Trip Report. 11 December. Brisbane-Sydney-Maroochydore. LONG.

[Guest David747]

Hi everyone.

 

Yesterday, me and 2 of my mates David and Jason went on a day trip down to Sydney Airport to watch and photograph the planes and most importantly, fly on a Qantas Boeing 747 300, perhaps our last ever flight in one, yet alone a 747 classic. It was one very exciting and memorable adventure. I hope you enjoy the report. :D

 

BEFORE THE TRIP.

 

Due to A330 300 maintenence, Qantas used Boeing 747 300 VH-EBT on the BNE-SIN route and on Monday 11 December (the day we travelled) it operated SIN-BNE-SYD. It was a once in a golden oppourtunity to have a ride in a 747 classic and we knew about this one-off flight well in advance and without thinking twice, we booked this flight plus our return flights and from there, we knew we had made the right decision. Before the trip, I had made a wish. My wish was to visit the cockpit of the 747 300. I really wanted to see the old school office of this magnificent aircraft I have loved and adored so much. I was so excited for this trip. Suddenly the day came! I still couldn't believe the day had come! I was ready to rumble!

 

BRISBANE AIRPORT.

 

I left my house on the Sunnie Coast at about 04:45 and arrived at the International Terminal at about 05:45 and waited until I met up with David and Jason. We checked in as quick as a flash! No queue as always! Then we proceded through customs and security screening and Jason and myself wandered around through the concourses looking and photographing the aircraft that were at the International terminal including SQ 772 9V-SRH, EK 773 A6-EMO, JL 743s JA8183 & JA812J, NZ 320s ZK-OJH & ZK-OJM, O7 732 VH-OZQ, KE 333 HL7586, QF 763 VH-OGJ, our QF 743 VH-EBT & that leased Solomons 733 with the green tail. Our Airline was delayed for 3 hours! Was supposed to leave at 06:00 but ended up being due to leave at 09:00! After having fun in the international departure lounge, it was finally time to commence boarding!

 

QF52 BOEING 747 300 VH-EBT "CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA"

 

I was extremely excited to be boarding the oldest Qantas aircraft in the entire fleet, the mighty VH-EBT, 22 years old and still going strong! I just love the Qantas 747 300s! Such a pleasure to be on it today. Boarding commenced ontime and we took our seats at the front right hand side of the a/c. We were pushed back right ontime at 08:15 and listened to the safety demo. Then, the pilots started up the four very loud Rolls Royce Engines and then were were finally on our way. I was happy to know that RWY01 was now in use meaning there was no long taxi. We taxiied behind NZ 320 ZK-OJM (which was operating an SJ flight to PMR) and waited for it to depart and once it was gone, we taxiied onto RWY01 and then, the true excitement truly began!!! We thundered down the runway and lifted off just infront of the fire station and commenced a sharp right hand turn over Moreton Bay and began our southbound route to SYD and flew into the clouds quickly. That take off was just incredible. Those Rollies made an incredibly loud growl and I was just left in awe! Truly a magical moment I am still excited over. The crew soon started handing out our meals, the usual continentiel breakfast. I asked this really nice cabin crew member, Ben was his name, if I could take some photos of the cabin and out the window and he was more than happy for me to do so. He also showed me around the a/c and gave me some really nice QF goodies including those pens and cards. As I was photographing in the back economy section, a father with his little girl asked me to take a pic with his camera of him and his daughter which was really nice of him to do so. As the flight continued on, I finally couldn't believe my luck. Ben offered me a visit to the flight deck but of course he had to get captain permission. My face lit up! He took me up into the upper deck for a look and some photos and he asked one of the other F/As if she could ask the captain if I could visit after landing. The vertict was in. I was allowed to see the flight deck. My wish had come true! I thanked them so kindly and then went back down to economy and grabbed an empty window seat on the back right hand side of the a/c for landing. We flew over the airport and tracked southwards before making a very fun steep left hand turn onto the ILS approach for a RWY34L landing. After a very exciting and brilliant landing. We had arrived about 15mins early and pulled into a gate next to a VN 772. I finally got to come into the flight deck to have a look, take some photos and meet the pilots. The captain was really nice to me and happily answered some of my questions I asked him. He allowed me to sit in the left hand seat and one of the FAs who was with me took some really cool photos of me in the flight deck. The cockpit was just amazing. Finally it was time to diembark the a/c and I thanked the absolutely wonderful captain, pilots and cabin crew so kindly for allowing me to visit the flight deck and for such a happy, wonderful and memorable flight. Jason and David didn't look in the cockpit as they have already visited some flight decks before. We cleared customs and quarrantine and finally made our way into the arrivals hall. The excitement was not yet over!

 

SYDNEY SPOTTING.

 

Thr 3 of us met up with fellow spotter Chris and he took us over to the beach where we spent the next 4-5 hours or so spotting and watching many, many planes. We saw some of the following important a/c.

 

-MH 744 9M-MPN, SQ 744 9V-SPF, EK 77W A6-EBM, MU 332 B-6122, CI 343 B-18802, CX 742F B-HVZ, FJ 744 DQ-FJK, KE 744F HL7466, TG 744 HS-TGK, JL 743 JA8183, UA 744 N175UA, BI 763 V8-RBF, JQ 332 VH-EBB, VN 772 VN-A144, QF 333 VH-QPG, QF 747s VH-EBV, OEE, OED, OJO, OJL plus many, many more planes including BA 772 & 744, TG 744 new c/s, OS 772, CX 333, MH 742F, NZ 320s, DJ 738, ATLAS 744F, UPS MD11, FEDEX MD11 & the list goes on! At 16:00, we left the beach and Chris dropped us off at the domestic terminals and we said our goodbyes and thank yous and at this very time, a big storm was building up.

