sides wanted their part of the country re-armed. And that's where the French Fouga CM.170 "Magister", the plane featured in the video, came into play! Only 12 years after WWII had ended, it became one of the first jet powered aircraft in West Germany's air force.

The plane featured in the video is one of those West German Magisters and it has a colorful past itself! After being used in its original role as a trainer aircraft in the Air Force, it flew for the German Navy and met its aparent end as a cutaway model in a training workshop. But later on, it was "rescued" and restored to an airworthy condition by a man named Claus Colling, whose initials are still to be found in the plane's registration D-IFCC! Colling sold the plane to its current (2021) owners and in 2018 it flew at ILA Berlin 2018 ... where I was able to capture it for this video! 🙂

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk

Vapor Trails: Aer Lingus A330 Taking Off from Dublin Airport

LEJ.approach 2021-08-09 | One of the coolest trips in my whole life to date was going to Galway in 2019 together with a friend of mine, to celebrate St Patrick's Day in Ireland itself. And on the way back home, we took the time for some hours of plane spotting, which is where we captured this video of an Aer Lingus (EI/EIN) Airbus A330 taking off from the airport of Ireland's captital Dublin.

But the special thing here, is neither the aircraft nor the airline or the airport, it's the fact that the plane produces visible wingtip vortices on departure! Wingtip vortices form, when the stream of air flowing over the wing of an airplane and the one flowing under it, meet behind the wing. So, every flying aircraft produces them and usually they're invisible. But under certain conditions, vapor trails can form, making the wingtip vortices visible and that's exactly what you can see in the video!

The aircraft featured in the video is EI-FNH, an Airbus A330-300, which first flew in 2016 and was part of the Aer Lingus fleet ever since. It is named St. Laurence O'Toole / Lorcán Ua Tuathail after the 12th century priest and Christian saint of that name ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorc%C3%A1n_Ua_Tuathail ).

Recorded on 2019-03-19

similar videos on my channel:
► Airbus: tinyurl.com/zc3d869
► Dublin airport: tinyurl.com/stknr72w
► shot in 2019: tinyurl.com/y4hklvk4

Relaxation through Aviation: ERJ 190 landing at Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-08-02 | When Austrian Airlines (OS/AUA) announced, they would retire their whole Bombardier DHC-8 (a.k.a. Dash 8) fleet, I felt a little sad, because I quite liked flying in those little Turboprops as a passenger. Mainly because their high-wing configuration meant you had an unobstructed view to the ground and with the main landing gear struts being housed in nacelles with the engines, you could see those very well too on take-off and landing.
Being a low wing aeroplane with its engines mounted below the wings, the Embraer 190 (a.k.a. ERJ 190), the type of aircraft replacing the "Dash 8", seems rather boring in comparison. But I have to say, the experience of flying in those is not a bad one either. It's more spacious than the "Dash 8" and engine noise is far less perceptible inside the cabin.

This is the first video, capturing one of Austrian's ERJ 190s on my channel and, apart from a very special guest featured in the first 20 seconds, it only shows this plane landing and taxiing to its parking position. And yet I think it's worth watching, because on the one hand it's an occasion for relaxing your mind and on the other hand, you can see lots of little details in the background, after all, a modern airport is a small town in itself and definitely a special one.

The plane featured in the video is OE-LWM, an Embraer 190-200 (also called the ERJ 195), which first flew in 2012 and entered service with Lufthansa Cityline (CL/CLH) immediately afterwards as D-AEBO, where it stayed until 2016, when it was stored for about one month and became part of the fleet of Austrian Airlines afterwards.
It can be seen here landing on runway 26L at Leipzig/Halle airport (LEJ/EDDP) and taxiing all the way to its parking position.

