Sydney Airport Message Board - VA MAX8 Arrivals

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8IC is currently operating its first flight RNT-BFI as BOE847.

ADS-B Exchange is showing 8IC currently operating its second flight BFI-BFI. It is showing on Flightaware as BOE8IC not BOE847.

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Smith (Post 117440)

ADS-B Exchange is showing 8IC currently operating its second flight BFI-BFI. It is showing on Flightaware as BOE8IC not BOE847.

Flight only lasted 00:51 so my guess would be a second test flight rather than a CAF

8IB had its second flight (one hour) and 8IC its third flight, being the customer acceptance flight (2 hours 59 minutes) on 21/9/23. Both flights were BFI-BFI.

FR24 is currently showing VH-8IC is due to be delivered on September 25th, the first leg of the delivery flight is BFI-KOA with the flight number VA9947.

8IC is currently flying this leg with 3 and a half hours to go to KOA.

8IC is currently flying KOA-BNE and is scheduled to arrive in BNE at 12:46 today, according to Flightaware.

VH-8IC appears to be scheduled for EIS tomorrow (Saturday 30 Sep) with VA771/776 BNE-CNS return. Will then operate returns to PER tomorrow and Sunday.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-8ic

VA online booking system concurs.

VH-8IA is scheduled CNS/BNE 09.30/11.09 so, it is not showing yet, but 8IC should be heading to HND today.

Virgin noted the new deliveries in their profit update today:

Quote:

7 to be delivered during FY24. A further 25 Boeing 737-10 aircraft planned for delivery from FY25

Those -10s may be planned for FY25 but the chances of them turning up then is remote.

They held the report back. Now there are only 6 -8s to come. 8IB in November. Maybe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yusef D (Post 117550)

Those -10s may be planned for FY25 but the chances of them turning up then is remote.

They held the report back. Now there are only 6 -8s to come. 8IB in November. Maybe.

Seven quoted includes one already delivered.

B38M, VH-8IB flew its third flight of one hour and four minutes BFI-BFI yesterday, 30/10/23.

B38M, VH-8IB has flown its customer acceptance flight, being its fourth flight of two hours 41 minutes BFI-MWH-BFI yesterday, 5/11/23. Delivery flight is next.

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Smith (Post 117704)

B38M, VH-8IB has flown its customer acceptance flight, being its fourth flight of two hours 40 minutes BFI-BFI yesterday, 5/11/23. Delivery flight is next.

VA website shows VA9946 - BFI-MLB on the 9th.

Quote:

VA website shows VA9946 - BFI-MLB on the 9th.

Stirling, where does this flight on the Virgin website?

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Smith (Post 117707)

Stirling, where does this flight on the Virgin website?

VA flight status, and plug in the flight number and date.

Thanks very much, Stirling. A great tip.

Just following up on the Virgin website flight status details. It is using MLB which is Melbourne, Orlando in the US, with a departure time of 11:00 on 9/11/23 from BFI with an arrival time of 19:20 on the same day. With the 3 hour time difference 5 hour 20 minutes would be around the right flight time to Orlando, Florida.

Maybe, this is a Virgin entry glitch on their website but does anyone know why 8IB would possibly be going to MLB and not MEL?

I've just finished doing the same maths and was going to ask the same question, thanks James!

My guess would be IFC installation:

http://https://www.stsaviationgroup....ts-mod-center/

I have just looked at the Boeing test flights and Flight Aware, VH-8IB, flying as BOE724, did BFI/MWH/BFI on 5 Nov. That is the last flight showing.

8IB looks to be flying to MLB, Florida tomorrow 9/11/23 at 11:00am local west coast US time as VA9946. This time should be plus a day and minus 6 hours or 5am Friday 10/11/23 SYD daylight saving time or 4:00am for BNE. See my post #100, Dennis. Source the Virgin website, flight status details.

VH-8IB, B38M as VA9946 is nearly halfway through its five hour flight to MLB, Florida for what looks to be some technical work there.

VH-XFE test flight

VH-8IB, B38M as VA9947 is currently nearly halfway between ONT-OGG (Kahului) after flying MLB-ONT earlier Wednesday, US time. She was in MLB from 9-22/11/23.

