Picture Trip-Report: SYD-FAT (via AKL & FAT) & SFO-LAX-SYD

[Shameel Kumar]

Hi Guys,

This will be a quick trip-report of my latest flight over to the States that I did mid-December. I haven't got much time lately as I'm preparing to move over to USA in a couple of weeks. Anyways, I could have included a whole bunch of photos of my trip since I did a good number of flights from Sydney to Fresno and back...but I decided to only include a some interesting shots. Hope you all enjoy!

The Flights I took:
1. SYD-AKL-LAX, Air New Zealand, December 17, 2008 - B763ER and B744
2. LAX-FAT, American Eagle, December 17, 2008 - ERJ145
3. SFO-LAX, Southwest Airlines, December 21, 2008 - B738
4. LAX-SYD, Qantas Airways, December 21, 2008 - B744ER


The newly-installed AVOD system on NZ's 767s (and A320s). It's a touch-screen version of the system found on their 744s and 772s, but it is slightly upgraded in its appearance. Watched Top Gear on the way over to AKL!!
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6680/dsc06544ap3.jpg


Just few minutes prior to touching down in AKL. No suprise there was cloud cover (I can't remember a time I arrived in AKL with clear weather).
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/73/dsc06614wf8.jpg


I think everybody knows how much I'm a fan of Boeing's 777-300ER... here's one of the main reasons why, the GE90-115B engines!! Didn't Little Red Riding Hood say something like "my my what BIG engines you have!" ?
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7793/dsc06665lb0.jpg


Ah yes! There she is...awesome looking 77W! This is of course's one of EK's 77Ws that make flying in and out of AKL so great! I snapped a LOT of photos of this aircraft, but I didn't want to make this a 77W picture thread.
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1737/dsc06763ig1.jpg


I was a tad sad, but also glad in some ways to see VH-EBW 'City of Tamworth' in its final few weeks of service with Qantas. Definitely going to miss those shiney bare-metal engines and non-winglet wingtips. Fortunately I ended up catching-up with -EBW at LAX about 16hrs later as I had about a 4hr layover.
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/4382/dsc06882ih4.jpg


Taking off from AKL and oh what an amazing sight this was! I guess cloud cover can work in your favour at times. I purposely chose to sit 4-rows from the back of NZ's 744s so that I could take scenery shots with the wing taking-up just a small portion of the photo.
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/6691/dsc06904rl6.jpg


FIrst glimpse of light as we close-in on our arrival into LAX. Still a few hours to go, but this 'blue-glow' look was definitely something different to the usual yellowy-red sunrise colours.
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/8735/dsc06992sw9.jpg


View of the beach that greets visitors to LAX. Crappy weather this time around, but aye..watcha gonna do?!
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3736/dsc07014pa4.jpg


Touch-down at LAX on a rainy day. The beautiful Airbus A340-600 in China Eastern colours was nice enough to spot, but what took the cake was the aircraft behind it. The next photo will make things clearer!
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/9439/dsc07026ff4.jpg


Just about a week after it was re-painted in Delta colours, this ex-Northwest 744 was quickly put into action. I couldn't believe my luck that I saw this aircraft!!
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/2627/dsc07032en2.jpg


..Continues below

[Shameel Kumar]

We don't get to see Asiana's 744 in SYD, so I thought I'd include a photo of it. The new livery on their 744s looks great... unlike the weather that day!
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/2668/dsc07040nf9.jpg


Hey hey.. it's my name-sake.. well sorta... Shameel.. Shamu... yeah close enough. Another rare catch, especially considering I've seen lots of WN's aircraft in previous trips to LAX, SFO and LAS, but this is the first time I've seen one of their special liveries. Must have known I was coming.
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/4734/dsc07045lz2.jpg


Just when you thought I couldn't get enough GE-90110/15Bs in one trip. First was EK's 77W arrival into SYD, then followed by AC's 77L. Then 2 EK 77Ws at AKL, then ANA's 77W at LAX, and now EKs 77L at LAX. Oh how I love my GE90-110/15B monster engines!
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2020/dsc07054rl9.jpg


From AirNZ's 767 and 744 onto American Eagle's ERJs. This flight was from LAX to FAT (Fresno). A quick 45min trip...and apart from the slightly narrower seats this was actually quiet comfortable.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8697/dsc07059jw9.jpg


On approach to FAT, and thank goodness the weather was somewhat clearer. Fresno's in Central California..but it still looks very similar to the photo of L.A. I included earlier.
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/7/dsc07085ma3.jpg


Touch-down in Fresno and I'm greeted with 3 fighter-jets sitting pretty soaking up the California sun. These aircraft are actually permanently based at FAT..and if you even visit FAT and are lucky enough, you'll get to hear their awesome sound!!
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1800/dsc07125mx5.jpg


