Comment / The Oman Royal Flight Boeing 747-400 A4O-OMN arrived at Stansted right on time this afternoon, although sadly the cloud cover was not quite as co-operative. Built in 2001, A4O-OMN was fitted out with an executive interior during a lengthy stay with Lufthansa Techniks at Hamburg, eventually entering service in 2004. The Oman Royal Flight also operates a Boeing 747SP and an Airbus A320.

Comment / Still not convinced that the new colours are an improvement on this scheme...

Comment / The Boeing 747 freighters of Air France Cargo are regular visitors to Stansted in connection with the Formula 1 races. This series -400ER F-GIUD visited this evening to pick up some cars for the upcoming race in Shanghai, with a Malaysian 747 stopping by yesterday to pick up TV equipment.

Comment / Descending into the sunset with the Diamond Hangar and earthworks in the background.

Comment / With the sun having disappeared behind low cloud just before sunset, this was a difficult shot to take. In the end I used an ISO of 500 to give a decent shutter speed of 1/320th needed when at full 300mm zoom. Although you can make out slightly more grain as a result, it's still mind boggling to think that, with a film in your camera, a shot like this would have been a non-starter a couple of years back.

Comment / Aircraft of the Dubai Air Wing are regular visitors to Stansted, often arriving and parking up on the northside for a couple of days or so. Boeing 747-400 A6-HRM arrived yesterday evening, about an hour before sunset, an aircraft which joined the wing from United Air Lines in 2003.

Comment / G-GSSC arrives back at Stansted from Houston with her reverse thrust kicking up some spray as she passes the SR Technics diamond hangar.

Comment / Breaking the rules of photography and shooting into the sun, but producing a nice result...