A Boeing 747 seen jetting over Dorset this week has transported approximately 280,000 Covid-19 test kits to the area.
The former Virgin Atlantic aircraft has delighted plane spotters and photographers alike with its recent trips to Bournemouth Airport, leaving those in its wake wondering what the jumbo jet was carrying.
Photographer Carl Draper told the Echo: “When we had all the 747’s parked up in the airport during lockdown, we thought that would be the last we’d see of them at Bournemouth.
“The recent flights have got a lot of interest from people, even at 6.30 in the morning, as I think they just love aviation. They’re big, fast and noisy and a great sight.”
As shown by flight records, the plane in question first travelled from Dubai to Bournemouth on January 3. A slew of visits back to Dubai as well as Seoul in South Korea and Shenzhen in China followed before a return to Dorset on January 6.
The plane, registration VQ-BZV, is operated by Longtail Aviation who told the Echo what was being transported.
CEO Martin Amick said: “The plane has been modified to enable it to carry certain types of cargo on the passenger deck, where the seats have been removed.
“The current cargo is Rapid Covid-19 Antigen Self Test Kits. We carry an average of 4,700 cartons of these kits per flight. Flights will continue into next week.
“Longtail is the airline, if you will, but cargo is contracted out by a company called JetOneX. There is a contract with the UK government to supply the cartons.”
Martin and a colleague estimated there are around 30 test kits in each of the 4,700 cartons which weigh around 10kg each. This means around 141,000 test kits have been delivered to the area each visit.
He added: “Because it’s a modified passenger aircraft, the process to load and unload takes a lot longer so more manpower is needed. Bournemouth was selected because they are able to provide flexibility regarding the appropriate space and staff.
“It’s not an easy load for Heathrow or Stanstead for example, but Bournemouth was able to accommodate and provide that support.”
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