This photo was taken on the SFO-LAX leg of my trip that I flew with Southwest Airlines. This magnificent view shows all the city lights as we circle around to line-up for our approach to LAX.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1549/dsc07431wl8.jpg


All lined-up as I'm just a few second's from touching down in LAX once again. I did the best I could to keep the camera still, and thank heavens there wasn't any rain today (This flight was on Dec' 21, so just 5 days after flying into LAX).
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1985/dsc07448go9.jpg


On my way back home on a QF 744ER, and I was lucky enough to score a seat in Premium Economy. Let me explain all this. My Southwest flight from SFO to LAX got delayed by over 2hrs (bad weather in Chicago delayed the arrival of our aircraft). Once I finally arrived into LAX I hurridly picked-up my luggage and walked from T1 to TBIT as fast as I could! Once arriving at the check-in desk for my flight (QF12) I was initially told that check-in had closed, but the lady then made a call to see if they could squeeze me on. As she waited for a response from her superior I kindly asked if I could be allocated a window seat if I was able to board QF12. She then told me she could squeeze me on QF12...and in an act which absolutely impressed me (I wish I stopped to get the lady's name), she fiddled around in the system to get me checked-in and then even took my luggage and got it through the security checkpoint quickly so that I would have time to get through security (with the International Terminal at LAX - TBIT, you check-in, then you have your luggage security screened, and then you go to another place to go through security screening yourself..BIG pain in the butt!!). Anyhow, I was fortunate enough to be let through the 'families with infants' security line (so in essence, it took me no more than 5minutes to get from the check-in counter to my boarding gate!). After all this rushing I finally had a couple of minutes to rest as First & Business class boarded QF12. I noticed my boarding pass said I was allocated seat 38K. It seemed strange that I had such a low number (low as in close to the front of the plane). I boarded the aircraft and to my suprise (and joy!) I was lucky enough to be sitting in Premium Economy!! All the worrying at SFO, all the rushing at LAX..and my lucky stars gave me a 14hr journey home in Premium...funny how things work. Even more ironic was once I arrived into SYD, I found out my luggage had NOT made it on my flight and that they would be coming in on QF12 on the following day! What a dramatic leg of my trip!!
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7278/dsc07567ha7.jpg


Flying past the coastline and airport as we circle-around to line-up for approach on 34L. This will be my last flight on a 747 for a while now as my migrating flight to USA will be on the A380.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/6511/dsc07609bi1.jpg


I hope you guys enjoyed the photos as much as I enjoyed my whirl-wind trip. SYD-AKL-LAX-FAT and then SFO-LAX-SYD all in the space of a week!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone on this forum for making it a great place to find information, a great place to share our passion for aviation, and just a great place to have fun with new friends. As stated, I will be moving over to the States in a couple of weeks,...and I'll be living in Central California so aviation spotting will be at an absolute minimum (nearly non-existant unless I do the 2hr drive up to SFO). I'm not sure how often I'll post here in the future, but I'll definitely swing-by and see what's new and interesting.
Again, thanks to all the members who make this message board fun and interesting and also to the Admin members who keep this place running!

I hope you all enjoyed my trip-report contributions....I'll endeavour to create another trip report of my migrating flight as I will be flying SYD-LAX on QF's A380, and then from LAX-SFO with VirginAmerica in their First Class cabin (a little treat for myself since I won't be doing any flying for at least 2 years), ...but I cannot say whether I'll even take photos that day as I will be very emotional leaving this great city and country which has been my home for so long. Anyways, enough of the emotional stuff...I hope you enjoyed this trip report!!

[phil.l]

Well done Shameel nice report and photo`s.

[Mike Scott]

Shameel,
welcome to the ever growing band of expat's living over here in the US of A. Too bad your going to be living in Fresno (not sure why) but I hope its successful for you in whatever you are doing. I'm SFO based (dont live there though) but if your going to be in the area you can always drop me an email and if I'm between trips or something can always spare a few hours to show you around. Email address is available via the board.

MS

[Mike W]

Fantastic. Thanks Shameel for sharing. I especially enjoyed your comments too.

:)

[Sarah C]

Nice reprt as always Shameel. It was interesting see a wet LAX - I don't think I have ever seen it rain there!

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Great report and nice pics! Of all the times I've been to LAX (1987 and May last year) I've never seen arrivals from the beach end!
When I was there last year I kicked myself for packing my camera in the suitcase as we had a great clear day for arriving and could have taken some nice shots as we turned downwind. Also would have had some nice shots of Mount St Helens as we left Seattle; the big hole created by that eruption many years ago all covered in snow.

Enjoy your move and new home! BTW is this a permanent move?

Peter.

[Montague S]

Great report and nice pics! Of all the times I've been to LAX (1987 and May last year) I've never seen arrivals from the beach end!


Peter.

very rare that the 7's and 6's are in use, well, not very rare, it just doesn't happen alot during daylight hours.