Virgin Flight Status has the flight continuing our way Thursday morning, US time to NOU which could be a planned refueling stop that may not be needed as the fuel burn is monitored on this sector. The next scheduled sector is NOU-BNE with a scheduled arrival time of 15:50 Friday afternoon. The other two Max deliveries operated nonstop from Hawaii to Brisbane which could also happen with 8IB.

VH-8IB, is currently flying OGG-BNE with a scheduled arrival time of 13:12 AEST according to Flightaware. The NOU fuel stop looks as though it is not needed.

Additional 6 ordered

Quote:

Six additional fuel-efficient MAX-8 aircraft to enter the Virgin Australia fleet, bringing MAX-8 order to 14 and total planned latest generation aircraft to 39.
Third MAX-8 arrives in Brisbane from the US today, remaining 11 MAX-8s expected next year with one new aircraft delivered almost every month in 2024.
New MAX-8s to enter domestic and short-haul international routes including Fiji, Bali and Samoa.
DOWNLOAD VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

24 November 2023: Virgin Australia has increased its pipeline of new Boeing MAX family aircraft, with six more MAX-8s scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2024, bringing the airline’s total number of MAX-8s to 14 and total planned latest generation aircraft to 39.

The newest addition to the fleet, ‘Bronte Beach’ will arrive in the airline’s home city of Brisbane this afternoon from the US.

The 11 remaining MAX-8 aircraft are expected to arrive throughout 2024, equating to the delivery of one new aircraft almost every month next year. These new aircraft enable both significant growth and improved fuel efficiency.

New MAX-8 aircraft will reduce emissions by at least 15 per cent per flight compared to older generation 737’s, supporting the airline’s 2030 ambition of reducing carbon emissions intensity by 22 per cent and commitment to targeting net zero emissions by 2050. The MAX-8 aircraft also feature new generation interiors and are 40 per cent quieter than existing 737s.

The existing order of 25 x MAX-10s, with an expected delivery from late 2025, remains in place[1]. The larger MAX-10s will transport more passengers for a similar amount of fuel to current 737 aircraft, resulting in 17 per cent less emissions per seat per trip.

Virgin Australia maintains one of the youngest commercial fleets in Australia, with an average age of 11.7 years. In coming days, work will start on a $110 million interior refresh and product upgrade across the airline’s existing 737s. The first refitted aircraft is scheduled to come out of maintenance in Melbourne in early December, and the project will be completed during the next 18-24 months. The project includes:

Installation of in-seat power for all Business Class and Economy seats.
Installation of new Business Class seats, consistent with the new Boeing MAX-8 aircraft.
Installation of new or refreshed Economy seats, with seat design to be consistent with the new Boeing MAX-8 aircraft.
Introduction of in-flight Wi-Fi and complimentary in-flight entertainment (via a guest’s own personal device) to aircraft not yet upgraded for WiFi.

https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com...aircraft-order

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yusef D (Post 117712)

My guess would be IFC installation:

http://https://www.stsaviationgroup.com/sts-aviation-group-launches-sts-mod-center/

Thats correct. You can see the antenna in this picture.

https://imgur.com/QWUZy06 - photo by Josh Deitz

8IA and 8IC will get WIFI at a future date.

8IB has repositioned from BNE to SYD this morning and is due to depart at 9:35 AEDST as VA 555 to PER.

8ID sn66638 added to the register 16/1/24

8ID (66638/8863) has been spotted at Renton in full paint.

8ID has made its first flight at Renton as BOE005 (03:11)

VH-8IF/66647 was added to the VH-Reg on 08/02/2024

VH-8IE/66644/8882 was skipped

VH-8IE/66644/8882 was added to the VH-REG on 28/02/2024.

8ID had two test flights yesterday.

2nd Flight 01:06 BOE005
CA Flight BOE005 which it is yet to complete

Name: St. Kilda Beach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Hyde (Post 118426)

Name: St. Kilda Beach

This is the first 777 name to be reused. Four ATR-72 names have also been reused (three on MAXs, one on a 737-7K2).

VH-8ID is currently flying BFI to MLB, Florida as VA9946, following the pattern of 8IB for IFE installation, prior to its delivery flight to BNE. This should take approximately two weeks.

8ID due into Brissy on the 21st from NOU.