Australia Day QF A380

[Kurt A]

Qantas confirms it will fly one of its A380's at low altitude over Sydney Harbour on 26 Jan. The aircraft will fly over the Sydney Harbour Bridge between 3.10pm and 3.20pm.

[AdamB]

My spy tells me 6000ft

[NickN]

6000ft, forget any photos then!

It's a shame it couldn't be something like 2000ft or better.

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

6000 ft ? Miles well make it FL 360 contrails with harbour bridge will be priceless. ;)

[NickN]

Isn't 6000ft the inbound traffic pattern altitude? And 5000ft for outbound traffic?

[Kurt A]

My spy originally quoted 6000 metres..... which is even worse!! :D That clearly does not constitue "low altitude" - hence why I refrained from reproducing that part of the text :p

Let's hope it was a typo, because even at 6000ft; realistically that's still quite high, and would be of no more impact than any other commercial aircraft usually seen at a similar height, let's say... even 15-20 DME or further from YSSY :confused:

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

6000 ft is just a waste of time and fuel to be honest. I guess QF has money to burn now.

Chris D, I guess the TSV DJ fly over was better then QF's upcoming attempt.

[Marty H]

So, low altitude huh? Like the low-altitude E190 at the TSV Defence Force airshow I bet.. :rolleyes: Well - here is hoping 500mm+ and a helicopter will do the trick. ;)


Yeah will be something like that:D

[AdamB]

My "spy" is real & valid. I won't name him for privacy reasons but will say that he's been at Qantas for at least 20 years in a technical role. I was fortunate enough to be with him on the base last year when some large clouds started rolling in so he took me to the flight deck of a 744 to have a look on the radar, so yes, he's real! And yes, I'm bragging:D

[Mark W]

The fly past will be at 2,100ft.

[Mark W]

Push back is 1430. Back on blocks 1530. Time on target 1500. Actual routing to be finalised depending on arrival / departure RWY configuration on the day.

[Jayden Laing]

Hey,
Any one check out this website. Its the official program for Australia Day 2010 in Sydney. I saw that there will be a RAN helicopter display & a C-130 Flyover of the Harbour

Link to Sydney Activities in General:
http://www.australiaday.com.au/whatson/officialprogram.aspx

Link to Sydney Harbour Activities:
http://www.australiaday.com.au/whatson/wo_sydneyharbour.aspx

[Lee G]

Noted the F111 flypast - will this be a dump and burn run?

[AdamB]

I guess the 'spy' was a little erroneous Adam...

Yeah, I gave him a rev up over that, but that's the info he had at the time so I went with it. I can't be right all the time!!:D

[Trevor Sinclair]

Push back is 1430. Back on blocks 1530. Time on target 1500. Actual routing to be finalised depending on arrival / departure RWY configuration on the day. Could've just used QF11 on the day and given passengers the biggest Aus Day thrill too! :D

[Mike W]

^ Ha Ha. No Trevor, that makes to much sense for these guys. Nice idea for sure :cool:

[Grahame Hutchison]

A little off track but this morning was the first time I had noticed four A380s in Sydney airspace at the same time on PlanePlotter. VH-OQB, VH-OQC, 9V-SKE and A6-EDD. Emirates A6-EDD was just off the map heading for Auckland. Sydney certainly is one of the prime locations for A380 spotting.

VH-OQC was operating as QF2901 and had YSSY-YSSY in the ACARS route information - looked more like it was tracking for Melbourne or Avalon.

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/A380%20City.jpg

[Danny G]

Qantas A380 to Antarctica today from Sydney & return, today ?

[Nigel C]

Sydney certainly is one of the prime locations for A380 spotting.

Grahame, I believe Sydney is still the highest 'in-service' A380 movements-per-week airport in the world.

[Mark W]

Flypasts or demonstration flights at airshows, public events etc are not approved with passengers on board.

It is tech crew only (with a safety pilot in the extra crew seat).

[Shameel Kumar]

Does anybody remember the flight level of the QF A380 that did the flyby over the harbour and city for funeral of the late Nancy Bird Walton? :confused:

I was at the Bridge Pylon Lookout when it flew over, and it didn't seem too high, so wondering if/why this fly over on Australia Day would be higher.

[James Smith]

Was the SQ A388 on PlanePlotter a go round?

[BernieL]

I'm going out there, but I really have no idea where I want to set up. I was thinking somewhere into the botanical gardens, but I am not sure how well that will work.

[Andrew McLaughlin]

If you want to photograph an A380 at 2000 feet, why no just set up at Kurnell or Leichhardt any day of the week???

[Karl M]

Flypasts or demonstration flights at airshows, public events etc are not approved with passengers on board.

It is tech crew only (with a safety pilot in the extra crew seat).

Scince when? QF often used to do a flypast at the Grand Prix in MEL with pax o/b! Then the aircraft would continue to it's destination.

Is it a new rule?

[Charlie Carter]

I am about to head down to Blues Point to catch all the Aviation events as well as the Tall Ships. Anyone coming down look for the dork with a black leather Aussie hat, Aussie flag tattoos on each cheek and a blue Australia t-shirt. And a camera. I think I might stand out from the crowd by wearing all this(!) Also, I have an English accent!

[Noel White]

According to my database log, the only two Qantas A380's in town are VH-OQB and E. Any up dates on which one will do the honours.

[Donald H]

If the flight # is 6128 then OQE is it. Anyway, OQB is on an Intl stand.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Three RAAF Hornets just tracked northbound in tight formation, coastal Mona Vale at 1500ft.

[Donald H]

OQD at Goulburn now heading 063...

[Noel White]

It will be VH-OQD. Off northern beaches now.

[Noel White]

Over the Bridge at 2230 feet.

