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Posted

Canberra to Sydney

 

Date: 3/7/2007

 

Flight No: QF704

 

Reg: VH-TJJ

 

Type: 737- 476

 

Name: Heron

 

Seat: 21A

 

Seq. Number: 1

 

ATD: 09:56

 

ATA: 10:35

 

Gate: u/k

 

Dep Rwy: 35

 

Arr Rwy:

 

I arrived early at the airport and enjoyed a nice breakfast at the expensive terminal cafe. Boarding was pretty much standard, sat down to find I had the seat next to me free (Love that). Our Captain was Captain Honeycombe who I have had a few times before on CBR-SYD-CBR flights. We taxied to the runway and did not use the displaced threshold, no need for it. Abit bumpy out of Canberra, ATIS Said expect turbulence and they were right. Had a first time flyer (A 5/6 year old) who was feeling sick on takeoff and landing (That made me feel great, I didn’t want the poor dear to puke and have to smell that for a while!) but all turned well and she didn’t chunder into the bag once. Our nice meal was a Muesli bar which was cranberry and yoghurt flavour with choice of Juice and Water. Billboard was the channel I tuned into before our descent into Sydney. Was pretty nice coming in over Liverpool, Campbelltown and near Bankstown (Watching the little buzz boxes landing down there is always fun), but coming out over the water it started to get abit bumpy as usual. Had a nice and smooth touchdown, with a roll then turn into the gate. Of course, about one gate away was VH-TJW. For those who don’t know TJW is my old foe. She follows me everywhere, and I mean everywhere. And she is my most travelled on 737.

 

 

Wing View of VH-TJJ

 

Sydney to Canberra

 

Date: 7/7/2007

 

Flight No: QF771

 

Reg: VH-VXO

 

Type: 737- 838

 

Name: Kakadu

 

Seat: 18F

 

Seq. Number: 3

 

ATD: 15:57

 

ATA: 16:48

 

Gate: 6

 

Dep Rwy: 25

 

Arr Rwy: 35

 

Looks to be a first entry for me with ‘Kakadu’, still with its ‘Sharing the Spirit’ titles on the rear. We boarded dead on time, early in fact. Waited for an international arrival and than pushed back. But sitting out on the tarmac we were told we would be dragged back to the gate due to a loading error, where the load sheets would be re-written before we could leave. So sitting down I listened to the onboard entertainment, namely Billboard again, and just waited for the load sheets to be rewritten. Once again my Captain was Captain Honeycombe, a veteran pilot for me of a few flights and my flight on the journey up to Sydney. We pushed back (Again) and this time started and the safety announcement was viewed/listened too. Taxied behind a NZ 767-300 before holding on 25 and jolting forward for our speedy exit from the rat race. Meal was two cookies and a choice of Juice or Water (Its starting to sound like a prison!). The cookies were nice though, one white choc and the other milk choc. Didn’t find them too bad, just a little bit more filling than the muesli bar. Descent was into the clouds formed over Canberra and the region through wet rain and a small amount of wind. Captain braced us for turbulence, and we got abit but not much really. Upon landing the Captain crunched the main gear onto the tarmac, which gave us a big bump and a huge vibration. Loved watching all the water being blasted from the runway as my seat was right at the end of the wing. Had to wait for another 737 to land and taxi infront of us and we finally arrived at the gate. The tiny gate lounge was packed as both flights arrived in around the same time, and the one carousel and arrivals area was full of people. Can’t wait till Canberra will eventually get a new Qantas Terminal :P

 

 

View of VH-VXO’s wing

 

While in Sydney I did abit of Plane and Train spotting, as well as abit of Hawk watching with the USS Kitty Hawk coming into Garden Island. Beautiful Ship with some beautiful hardware on it. Some photos of the Plane and Ship spotting will be posted abit later on when I can get around to uploading them to a server!

 

 

Guest Chainsaw
Posted

Nice report Toddy :)

 

I love your cautious words about the spotting in Sydney ;) Yes, we did have a good day, especially at the Foreshore Beach location and then at Barton Park. Perfect for photos. When I get some time, I'll post some pics in the TAA Gallery too.

 

 

Posted

Here are the photos from Kitty Hawk and my spotting day at YSSY.

 

 

VH-OGF Rotates

 

 

New for JetStar, VH-EBE

 

 

ZK-NCG With reverse on coming to a halt

 

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5393/oggzm0.jpg

 

VH-OGG Rotates

 

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5800/vox2qd3.jpg

 

VH-VOX Lifting off on its way to somewhere warm

 

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/294/vqp2na1.jpg

 

VH-VQP with special Titans decals

 

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/3599/vqdke7.jpg

 

Another JetStar, this time VH-VQD

 

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/3599/vhvyixv4.jpg

 

VH-VYI a 737-800

 

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/179/jqvirginvn8.jpg

 

Two Virgins and a Jetstar

 

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5982/dqfjkvq3.jpg

 

DQ-FJK Passing over me

 

 

 

'Beware of Jet Blast, Props and Rotors' displayed above its number, CVN 63

 

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7231 ... opyyk0.jpg

 

Entering the harbour, with the Black uniformed men and woman of the US Navy lining the decks. A Lady Class ferry on a sightseeing tour of the Ship is next to it, showing the size comparison

 

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5277 ... opysv1.jpg

 

Backing into Garden Island

 

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1804 ... opykj9.jpg

 

One of the USN Helicopters doing the rounds, a closer look of another shot of this chopper, one of the Navy blokes is looking directly at me!

 

There are more, but too many to keep on uploading. Enjoy anyway :P

 

 

Guest Glenn
Posted

Great photos. Would love to see more :)

 

 

Posted

Noooice pics and report as ever. Im soooooo JEALOUS!!!

 

I will personally be travelling on QF771 next week...YAY!!! on my trip...CBR - BNE - SYD - CBR . Hopefully I might get some pics! ....

 

btw, looove the one of VH-OGF....top stuff toddles! see you sunday :)

 

 

Guest David747
Posted

Nice trip report Todd. Great to see you had a wonderful time! :D

 

Mitch, when your at Brisbane Airport, if you have enough time, make sure you visit the Loop Road viewing area, which is a 10-15 minute walk north from the domestic terminal. It's gotta be one the best viewing spots at any Australian airport. Inside the departures level of the domestic terminal still offers a good viewing and photographic oppourtunity.

 

David...

 

 

  • 2 weeks later...

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