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Raphael Cockx

@raphael.cockx.com
1K followers 339 following 1.1K posts

Newsroom developer and datajournalist at @tijd.be in Brussels Into trains, planes, not so much automobiles Lover of most things 🇨🇦 Possibly addicted to 🧀 Talk to me on Threema: threema.id/2ESZ3KKM

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 29/09/2026
First impressions of the booking process: pretty smooth, but while I could set up a time window of when I'd be able to depart, the confirmation only shows a fixed departure time of 6am (right at the start of said window). And no, I'm not assuming this flight will actually go ahead. But who knows.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 29/09/2026
Obviously, I had to give this a try. So I'm now 'reserved' on a Antwerp to Frankfurt flight on Wednesday October 21st. Only needs 4 more passengers to actually take off :)
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 28/09/2026
And where is Egelsbach you might ask? Looks like it's about 16 km from the city center, further south than FRA and with at least some public transport options... if you're willing to do the 1.3 km walk to the nearest S-Bahn station.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 28/09/2026
Look at that, German on demand airline Vini will offer flights between Antwerp and Frankfurt (Egelsbach) plus Mannheim apparently. But only if there's enough demand for a specific departure date. Let's see how that works out. #AvGeek
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/09/2026
Yes I am. And it's the same thing here, with less and less stations on the band. But of course, that makes it a bit easier to get distant signals that used to 'hide' behind stronger, local stations.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/09/2026
Thanks to the ionosphere.
en.wikipedia.org
Skywave - Wikipedia
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/09/2026
It’s getting to that time of year again when transatlantic radio reception becomes possible, even with a small radio and antenna like mine. It certainly takes a bit of patience and a fair amount of luck, but yesterday I managed to pick up VOCM from Canada once again. Distance: just over 4000 km.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 20/09/2026
There's Durex and there's Durex. I wouldn't mix them up.
Old piece of flint paper with an elaborate logo of the 'Durex Abrasives Corporation' of New York
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 17/09/2026
Damn, that's really nasty 🤢
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Reposted by Raphael Cockx
European Parliament @europarl.europa.eu · 17/09/2026
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed today Members of Parliament. The EU and Canada share the same fundamental values. We are always stronger when we work together. Read more: link.europa.eu/Npnkrg
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stands at the speaker's podium in the European Parliament hemicycle in Strasbourg, with the EU flag visible in the background. A quote reads: "A Canada–EU alliance would create a beacon for other democracies, not defined by what we oppose, but about what we are for: freedom, solidarity, prosperity, sustainability." The European Parliament logo appears in the bottom right corner.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 17/09/2026
What took you so long?
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The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 12/09/2026
‘Not as orange as he looks’: NI parties weigh Donald Trump’s united Ireland comments
irishtimes.com
‘Not as orange as he looks’: NI parties weigh Donald Trump’s united Ireland comments
DUP says future to be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not in London, Dublin or Washington
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 12/09/2026
Exactly this! I've started using the Letterboxd app for this, which usually has a link to a decent trailer video.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 12/09/2026
I totally missed this diplomatic spat and how Algeria has closed its airspace to aircraft registered in the UAE. Clearly affects routing to places like Casablanca and even Lisbon or Madrid. Just another detour in the region 🤷 #AvGeek www.air-journal.fr/2026-09-12-l...
Flight path for Etihad flight EY757 on September 9th as shown on Flightradar 24. It shows the route passing east to west over the coast of Algeria.Showing flight EY757 again, now on September 11th. The route avoids most of the coast of North Africa, passing over the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt onwards and eventually over the Balerarics.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 08/09/2026
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Jon Worth @jonworth.eu · 07/09/2026
Welcome to the #LongestTrainEU #CrossBorderRail record breaking thread! This journey starts Kemijärvi 🇫🇮 and ends Lagos 🇵🇹 18 trains, 100 hours 9 minutes, 4008km as crow flies, 6281 route-km Project background: longestjourney.crossborderrail.eu Follow live: longestjourneylive.crossborderrail.eu
Logo of the Longest Train Journey project showing the Tornio - Haparanda bridge
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 08/09/2026
And off they are...
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/09/2026
Yes, you're right, obviously. I should have said 'private planes'. It must be because we call any private aircraft a 'privejet' in Dutch 🤭
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/09/2026
This is so intriguing. A total of six flights now on their way to Kirkenes.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/09/2026
Indeed!
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/09/2026
Don't know what's going on here, but it can't be a regular occurrence to have 5 private jets land there within an hour of each other. Kirkenes is way up north in Norway, right at the Russian border. All of these started in the US about a week ago with stops in Canada, Greenland, Iceland... #AvGeek
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 05/09/2026
Had to use Google Lens to make sense of this sign. It really looked like 'no caterpillars allowed' to me.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 05/09/2026
And to be clear, I'm absolutely fine with that if that's what the rules allow for. It was just mostly awkward.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 05/09/2026
What surprised me about the Fokker 50 flight yesterday is that they ran everything with just 1 flight attendant and no recorded announcement. Which meant she did the full safety briefing 'out of sight' in Swedish and English and then sort of mimed things like safety belt and life vest instructions.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026