[Philip Argy]

Did a clockwise loop over Balmain, Lilyfield, Drummoyne and then back eastward over the Bridge at 2100 ft and then north east for a run up the beaches folowed by a left turn and a south westerly path before turning again for final approach to 34L where landing is imminent.

[Philip Argy]

C130 is next, due at 16:00 - I assume it will do a similar loop to OQD.

[Karl M]

Watchin OQD on PP, did it just land on RWY07?

[Philip Argy]

It may well have - I lost sight of it headed south west and assumed it was going to join the 34L snake over Royal National Park but perhaps being so lightly loaded it was a good opportunity to let it try 07 for a rare treat!

[Philip Argy]

ATIS is showing 07 for arrivals with 16L and 16R for departures so it seems OQD did indeed land on 07. I wonder how often an A380 has used 07 - anyone know? I vaguely recollect that when the demo A380 was here a couple of years ago it left off 25 but I don't recall an 07 landing for a fully laden A380. Is it within its capability?

[Nigel C]

It's certainly available for A380 use. Only 16L/34R is not suitable.

[David C]

ATIS is showing 07 for arrivals with 16L and 16R for departures so it seems OQD did indeed land on 07. I wonder how often an A380 has used 07 - anyone know? Is it within its capability?

Yes indeed 07 can be , and has been used for A380 passenger departures . I recall a SQ A380 departing off 07 some months ago ..

Dave C

[Sarah C]

25/07 has been used for A380 operations a number of times. Before the runway works, the SQ A380's used it a number of times.

[Charlie Carter]

Having just got back home from Blues Point, I saw the A380 and the others. I have to say I was very disappointed with the single F111. One pass from East to West then disappeared. I heard that there was to be more than that and expected more too...

[David C]

Did the F111 do a dump and burn ???

Dave C

[andrew evans]

No dump and burn I thought it was a waste of time.The F111 appeared half way down the harbour did a couple of turns and it was gone it would have been lucky to be 30 seconds worth.:mad:I will post my pics tomorrow.

[Jayden Laing]

Hey,
My father & I popped into the city today to grab some photo's of the aviation action. I agree with Andrew, the F-111 was severely disappointing with its only fly past along with the C-130. However not all was doom & gloom as I managed to capture a few photos of the Italian NH-90 performing a winching demonstration in Farm Cove after its run up & back down the harbour. These are the best from today:

Seaking towing the Australian Flag infront of the Opera House
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4306373130_3056bbd20f_b.jpg

Formation of the 3 Hornets on their final run down the Harbour towards the North Head.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4306374208_b6162b15c8_b.jpg[/URL]

Qantas A380 turning towards the city into the sunlight of course to come back down the Harbour (sorry about the poor quality of photo).
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4305632523_ab96c7e86f_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4306374208_b6162b15c8_b.jpg)

Italian NH-90 heading up the Harbour towards the bridge.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4306376094_38509726f0_b.jpg

Winching Demonstration in Farm Cove.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4306377700_184f287806_b.jpg

C-130H climbing over the Harbour Bridge (note: did anyone hear the Herc drop the throttle to idle when it climbed over the bridge?)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4306378830_af86b5bd0c_b.jpg[URL="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4306378830_af86b5bd0c_b.jpg"]


All in all, i thought it was a good day considering I had never seen an F-18 or F-111 in person.

Jayden

[Nigel C]

From the looks of it, they kept the high ambient temperature exhaust ducts back in the hangar (they direct the exhaust pretty much straight up instead of straight back). If anyone got pics of its arrival into Sydney, they can compare today with then. Otherwise have a look at the shots of the model...it's sporting one of each for comparison.

[Mario Facchini]

i was down at the Beach today (at the airport) and saw the N90 fly around to the heliports, i knew it was not an aussie Chopper, drove around and saw it was Italian military hardware.

What was the rego of the A380?

[Tim Bowrey]

VH-OQD

Here it is coming back into RWY07.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewqueued_b.php?id=2854381

[Bernie P]

VH-OQD

Here it is coming back into RWY07.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewqueued_b.php?id=2854381

Is it JUST me, or does anyone else see the nose is grey...???

[Danny G]

I thought that a bit more could have been displayed of General Aviation that made Australia.

[Mick F]

Is it possible the F-111 that did the Sydney display, is also the same F-111 that did the Brisbane display? If this is the case, then it might be a bit of an ask to get much more than they did out of them.

Mick

[andrew evans]

Some of my pics
Sea King
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4308447394_709d54f9e9_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4308444386_f1e79eaac2_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4307703007_05469c6c74_b.jpg
http://http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4308442558_945f895d8b_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4308441714_4df194befc_b.jpg
F-18's
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4308444552_d9fa808ec8_b.jpg
F111
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4308444842_bde3d089e6_b.jpg
A380
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4307705255_5fce60f394_b.jpg
NH 90
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4307705573_4e79c81b36_b.jpg
C 130
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4308446742_91cf18ab37_b.jpg

[Philip Argy]

Not sure a fully laden A380 could have been quite as agile as OQD was yesterday

[Mark W]

Karl, the best way I can answer your question is the AOC permits RPT, Charter and Aerial Work (ie training). Anything else, including display flying, flypasts etc requires regulator approval.

To obtain regulator approval, one needs to provide risk mitigators and in 2010, the approving officer of the regulator and the QF Chief Pilot want to ensure that all reasonable risk is mitigated.

[Fred C]

Is it JUST me, or does anyone else see the nose is grey...???

No its not just you. The nose is grey. It has had a radome change and the on the new one Airbus didn't get the colour quite right.:rolleyes:

However, it will be good for Grey nose day.:D

[Lee G]

However, it will be good for Grey nose day.:D

or Red nose day for the colourblind :D