 

SYDNEY DOMESTIC.

 

I checked in for my JQ flight and after that, I said goodbye to Jason and David. (they went on different flights to what I did. They went to BNE.) What a great day it was guys! I then cleared the security screening and got some red rooster, a couple bottles of water and a mango smoothie! I was sooooooo tired and thirsty by now! Spent the next hour or 2 walking around the terminal looking and watching the planes and more to the point, resting on an armchair looking through my photos on my camera's LCD. By the time I got to my departure gate, my flight was already boarding! Got there just in time! The adventure was about to escalate even more!

 

JQ628 AIRBUS A320 200 VH-VQM

 

The a/c had arrived a bit late from ADL so we pushed back 15mins behind time, big deal! lol. This storm was still hanging around and had already been causing many delays for flights and we were no exception. We taxiied past Shep's mound towards RWY16L/34R but from here on was the where things were to get a little interesting. We were sitting on a taxi way for a loooooong time, awaiting ATC clearence, inbound traffic plus a wind change was to happen meaning 34L/R was to change to 16L/R and that meant more time awaiting ATC clearence. The OS 772 was waiting at the end of 34L for what seems quite a while until I finally see it backtracking down the runway to finally make a 16R departure. After more waiting, we finally took off on RWY16L and made a sharp left hand turn as we dodged the massive storm clouds and headed northbound back home to Sunny QLD. By about maybe 10-15mins into the flight, there were no more storm clounds and the flight operated safe and sound. We arrived in MCY exactly 1 hour late on RWY36 and by then, I was really tired and quite happy to be home, but at the same time, wishing I was still in SYD. Despite the delay due to the storm, I was not angry at all, it was just another fun adventure for me that'll go into memory lane plus it's better to be safe than sorry. Sadly, this wonderful day is now over and I am still in awe from it.

 

FINAL WORDS

 

I wouldn't trade this day for anything! I had a ball! I had fun! I was happy and excited the whole way through! I am so greatful my wish had come true in seeing the cockpit of the 743 and it'll be one thing I'll always remember. It was a brilliant flight and thank you so kindly Qantas for making it so memorable. I coudln't fault it at all. Thanks David and Jason for such great company, it was great to be with you. Thanks once again Chris for taking us to the beach and being with us. It's greatly appreciated. Big thanks to my dad who took me to BNE and picked me up again and finally, thank you mother nature for providing a storm to make this trip even more eventful and interesting! hehehe. In conclusion, it was a day I just had an absolute ball and I wish I could do it again right this second. As always, I'LL BE BACK QANTAS & SYDNEY!!!

 

David... :D

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Great report David!

 

Geez, how time flys, its been nearly 12 months since ive flown on the Qantas B747-300's between Sydney and Honolulu on QF3 & QF4

 

 

[Uncle Chop Chop]

Great trip report. I hope to fly on a Boeing 747-300 before they go out of Service.

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Oh WOW :shock: David, sorry for my ignorence before i did not realise but VH-EBT (City of Waga Waga) is the aircraft i flew to Hawaii on in Janurary of this year on QF3. Here's a picture i took of her shortly after disembarking the aircraft in Honolulu.

 

 

 

[Guest David747]

Hi Matt and Chop Chop, thanks for your comments. :)

 

Chop Chop, I would highly reccomend a flight on a Qantas 747 300. They are just awesome planes to fly on. They are kept in such amazing condition. In economy, they are exactly the same as the 744s but no AVOD IFE. Make sure on take off, you sit near the engines as the sound they make on take off is just incredible! If you have the chance to ride on one, go for it! It's worth it! :)

 

Matt, thanks for the photo of EBT in HNL. Lucky to fly on 2 743 flights to HNL and back. Bet that was lots of fun and something to remember. :)

 

David...

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

Excellent report David.

 

Can you share a photo or two with us of the cockpit? 8)

 

 

[TAA Matt]

That is one thing i did not get to do and go up in the flight deck of EBT

 

 

[Guest David747]

Hi Glenn/everyone.

 

Sorry for the late reply! May I please ask, how do you load a photo onto a post, because I cannot quite figure out how to do it. Thanks heaps!

 

David...

 

 

[TAA Matt]

David,

 

You have to upload the photo to the internet, i use http://www.imageshack.us

 

Once uploaded it will give you a long line of code for forums and you just copy and paste it into your post.

 

 

[Guest David747]

Thanks heaps Matt. :D

 

I have already uploaded those pics onto myaviation.net so I'll send em once they have finally been loaded onto there.

 

David...

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

This topic ---> viewtopic.php?t=241&highlight=imageshack gives you info on how to use Imageshack

 

 

[Guest David747]

Thanks heaps Glenn. All's appreciated! :D

 

Here are some photos in the Boeing 747 300 flight deck! Enjoy! :D

 

 

 

 

 

David...

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Thanks David for the photos,

 

Its good to be able to see photos of the same flight deck that took me to Honolulu.

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

Thanks for uploading them 8)