Todd M Posted July 11, 2007 Posted July 11, 2007 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 July 12, 2007 Posted July 12, 2007 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.
Todd M Posted July 12, 2007 Author Posted July 12, 2007 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
TAA Mitch Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 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 July 14, 2007 Posted July 14, 2007 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...
TAA Mitch Posted July 17, 2007 Posted July 17, 2007 Thanks David! I have put my flights home at the other end of the day, so ill have plenty of time to check it out!
Guest Crash Lander Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/179/jqvirginvn8.jpgTwo Virgins and a Jetstar Just as well! You wouldn't get 2 Virgins on Qantas! [smilie=cheeky-smiley-025.gif]
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