Ever wondered what it takes to paint an aircraft? We take a look behind the scenes as Monarch aircraft G-OZBZ is given a fresh new look before it enters into service in the Monarch fleet.

The story in numbers:

• Monarch aircraft model A321 – registration G-OZBZ
• 9 days to paint the aircraft fuselage & fin
• 10 to 12 aircraft painting specialists, each with 10 to 20 years experience
• 360 litres of primer & paint
• Paint layers no more than 250 microns (0.25mm) thick on completion

First step, checks and scaffolding

The first task was to fly G-OZBZ down to a specialist aircraft painting company in Bournemouth called Airbourne Colours. The A321 would spend about 9 days being stripped down and repainted by a team of 10 to 12 highly experienced specialist painters each with 10 to 20 years experience. The team in Bournemouth would be in constant communication with Monarch operations teams and engineers during this time.

When G-OZBZ first arrived at the painter’s hangar, a Monarch engineer carried out an acceptance check on the aircraft. This check included removal of window wipers and a series of other tasks such as disconnecting batteries.

Next, the painting specialist’s hangar supervisor and a Monarch engineer worked together to check on the condition of the current paintwork and assessed any damage. While this check was carried out, a team put scaffolding into place around the aircraft. There had to be enough scaffolding to give access to every point of the aircraft during the painting process.

Second step, masking and stripping

There are two kinds of paint job that you can give an aircraft – a strip or an abrade (otherwise known as a ‘rub’). A strip involves the use of chemical washes to remove the paint back to bare metal. During a ‘rub’ the aircraft fuselage (the body of the plane) is sanded back to a smooth finish ready to accept paint.

Generally the fuselage and fin are stripped as these are made of metal but the engines and wings and rubbed as they are made of composite materials.

G-OZBZ needed a fuselage strip and repaint, so the next step was to cover or ‘mask’ all the areas which needed to be protected from sanding dust and paint overspray, for example the cockpit and cabin windows. As the wings weren’t being painted (just the ends were to be painted yellow), these were also masked. Masking was also applied to sensitive items such as ports, antennae, aerials and engine intakes.

The metallic areas were then chemically stripped back to bare metal, a process which includes a power wash and alkaline shampoo. The tail fin and engine cowlings (covers) are made of composite materials, so these were abraded, followed by a solvent wash. Once all the paint was removed and sealants checked and repaired or replaced, Monarch engineers carried out a bare metal inspection to check the state of the aircraft before painting commenced.

 Then, it’s time to paint

After masking, a team of 10 to 12 people hand-sprayed primer to the fuselage.

Once the primer was dry, a layer of white paint was applied to the fuselage.

Next, yellow paint was sprayed on to the tail and once dry, the indigo was applied to the underneath of the fuselage and Monarch’s famous spotty M logo was added to the tail.

There are a number of mandatory markings and Monarch titles that need to be put on the aircraft. These are a combination of decals (industrial stickers) and paint. The Monarch title for instance was applied by placing a massive spray mask (or stencil) over the fuselage and spraying the mask with paint.

Aircraft paints are designed to be tough in order to withstand extreme environmental conditions as well as corrosion, chemicals, and rain erosion. However, unlike paint you might use to protect your home, aircraft paints also need to be incredibly lightweight and the completed paint job was allowed to be no more than 250 microns thick (0.25mm or about 0.01 inches).

Taking all the primer, white, yellow, purple basecoat and the clear coat together, the total amount of paint used was about 360 litres.

Finally, it’s very important to the safe and efficient operation of commercial aircraft that we know how much everything weighs. When the painting was complete, G-OZBZ was given a ‘calculated reweigh’, which compared the thickness of the new paint to the original paint. These figures were sent to a loadmaster company to produce accurate trim data for the aircraft, which will be used eventually by the pilots and other people in operations.

Ready for take off!

What do you think of the final result? Does G-OZBZ look presentable? Share your thoughts in the comments below

So you’ve secured some great cheap flights and bagged a bargain on your hotel room, too. But are you sure you know what your holiday will really cost once you add up eating, drinking and all those little extras?

What destinations do you find great value for money? Which destinations do you think are expensive? Let us know in the comments below!