Recorded on 2021-07-04

similar videos on my channel:
► Embraer: tinyurl.com/fuhpm6e4

► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

music:
Bells Of Rio by Sascha Ende®
Link: filmmusic.io/song/118-bells-of-rio
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license

Rare & Rarer: Yak-3 and CA 12 Boomerang at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-07-26 | A Yakovlev Yak-3 sure is one of the rarer sights in the aviation world, but with just 3 airworthy examples worldwide, the Australian-made CA 12 "Boomerang" is clearly in a different league! Depite it featuring original parts, the "Boomerang" in the video - the only one flying in Europe - is considered a replica, but replica or not, the Australian WWII fighter is as rare as its history is interesting. Luckily, the presenters at ILA Berlin 2018 have described this history very well, so all I'm left to do with, is wishing you great fun in watching the video.

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk

A Matter of Course?: Rescue Helicopter Christoph Europa 2 in action in Leipzig

LEJ.approach 2021-07-19 | Do you look up when a rescue helicopter passes overhead? I do, but with an aviation enthusiast like me, that probably doesn't come as a surprise 😉. Anyway, most people don't even seem to notice them and yet they are the most visible part of an achievement that has saved many people's lifes over time! Having a network of rescue helicopters available to help you when every second counts is something many in the world can only dream of and despite the fact that up to now I never needed one, I'm very thankful rescue helicopters are there!

The helicopter, featured in the video is an Airbus Helicopters H135 (formerly Eurocopter EC 135), registered as D-HHST, but since rescue helicopters in Germany are usually known by their radio call sign rather then their registration, this is "Christoph Europa 2". It can be seen here landing, parking and taking-off in the Northwestern part of Leipzig (Germany). Normally not to be found in the Leipzig area, this is the first time I was able to capture this helicopter.

similar videos on my channel:
► Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters: http://tinyurl.com/y9g99a5l
► Off-Airport: http://tinyurl.com/j3lbk5c
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

music:
Trap Powerful Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd
Link: filmmusic.io/song/7061-trap-powerful-intro-04
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license

Jumbo Overhead: Boeing 747-8F landing at Leipzig/Halle airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-07-12 | When you're used to giant planes like the Antonov An-124, eventually you realize, you're not considering a Boeing 747 especially impressive anymore. But one of those passing directly overhead, certainly reminds you, why they are called 'Jumbo Jets'! Especially when it's a 747-8, the latest version on the 747.

The 747-8 wasn't exactly a success as an airliner, but in cargo aviation it has found its customers and one of them is AirBridgeCargo (RU/ABW) from Russia, who at the moment (July 2021) run 13 747-8F, which represent the majority of their fleet.
One of those is VP-BJS, the plane featured in this video. With a first flight 2019, it was less than 1 year old at the time the video was shot it's still too new to have a very long and interesting history, so all that's left for me to report is, that in the video, the plane can be seen approaching runway 26L at Leipzig/Halle airport (LEJ/EDDP) and landing there.

Recorded on 2019-08-11

similar videos on my channel:
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2019: tinyurl.com/y4hklvk4

An extremely rare sight: Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-07-06 | Lacking a little distance between visitors to have enough free moving space and not having my tripod set up perfectly, I'm not really content with my camera work here. But with only 3 examples in an airworthy condition today (one less at the time this video was shot), the Ilyushin Il-2 is one of the types of airplane I thought I'd never see flying, so I decided to share this video anyway.

Like many restored aircraft from this era, the plane featured in the video has a very interesting history, but this time you don't need to read such a lot, because it's all mentioned in the video! And it's explained in two languages, English and German. And: I have uploaded English and German subtitles, so if you understand one of these languages, you can get all the information!

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► Ilyushin: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk
► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk
► shot in 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs

An Old Acquaintance: Airbus A330 freighter lands at Leipzig/Halle airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-06-28 | The most popular videos on my channel are those featuring cargo giants you don't see every day, of course. But the vast majority of flights at my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP) is operated with smaller, more widespread models, often converted from airliners, which is also the case with the plane featured in this video. And this Airbus A330 is kind of an old acquaintance to German plane spotters!
After all, it started out life, flying for now defunct German airline LTU International Airways in 1996, becoming part of the fleet of Air Berlin (now defunct as well) 15 years later, then joining Portuguese charter airline HiFly (5K/HFY) before being stored in 2016 and being converted to a freighter in 2018, after which the plane entered service with ASL Airlines Ireland (AG/ABR), who still (2021) own it.

