Planes and Pendolinos

We take Luca. next door’s grandson, out for occasional trips, usually to follow his interest in trains. He’s good company and his enthusiasm is inspiring! Recently he has also become enamoured of aeroplanes, especially in flight. Today’s trip to Birmingham International Airport involved both planes and trains.
 
From Market Harborough the trip to the airport necessitates 5 little train trips there (and 5 back!), including his first ride on a West Coast Avanti Pendolino (albeit for one stop). (Four Train Operating companies are used in all).
 
Deborah took this delightful photo of him indulging his new passion. His main hope was to see the Airbus 380 from Dubai land and then take off later (all duly accomplished – see extras) The aeroplane is still an incredible sight, even after 20 odd years (?) of their introduction – it’s still a wonder to me that they get off the ground at all.  This admiration is always, however, tempered with the thought that they are not among the most environmentally friendly machines humans have come up with.