Sydney Airport Message Board - Trip Report to the USA

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Trip Report to the USA

28th August Arrived at Sydney airport at 1000Hrs we had no problems with checking in.I was on QF11 to LA.I received some free tickets to the QANTAS lounge thanks to AMEX.

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A free feed before we go bonus.I boarded VH-OQC on time.

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I sat down and we were offered a drink (Champagne, water and orange juice).I was sitting in 36K (window on the right side) in Premium Economy.
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My first impressions were that there was plenty of leg room and the seats were a good size. I was impressed with the storage bins in-between the seat and the interior wall. Very handy if you don’t want to get up and down for your over head luggage. The bin fit my 17 inch lap top in it so there is plenty of room. On takeoff I found the A380 to be very smooth. Unfortunately we had no internet on the flight but the power point to keep the lap top working was good. We had a choice of Beef or Chicken for Lunch/Dinner . I would give this meal a 7/10.I was impressed with the in-flight entertainment system. A fold away touch screen with plenty to do and watch. They do say that it has over 1000 options to do. When we arrived at Lax on 24R we were early. When we were getting of the plane I asked the flight attendant if I could have a look at the cockpit she then asked the captain and he was happy with that he even took the photo me and my wife sitting in the seats.
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We had no problems getting through custom, quarantine and collecting our baggage. We stayed at the Radisson LAX a good decision as I found out that they had a viewing platform it was only small but you looked over 25R and L and you could see 24R,L approach it was plane after plane after plane.
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The room was very comfortable and there was no noise from the aircraft within the room so you could get a good night sleep. We did go over to the Inn and Out Burger but i wasn’t impressed with that location.
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So I went back to the Hotel
This is going to be a big trip report so I am going to have to add a little of the trip each month due to the restraints on picture down loads on Flicker.So stay Tunned.

Thanks for the report Andrew. Was a good read so far. Some great photos included too (both lots;)). Look forward to reading more and some more pics.

Cheers

Bugger ! Stayed there on the 1st August but didn't know about the viewing platform .. must agree about the rooms very good, may have cost a little more then some around there but also very convenient

Part 2 of the Trip report.

29th a full day of spotting on top the Hotel again.
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This was funny taking this photo I had my tripod set up taking some pics when a motor cycle police pulled up behind us.He got of his bike and came over a stood next to us.He didn't ask what I was doing it seemed to me that he was bored and just wanted to talk someone.My wife and I ended up getting a photo on his bike.
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Great photos Andrew - deja vu for me because I was in Vegas two months ago and stayed in the Luxor too (complete with window view over McCarran of course! :D). The two SP's based there look great among the large number of private jets.

I know LAX is a dump but it is a great spotting airport!

Hi Andrew,
Some awesome pics mate, thanks heaps for sharing. I'm hoping to head to USA sometime next year and this has just refreshed my enthusiasm! From the LA
hotel obs area, what areas of the airport could you clearly photograph and what sort of focal length did you need?
Gareth

Gday Gareth I stayed at the Raddison hotel and that had a little viewing platform.I was using a 70-300mm lense.I do believe the other locations are the inn and out burger and Imperial Hill.I was not impressed by the Inn and Out Burger for a Photo location.I didn't make over to Imperial Hill.I was very happy with the hotel.If you are thinking of going over plan it around the red flag in vegas I will put those photos up next.

Probably a silly question but is the Raddison platform available for off the street or do you need to have a room there? Great pics by the way!

31st RED FLAG SPOTTING. All I have to say about this is if you are thinking about going to the states to see this just do it. This was amazing fighter after fighter F15’s F16’s F22,F 16 United Arab Emirates, Italian AMX’s F18,Prowlers ,KC 135 stratotankers ,C-130, B52 ,A10'sand Pave Hawk helicopters. At one stage I could see 2 pave hawks Kc 135 had just taken off a C130 holding to take off 2 F22 3 f16 and 2 f15 all at once it was amazing. The recovery was just as good at one stage we had a constant flow of fighters returning for about 40 mins. I arrived at 0800 and departed at 1900 it was one long day in 34-38 degrees heat with hot gusting winds but was well worth it. Some hints if you want to di this. Bring plenty of water. Try and bring an esky full of ice or get a portable fridge I had three Lts of water with me by the end of the day the water was hot. There are shops around but you will have to go for a drive taking you away from the action. If you are interested there is a web page for at nellispotters.com. Your hire car can come in handy for this just leave it running with the aircon on. Bring plenty of sun screen hats etc.
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They were the best shots from about 500 pics from the red flag.I may put some more on as I go along.

