Trip Report. BNE-SYD-MCY. 16 October.

[Guest David747]

Hello everyone.

 

On Tuesday, I went on a day trip down to Sydney Airport to do some spotting and it turned out to be a rather eventful but fun and exciting day.

 

A NOT SO GOOD MORNING.

 

I woke up at 04:00 and left home at 05:00. It was a nice easy drive down from the Sunnie Coast to Brissie until getting snarled up in the morning business traffic closer to the airport. I finally arrived at about 06:00 and quickly checked in. The night before, I found out that my QF176 flight was to be late because it had left LA around an hour behind time but little did I realise that it would end up being more than "just late." Anyway, I said goodbye to my mum and cleared customs and security and made my way to the departure lounge. Unfortunately the 747 400 that was to take me to Sydney today had a problem with its flight controls and as a result, the flight ended up being delayed by just over 4 hours! It certainly sucked being stuck in boring old Brisbane whereas I could've been having an absolute ball in Sydney. Thankfully, all the passengers were given $15 food vouchers. I was very happy about that! Free food! Yes please! I was naturally disappointed by the delay but I was not one little bit angry. Qantas always put safety before schedule and that is definately one of the best things about them and I have absolute respect for that. If I was the Captain, I would've done the same. After 4 hours, the boarding call finally came. YIPPIE! I was finally on my way to Australia's coolest and best airport, Sydney.

 

QANTAS 176. BRISBANE-SYDNEY. BOEING 747 400. VH-OJD.

 

I boarded this rather empty flight and took my seat on the right hand side of the aircraft just behind the wing. The flight was then pushed back and the pilots started up the four loud Rolls Royce engines and then made the quick taxi to RWY 01. Thankfully, there was no waiting for incoming or departing traffic so QF176 was finally on its way. After an absolutely exciting and adrenilane pumping take off, the jumbo made a lovely sharp right hand bank over Moreton Bay and then commenced the southbound trek to Sydney. It was a beautiful, sunny, cloudless day and I was fortunate enough to get some absolutely lovely views of the City of Brisbane and all of the surrounding suberbs. A view I could look at everyday. I spotted Archerfield Airport and I think I even saw Amberley. Not long after the flight reached its cruise altitude, the cabin crew served the passengers a very "late" breakfast! Just the usual continental breakfast which is a nice and healthy meal to keep you going for the day. After I had eaten my second lot of free food for the day, I went for a walk around and took some photos of the awesome Rolls Royce Engines and then one of the FAs asked me to take a photo of her and one of her collegues which was pretty cool! Despite the delay, the cabin crew were really lovely and friendly as they always are when I fly on a 747. I got to see and photograph the business class in the upper deck which was really nice and I got another photo taken of me in the one of the seats, fully reclined! After a fun visit in the upper deck, I went back down to economy and not long after, the seatbelt sign came on and the plane commenced its decent. Today, due to westerly winds, Flight 176 was to land on RWY25 and I got to witness some awesome views of the City of Sydney. I saw the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. A view I could never ever tire of seeing. The flight tracked eastbound out over the Pacific Ocean and made a really sharp right hand bank onto finals. Love banking, it's so much fun! On the ILS approach, I saw Bondi Beach and the 747 flew really low over the many nearby suberbs and made a lovely RWY25 landing and quickly cranked up the reverse thrust and breaks. As a result, one of the food trolleys slowly rolled out of the galley! After a quick taxi to the gate, the engines were shut down and it was time to thank the crew for a lovely flight and disembark VH-OJD.

 

SPOTTING AT SYDNEY AIRPORT.

 

It was a quieter time now at Sydney and as a result, customs were very quick. However, due to an Air Pacific 747 that had arrived probably not long before, Quarantine was absolutely packed. Probably because all the passengers were having to declare all of their wooden souvineers they had bought over there! Thankfully as a domestic passneger, I was directed to a very quick line and I was then finally on my way to the International Viewing area. From there on, I had an abolute ball. I got to see and photograph all of the afternoon heavies including 2 UA 744s in the Grey Ghost c/s, a BA 744 and 772, a TG, MH and SQ 744, a few QF 747s including a 300 series and the mighty Wunala Dreaming, a VS 346, EY 345, CX 333, JQ 332, EK 77W and probably best of all, a CX Cargo 744F in the silver bullet livery! Despite the fact I had missed a lot of the morning traffic, I was still really happy to see and photograph all the afternoon action. It was just 747 after 747 after 747 in your face! It started off as a very hot afternoon but later on a southerly wind came and from then on, it became quite cool and windy. After a fantastic afternoon spotting all the wonderful heavies, it was sadly time to go.

