14th May 12:50am MEL Northern Suburbs Plane
 

Bit of info here please :)

Woke up at 12:50 this morning to a LOUD plane screaming overhead. I live around 20kms East of MEL airport so normally by this stage planes are at a decent altitude. However this one was VERY low and I would say taking off as it was heading straight away from the airport in an Easterly direction. Low and slow would be the best description.

I am assuming a freighter as it was simply too loud to be a 777/A330 which normally flys out around this time.

Could have been VH-VLI the AAE B727. Thats LOUD and PROUD;)

Yes I hope it was a 727, as its one year since my Father passed a week or so ago and kind of fitting that a plane he used to fly woke me up :D

It wasn't anything bigger than a 767, but after hearing it and stumbling out of bed and rushing to the door and walking outside my eyes were not really working at that stage.

Definately not a 747 and too loud for a 737, so I will settle for the 727, I though AAE had moved on from the beautfil old 727's!

AAE's 727's
 

Australian Air Express still has two 727-277LRF's active VLH and VLI.

VLI was my first and last 727 ride it was VH-ANA back then.



Jason

VLH has finished service with AAE she is currently at the John Holland Hangars in MEL word is she has been sold and will head overseas, pretty sure Brendan S knows the full story on VLH's future.

Looking at Oz-Spotters. VLI departed on the 13th and the 15th at 12.09am. No data is available before 7am on the 14th. Odds on it was her.