PlanespotTeej

08/08/2026

One of PAL's Baby Raccoons

This is one of two of Philippine Airlines' Airbus A321neos with the distinctive "raccoon mask" mostly seen on Airbus' neo aircraft. It's not just a design; but it came in with a few benefits such as thermal management and glare reduction, giving pilots better visibility from their flying office. This design started with the Airbus A350 and subsequently became an option on other aircraft in the Airbus family such as the A330 and the A320 families.

However, not all neo aircraft have this feature and some ceo aircraft even have it! So the raccoon mask is not a great indicator if it's a neo aircraft. Treat as a design choice, may it be for the added benefits mentioned above, or simply airlines may want uniformity among their fleet. After all, the major difference between a neo and ceo aircraft is the engine used.

I personally really like the idea of the raccoon mask in a design perspective. It makes it feel more premium, quite similar to some automobiles. Cars on a mid to top-of-the-line variant often have their B-pillars and/or window trims painted with black, rather than in body color found in most base model variants.

Anyway, its twin aircraft (RP-C9937) is still parked and not in active service. This may be one of those affected by the Pratt and Whitney engine issue that plagued some Airbus neo aircraft or it may be grounded due to a different issue. Hopefully, it gets to play in the skies regularly, soon!

Philippine Airlines 🇵🇭
PR431 | NRT-MNL
Airbus A321-271NX
RP-C9928 / MSN 09087

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07/08/2026

I’m not cute, I’m fluffy!

The current rainy season here in Manila lets you see this occurrence more often. 😅

United Airlines 🇺🇸
UA190 | MNL-SFO
Boeing 777-322(ER)
N2737U / MSN 62647

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06/08/2026

Time to stop being clingy! 😤

06/08/2026

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06/08/2026

Ah, Gusto mo ng Seat Sale?

This August, the 8.8 sale just got better as Cebu Pacific is running another Seat Sale! I know the weather has been pretty gloomy these days, but maybe planning and booking that trip can make you feel better! From August 6-10, 2026, enjoy fares for as low as PHP 8 one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges. That is, if you plan to travel abroad (international) between January 1, 2027 to March 31, 2027 and/or if you plan to travel locally (domestic) between January 1, 2027 to June 30, 2027.

Although travel costs may be higher nowadays, taking advantage of promos such as this Seat Sale can still help you save on costs! Cebu Pacific can take you almost anywhere in the Philippines and some parts of the world and they're being generous on their frequent seat sales!

For your peace of mind, always book through Cebu Pacific's official website at www.cebupacificair.com

For now, the passengers inside this plane can't wait to go on an island paradise to escape the gloomy weather here in Manila!

Cebu Pacific 🇵🇭
5J903 | MNL-MPH
Airbus A320-214
RP-C4330 / MSN 05003

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05/08/2026

Wow solid content from Benny!

04/08/2026

The Clingy One Finally LEFt!

The day finally came when this British Airways Airbus A380 registered as G-XLEF finally left Manila after spending a little over four months at Lufthansa Technik Philippines, Inc. (LTP) for heavy checks given its twelve years of age and some upgrades inside the cabin.

Planespotters have been waiting for days for its departure date since there’s a possibility of seeing it in daylight, as we experience earlier sunrises recently.

Talk about being clingy. It has been here since March 24, 2026, making its stay 134 days long, just four days shy of one of the Korean Air A380s that also came to Manila for maintenance. I'm not sure if any A380 has stayed even longer, though. If you know of one, I'd love to hear about it!

Thankfully, it wasn't raining that morning although heavy clouds can be seen from a distance. The superjumbo just made a quick hop at Clark International Airport (CRK) for it to leave for London Heathrow (LHR) past midnight later tonight since they don't have that much flexibility on doing A380 movements here in Manila.

Now we’re counting a few days away for its replacement; a returnee but with some special activities to be done with the aircraft when it’s here. 😉

Good job once again to the folks at LTP for another A380 well taken care of!

