Qantas A380 Flyby

[Lachlan C]

A Qantas A380 will be performing a flyby of the citys cathedral on tuesday for Nancy Bird Waltons Funeral at about midday i believe. Fitting tribute to a fantastic person!

[Shameel Kumar]

Thanks for the heads-up Lachlan!

Great to see Qantas giving their own final tribute to Nancy Bird-Walton, should be a special sight seeing the A380 over the harbour and city again. Looks looks Tuesday's shaping up to a special day for QF. First this midday fly-over, and then the departure of their final 747-300 Classic at 7.00pm.

I'll endeavour to try and catch both aircraft.

[Jayden Laing]

Is the 747-300 leaving from Sydney??

[Michael Mak]

Is VH-OQA doing the flyby?

[Dan Hammond]

Is VH-OQA doing the flyby?

Would make sense for it to do so.

[Mick F]

VH-OQA is "Nancy Bird Walton" is it not? I'd imagine that would be the one unless it's on the other side of the world.

Mick

[Peter Agatsiotis]

OQA operated QF31 today so should be back on Monday evening; just in time!!

[steve k]

A very fitting rememberance of this fine Lady indeed, hope it all goes well weather wise and a sad farewell, but I am sure she will look down from the heavens above and thank us for the tribute!
Farewell Nancy, never to be forgotten. Rest In Peace.

[Gareth Forwood]

I just saw this article (http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/nancybird-waltons-funeral-on-wednesday-20090116-7iwe.html) which says her funeral is to be on Wednesday. Is the fly by still scheduled to coincide with the funeral?

[Shameel Kumar]

Any further updates on this fly-by?.. because as Gareth pointed out, her state funeral will be on Wednesday. I haven't been able to find any news of a fly-by on the net, but it may be internal to QF only.

Please provide any updates as I'm keen on being in the city to see the fly-by. :)

[Lachlan C]

the flyby will coincide with the funeral

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

Has time been set to the fly by ?.... planning to go up to balcony at work on 34th floor to snap few pics of fly past.

[Anthony J]

has time been set to the fly by ?.... Planning to go up to balcony at work on 34th floor to snap few pics of fly past.
1215

[matthew mcdonald]

Just a curious question: As OQA will obviously be doing the flyby empty at 12:15, after it is completed does anybody know if OQA will then operate the QF11 flight to LA that afternoon or will the flight be operated by OQC or B.

Just asomething that popped into my head.

[Raymond Rowe]

one would be out of melbourne to lax today so that leaves two more to operate the other flights after the service.

[Bernie P]

From the 'Special Events Policy and Planning Unit| Office of Protocol and Special Events, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet'

Dear all

Further to discussions at this morning's CSOG meeting regarding the State Funeral for Nancy 'Bird' Walton AO OBE, Tony Pipe (OPSE) has advised that the Tiger Moths have been requested to do their flyover at 1645hrs on Wednesday 21 January.

This decision was reached after discussions with Anna Holman. The reason for this is that the family will be at their private reception at Royal Sydney Golf Club at Rose Bay by that stage and will in fact be able to see the fly over.

CASA have rung and are going to approve the activity.

This came as an email to my office this morning for those interested...

[Matt R]

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/walton-to-be-honoured-with-a380-flyover-20090120-7lab.html

[Mick B]

Here's a detailed description of the fly-by routing:

Planned ETD is 1115 local.

Flight path is now planned at 160 kts TAS, 1500' from North Head west up the harbour to the harbour bridge, then a right turn to the North for approx. 3 nm then another right turn back over the harbour bridge climbing to 2100', for the North to South pass over St. Andrews Church./Town Hall at 1200 Midday.

[Fabian Lee]

Greetings. Is there anywhere on the Internet where I can watch the flypast live? Thank you.

[Anthony J]

It just did it's North to South run over the City with a wing wave overhead. Looked lovely from my place.

[Michael Mak]

The flight number for the flight is QF6601, operated by VH-OQA as mentioned before.

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

only did north to south run at 1500 ft.

[Matt R]

only did north to south run at 1500 ft.

WebTrak says 2000 feet.

I got a few shots (http://www.shakesbeare.com/gallery/v/transportation/planes/sydney-spotting/nancy-bird-funeral/) from my office.

[Nick W.]

Nice flyby. Everyone outside the church applauded and cheered as it came past, very touching.

[Fabian Lee]

Been trawling the Net for a video of the A380 flypast but zilch even on news websites. Found this on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG2rNwOlZk8 that I thought I would share. Do you know of any other such videos of this event? Thank you.

[D Chan]

Been trawling the Net for a video of the A380 flypast but zilch even on news websites. Found this on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG2rNwOlZk8 that I thought I would share. Do you know of any other such videos of this event? Thank you.

try the news broadcasters. I saw one and they showed a little bit of the flypast.

[Mick Raftery]

'Nancy' passes St Andrew's Cathedral in a moving salute to Nancy.

http://i40.tinypic.com/4j3vwj.jpg

An AWPA pink tribute and farewell.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2aabpn9.jpg

Luskintyre Tigers say a final goodbye above RSGC, Rose Bay.

http://i42.tinypic.com/2qi8oiq.jpg

Rest In Peace Gracious Lady

[Fabian Lee]

Thanks D Chan for tip.

'Nancy' passes St Andrew's Cathedral in a moving salute to Nancy.

http://i40.tinypic.com/4j3vwj.jpg




Beautiful shot, Mick. Thanks for sharing this pix. What altitude was OQA at? Did you post a higher res version of it anywhere else (that I may download)? Thank you.

[Mark D]

The A380 departed RWY 34L, runway heading to 3,000, then got 'when ready turn right & track down George St, when tracking south descend to 2,100' " ie a teardrop turn back for the flypast. (2,100 is radar lowest safe altitude over the city) After passing the Cathedral they got when ready left heading 110, climb to 3,000
So they should have been at 2,100 over St Andrews, they also had a plan to fly the harbour at 1,500 but were late getting away.
Taken from Randwick, in the overshoot... a full size 400D shot at the URL below.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3216838164_600db73132.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3216838164_22589d2938_o.jpg

[Michael Mak]

Mark, was the crew in contact with Sydney Tower, Approach or Radar during the flyover?

[Philip Argy]

Here's a snapshot from webtrak for those interested in the track that OQA flew.

[Mark D]

Hi Michael
Mark, was the crew in contact with Sydney Tower, Approach or Radar during the flyover?
After airborne SY Departures 123.0 until after the flypast in the 'overshoot', then Sydney Director, I think 125.3, until calling the Tower on final

[Mick Raftery]

Beautiful shot, Mick. Thanks for sharing this pix. What altitude was OQA at? Did you post a higher res version of it anywhere else (that I may download)? Thank you.

PM sent, Fabian. Or contact me at - (removethis)oldfokker@(andthis)ozemail.com.au

Mick

[Fabian Lee]

Thanks, Mick

[Michael Mak]

Hi Michael

After airborne SY Departures 123.0 until after the flypast in the 'overshoot', then Sydney Director, I think 125.3, until calling the Tower on final
Thanks Mark :)

[Mick Raftery]

From article in today's Australian Newspaper

' ..NANCY-BIRD Walton would have been thrilled: the Airbus A380 named in her honour achieved a world first as it landed after a fly-past over her state funeral in Sydney last week.

The Nancy-Bird Walton became the first Airbus aircraft flown by an airline to land using the satellite-based Global Navigation Satellite Landing System (GLS)...'

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,,24981199-23349,00.html

Mick