Jeff's backyard observations

[Jeff N]

Spent a bit of time in my backyard (in the Mt Druitt area) this arvo and witnessed a few mildly interesting sightings.

1. Nearly had my roof taken off by a pair of very low flying Black Hawk helicopters at around 250pm, presumably, by their path, running from Richmond to Bankstown.

2. Saw the Singapore A380 go over at around 350pm. Of curious interest was the fact that instead of it heading in it's usual NW direction, it was heading directly west - way beyond Mt Druitt area. Why was this so?

3. A few minutes later saw an unidentified plane flying quite high and leaving a large vapour trail as it headed from north to south (Bris - Melb ?)

4. A short time later again saw another plane even higher flying with a short vapour trail as it passed over from the WNW to the ESE. I reckon it would have been on track to fly almost directly over Mascot. I'm assuming this is one of those direct Singapore to Auckland flights.

5. Around 430pm got buzzed again by two Black Hawks, in an identical manner as before.

6. Saw numerous international aircraft flying either W or NW in the 2.5 hours that I was watching (1430-1700). It always seems to be a fairly busy time of the day for them.

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Jeff I can only help you with no. 4 which was a Uzbekistan B767 (VP-BUF) probably going to Christchurch on a fishing crews charter. Logged at 4pm.
These have been fairly regular over the last couple of years.

I saw the SQ A380 also but was inside later so didn't notice the nth-sth trail.

I'm not far from you (St Clair)

[matthew mcdonald]

1. The blackhawks are kind of regular visitors at a low altitude in the west and when they do, they look and sound spectacular.
2. My guess for the Singapore A380 is that today it was flying to Katoomba an then onwards in the normal direction. Where I am in Emu Plains, aircraft (including SQ A380) can either fly far out to my left which is right over richmond, far out to my right which is right over glenbrook or straight over me. My guess is this one was to my right over Glenbrook.
6. The daily movements that I see over my house are BA15 777, BA9 744, QF5 and QF1, TG996 777, CX100 A330, EY450 A345/6, VS200 A346, MH123 744 and the SQ A380.

Hope I have helped a bit

[NickN]

The SQ A380 would have been on the SOUTH WEST departure which sees them fly to the Katoomba NDB (KAT) hence them tracking west. I assume you may be used to seeing them on a Richmond departure (RICHMOND TWO)which would see them tracking NW as they pass over the Richmond NDB.

Yesterday was the first day this year I have noticed consistent day long contrails from overflies. Alaways starts to happen around this time of year and through the cold months.

[David C]

The Etihad A346 A6-EHJ ( F1 Scheme ) operated the ETD 451 from SYD to AUH and was almost in company with the SQ A380 too , so it would have been an interesting afternoon spotting .. The Blackhawks have been very active this week , operating out of Holsworthy .

Dave C

[Jeff N]

Thanks for the responses.

I didn't realise that particular flights could take a 'Richmond' path one day and a 'Penrith' the next.

I assumed that by this distance from the airport (Mt Druitt), anything going in the Darwin/Singapore direction would, without fail, fly over Richmond.

I further assumed, without checking flight schedules, that anything travelling directly west was either going to Perth or the African region!

So those flights heading towards Darwin/Asia either start heading towards Richmond from Mascot, or else head west to Katoomba and then turn NW towards their destination?

[NickN]

Aircraft departing 34L for Perth/Africa actually head south from Sydney not west.

QF63 (Johannesburg) passes either via Melbourne or via Tasmania and the Perth services head south before turning west. I'd say they'd be on the Wollongong Nine departure off 34L. Basically this has them turning left at 10 DME SY and after passing 7000' they track GLF and then WOL.

So those flights heading towards Darwin/Asia either start heading towards Richmond from Mascot, or else head west to Katoomba and then turn NW towards their destination?

YES. Also flights to the middle east. You can download an overlay for Google Earth which shows you the waypoints and High/Low altitude airways. If you spend a few dollars and buy PlanePlotter you can get a calibrated map with the airways shown and track the aircraft in real time as they fly over you. Worth the 25 Euros.