THE SIGHT & THE SOUND 2/4 : Balkan Bulgarian AN-24 LZ-ANC inflight documentary from Sofia to Varna

My last flying day on Balkan Bulgarian Airlines.

Living in Japan and offered the opportunity of yet another flight onboard legendary Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, I decided to travel all the way from Japan to Bulgaria to take one more – as we know now – final - ride from Sofia to Varna and back on a misty day in January, 2001, 17 years ago.

By that time I was well known at Balkan and all the crew members for my undying love for Russian flying beauties.

This video features my last ride on Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, the first leg out of two this morning on a misty day to Varna right in the cockpit of 35 year old LZ-ANC.

This video needed to be puzzled, cut, edited, reformatted and patchworked as the original tape appeared to have unrepairable damage.

This is the result, no matter how many “dislikes” I am going to invite with these footages.

Welcome to my world of the Sights & Sounds of Classic Aviation.
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History of Antonov 24B LZ-ANC

Airframe 67302808 was manufactured 1966 and delivered to Balkan Bulgarian Airlines
in August, 1967 and registered LZ-ANC.

LZ-ANC was leased to Palair Macedonia from April, 1991 to July, 1992.

After Balkan Bulgarian Airlines went into history October, 2002, LZ-ANC operated for Aviastar, Bulgaria
in full Balkan colours with Aviastar titles.

LZ-ANC retired and was withdrawn from use November, 2005 after 39 years of operation.

Flight details

Flight : LZ 051
Date : Sunday, January 21, 2001
Aircraft : AN-24B
Registration : LZ-ANC
Former registration
LZ-ANC (Balkan, Palair Macedonia)
Later registration
LZ-ANC (Aviastart)
Year manufactured : 1966
From : Sofia (SOF)
To : Varna (VAR)
Take off : 09.58 h (0758 Z)
Touch down : 10.53 h (0853 Z)
Flying time : 55 minutes
Distance : 450 km
Altitude : 17.000 ft / 5.250 m
Speed : 450 km/h
Flight Captain : Ivanov, Kalin
First Officer : Charakampiev
Flight Engineer : Tekuedyiev
Cabin Crew : Marinov