In the video, the aircraft (registered as EI-HEB) can be seen landing at Leipzig/Halle's runway 26L and taxi to its parking position on the apron that is mainly used by DHL, who run their European Air Hub here, and its partners.

Recorded on 2021-02-20

similar videos on my channel:
► Airbus: tinyurl.com/zc3d869
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

A Rare Whale: Boeing C-17 on a visit to Leipzig/Halle airport (Germany) - 3 angles of view!

LEJ.approach 2021-06-19 | As Leipzig/Halle airport (LEJ/EDDP) is a large airport specializing in cargo operations with DHL running their European hub here and featuring the only maintenance base for the giant An-124 and An-225 in the western world, we see all sorts of transport aircraft here. The most prominent of which are specialized cargo aircraft in shoulder wing configuration, featuring a wide fuselage, like the Il-76 or the An-124. To me they always look a bit like flying wales. And on 2021-06-13, a special 'whale' visited Leipzig/Halle airport, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III!

The C-17 is a military transport aircraft, developed in the 1980s and -90s. It's not quite as big as the C-5 "Galaxy" or the An-124 "Ruslan" (as you can see at 5:19), but it has an unusually wide fuselage, enabling it to transport bulky cargo that otherwise requires the use of larger planes.
Originally designed at McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 became a Boeing model, when the two companies merged in 1997.

The C-17 featured in the video is operated by the US Air Force and that's about all I know. It came from Baku that day, but it stands to reason that its presence at Leipzig/Halle airport is connected to the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Anyway, in the video the plane can be seen landing at LEJ's runway 26L, taking-off from there and in a lot of situations in between 😉 ... and all that from three different angles of view, thanks to two of my best friends, who spent almost their entire sunday, helping me capture this special 'whale'! 👍👍👍

0:00 Scenery at the beginning of runway 26L
0:15 Approach
0:43 Landing
2:01 Taxiing to parking position
3:48 Being pushed back
5:18 Taxiing towards take-off
7:39 Take-off

Recorded on 2021-06-13

similar videos on my channel:
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

Alpha Jet on Flying Display at ILA Berlin 2018

LEJ.approach 2021-06-07 | Some weeks ago, I published a farewell video for the C-160 Transall, a Cold War-era transport plane which is taken out of service with the German military this year (2021). For the plane featured in this video, I should have done such a video in the 1990s, when re-united Germany sorted that type out as a contribution to disarmament agreements, made in the wake of the fall of the Iron Curtain. Trouble is, YouTube hadn't even been founded at the time! 😄

Anyway, the Alpha Jet is one of the coolest looking jets I know and it seems The Flying Bulls think much the same way, as they bought four of those, showing them to the world on air shows like ILA Berlin, where I shot this video in 2018. In the beginning the Alpha Jet flies in formation with a Douglas DC-6B and a Lockheed P-38 "Lightning", both owned by The Flying Bulls as well and both in a pristine condition!

The Alpha Jet itself was created in the 1970s as a Franco-German program and was designed for use as a light fighter-bomber, trainer and light ground attack aircraft. But it also found its way to the "Patrouille de France", the French air force's aerobatic team, who still use it, after 41 years!

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs
► ILA Berlin 2018: tinyurl.com/ytcb3dzk

Cargo 747 take-off from Leipzig/Halle airport (Germany)

LEJ.approach 2021-05-31 | Undoubtedly, the Boeing 747 is an important milestone in aviation history and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like the Jumbo Jet with its characteristic hump. So, no wonder my channel has lots of videos featuring the "Queen of the Skies", as it's sometimes called.
And while the Jumbo Jet-era seems to near its end in passenger aviation, the 747 is as popular as ever when it comes to transporting cargo, which is why those huge four engine jets are not a particularly rare sight at my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP), where DHL runs its European hub and the majority of operations are cargo flights. And so is Kalitta Air (K4/CKS), a US American cargo airline with a fleet that consists mainly of 747s.