1st Sept I thought I better spend some time with my wife

2nd Arrived at Nellis AFB at 1100 for another day spotting I was at the other end of the runway (03) today the plane were flying no more than 100m above my head for finals awesome.

[QUOTE=Greg McDonald;35415]Probably a silly question but is the Raddison platform available for off the street or do you need to have a room there? Great pics by the way![/QUOT

You would have to be staying in it.

Seriously, an amazing set of photos you just put up andrew. if that's not enough to make you wanna go to red flag i don't know what is. Great shot of the B-52. Turning into one of the best trip reports i've read..no offense to any of the others :p

Was it the 30th August do you think the Awacs made that landing?
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Doesn't look to be in too good shape at the moment!!

Thanks Gerard i have plenty more to come.

Yep the 30th sounds right Gerard

Great pics mate, thanks for sharing them :)

3rd I stopped in to the airplane shop on Windy ave and picked up some herpa models returned the rental car we had to get a shuttle bus from the car rental building to the terminal about a 15 min trip. If you check in on line and print you boarding pass off before you get to the airport you save $5 on every checked on bag. I was heading to Ohio Departing at 1050 on a Delta 737-700 connecting in Atlanta (1 hour stop over) for a Delta MD-80 .Atlanta was massive plenty of movement at that airport and arriving at Dayton James **** airport at approx 2100 hrs with +3 hours time zone difference. Everything went smooth with check in and transfers.

Part of the Grand Canyon

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Do you know what airport that is you took a photo of flying over? the one with all the green no the brown one.

No sorry Gerard I wouldn't know I think from memory it was about 2 hours out of Vegas heading towards Atlanta.The cool thing on this flight was I saw a AWACS fly underneath us I did get a photo of it but it was to fast and to far away to make it out in a photo.

4th Drove up to Cleveland to attend the Cleveland Air Show via the Write Patterson AFB Museum this place was massive 3 large hangers full and fourth hanger on the actual AFB this has past presidential aircraft in it. This is a must if you are in the area I almost ran out of memory in my flash card in the camera. We only went through 3 of the hangers on this visit.I have more pics of the 4th hanger later. They also have a space sections with around 5 rockets on display we completed 3 hangers in about 2 hours.
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wow, some very impressive shots of some great aircraft there mate

5th Arrived at Cleveland Hopkins airport at 0900 for the Cleveland Airshow.Plenty to see the big difference I found from the Australian air shows was that you are allowed to sit in the cockpits of the aircraft and the crew were happy to answer any questions. I sat in a C17, 737-700 and a C130 cockpit.
The stand out’s for me were the Apache gunship and the harrier jump jet simply amazing. It was worth going just to see them and I thought the Old Sherman tank was neat to. I paid $25 US for a Box Seat well worth it.
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Great photo of the C-5 andrew! These airshows always appear far more people friendly than our airshows for some reason.

6th Wife time nothing aviation on this day
7th Wife time nothing aviation on this day

Good luck to those on Dial-Up trying to view this thread.

If there is anymore photos, mabye start a Second Thread, otherwise it just eats away at people's gig.

Gday Lucas or to anyone who can answer this quick question.What is the difference in starting a new smaller thread that will have the same content compared to following on in one big thread.And that is a genuine question I am not trying to smart.You will still be viewing the same amount of pictures in one big thread or a couple of smaller threads.Thanks

Great shots Andrew!!!
Ive been to most of those places you have been too. Shame you did not have more time at USAF Museum, you really need more then a day there.

Im also off to Nellis next month for Aviation Nation. Might just have to do some spotting now down the end of the runways the days before the show now, you have just increased my temptation!

Great stuff.

Thanks Karl I went to Aviation Nation 4 yeras ago and that was the best airshow i have ever been to.They have great variety of aircraft both static and flying.The good thing about that air show is they usually broadcast it over the internet so I will keep an eye for you.LOL.Looking forward to your pics.Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew evans (Post 35540)

Yeh Im looking forward to it Andrew. Did not know they streaed it over the net. Ill have to give you guys a wave LOL.

Im off to LA next week for the Edwards AFB Open House. Hoping this will be a good show to.
Any one else from this board going to these shows?

Gday Karl I just looked at the Edwards Open House programme and that looks impressive.It even has the F35 on static display.I hope you are taking your camera.:)