Melbourne to Brisbane Flight (January Trip)

After a great morning spotting; 8 hours to be exact, it was time to head into the airport for my 4.10pm flight home. I arrived back into the terminal at 2pm and went up to the Qantas Club for lunch and a few beers. I hadn't been to this lounge before so I was looking forward to seeing what view they had. The view was pretty good.

FROM FRONT TO BACK QANTAS'S B737, 717 AND 2 DASH 8 Q400

MALAYSIA AIRLINES A330-323 9M-MTH (CN 1336)

THAI B777-3AL HS-TKL (41521)

At 3.45pm I made my way down to gate 4 in time for my 3.50 boarding time. As soon as I arrived at the gate I notice the very low amount of passengers waiting, so I checked the gate and flight number again. Boarding commenced right on 3.50pm and I took my seat which was 5A, the aircraft was a B737-838 and the registration was VH-VXO (CN 33485) This flight had only about 40 passengers on board. The cabin doors were closed at 4.07pm and we pushed back at 4.09. We commenced taxiing at 4.12 and headed out for the east - west runway of 27.

QANTAS B737-838 VH-VYH (CN 34180)

EMIRATES A380-861 A6-EOB (CN 164)

SICHUAN A330-243 B-6535 (CN 1241)

We lined up pretty well straight way and got airborne at 4.17pm.

CALDER PARK RACEWAY

After a long slow bank to the right over Sunbury we set course for Brisbane.
We passed to the west of Wangaratta, then directly over Wagga Wagga and Mudgee. We passed to the west of Armidale and then onto the Gold Coast where we banked left and tracked for Archerfield.
The flight up was anything but smooth and comfortable as we had a low to moderate chop, there were two times when the captain said "cabin crew and passengers be seated immediately and fasten seat belts" We began our descent into Brisbane at 5.42pm and after flying past our home

(and my wife and kids out waving to me) we landed on runway 01 at 6.05pm.

ARCHERFIELD AIRPORT

BRISBANE CITY (WITH GABBA FOOTBALL GROUND)

BRISBANE RIVER

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

Due to Queensland not having daylight saving we put the time back an hour, making our official arrival time 5.05pm.

Two killed in Australia Day Air Display

A Grumman G-73 Mallard flying boat was destroyed when it hit the water of Swan River in Perth, Western Australia late this afternoon. The aircraft was flying a display during the Australia Day City of Perth Air Show. The aircraft lost altitude in a turn and impacted the water nose down. The aircraft broke up on impact. Both occupants suffered fatal injuries.
Lord Mayor of Perth Lisa Scaffidi said the Skyworks  planed for tonight had been cancelled "Due to the operational need to conserve the integrity of the site and in respect for those killed and as per operational directives for such occurrences".
People have been urged to cancel their plans to approach the wider city area, with those already around the foreshore asked to leave.


Aircraft Information
Aircraft: Grumman G-73 Mallard
Operator: Private
Registration: VH-CQA
Serial Number: J-35
First Flew: 1948
Age: 69 Years


Here is a few pictures of the aircraft I took at an airshow last year.

Aircraft Spotting on Australia Day

Today being Australia Day families all over Australia where eating lamingtons; throwing a snag on the barbie and cracking open a coldie... me; I was smelling AV gas and burning rubber and loving it.
As I was in Melbourne on business yesterday and today was a public holiday, my wife said "why don't you stay the night and do some plane spotting in Melbourne" She didn't have to tell me twice.
So I got up early and headed out to the airport to look for a viewing point that will not be facing directly into the morning sun. Luck has it, it was very overcast when the sun came up so I was lucky.

EMIRATES A380-861 A6-EOL (CN 186)

JETSTAR B787-8 VH-VKF (CN 36231)

HAINAN AIRLINES A330-243 B-6519 (CN 1159)

ROYAL BRUNEI B787-8 V8-DLC (CN 34789)

QANTAS LINK B717-200 VH-YQW (CN 55194)

QANTAS A330-303 VH-QPD (CN 574)

AIR INDIA B787-8 VT-ANM 9CN 36284)

SINGAPORE B777-312ER 9V-SWP (CN 34581)

AIR NEW ZEALAND A320-232 ZK-OJF (CN 2153)

CATHAY PACIFIC A330-343 B-LAE (CN 850)

MALAYSIA AIRLINES A330-323 9M-MTH (CN 1336)

UNITED AIRLINES B787-9 N27964 (CN 37813)

QANTAS A330-303 VH-QPA (CN 553)

QANTAS A380-841 VH-OQI (CN 055)

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA A330-243 VH-XFH (CN 1452)

EMIRATES A380-861 A6-EOB (CN 164)

CHINA SOUTHERN A330-323 B-5917 (CN 1392)

AIR CHINA A330-343 B-6101 (CN 1685)

CHINA EASTERN B777-39P B-7369 (CN 43286)

AIR ASIA X A330-343 9M-XXP (CN 1481)

VIETNAM AIRLINES B787-9 VN-A866 (CN 38762)

TIGER AIR A320-232 VH-XUH (CN 6749)

GARUNDA AIRLINES A330-343 PK-GPW (CN 1585)

AIR NORTH EMB 170-100 VH-ANV (CN 17000280)

REX SAAB 340 VH-PRX (CN 303)

SINGAPORE B777-312 9V-SWT (CN 34585)

QANTAS A330-202 VH-EBJ (CN 940)

AIR NEW ZEALAND B777-319 ZK-OKQ (CN 40689)

SCOOT B787-8 9V-OFD (CN 37121)

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q400 VH-LQH (CN 4431)

CHINA SOUTHERN A330-323 B-5917 (CN 1392)

VIETNAM AIRLINES B787-9 VN-A866 (CN 38762)

SINGAPORE B777-312 9V-SWT (CN 34585)