Blue Islands to Paris and Aurigny to Luxembourg City...

[P_7878]

Since my earliest days in this hobby, I've known Aurigny well...the flag carrier airline of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. I've posted in the past about the Puffin bird of Aurigny (airline). However, today, I came across the new livery of Aurigny. While I will surely miss the (now discarded) friendly Puffin bird, this new livery, if you ask me, looks pretty good too (see the later set of 10 images below). In this livery, the text "Guernsey" appears prominently on the rear fuselage, and the flag of Guernsey, consisting of the (red) Saint George's Cross and the (gold) Norman Cross, has replaced the Puffin bird, on the tail of the a/c. Folks familiar with Aurigny, cannot but associate this airline with the Britten-Norman Trislanders (one of my most favorite quirky-looking 3-engined "piston" airplanes in the SIM - see the first set of 10 images below).

The other significant (local) airline of Guernsey is Blue Islands, that also operates services from within the Channel Islands to UK and other European destinations, one of which (curiously) is Luxembourg City, my final destination of the 2-leg flight of this post. Now, how small airlines such as this one, select city pairs (A-B) in their route network, has always raised my curiosity. Obviously, the choice is governed by demand (no. of pax travelling between A-B), cost (e.g., fuel and airport fees), equipment (e.g., ATR Turboprop), and finally competition (which other airlines are flying the same route e.g., here, Aurigny and British Airways). Notably, Blue Islands has stayed clear of both (marquee Cities) Paris and London (that are flown to by Aurigny and BA). Here, however, at my discretion, I've opted to fly Blue Islands to the city of Paris...whether it's deemed profitable or not...🙂...per the airline accountants and analysts...

Though Blue Islands' current fleet includes only ATR 72-500s, it did also operate, historically, for about a decade, 4 Britten-Norman Trislanders, which is what you see below.  
 
So, here we go...first a Blue Islands Trislander, lifting off from Guernsey Airport (EGCB), in the dusk light (i.e., sun in my back), over and across the English Channel, headed to the mainland of France, just 30 miles off to its east (See VFR MAP). My first leg terminates in Charles de Gaulle Airport (LGPG) in Paris, with an after-dark arrival on Rwy 08R (see images). Next, I fly out of Paris, at the control of an ATR 72-600, in the colors of the new Aurigny livery, destined for Luxembourg City (ELLX). I'm departing, here, in the dawn light this time (i.e., sun in my front), travelling under the able (navigational) guidance of a (SimBrief) Flight Plan duly uploaded into the a/c FMS via the on-board EFB. 

Indeed, it was a pair of fun flights, respectively, first with a piston-prop of basic (but competent and fully ILS capable) avionics suite (see close-up shots), and then a turboprop with a modern (glass) cockpit, travelling overall across the English Channel, then skimming the coastline of Normandy in northern France, and finally into the landlocked country of Luxembourg, and its Capital city of same name.

Thanks for viewing...! Hope you enjoy...!

[John F]

Some carefully thought-out route and livery choices (as expected) from you. And it looks like you've used a little wide-angle "magic" to stretch that Trislander even more (such an unusual airframe). Next-to-last shot (accentuating the tail) makes me appreciate that new Aurigny livery even more...guess I hadn't been paying much attention up till now.

[pmplayer]

Fine picture set !

cheers 😉

[P_7878]

John and pmplayer:

Much appreciated the comments...! Thank you ...!

[admbar]

Fantastic shots.

[P_7878]

On 9/17/2024 at 10:27 AM, admbar said:

Fantastic shots.

Thank you, Adam. Glad you liked these ATR shots...!

[andiflyit]

Fine shots P_7878, the last one is a good shot of the ATR.

[Alaska738]

Great shots! 😉 

[P_7878]

Andreas and Will:

Many thanks for the comments. Cheers...!