Around The Ports

[Grahame Hutchison]

I had a quick run past both Sydney and Bankstown airports this morning with an eye out for Oprah's bus and the QF A380s at Sydney,
and the fire fighting choppers at Bankstown.

BD-700-1A10 N54SL (9187) 2006 - Harop Inc - Oprah's bus.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-002.jpg

A330-243 B-6076 (797) 2006 - Air China Blue Captial Pavilion livery.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-003.jpg

A380-842 VH-OQF (29) 2009 - Having the engines checked after returning to Sydney yesterday evening operating QF32. B747-438
VH-OEG is in Hanger 416 behind OQF.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-015.jpg

A380-842 VH-OQF (29) 2009 - If all the checks are ok, OQF should depart again this afternoon.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-016.jpg

A380-842 VH-OQE (27) 2009 - Parked at the QF Jet Base and scheduled to operate QF31 this afternoon.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-017.jpg

S-64F N178AC (64097) 1970 - "Isabelle" being prepared for the firefighting season, which has been fairly quiet so far. With all the rain
in Sydney, the grass at Bankstown is looking very green.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-020.jpg

S-64F N178AC (64097) 1970 - "Isabelle" - I haven't seen them use this type of rotor tie down before.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-021.jpg

N20865 Bell 214B (28065) 1981 – With the Erickson Air-Crane there are now two fire fighting choppers at Bankstown.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-024.jpg

VH-CWS DC3 (9286) 1943 - Peter Christoudias - Now moved to a new location, down on the grass near the Erickson Air-Crane.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-025.jpg

Bell UH-1H VH-UHE (66-16301) 1966 - I heard this one fly down the coast yesterday afternoon, turning inland at Mona Vale overhead
my house. You have to love that sound.
http://16Right.com/MessageBoard/D300-2010-12-12-026.jpg

[Russell D]

Great shots Grahame. I really like the Air China livery.

There were two B214B choppers parked on the grass at Bankstown on Saturday morning. And one of them departed westbound around mid-morning, perhaps heading for more airwork dealing with the flooding on the other side of the Blue Mts. I was flying parallel with it while heading out to the training area in VH-NFR, but then it just accelerated away and left me in its wake.

Upon return to BK, I saw that Isabelle had arrived and was being tied down.

Also, its really nice having VH-CWS parked just opposite to "warrior island" now...just a hop, skip and a jump to get up close viewing.

Cheers