Plane spotters kept in suspense by Boeing delays

Spotters were kept waiting when they turned up in scores to catch the first glimpse of the Boeing 747 -8F super jumbo, which was expected to land on Wednesday evening.

Instead of arriving at the predicted 7.40pm, the plane was delayed in Paris and at 9.30pm on Wednesday it had still not left the French capital.

The first of its kind, the plane had caused something of a stir at the air show in le Bourget, in Paris, where it was unveiled this week.

And, in Luxembourg, it was no different, causing as much excitement and anticipation as the arrival of an international celebrity.

At least 100 spotters spurned town centre festivities to turn out at the Cargo Center close to Findel airport to watch the famous jet land.

Businessmen still in suits, parents with young children and die-hard plane spotters equipped with radios, step ladders and top-of-the-range cameras filled the small patch of grass beside the runway from as early as 6.30pm.

There was a palpable sense of excitement as more spotters arrived, searching for the best spot to watch the biggest show of the year in the plane spotters' calendar.

Bjoern, a German businessman living in the US who brought his two children to watch the spectacle, said: “It's the first airline to receive this plane. It's of huge interest to the Luxembourg people. This is a country with a lot of plane spotters. People love to come and take pictures and chase planes. I couldn't really say what the attraction is but I travel a lot and it's nice to see the planes. The kids love it too. I think that Luxembourg is such a small country with a large air freight industry for its size so it's something to be proud of.”

Sandra Macedo, a Luxembourg resident, was one of three generations in her family to await the special arrival, including her father and fourteen-year-old daughter Melanie.

“I've been a fan of aircraft since I was a girl,” explained Sandra. “My father used to bring me along to watch. Naturally, my daughter has also caught the bug. When I heard that the plane was coming to Luxembourg, my first reaction was that I had to come and see it. I think it's a really nice. It's a hobby that we can share together.”

When the news emerged of the delays, many spotters left the area vowing to return in time to see the long-awaited landing.

Though some remained with their eyes fixed firmly on the horizon. One spotter, equipped with radio and packed lunch, was not to be put off. “I will wait until morning to see the plane if I have to,” he said.

When it lands, the aircraft will be stored in the Cargolux hangar and will undergo testing at the airport on Thursday. It is expected to depart on Friday around 9.30am, an occasion die-hard spotters will be sure not to miss.