A couple of days in Riga

[keithh]

I wanted to fly in an A220/CS300 so I took advantage of the Air Baltic sale. I asked my cousin Martin if he would like to join me and he agreed so we decided to go to Gatwick on the day before to avoid leaving home at the crack of dawn. Martin being Martin, he wanted to leave in the morning to spend the day at Gatwick so we stopped at Blackbushe where I made eight.
25/4 Blackbushe
F-AZIM YAK 3
G-HAKA DA 42
G-CJYI PA 28
G-FLXY PA 28
G-CMGU GROB G109
N121JF B33
N249CG B36
G-OCLV R44
Gatwick
TC-SOB 737
TC-LYE 737MAX
N424AG CESSNA 208
9H-ASB GLOBAL
TC-TJI 737
EC-NFK A320N
YL-AAX A220
OY-VIZ GLOBAL
G-CMEI ATR72
YL-ABE A220
HA-LZI A321N
26/4 Gatwick
PH-HXE 737
G-TUMB 737MAX
OE-ICS A320
G-POWW A321
D-ASSB A319
YL-LDJ A320
We boarded our aircraft, YL-AAX, and departed to Riga. On arrival, we caught a couple of buses to take us to the mound on the other side of the airport which gave great views over the airfield above the perimeter fence. I logged the following, types by those I needed.
Riga
EC-MKE ATR 72
SP-RSM
ES-SAZ
OH-ATK ATR 72
YL-LDE
YL-CSF
YL-AAT A220
YL-ABH A220
9H-QCY
YL-BBO 737 derelict
OE-IBK LEGACY
YL-AAP 
YL-CSN A220
YR-URS
YL-BBT DHC 8
YL-BBV
YL-CSI A220
SP-RSF
YL-BAF DHC 8
YL-BAQ
YL-BBW DHC 8
YL-BAE DHC 8
YL-DAN LEGACY 650
CS-CHL
M-URUS 737BBJ
YL-CSG A220
F-GIXN
LZ-CXB 737F COMPASS
LY-PLW A330 HESTON
YL-AAR A220
YL-ABB A220
YL-AAW A220
YL-AAY A220
YL-ABF A220
YL-XTR EXTRA
YL-ABA A220
YL-ABG A220
TC-LCI 737MAX
OH-ATM ATR 72
LY-GVS FALCON 2000
SP-EQK DHC 8
CCCP 32418 AN2 in the museum
The museum has moved to this side of the airfield from in front of the terminal since my last visit 12 years ago. We retired to our hotel and had dinner and a few beers. In the morning we caught a bus to Spilve airfield which used to be the main Riga airport and it has changed a lot since my previous visit. Four new hangars had appeared on the other side of the apron two of which were spotterproof but all the hangars were closed. The old main hangar has plenty of gaps and we went to the side door of the other two new hangars, one of which let us in for photos and the other wouldn't even let us log the occupants. We also found another old hangar that I missed last time and it had a few gaps. There was also a line of aircraft tied down that wasn't there before. I only saw one frame that I saw on my first visit and that was now American registered.
27/4 Riga
ES-FPW PA 28R
YL-FAS PA 28
YL-YAK CESSNA 172
YL-CCW CESSNA 172
N3973U CESSNA 150 ex YL-CDB
YL-IEJ CESSNA 404
OO-ECF RALLYE in prime, cn from a plate
YL-KAO CESSNA 207
YL-KAM CESSNA 207
ES-ECI CESSNA 185
YL-ECE DYNAMIC
YL-CDJ FLIGHTSTAR
YL-CAD CESSNA 172
SE-EAC CESSNA 172
YL-AKI FOXBAT
PH-PIG TB20
OH-VAK PIPISTRELLE
YL-LET VIVAT
YL-I11 PROFI
N489SR SR22
YL-ASA SKYRANGER
G-OGGM
YL-VAA DA42
SP-SFC LANCAIR
RA 04046 AS350
There was also an unknown AN2 in a pseudo military scheme and a Wilga fuselage unmarked. We returned to Riga airport for our return flight on YL-AAW and logged the following.
EC-IYH ATR 72
EC-MNM 737F
YL-BBU
LX-GVV
YL-BAX
YL-BAJ
YL-AAU A220
YL-AAV A220
VQ-BNY CRJ 100 being broken up alongside some biz and other CRJ/EMB
9H-QEF
D-FEAG TBM 930
SP-EQC DHC 8
YL-CSM A220
YL-CSA A220
OH-ATI ATR 72
9H-EAA CITATION 560
YL-ABC A220
TC-LCP 737MAX
OE-IZY FALCON 900
VP-BMY BAE 125
VQ-BAM BAE 125
VQ-BMK CRJ200
VP-BAO CRJ100
N601AD CL601
Gatwick
TC-LTK A321N
Blackbushe
OO-PCN PC12
I will post some pics later.

[billsamuels]

Great report Keith. I did Riga about 3 years ago but only a day trip courtesy of Ryanair from Stansted.

That must of been a fantastic sight to see all those old frames being moved over to the other side. Most of them looked like they wouldn’t make a move to the other side of the compound, let along across the airfield. Is the same old guy still collecting the entrance fees? Did you see the old Ilushin IL-28 in the woods?

Anyway, can’t wait to see your photos.

I’m off (hopefully) to the States on Monday, will post logs and photos, with a bit of luck… Completely spotting, no vacationing, just spotting for 12 days… Can’t wait….

Bill

[keithh]

It was closed when we got there so we didn’t see anyone. I tried to take a pic of the Ilyushin from the bus but someone walked across in front as the bus pulled up! As a matter of interest the flight cost £78 return and we got a hotel for £26.

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2022 20:27:02 GMT billsamuels said:

Great report Keith. I did Riga about 3 years ago but only a day trip courtesy of Ryanair from Stansted.

That must of been a fantastic sight to see all those old frames being moved over to the other side. Most of them looked like they wouldn’t make a move to the other side of the compound, let along across the airfield. Is the same old guy still collecting the entrance fees? Did you see the old Ilushin IL-28 in the woods?

Anyway, can’t wait to see your photos.

I’m off (hopefully) to the States on Monday, will post logs and photos, with a bit of luck… Completely spotting, no vacationing, just spotting for 12 days… Can’t wait….

Bill

Have a great time Bill, love the States wall to wall cops wherever you- go- would love to go again, but current circumstances dictate that is not possible for at least the next year or so- or anywhere else- so it is good old blighty for us. But never mind worse things happen in life.

Happy Days


Bob