 

A CLOSE CALL.

 

My Jetstar flight was to leave at 18:35 and as a result, if I checked in any later than 18:05, I was to miss my flight. I was originally planning to leave the international terminal at 17:00 but I was of couse not ready to so! I ended up staying until about 17:30. On my way out, I asked one of the SACL information people, the ones with the canary yellow jackets about the best shuttle bus to take. By the time I had reached the stand just after 17:40, I had realised I had just missed it! The next one didn't arrive until 18:00! Oh no! After panicing a little, I finally dashed over to the taxi ramp and caught a taxi over! Phew! What a refief! I finally checked in at about 17:55, 10 mins before it closed! I then went through security and wandered around for a while looking around until boarding commenced. Sadly, my time in Sydney was now over.

 

JETSTAR 790. SYDNEY-MAROOCHYDORE. AIRBUS A320. VH-VQI.

 

After boarding, I took my seat at 10F and before long, the flight had pushed back a little early and after the safety demo, the plane made the long taxi to RWY16L. I love looking at all the lights around the airport, they are so pretty! After a thrilling take off, the aircraft made a sharp left hand turn and commenced its northbound trek to Maroochydore. It was a lovely relaxing flight. I spent my time looking at my photos and having a nice chat to the passenger sitting beside me. It was a cloudless night and I was able to spot the odd lights from down below. Since I hadn't had any dinner before hand, I bought an orange juice, a cheese and crackers and a cup of noodles which were really nice. I asked one of the lovely FAs if the flight had one of the A330 model planes to buy but unfortunately it didn't. At the same time, I very politely asked her if I could possibly visit the flight deck and take a few photos in the cabin after landing, at the same time saying I was a real aviation enthusisit. She asked the pilots pretty much straight away and they said yes and I was informed the good news! I thanked her very kindly and not long after, the flight commenced decent. Tonights landing was to be on RWY36, landing towards the north. The plane flew right over all of the local suberbs, roads, freeways and houses! It was lovely seeing my hometown all brightly lit up from above. It was so pretty. After a lovely landing, the A320 made a quick taxi over to the terminal and after all the passengers disembarked, I made my visit to the flight deck where I got to chat to the lovely first officer who was an ex QF 767 first officer. The A320 cockpit is so lovely, especially at night! After a lovely visit, I said goodbye to the first officer and the lovely crew and disembarked VH-VQI. Seeing the A320 cockpit was certainly a very happy ending to the trip.

 

FINAL WORDS.

 

It was yet another fantastic trip and as always, I wasn't ready for it to end. Despite the 4 hour delay, I still had a fantastic time on the 747 and in Sydney like I always do. I have no regrets going the trip whatsover and I wouldn't of traded it for anything else. The weather was fantastic which was certainly a bonus! Thank you very much Qantas and Jetstar for the wonderful flights and I look foward to going on them again in December when I make my next trip to Sydney. I must also thank Wunala Dreaming for finally making an appearence when I was there, unlike the last few times! So on December 11, I'LL BE BACK!!!

 

David...

 

 

[Guest Chainsaw]

David,

 

Thanks for a great report. Any pics for us? Pop them in the Gallery, I'd love to see some.

 

Chainy :)

 

 

[Guest David747]

Hello Chainsaw/everyone.

 

Here are some photos I thought I would share with you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David...

 

 

[Guest David747]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David...

 

 

[Guest Chainsaw]

Great stuff David!

 

I really appreciate the time you have taken to put the pics up, and the trip report. Thanks mate :)

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

Thanks for that David. Enjoyed every minute of it. Feel free to upload to the gallery :)