Bankstown 20/12 & Sydney 26/12 Spotting

[Dan Collins]

Hey All,
Have had the opportunity to take some photos around the traps this past week and thought I'd share with you.

For those who might have problems viewing the photos below, try my Picasa gallery here: Picasa Web Albums - Daniel - December Spot... (http://picasaweb.google.com/awesomegt/DecemberSpotting?authkey=qtxVM9Z-pd0&feat=directlink)

First off, some photos from Sydney's Metropolitan Airport, Bankstown. Dad and I went down for some flying and he spotted a big red Catalina and a couple of Skycranes...

Catalina N160AT
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4050

http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4051

http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4052

http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4053

Erickson Air-Cranes N217AC and N194AC
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4054

http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4055

http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4056

http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4057

There was a third Skycrane parked in a different area of the airport (near Aerospace Aviation) as well.

Dan

[Dan Collins]

Dad flies with Schofields Flying Club as part of their formation team and was out doing some circuits in a two-ship formation, so I did some GA spotting at the end of the Runway 11L/C/R thresholds...

Schofields Flying Club Piper PA-28 Warriors VH-SVK & VH-FTU.
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4058

http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4059

http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4060

Hope you enjoyed, the 'big boys' from Kingsford Smith are coming in the next post...

Dan

[Dan Collins]

What else would I be doing on Boxing Day apart from sitting around vegetating, so I figured I'd go to Sydney Airport as I wanted to see one of the last Classic B747-300 departures at midday.

Qantas B747-338 VH-EBV 'City of Geraldton' on one of her last departures to Perth. (Video capture, so the quality's not that great).
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4061

Air Canada B777-233LR heading back to Vancouver. (Video capture, so the quality's not that great).
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4062

I then changed locations (after lunch) and headed to the Old Control Tower carpark for some shots over the beach.

Jetstar A330-200 VH-EBC (White Livery)
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4063

United Airlines B747-422 N181UA (Battleship Grey Livery)
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4064

Etihad A340-642 A6-EHB (Updated Livery) heading back to Abu Dhabi as EY451
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4065

Malaysia B747-4H6 9M-MPL
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4066

Cathay Pacific A330-343 B-LAF
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4067

Qantas B747-438ER VH-OEG
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4068

Virgin Atlantic A340-600 G-VOGE 'Cover Girl'
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4069

United Airlines B747-422 N180UA
http://www.400scalehangar.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=158&pictureid=4070

Hope you enjoyed! Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2009!

Dan

[Gareth Forwood]

Very nice photos Dan, thanks for sharing!! Just wondering, how do you get up so close to the aircraft at Bankstown? Is it only for flyers? I've still not been out there before.

[Jayden Laing]

Great photos Dan. A6-EHB is an A340-541 too ;).
Cheers,
Jayden

[Dan Collins]

Very nice photos Dan, thanks for sharing!! Just wondering, how do you get up so close to the aircraft at Bankstown? Is it only for flyers? I've still not been out there before.

Cheers Gareth, I didn't actually take the photos of the Catalina and Skycrane (my father did as they were parked near Schofields' Clubhouse), but as my Dad and I are pilots in training we usually don't have much issue getting out and about the place and up to the aircraft. I think there are some members on this forum who do the same.

I have seen people walking the taxiways etc without problem, so I guess if you can get in, you can have a good walk around :)

For spotting though there's plenty of roads which go around the airport and bring you near the runways. Just make sure you don't illegally park your car or anything.

Great photos Dan. A6-EHB is an A340-541 too ;).
Cheers,
Jayden

Jayden thanks for taking a look, OMG I can't believe I made such a stupid error in the text for the Etihad - I even knew it was a -500! but for some reason put down 642!? WTF?! :confused: hahahahahahahaha. Thanks for pointing it out. I've even flown on that plane so I must've had a complete mental blank there.

Dan