Sunday Spotting

The below images were seen departing Brisbane airport today.

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPG (CN 0603)

ALLIANCE FOKKER F20-MK70 VH-QQY (CN 11575)

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 777-319ER ZK-OKQ (CN 40689)



ALL BLACKS RUGBY UNION LIVERY

ETIHAD AIRBUS A330-243 A6-EYG (CN 724)

MY WIFE AND OUR LITTLE CO-PILOT

TIGER AIR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-VNQ (CN 5218)

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-302 B-18317 (CN 861)

RFDS  BEECHCRAFT KING AIR  B200 VH-FDR (CN BB1881)

QANTAS LINK BOMBARDIER DASH 8 VH-QOH (CN 4132)

RFDS  BEECHCRAFT KING AIR B200 VH-FDM (CN BL 161) 

Silk Air arrives in Cairns

TODAY MARKS THE INUAGRUAL FLIGHT OF SILK AIR INTO CAIRNS

 

Silk Air (founded in 1976 as Tradewinds Charters) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and with its fleet of 28 aircraft operates scheduled passenger services from Singapore to 45 cities in Southeast Asia, India, China and Australia. As the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, it serves the short-haul destinations in the Singapore Airlines network.

Silk Air plans to operate the Cairns service three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, through circular routings with Darwin. The inaugural flight and subsequent Saturday flights will depart Singapore for Cairns non-stop and then return to Singapore via Darwin. The Monday and Thursday flights will fly to Cairns via Darwin and then return to Singapore non-stop. The detailed schedules are as follows;

From Singapore
MI 822 Mon and Thurs; Departs Singapore 1.40am and Arrives Cairns 11.50am (Via Darwin)  
MI 828 Sat Departs Singapore 01.40 am and Arrives Cairns 10.20 (Direct Flight)

From Cairns
MI 822 Mon and Thurs; Departs Cairns 12.40 pm and Arrives Singapore 5.20pm
MI 828 Sat Departs Cairns 11.10 and Arrives Singapore 5.20pm (Via Darwin)
(I noticed the arriving flight numbers are the same as the departing flight numbers)

The airline currently has a fleet of 26 aircraft, comprising 6 A319s,13 A320s and 7 Boeing 737-800s. In August 2012, the airline announced the largest order in its history of up to 68 Boeing 737 aircraft, with firm orders comprising 23 Boeing 737-800s and 31 Boeing 737 MAX 8s.

The inaugural flight touched down in Cairns on Runway 15 right on time.

THE BELOW IMAGES ARE THE ACTUAL AIRCRAFT WHICH I
TOOK IN DARWIN LAST WEDNESDAY

SILK AIR B737-8FA 9V-MGJ (CN 44226)

 

 

Darwin To Brisbane Flight

Today was my last day in Darwin and after a few calls in the morning I headed out to the airport. I had an hour up my sleeve so I called into my favourite viewing spot hoping for some military action or something unusual to arrive; but luck wasn't on my side.

AIR NORTH EMBRAER 120 BRASILLA VH-ANZ (CN 135)

CESSNA 401 VH-CYT (CN 59)

CESSNA 402C VH-UCD (CN 402C0049)

CESSNA 210 VH-SYT (CN 21061052)

AIR NORTH EMBRAER 120 VH-ANN (CN 203)

 

As there was nothing much happening I thought I would go

and check in and take some photos from inside the airport.

QANTAS B737-838 VH-VXS (CN 33725)

QANTAS B737-838 VH-YVL (CN 34184)

QANTAS B737-838 VH-VZZ (CN 39445)

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA B737-8FE VH-VUP  (CN 36604)
THIS WAS MY FLIGHT HOME

QANTAS DOUBLE PLAY

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VGA (CN 4899)

TAKEN FROM THE VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

I arrived at the airport at 12 noon for my 2pm flight and to my surprise all 5 Virgin Australia check in counters we closed and they didn't open for another 40 mins. It was 1 hour 15 before I finally got through security.

