Manchester Airport - Home of the Mismatching Engines

This past weekend I was in Manchester and going through some of the photos I took at MAN I couldn't help but notice the number of aircraft with mismatching engine cowlings. It's bit like if a car door is replaced by another door that's a completely different colour - it's functional but sure looks odd.


The first photo is G-OZBS of Monarch with a fetching grey part on Engine No. 2.




bmi's G-DBCJ also sported a nice grey part which probably would have been less noticeable on the previous British Midland colour scheme.




Ryanair's EI-DCW jazzed things up with some dark blue on Engine No.2. Incidentally this is the aircraft I flew over from Dublin on. To remember its registration I christened it "the Carl Weathers".

The first of many First Choices - G-OOBC with a bit of white on its RR engine.

OY-VKI of Thomas Cook Scandinavia decided to break up the blue monotony on Engine No. 2 with a bit of white.

Another Ryanair. This time EI-DHA with a somewhat odd looking engine, admittedly not helped by the thrust reverser in action.

It's not really easy to see it on this photo but G-OOBK's Engine No. 1 has a dash of white towards the back.

Another First Choice aircraft, G-OOOZ. Engine No. 2 is 'ooozing' with white. Ok, I won't give up the day job!

Oh look, another First Choice. This time it's G-OOPH and yet again it's another bit of white, on Engine No. 1.

What's this? Surely not a First Choice aircraft? And yes, more white. This time on G-OOBG.

A third Ryanair aircraft with a patchwork engine. EI-DCZ.

And finally, an mismatching engine cowling part that actually adds colour to an aircraft! OM-ASG flashes a bit of blue amongst all the white.

Tough times at the airlines you may ask? More likely just a case of the parts being all that was available at short notice or as a temporary measure. After all, airlines like First Choice (or Thomson or whatever they may be called this week), Thomas Cook and Monarch don't really have time to have their aircraft sitting in a hangar at this time of year waiting for something that may be a bit more aesthetically pleasing. And besides it allows people to do seemingly pointless blogs!