They don't? I find that very Darude!
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026
Strange how when I passed by this place in Helsinki, a certain song started playing in my head. #iykyk
View of Helsinki Cathedral on Senate Square
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026
Ekstra, ekstra, ekstra! Read all about it!
A VR train in the station of Turku, Finland. Along the lower window is a green bar with the word Ekstra written three times in a row.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026
So we meet again....
SE-MFR, a Fokker 50 in populAir livery, at the gate at Mariehamn
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026
I like this airport so far 😊 Notice the reddish colour of the apron (and runway), made from local stone.
A Finnair ATR 72 is waiting on the apron at Mariehamn Airport, as seen from an outdoor terrace above. The apron as well as the runway aren't grey or black here, but have a reddish hue to them, made from local stone. Next to the plane is the word Mariehamn, formed by the shadows of those letters above the terrace.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026
Now now, it's just that it 'can be very unpleasant'. Just like an explosion on board of an aircraft 'can create safety issues'. Gotta love the eufemisms.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026
Phew, dodged a bullet there. Only in Scandinavia 😂
Fermented herring in cans is prohibited both as carry-on and checked baggage on airplanes due to its strong odor and the risk of the cans exploding due to pressure changes. The smell can be very unpleasant for other passengers, and an explosion can create safety issues. Therefore, it is best to send fermented herring by mail or another transport method.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026
Yes, but known as populAir these days 🤷 They operate 7 F50's still.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026
It's not just the plane itself that makes me look forward to this flight - although it's likely the last chance I'll get to fly the little Fokker. It's also the whole atmosphere of a small airport, free seating and a flight that almost always leaves early - because everyone showed up?
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026
After a day of sightseeing on Åland, tomorrow is #AvGeek day for me. Featuring a 30 minute domestic Finnish flight on a Swedish airline and most of all, a reunion with a 34-year old Fokker 50 formerly known as OO-VLZ when it flew (mostly) between Antwerp and London for VLM.
Map from the Great Circle Mapper showing the short route crossing the Baltic Sea between Mariehamn (MHQ) and Turku (TKU).
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026
I love holidays where locals ask you 'how did you find out about this place?'
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026
Of course I'm only here for the nature trails and lovely views. No, really.
Two huge scoops of ice cream in a cup. Sitting in the sunshine on a table.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026
I mean...
More rocky shores, lapping waves and a small boat
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026
Made it to the Åland islands, the autonomous, Swedish speaking part of Finland. But more than all that, it's just really lovely here. 🇦🇽
View over a bay on the island of Järsö, with a rocky coast line, trees and a small pier
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 01/09/2026
At least the bus driver knew which aircraft to drop us off at 😂
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 01/09/2026
Turns out Flightradar24 was right 🤷
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 01/09/2026
Flying Brussels Airlines to Stockholm today. According to the SN app, my flight is operated by OO-SSR, on its way from Marseille - as shown by Flightradar24. According to the FR APP itself, it's OO-SSB coming in from Berlin. 🤔
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 30/08/2026
Using AM/PM in Dutch is weird to start with. But '16:09 PM' really doesn't make sense at all.
Ad from Brussels Airport showing how quick you can get to the airport by train. It shows someone getting on the train at '16:09 PM' and arriving at '16:29 PM'
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Ben Schlappig @onemileatatime.com · 30/08/2026
Awful: The Aviation Herald Founder Forced To Sell Home After Slovakian Airline Lawsuit onemileatatime.com/news/the-avi...
onemileatatime.com
Awful: The Aviation Herald Founder Forced To Sell Home After Slovakian Airline Lawsuit
The Aviation Herald founder Simon Hradecky was sued by Slovakian airline Go2Sky over a flight diversion report, and had to sell his home to cover the legal costs.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 30/08/2026
No spine detected here in Belgium either. Even worse in a way with both names showing.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/08/2026
MediaMarkt just devalued its loyalty programme. This was in the mail this morning: "From September 28, you'll need 5,000 myMediaMarkt points to get a €20 voucher." Today? Just 1,000 points. Some airline and hotel loyalty programmes should be taking notes... (At least they warned me)
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/08/2026
Venezuela's LASER Airlines now flies between Barcelona and Madrid. It takes about 8 hours. So no, not THAT Barcelona. #AvGeek
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 25/08/2026
Surely a long shot, but has anyone visited the Åland Islands?
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 25/08/2026
Valencia? Ibiza? Really? But most of all: Luxembourg? REALLY? 🤬
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Technology Connections @techconnectify.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
When I wrote "we often rely on extraction efforts happening in other countries which may or may not be friendly" in my renewable energy video, Canada was not on my mind. But please, Canada - get nasty and fuck us up. You have every right to not be friendly, and we're counting on it.
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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 23/08/2026
Or maybe, I don't know, they want the benefits of free trade and neighbourly relations. Imagine that. 🙄
cbc.ca
Trump says Canada 'wants the benefits' of being a U.S. state in his 1st comments since trade talks broke down | CBC News
In his first comments since trade talks broke down, President Donald Trump said Canada "wants the benefits" of being a U.S. state "without being one." The president's brief post on his Truth Social pl...
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