Holiday budgeting can be tricky (I know it is for me!) but help is at hand. You can now find out what holiday basics like meals and drinks cost in more than 40 destinations worldwide with the 2013 holiday costs barometer.

The barometer is the brainchild of the Post Office, and it tracks the cost of eight top tourist wants, from sunscreen to a glass of wine. It also shows, at a glance, which resorts are cheapest.

While it does confirm a lot that’s common knowledge (the barometer puts Spain at number one among cheapest destinations – and that’s why we Brits love it) but there are some real surprises, too.

The cheapest

Did you know that prices in Turkey have dropped by 16 per cent in the past year? That’s seen Turkey regain its spot in the barometer top 10 as one of the world’s most affordable destinations.

Egyptian prices have also dropped by a whopping 20 per cent. That puts Egypt at number 13 in the barometer table of cheapest resorts (and makes it far less costly than its rival Dubai, which is way down in 37^th place.) The barometer also shows that prices have dropped in Spain and Greece.

The most expensive

The dearest destination on the list is South Korea, where the average cup of coffee or bottle of local beer will set you back £3.40, and a three-course dinner for two (with a bottle of house wine) comes to a breath-taking £122.45. Pricey Australia and New Zealand follow close behind.

The best

If you ask me, the best thing about the barometer table is that I can use it as a list of destinations I can truly afford. It also gives me some real prices to work with when I’m setting my holiday budget.

I only wish that I could visit all of the barometer’s 20 best performers in 2013. Still, they do give me plenty of gorgeous destinations to choose from, including Croatia (still incredibly affordable at number 17), Greece (easy on the pocket at number 14), Cyprus (just a little ahead at number 12) and Portugal (still among the very cheapest at number 7).

What destinations do you find great value for money? Which destinations do you think are expensive? Let us know in the comments below!

Summer in the UK can seem all too brief, so why not extend the fun by getting along to some of the best festivals in Europe?

Catch a few and summer will feel like one long party, especially when you know that your festival tickets will take you to places where the sun shines brighter  and for longer. Here are some of Europe’s finest festivals in 2013 – take your pick!

What are your favourite summer festivals abroad? Let us know in the comments below!

Electric Elephant, Croatia – 11–15 July

This is everything a festival in Croatia should be. Think eclectic acts and dancing well into the night, with hedonistic boat parties or dips in the Adriatic by day, all within spitting distance of a charming old town. This year, Electric Elephant is set in the Garden Tisno, which boasts a private sandy beach, and Carl Craig and Frankie Knuckles lead a diverse roster of electronic, reggae and house DJs and live acts.

Getting there: Fly from the UK to Split, and Tisno is just 1 hour by airport transfer.

Low Cost Festival, Spain – 26–28 July

The fifth Low Cost in Benidorm is anything but low rent. This year the three-day festival boasts some impressive indie headliners, from Portishead to Belle and Sebastian and Two Door Cinema Club. It does, however, provide the kind of hedonistic party experience you’d expect in Benidorm. When FHM attended Low Cost in 2011, it reported that on most nights the party lasted until after 4am.

Getting there: Fly to Alicante for transfers to Benidorm.

Benicàssim, Spain – 18–21 July

This is one of the biggest of Europe’s festivals, for sure. But if you love to be with the crowd – and you don’t mind some sangria, sun and Spanish beaches, either – then you’ll truly belong in this raucous celebration of music, art, fashion and film. Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr joins Queens of the Stone Age, Artic Monkeys and The Killers in this year’s line-up.

Getting there: Check the festival site for details of the bus service from Barcelona airport.

Unknown, Croatia – 10–14 September

We’re unrepentant for including another Croatian festival in this list – its summer parties may be newcomers but they’re already firm favourites among Europe’s partygoers. Unknown will make its debut in Rovinj this year, but it’s already hotly anticipated as it comes from the organisers of Hideout, Croatia’s most prized party ticket. Jessie Ware, Django Djando and Four Tet will headline in what promises to be an immersive and unique experience.

Getting there: Fly to Venice, then take transfers to Rovinj via Pula, on the Italian border

What are your favourite summer festivals abroad? Let us know in the comments below!

You never know where you’ll find romance… but this week Monarch staff at East Midlands Airport discovered a love story dating back four decades.