The plane featured in the video is N710CK, a Boeing 747-400F SCD. SCD stands for "side cargo door" and means our plane started out life as an airliner and was later converted to a freighter and equipped with a large cargo door. It first flew in 1997, entering service with Korean Air (KE/KAL) registered as HL7462 and after being converted it became part of Kalitta's fleet in 2018.
The plane can be seen here, taxiing from its parking position towards LEJ's runway 08L and departing from there on flight K4235 to Bahrain (BAH/OBBI).

0:00 Intro
0:09 Taxi away from parking position
1:04 Crew performing flight control checks
1:40 Intermission
1:45 Take off

Recorded on 2021-05-24

similar videos on my channel:
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2021: tinyurl.com/be10jqcz

music:
Heroic Emotion by Rafael Krux
Link: filmmusic.io/song/5660-heroic-emotion-

License: filmmusic.io/standard-license

Virgin Australia 737 taking off for Sydney

LEJ.approach 2021-05-24 | The Boeing 737 is one of the best selling airliners in history, only rivalled by Airbus' A320 family, and it's been around since 1967, so I guess there's hardly any larger airport in the world, where a 737 is a rare sight. That applies to Hobart International Airport (HBA/YMHB) on the beautiful island of Tasmania (Australia) as well and yet, that's what is featured in the video here.

So, do I intend to bore you? Certainly not! The reason I published this video is, that I enjoyed my time on "Tassie" so much and also because I love how wonderfully visible details on the plane's underside are in the Australian afternoon sun.

The video itself is not quite as steady as most of my other videos are. That's because we shot all this handheld. And when I say "we", that means two angles of view for this video, one of which is a head-on perspective!

The plane featured in the video is VH-YIE, a Boeing 737-800 that first flew in December 2011 and has been in service with Virgin Australia (VA/VOZ) ever since. It can be seen here, taking off from Hobart's runway 12 on flight VA1535 to Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD/YSSY) at Sydney, Australia.

Recorded on 2017-11-13

similar videos on my channel:
► Boeing: http://tinyurl.com/hk3upsq
► Hobart International Airport: tinyurl.com/yyunh8ot
► shot in 2017: tinyurl.com/y7gcmxld

Giant overhead

LEJ.approach 2021-05-17 | An Antonov An-124 "Ruslan" is always an impressive sight, but seeing one fly directly overhead is simply awe-inspiring. Chances of experiencing this are very good at my local airport Leipzig/Halle (LEJ/EDDP), so I thought I'd share that with you.

As a little bonus, I captured this plane when turning onto its approach path behind an A320 also coming in for landing.

The plane featured in the video is an An-124-100, registered as UR-82029.
It entered service with Antonov Airlines (ADB) in March 1992, bearing Soviet registration CCCP-82029, which changed the following year, when it received its current registration. In 1996 the plane underwent modernization, making it the -100 model it is today. It can be seen here approaching runway 26L at Leipzig/Halle airport and landing there.

Recorded on 2019-08-11

similar videos on my channel:
► Antonov aircraft: tinyurl.com/h3s73oj

► Leipzig/Halle airport: tinyurl.com/jqtzqsj
► shot in 2019: tinyurl.com/y4hklvk4

Farewell, C-160 Transall!

LEJ.approach 2021-05-10 | Technically, the title of this video should read "Farewell, Transall C-160!", because Transall is the name of the manufacturing consortium behind the C-160 and stands for "TRANSporter ALLianz". This conglomerate of French and German companies designed the aircraft in the 1960s but didn't go on creating any other planes, so the name became a synonym for the C-160, making it the C-160 Transall to most people.

Although continuously updated, the C-160 cannot meet all the requirements of a 21st century army, so in Germany as well as in other countries and despite all its teething problems, the Airbus A400M "Atlas" is going to succeed the Transall. That's why, after more than 50 years in service(!), the Transall-era in the Bundeswehr, the German army, is going to end by the end this year (2021) and that in turn is why I'm publishing this video. See the good old Transall play a key part in a military exercise, presented by the Bundeswehr at the ILA Berlin Air Show in 2018!

Recorded on 2018-04-28

similar videos on my channel:
► 2018: tinyurl.com/ych486gs