British Airways 🇬🇧
BA9171 | MNL-CRK
Airbus A380-841
G-XLEF / MSN 151

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04/08/2026

What’s better than an Il-96? Two Il-96s!

Yes! We are graced with not just one, but two Il-96s here in Manila!

So a follow-up on the previous Il-96 post; another Ilyushin Il-96-300 arrived in Manila on a different day. Still from the same operator, but probably flew in the VIP himself, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Based on the timing, it appears he arrived on this aircraft to attend the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Russia, which was held on the same day. These Post-Ministerial Conferences are part of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM).

Now I’m not sure if it’s part of protocol to bring two Il-96s for this particular occassion. It can be as a backup when one fails (just like Air Force One of the US), or simply Russia had some great number of delegates for the meeting.

Still, considering how rare these aircraft are, having two visit Manila in the same week (together in one day) is a sight that every aviation enthusiast should see.

When I spotted this second Il-96, it flew out after a few hours to be repositioned to Clark International Airport (CRK) due to the limited parking spaces in Manila. Given how light it was, we’re blessed to see it rotate as it approaches our spotting location. Too bad I didn’t manage to take my own video of it but still, seeing it take off as its engines roar is already a treat that will satisfy my planespotting itch for some time.

And this concludes my spots for the recently concluded ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here in Manila. Which aircraft did you look forward to the most among the delegates?

For me, no brainer it would be Russia’s Il-96s. I won’t see those often given its rarity! But to see two of them here in Manila, awesome!

Rossiya - Special Flight Detachment 🇷🇺
RSD838 | VKO-MNL-CRK
Ilyushin Il-96-300
RA-96019 / MSN 74393202019

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04/08/2026

Look who made a cameo here… 😅

03/08/2026

Ура!

And now we're going to the penultimate part of my special aircraft spots for the recently concluded ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) held here in Manila last July. Perhaps among the known line up of delegates and their aircraft, this is the most exciting one due to its rarity and it's also going to be my first time spotting this aircraft type.

The AMM isn't just a single meeting; the event also encompasses other related meetings where specific topics are being discussed with key participant countries. Learning that Russia will attend this event, the plane spotter community here in Manila went ecstatic, as Russia will definetely use an aircraft that's quite rare to see here.

The delegation of Russia flew in Manila through an Ilyushin Il-96-300PU operated by Rossiya - Special Flight Detachment, a special airline operated by the Russian government dedicated for VIP transport of the President of Russia and other key officials. Its main base is at the Vnukovo International Airport (VKO) in Moscow. According to Planespotters.net, the airline operates a fleet of 41 aircraft, primarily consisting of Russian-built types such as the Ilyushin, Tupolev, and Sukhoi families, complemented by a small number of Airbus and Dassault aircraft. The fleet is mostly configured in a VIP configuration, with some specially configured such as an Airborne Command Post, and Airborne Communication Station. The livery used by the entire fleet is the former Rossiya livery before it underwent rebranding in 2016.

Quad-jets have become a rare sight in today's aviation industry, where fuel efficiency and cost savings take priority. That made seeing a new example, at least for me, all the more exciting! There's a certain appeal when you see quad-jets; just like when you learn that a car is powered by more than four cylinders. The Il-96-300 is powered by four Aviadvigatel PS-90A engines delivering a maximum thrust of 35,300 lbf.

With only seventeen of Il-96s in active service, where eleven of these are with the Special Flight Detachment, this aircraft type is very rare, with Cuba as the only non-Russian operator of this aircraft.

I had the privilege of watching it arrive and depart, with the roar of its engines at full thrust making the experience even more unforgettable. It's the kind of sight and sound you'll probably only get to experience once, or at most a handful of times, over the next few years in Manila.

Rossiya - Special Flight Detachment 🇷🇺
RSD608 | VKO-MNL-BSZ
Ilyushin Il-96-300
RA-96023 / MSN 74393203023

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