Nottingham couple Janet and Henry Pavier first visited Malta for their honeymoon 40 years ago. To celebrate their Ruby wedding anniversary in style, the couple have returned to the island on Monarch’s inaugural flight to Malta from East Midlands Airport.

Monarch cabin crew and First Officer for the flight were on hand at check-in on Tuesday to greet Janet, Henry and other passengers with cake and champagne to celebrate the first departure to the new scheduled destination.

Malta is a brand new addition to a growing network of scheduled destinations from East Midlands Airport, with over 18,000 seats available for summer 2013. Flights to Malta will operate twice a week on a Tuesday and Saturday.

Malta is the first of two new routes to launch this summer from East Midlands Airport with Ibiza also launching on 23rd May.

Malta has a great deal to offer visitors, including beautiful baroque architecture in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed capital Valletta, overlooking the impressive Grand Harbour. Other unforgettable attractions include prehistoric Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra, the stunning northern beaches and the Blue Lagoon, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. With temperatures averaging 25˚C from May to October, it’s a wonderful sunny holiday destination.

We wish Janet and Henry all the best as they rediscover the magic of Malta.

Did you know Monarch Airpacks give you an extra 3kg in your hold bag if you add one to your booking? That got us thinking… what does 3kg look like?

Click here to visit our Facebook page and tell us which of the items we’ve listed you think could weigh 3kg & you could win flights! Be quick, the competition ends midnight Bank Holiday Monday – 1 May!

Other exciting things in our Airpacks:

The Essentials Pack includes a 20kg hold bag plus 3kg free & standard pre-allocated seating & online check-in

The Extras Pack includes a 23kg hold bag plus 3kg free & extra legroom seating and online check-in

Click here to learn more about our Airpacks

Never mind Gangnam style… we surprised unsuspecting passengers checking in for our inaugural Verona flight at Gatwick Airport yesterday, opera style!

Soprano, Alison Langer and Mezzo, Bethan Langford, both students at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, were on hand to get passengers in the mood for their trip to the opera loving destination, by singing a variety of well-known arias, including Puccini’s Quando m’en Vo, O Mio Babbinno Caro and Mi Chiamao Mimi.

The celebrations were a fitting tribute to the world famous opera city, as its renowned festival is celebrating its centenary this year. From 14 June to 8 September, 58 performances of six operas and four Gala nights will be staged at the Arena di Verona for the centennial edition of the Opera Festival, dedicated to the great composer, Giuseppe Verdi, on the occasion of the bicentenary of his birth. The Opera Festival 2013 will see the famous tenor, Plácido Domingo, as honorary Artistic Director, as well as conductor and singer in several performances on this, arguably the greatest opera stage in the world.

The new route to Verona operates three times a week and makes a perfect getaway for a weekend city break, with flights operating on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Flights to Verona are available to book with fares, including taxes, starting from £42.49 one way, including taxes and charges.

Kessia and Lewis Hadfield-Walker make wonderful mini cabin crew for Monarch

How adorable are our mini cabin crew?

Ridiculously cute brother and sister Lewis (8), and Kessia (5) helped us launch our new summer flights from Leeds Bradford yesterday.

We already offer flights to Faro, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Majorca and Tenerife from Leeds. New routes to Antalya, Barcelona, Bodrum, Heraklion, Menorca and Rome will launch over the coming few weeks.

For more information, take a look at > http://bit.ly/MiniCrew

Great news if you’ve got an iPhone, iPad or Google Android smartphone! You can now download Monarch’s brand new mobile app designed to make your travelling experience even more enjoyable – all part of our mission to make flying fun again.

The app is free of charge and you can download the Monarch app now from the Apple Store, for iPhones and iPads, and from the Google Play Store for Android smartphones.

Monarch iPhone App – home page

The app, called ‘Monarch’, boasts a whole host of features, including:

• Check flight status: Monitor the status of a flight until it’s arrival or departure – very handy if you’re heading to the airport to pick up friends and family

Monarch iPhone app – Flight Status departures

Monarch iPhone app – Flight Status

• Find & Book Flights: Search for flights and book, wherever you are. Users can also book our ‘Airpacks’ and other services quickly and easily

Monarch App flight search

• Directions & Traffic: Pop in your postcode, select your chosen airport and the app will direct you there and let you know if there are traffic problems on the way so you can plan your journey accordingly

Monarch iPhone app – Airport Directions

• Find My Car: No more forgetting where you parked the car! Save your car’s location in the app, and the app will guide you back to the vehicle. You can even take a photo of your car where you’ve left it so you can be sure you’re looking in the right place.

