Penang Planespotting #006 - 06 July 2016 - Part 1

I honestly cannot believe it when I saw this one. 2 trips in a row, a special visitor was around. First shot of the day.

Kiwijet being loaded

Imagine all the Nasi Lemak and Roti Canai that is going into that aircraft. Penang food is awesome, and I would expect that it will be an aromatic ride back to Kiwiland with all of that food on-board.

It was almost 8am, and the sun was still hidden behind some thick clouds. It didn't seem like any good amount of light would be available this trip. Had to push the sensors a bit to get the shots (and of course to stabilise the hands for lower shutter speeds)

Dragonair pushback

The big Thai in Penang

It was the Ramadan season along with the school holidays. I guess load was good enough for TG to send their tripple 7. Still waiting on them to send in their Dreamliners (or even their A350) during equipment shortage or anything of the matter. Yes yes, it is such a great waste to be sending such efficient aircraft on short haul routes, but there's no harm in wishful thinking..... right?

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AQM)

One good thing (probably the only one as of now) of low light is the ability or rather the requirement to pan with low shutter speeds. Nice effects, but still, a long way from perfection.

Dragonair A330-342 (B-HLB)

2 beauties in one pic. It is not every trip you get such a combination. Up next is Firefly.

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYH)

Followed by the triple 7, the aircraft that is putting a lot of other aircraft out of commission.

Thai Airways International B777-2D7 (HS-TJC)

Closeup of the front of the aircraft

Boeing has really done a great job in the designing of the 777. That, together with efficient engines from GE and RR put other aircraft like the MD-11, the A340 and even the B747 out of commission. The 340 and the 747 are most likely still surviving due to the need for long translantic flights (not restricted to ETOPS) but I fear that too might not last long.

Next up, two ATRs from Malindo in a row.

Malindo ATR72-600 (9M-LML)

Malindo ATR72-600 (9M-LMF)

Next up was Air Hong Kong's freighter. Wonder when they would send their 747s again.

Air Hong Kong A300F4-605R (B-LDA)

Front part with those Reversers

My attention was then drawn to a line of people just happily walking across the tarmac. They were headed for the Kiwijet.

Next part will show the Kiwi's departure as well as Neptune Air, the elusive small freighter.

New Year Spotting Part 2

Part 2,

This is where things start to get more interesting with some new angles

China Southern Airlines A319-112 (B-6209)

For the past few weeks, China Southern has been sending the A319s here to Penang, a shorter derivative of the A320. Who knows, they might even go back to sending their 737s here. Regardless, shall accept with open arms anyway.

Firefly ATR72-600 (9M-FIB)

Next up was Firefly. I guess it is either for maintenance purposes or something to that matter, but I am seeing more and more of their aircraft without the landing gear door. This is the first of 2 of that day.

While reviewing through some of the shots, from a distance, you could hear a loud sound of engines approaching. Looked up and was greeted by a tri-holer, the first FedEx of the day.

FedEx MD-11F (N572FE)

Since it was a fairly large aircraft, this MD had to travel a wee bit further down the runway before turning on to the taxiway (since large aircraft aren't allowed to use the high-speed taxiway exit). I am rarely this close to such an aircraft due to the spotting location that I am at. This inspired me to try on something different.

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AQV)

And voila..... a close-up of the front section of this AirAsia. Quite happy with the turnout, so decision was made to continue this for the consecutive shots.

FedEx MD-11F (N612FE)

AirAsia A320 (9M-AQM)

FedEx A300B4-622R(F) (N723FE)

This last FedEx has had some paint missing from the tip of the nose. Time for some short repaint work. Like most widebodied Airbus, this one too has a nose-down angle.

Being close to these feels just so great. I have always been spotting them from afar, getting the bottom/front/right view of 'em. But this spot is just great.

N723FE on the taxiway

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYL)

I guess now the landing gear doors are becoming more and more scarce, or they are too easily damaged. Here's the second firefly departing without it. Most probably being removed for maintenance.

Tiger Airways A320 (9V-TAO)

Turbotiger jetting away to Singapore. Rather surprised that they have not changed the Tiger Airways to tigerair, unless they are only using that for their new aircraft, much like what MAS is doing now to their new 9M-MX- fleet.

Silkair B737-8SA (9V-MGC)

And to end this trip is Silkair's 3rd 738, flying off with a little bit of Penang below.

Well that's all for this segment. Really had a great time, with the closeups, and of course, Air New Zealand and the Military Beech.



SSLee

Tags:
fedex md-11f penang sslee
china southern airlines a319 penang
sslee 9v-mgc penang
fedex a306f sslee 

Planespotting : The Rainspotting Edition - Part 1

So here I was, happy to go to this planespotting session, with promise of quite a number of freighters and airliners. Driving was ok, with slight jams here and there, but ok. I arrived at the location only to find that my first target, Air Hong Kong's A306F has landed and already started unloading. No worries, they must have sped up. However, just before officially reach my ideal spotting location, it started raining, real heavily.

Sigh* But what am I to do? I am there so why not make the best out of it.

Malaysia Airlines B737-8FZ (9M-MLG)

This MAS unit is a leased aircraft, still wearing the old colours of MAS.

Sriwijaya Air B737-524 (PK-CLU)

Sriwijaya Air was tilting side to side on its approach

AirAsia A320 (9M-AQM)

AQM came in when the rain was at its heaviest. You could see ALL the aircraft battling crosswinds as they approached the runway. Winds were strong but they still made the landing.

AirAsia A320 (9M-AJA)

Throughout the duration that I've been spotting, I have only seen SilkAir's B738 turn on their wingtip lights (lights directly at the base of the winglets). This is the first that I've seen from Airbus' aircraft.

9M-AQW

Lion Air B737-8GP (PK-LKU)

Just realised that almost all aircraft in this post are wingleted / sharkleted.

Sequel is coming up in the next post.

Tags:
sslee malaysia airlines b737-800 9m-mlg
sslee sriwijaya air b737-500 pk-clu
penang airasia a320 landing 9m-aqm sslee
penang planespotting a320 sharklets
lion air 737 landing penang