• Aircraft:

  Ilyushin IL-76TD-90VD

• Reg: RA-76951 photos
• Serial #:

  2073421704

• Airline: Volga Dnepr Airlines
• Photo Date: Feb 23, 2022
• Uploaded: Mar 19, 2024
• Stockholm Arlanda Airport - ESSA, Sweden

What an incredible day in Stockholm, Sweden!! There are truly no words to describe the feeling of achieving something. The feeling that you are capable of doing it! It’s even more satisfying when you do it on your own. Most of you probably know what I am talking about. If only I knew a film director, I would ask him to make a movie about today featuring me, but the story goes like this: A few days ago I saw an announcement that an IL76 is set to land at Stockholm Arlanda. Then I realized it was impossible to catch it because of the schedule - the initial ETA was around 12-12:30, so having some University classes in the morning, I gave up. I cannot teleport myself so I was thinking that this time I was gonna miss it. So, at around 12:20 I was in the tunnelbana (the subway) going into the city center to take some videos with my phone. I somehow checked Flightradar24 and looked up the arrivals at ARN and noticed that the airplane hadn’t even departed from Leipzig (and I thought it had already landed in ARN). Well, in no time, I was already off at T-Centralen, going down the stairs to catch my return subway to go home and take my backpack with the camera. If only I had the camera with me – it would have been so easy to get to Arlanda from where I got off. At the moment of writing this (February 2022), I have been using the subway system for more than a month and I was pretty familiar with the stops, but for some weird reason, I was already leaning against doors when I still had 3 more subway stops, impatiently waiting for them to open. As they opened, I started running like Usain Bolt. Usually, it would take around 10-12 minutes from the subway station to my house. Did that in less than 5 minutes. I managed to get into the house, took the backpack and I was off to a bus station - since I had to take a commuter rail to Märsta (a suburb of Metropolitan Stockholm). In less than 10 minutes I am already at the Ulriksdal station, waiting for the commuter rail (J) to Märsta. I am looking at the board- the next train comes in 8 minutes. Desperately, I am starting to write in Facebook groups - asking for advice - and more importantly if someone could pick me up from anywhere. I messaged 3 fellow local spotters and two of them answered me they were not going to be at the airport today. It feels like the roof falls on my head. But I was on a mission. I knew it was meant to happen! So I continue. With the Red Hot Chili Peppers in my ears, I immediately start to be more confident. In order to get to the spotting location for runway 26 arrivals, you have to take a bus from Märsta to Halmsjön (Bus 579), and then walk for around 10-15 minutes. I was already looking at alternatives - like taking an Uber. Then, being cheap (just a student lol), I was like-no! I’m not doing it! I somehow get off at Märsta and run to the bus terminal. Looking at my phone, it appears that bus 579 is delayed - for about 4 minutes. Might not seem like a lot but again, I was running out of time! As the bus pulls to the curb, I let all the people board and I am the last one to board. I am asking the driver, gesturing like a maniac that I need to get to Halmsjön (which is the last bus stop) as soon as possible. I’m begging him to drive as fast as he can. He is not complying. I keep interrupting him before he can complete his sentence, but it’s already the third time he’s telling me I have to take a seat for him to start driving. I was angry. Annoyed. Irritated. I wanted to do it as they do it in the movies- they kick the bus driver and someone takes the wheel- and of course pedal to the floor! Since it’s real life, this doesn’t work. It’s important to mention that in Sweden, the bus driver only stops at a bus stop if people on the bus request that by pressing the stop button - or if the driver sees someone at the bus stop to get in, otherwise they just keep going. We pass the first stop, nobody is requesting to get off - nobody is at the bus stop - so the bus continues to go. However, at the next bus stop, I saw someone dressed very elegantly. It only takes me around 2 seconds to realize that we are losing so much time right now! The bus driver has finished his shift and he’s swapping places with the other driver that was at that stop. I thought someone was laughing at me. Someone does really not want me to catch that IL76. I thought, "That's it. I can't do anything right now. It's just my fate." But that was the crucial point - I was faithful - I still had hope in me. I stayed focused and realized that the driver swap turned out to be a great advantage, working in my favor. I immediately started talking to the new driver - explaining to him what was going on. He starts smiling. Wow, what an amazing moment! He continues, "I have a schedule, and I must stick to it." Disappointment sets in. However, he continues, "Since I've traveled this route countless times, there's usually no one waiting for this bus; everyone disembarks at the airport (referring to SkyCity/Arlanda Term.2-3)." At the moment, I didn’t know what he was talking about. He starts driving. I immediately see him as Lewis Hamilton. After it was only him and I on the bus I started telling him – ”Faster! Faster! Go-go-go!! NOW!!” There’s this sharp left turn, we are literally flying with like 75-80 km/h…but we are in a Volvo… therefore, not even close to being scared. He asks where exactly to stop for me… Before getting off the bus I ask his name (which I forgot), but I do know for sure he’s from the Gambia. What an awesome guy! But now, I start running through a thick layer of snow, there are some hills to climb, the whole experience you would wish for…. I stop from time to time to catch my breath. I was running against the wind, and it was extremely cold. Somehow, I’m alongside Runway 26, just 5 minutes prior to the arrival of the IL76… the rest…you can clearly see it in the picture. It was more than a race against time! Confidence, perseverance, and dedication. These are the words that describe the 23rd of February, 2022. And Usain Bolt- since they could have easily chosen me to take part in the Olympics with the performance I did today. What else can I say- it’s aviation, so enjoy it!! Kind regards, Luca.

Photographer

Aircraft

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789 5 0 Ilyushin IL-76TD-90VD

CharlesJin_TSN RA-76951

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Photo location

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Photographer

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