InselAir Embraer E110 PJ-VIP 'Elis Juliana'

I have to admit that the transatlantic flight from Aruba to Amsterdam I made this week had more impact than expected and that for the first time in years I experienced some jet-lag. Trying to deal with the cold, I came across these pictures of this PJ aircraft reminding me of the Caribbean. This Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante had previously flown with defunct AVIA Air of Aruba under registration P4-AVE. Elis Juliana is a famous writer from Curacao. 

InselAir Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante PJ-VIP at Aruba (TNCA) backtracking runway 11 for departure on 13 December 2008

InselAir Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante PJ-VIP at Aruba (TNCA) take off on 13 December 2008

InselAir Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante PJ-VIP at Aruba (TNCA) in new InselAir colours taxiing for departure on 24 February 2014

More about this particular aircraft at Planespotters.net

Read more about Elis Juliana on wikipedia in Dutch or Papiamento.

Flying the Aruban flag: Aruba Airlines

Next Tuesday 18 March Aruba celebrates its official National Anthem & Flag Day. Aruba Airlines was founded in 2010 and now operates scheduled services to Maracaibo and Valencia in Venezuela as well as Panama City, Panama. The livery reflects the colours of the Aruban flag.

Aruba Airlines Airbus A320-323 P4-AAC on short final at Aruba (TNCA) on 04 January 2014

Aruba Airlines Airbus A320-323 P4-AAC departing Aruba (TNCA) on 09 March 2014

Aruba Airlines Airbus A320-323 P4-AAC departing Aruba (TNCA) on 09 March 2014

Aruba National Anthem & Flag Day
More info on Aruba Airlines at Wikipedia
History of P4-AAC at www.planespotters.net
Company website: http://arubaairlines.com
P.S. As I will be travelling back to Amsterdam next Tuesday I will most probably not be able to post new blogs in the next few days.

North American Airlines Boeing 757-28A at Aruba

Sometimes you are simply lucky as a plane spotter to catch a rare bird... so I was on 13 December 2008 when I was visiting my family on Aruba for Christmas. North American Airlines used to carry out charter seasonal flights to Aruba with their Boeing 757-28A. Here we have N750NA "Deirdre Stiehm" at Aruba (TNCA).

North American Boeing 757-28A N750NA at stand 9 at Aruba (TNCA)

North American Boeing 757-28A N750NA being pushed back from stand 9 at Aruba (TNCA) for relocation at gate 8

North American Boeing 757-28A N750NA being towed into gate 8 at Aruba (TNCA) with the iconic Hooiberg in the background

North American Boeing 757-28A N750NA being towed into gate 8 at Aruba (TNCA) with the red rotating beacons on

More info on this particular aircraft at Planespotters.net
More info on North American Airlines at wikipedia.org or company's web site

Nova Zembla, Barentsz, and KLM? ...The Boeing 737-306 PH-BDA

Is there a link between Nova Zembla and KLM? Yes, there is! KLM 's Boeing 737-306 PH-BDA is named after "Willem Barentsz" (c. 1550 – 20 June 1597) who was a Dutch navigator, cartographer, explorer, and a leader of early expeditions to the far north with the hopes of finding the Northeast passage above Siberia; the Barentsz Sea named after him. During his first voyage he got stuck at Nova Zembla. So, there you have it!
Dutch filmmaker Reinout Oerlemans released a film called Nova Zembla in November 2011, which is the first Dutch 3D feature film.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-306 "Willem Barentsz" at Amsterdam Schiphol (EHAM) on 01 April 2009

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-306 "Willem Barentsz" at Amsterdam Schiphol (EHAM) on 01 April 2009

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-306 "Willem Barentsz" at Amsterdam Schiphol (EHAM) on 01 April 2009

More info: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-306 PH-BDA

Meer weten? Wikipedia over Willem Barentsz en de Barentszzee
Want to know more? Wikipedia Willem Barentsz and Barents Sea

Watch the official trailer of the movie "Nova Zembla"

Flying with "Merel" or "Blackbird"... KLM's Boeing 737-8K2(WL) PH-BXN

A few years ago my sister moved to London, UK for her job. This meant I had another valid reason to travel to this amazing city, which I personally rank in my top 2 favourite cities... First time I went visiting her and her husband was Friday 30 September, 2011. I booked a flight with KLM (KL1009) which was flown with Boeing 737-8K2(WL) PH-BXN named "Merel/Blackbird".

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-8K2  PH-BXN at Amsterdam Schiphol (EHAM) preparing for flight KL1009 destination London Heathrow (EGLL)

Shadow of our aircraft (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-8K2  PH-BXN) shortly after take off  at Amsterdam Schiphol (EHAM)

Flight KL1009 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-8K2  PH-BXN en route over the North Sea from Amsterdam Schiphol (EHAM) to London Heathrow (EGLL) 

More info: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-8K2 PH-BXN

 Nature: Click here for photos of the 'real' blackbird!

Sexy Red Maddogs by Avianca

I have always liked the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series for its sleek and stylish design... EI-CER is looking very smart wearing this catchy Avianca livery on flight AVA090 seen here arriving at Aruba on 04 Jan 2009.

 

 

http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/McDonnell-Douglas/MD-80/49939,EI-CBR-Avianca.php

Blue Bravest under a blue Aruban sky

I coincidentally met this stunning Jetblue bird last Sunday, dedicated to the amazing men and women who make up the first-responders of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). What a pleasant surprise! 

I salute all fire men and women around the world!

 

Be sure to check the following blogs by Jetblue for a little story about this particular aircraft:
http://blog.jetblue.com/index.php/2013/10/22/blue-bravest-is-on-its-way/
http://blog.jetblue.com/index.php/2013/11/07/blue-bravest/

Plane spotting Sunday 9 March 2014: Tiara Air

What to do on a beautiful Sunday afternoon? Well, a friend and I decided to watch some exotic birds near the beach... Here is one of my favourites: local airline Tiara Air.

Tiara Air - Boeing 737-300 P4-TIE, flight TNM1245 departing Aruba (TNCA) destination Maracaibo, VE (SVMC)

Tiara Air - Boeing 737-300 P4-TIE, flight TNM1245 departing Aruba (TNCA) destination Maracaibo, VE (SVMC)

Tiara Air - Boeing 737-300 P4-TIE, flight TNM1245 departing Aruba (TNCA) destination Maracaibo, VE (SVMC)