I made my way up to gate 3 which is where we were departing from. We boarded at 1.45pm and my seat for this flight was 20 E... A middle seat YUK. We pushed back at 2.11pm and taxied at 2.15pm. We lined up on runway 11 in Darwin and got airborne at 2.24pm. We climbed to flt lvl 370 and the flight was smooth all the way; after performing one holding pattern we landed in Brisbane on runway 01 at 6.27pm and taxied to gate 46... another flight done and dusted.

 

 

Day Two in Darwin

The good thing about building a close rapport with your customers is I get to know them and them know me... Very well. After talking to the owner of this business at great lengths it was time to hit the road with their sales representative. I mentioned the amount of military activity in Darwin yesterday and last night and mentioned this certain aircraft coming in around 11.30 and with hesitation she said "well we will have to go out and get it then won't we" So I guess I am very lucky that way, it could have quite easily gone the other way and I would have missed the opportunity all together.

As soon as I drove out of their street and we passed the airport I saw this parked there.

We then continued on our way doing calls for the morning; until it was time to get Hy-Fly

Through out the day I managed to get shots in where I could. 

We even did a little sight seeing along the way.

Then mid afternoon I said goodbye to my fellow companion and I went solo

Day One in Darwin

When I travel I can choose to stay where I want so I always try and stay as close to the airport as possible; luckily Darwin has a hotel on the airport perimeter. I stay at the Rydges Darwin Airport Hotel and I over look the airport and the tower. There are unfortunately a lot of trees so you can only see aircraft through gaps.

As I ventured around on my calls I took my camera with and managed to get some shots from the car park of my clients or from a favourite park I go to at lunch time.

CESSNA 210N VH-NLZ (CN 21063769)

QANTAS B737-838 VH-VXJ (CN 33480)

CESSNA 404 VH-SZP (CN 404-0637)

Darwin is a way point for many internationals either entering or leaving Darwin so con trails are very regular here in Darwin.

SCOOT BOEING 787-9 9V-OJB (CN 37113) CRUISING AT 40,000

SCOOT FLYING FROM COOLANGATTA (OOL) TO SINGAPORE (SIN)

QANTAS A330-303 VH QPJ (CN 0712)

THAI B747-400 HS-TGF (CN 33770)

     Knowing that Darwin has a rush hour around Midday I made sure I took my lunch break around then and I managed to capture these.

EMBRAER ERJ 170 VH-ANO (CN 17000099)

PILATUS PC 12 VH-YDQ (CN 1414)

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VFN (CN 5566)

CESSNA 650 VH-SPJ (CN 650-0101)

                                        It was time to hit the road for a couple of hours because Silk Air was scheduled to arrive around 2.15 and that was something I didn't want to miss. As I called into a client I was getting something from the back seat when I heard a loud whistling motor, looked around and this Cessna was right on top of me.

CESSNA U206G (CNU20605002)

                                                       Time to head back to my favourite spot and wait for Silk Air... But I got a very special surprise; I heard the tower say Kiwi 357 check wheels and advise POB... They checked wheels and advised 11 POB... I was thinking something small was coming in so I waited anyway;  it ended up being the Royal New Zealand Air Force 757; I was a very happy chappy.

SILK AIR B737-8SA 9V-MGJ (CN 44226)

FROM THIS SATURDAY SILK AIR WILL START FLYING TO CAIRNS

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIRFORCE 757

NZ-7571 (CN 26633)

VERY PLEASANT SURPRISE TO SEE THIS COME IN

 

                                                 Then after the work was done for the day I headed down to the shoreline to watch the sunset as it is truly amazing to see and today was no different. While I was there waiting we had more fly overs and then 3 military Hornets flew in; then another 3 and 10 mins later another 3 came in. I don't know if there is 9 on the ground or some where doing touch and go's.

 

Another day over and I get to do it all over again tomorrow.

Sitting here listening to the scanner and there have been many military movements into Darwin tonight. Looking forward to hopefully catching something special tomorrow.