Monarch iPhone app – Find My Car

• Airport Information: This handy tool gives you the full address, directions and links directly to your favourite airport’s website so you can get quick answers to other questions

Monarch iPhone app – Airport Info

• Weather: Figure out exactly what you need to pack for your holiday with this handy 10-day weather forecast for every Monarch destination

Monarch iPhone App – Weather

Monarch iPhone app – Weather report Kefalonia

• Currency Converter: Find out whether your shopping is a bargain or not with this handy currency converter, which converts pounds sterling to euros

Monarch iPhone app – Currency converter

• Send A Postcard: Just for fun (or to brag about your adventures!) you can take a picture, add a caption and email your digital Postcard to a friend, or share it to Facebook or Twitter. We’ve also provided a range of fun Monarch postcards to use

Monarch iPhone app – Postcard

Monarch iPhone app – Send a Postcard

• Your Feedback: Send your comments to us quickly and easily. Your feedback will be monitored and your ideas considered for future updates to the app – so don’t be shy!

Monarch iPhone app – Your Feedback

Download the Monarch app today!

Click here to download the app for iPhone and iPad.

Click here to download the app for Android smartphones.

We’d love to know what you think, so please post a comment or leave a review!

Don’t let Sunday 16 June go by without remembering Father’s Day. If your dad is anything like mine, he’s a one-of-a-kind and he deserves a special treat – on this one day, at least!

If you’re determined to give your dad the best Father’s Day ever this year, why not book him a holiday? Get ahead now and check out these destination ideas to suit any kind of dad.

Malta – for Action Dad

Whether your dad is an actual diehard adventurer or just an action-movie buff, Malta is his spiritual home. Couch-bound daydreamers will be thrilled to find themselves against the backdrop of so many action flicks (blockbusters from Gladiator to The Spy Who Loved Me have been filmed against Malta’s stunning scenery). It’s also a top place for real-life action dads to fill their boots with diving, horseracing, rock climbing, golf and watersports aplenty.

The Caribbean – for Laid back Dad

So, your dad doesn’t do glitzy, and he can’t stand attraction-packed city breaks. What about a big slice of sunshine and the cruisey island life? Tobago will have relaxed Dad smiling from ear to ear, especially when he finds himself on a palm-fringed beach with a glass of rum in hand. And if he ever tires of doing nothing but chilling, he can always wend his way around the island by jeep, or check out its incredible fusion cuisine (think curried blue crabs, and coconut- and spice-infused chicken pelau).

Barcelona – for Foodie Dad

Your dad’s already done all the big foodie destinations, like Paris and Rome. But think beyond the obvious and you could surprise him with an unforgettable gourmet experience in Barcelona. Before you put Dad on the plane, mark La Boqueria market on his map, and book him in for meals at the hip, much-hyped and Michelin-starred Cinc Sentits as well Rías de Galícia, a far more old-school but very fine seafood establishment. But perhaps suggest he take some sturdy shoes, too, so he can walk it all off in the morning.

Venice – for Culture-mad Dad

My dad has a lot of destinations on his bucket list, and just as many excuses not to go. Stop this crazy procrastinating now and book his dream ticket for him. Every culture-mad dad will have a different city topping his list, but for mine it is Venice. For him, the attraction is the thrill of seeing all those familiar masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture first-hand. So, in a way, he’ll know what he’s getting in advance. I just don’t think anything could prepare him for the trip from the airport to Venice across La Laguna – he’s up for an unforgettable treat.

Did you know Monarch Airpacks give you an extra 3kg in your hold bag if you add one to your booking?

Click here to visit our Facebook page and tell us which silly or essential items you’d pack with your extra 3kg & you could win flights! Be quick, the competition won’t run for long!

Other exciting things in our Airpacks:

The Essentials Pack includes a 20kg hold bag plus 3kg free & standard pre-allocated seating & online check-in

The Extras Pack includes a 23kg hold bag plus 3kg free & extra legroom seating and online check-in

Click here to learn more about our Airpacks