Penang Planespotting #007 - 06 August 2016 - Part 2

Second part for this session, starting off with the daily flight to Guangzhou, before FedEx crosses the runway.

China Southern Airlines A320-214 (B-6289)

FedEx MD-11F (N606FE)

Then up to the skies again for MH's 737, followed by another 737 from our neighbour.

MH 737 in flight

SilkAir B737-8SA (9V-MGA)

My first thoughts was that the MASWings aircraft was on ferry or something to along that line. However, like all ATR flights, after about 40 minutes, it departed with passengers inside. Firefly indeed.

MASWings ATR72-600 (9M-MYD)

Now this next one was one that I have been trying to get for many months. I would see it around when I do not have a camera with me but never when I had, until this time. Throughout the duration, part of me was wondering if they were going to repaint it. Here it is, the albino AirAsia.

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AFO)

It would look just like a private jet, if not for the flag and the plethora of windows. So glad it came.

MYD ready for takeoff

While -AFO was taxiing back along taxiway Alpha, -MYD was ready for takeoff. -AFO came within sights shortly after.

All-white scheme

Then, we had the Worldliner, an aircraft that was able to fly a whopping distance of 17,000 km. That is REALLY long (it did make a 21,000 km flight, though with little load). This was the cargo version of it. 3 pics of it.

Korean Air Cargo B777-FB5 (HL8005)

Followed by the smaller sibling.

FedEx B767-3S2F(ER) (N107FE)

More updates in the next part, with a spectacular finish.

Penang Planespotting #005 - 25 June 2016 - Part 1, With the KC-30

This was one trip without any expectations. Just a short drive there to get the usual ones for the fun of it. Dragonair's 8am departure was timely, followed by Thai Airways.

Dragonair A330-342 (B-HLE)

Thai Airways International A320-232 (HS-TXC)

Little did I know that this may be the last time I see Thai's narrowbody in Penang. They have now switched to Thai Smile. Those aircraft are similar to the ones that have been captured but boasts winglets sharklets and really fancy colours.

A short scan of the airport's grounds gave me this little beauty.

These short scans are great as it gives you an idea on what to expect. Especially when the special one has a catering truck attached to the aircraft.

Malindo ATR72-600 (9M-LMR)

See that little plant trying to get some attention?

Air HongKong A300F4-605R (B-LDF)

Firefly ATR72-600 (9M-FIG)

You can tell the 600s from the 500s apart on the Firefly aircraft with the "Raccoon Masks" they have.

Some rubber burning

FedEx MD-11F (N592FE)

What used to be the interesting one to catch is now making more appearances in Penang. SilkAir is in the process of changing to an all-Boeing fleet of B738s. This is their 15th.

SilkAir B737-8SA (9V-MGO)

Korean Air Cargo B747-4B5F(ER) (HL7499)

Wings of the 747 are hanging down with a heavy load of fuel for the trip to Incheon. As always, the Koreans make a roaring departure with their 4 Pratt & Whitney 4k engines.

Penang Planespotting #002 - 16 April 2016 Part 1

It has been a long time since the Penang Planespotting #xxx was published. Time to continue the series.

Throughout the past few days, there have been rather weird movements of incoming aircraft around Penang airport. The one the caught my eye was this FedEx that was circling the Northern end of Penang Island before landing on runway 22. 

A few days later, I managed to catch a glimpse of Korean Air Cargo coming in low, also using runway 22 (coming in from the North). So this was my target. Getting the touchdown moment of the Korean Air Cargo 747.

It landed at 7am that morning, too early for any good photo capture anyway. 

Airbus Standoff

There seemed to be some maintenance work being carried out on Taxiway Alpha, just around the point of the acute turn of the High Speed Taxiway. This mandated all widebodies (those bigger than A320s / B737s) to land from runway 22 to allow them easy access to the terminal. Narrowbodies could land on runway 04 (from the South), but had to make a U-turn, and backtrack along the length of the runway. Lots of aircraft had to made several circles before landing.

After the AirAsia cleared the runway, it was time for Dragonair to depart.

Dragonair A330-343 (B-LBD)

Thai Airways A320-232 (HS-TXB)

Many aircraft had to wait for their turn to takeoff due to the runway maintenance. You'd usually get an aircraft or two holding short of the runway. But during this time, you could see up to 4 aircraft waiting. This one came in on 22.

Air HongKong A300F4-605R (B-LDE)

The next one got my by surprise. Looks like this one had been used for cloud seeding operations at other places before. Could be the one that participated in the Cloud Seeding operation around Penang.

Cessna 340A (N98560)

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AQI)

The next one shows one of the aircraft making a nice U-Turn on the runway. They will slow down along the runway until the High-Speed Taxiway exit, before making the turn. Some turned left, some turned right. Either way, they had to backtrack along the runway until the terminal taxiway.

Malindo B737-8GP (9M-LNQ)

Usual operations will see some ATRs and A320s with Sharklets turn onto the runway about a quarter down the runway. But due to the need for other narrowbodies to use it to access the apron, they needed to go all the way to the end.

Malindo Air ATR72-600 (9M-LMK)

These two cargo aircraft came back-to-back. Great to see them so close.

FedEx MD-11F (N594FE)

FedEx B767-3S2F(ER) (N118FE)

Tags:

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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:
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Tuesday Spotting [2014.09.16] - Part 1

After a month of absence, I shall resume.
This is one of those rare moments where spotting sessions are held on a Tuesday. Traffic was good as well. Sunlight was..... well you'll get the idea s the shots come in.

First off, are two foreign carriers that depart at about 8, both to their respective destinations of Hong Kong and Bangkok.

Dragonair A330-343 (B-HYI)

Thai Airways B737-4D7 (HS-TDG)

Starting to miss the sound of Thai's A300s. They have been officially retired.

3 ATR72s departed around this time as well (9M-FYI, 9M-FIA, 9M-LMK), but due to their small size, early rotation and lack of sunlight, the picture turnout was rather disappointing. No worries, as they would make a come back later in the day.

Malaysia Airlines B737-8H6 (9M-MXG)

This is one of MAS' latest livery, with the WAU edges cut off. Personally, the old version was in much better proportion, and looks more complete rather than this one. This looks like there was no space left to complete the logo.

AirAsia A320 (9M-AJB)

This was powering out of Penang International Airport. The airport and its new building (still old control tower) is clearly visible here.

The incoming SilkAir must have over estimated the approach (or maybe something else) and is seen making a tight turn to align with the runway. (Note the approaching AirAsia jet near the bottom for runway heading.

The turnaround time for most of the smaller aircraft are about 40 minutes to an hour. So it is possible to see them arriving and departing within a short period of time, and also see them coming in to Penang a few times per day.

MXG departing

Malindo ATR72-600 (9M-LMF)

FedEx MD-11F (N614FE)

FedEx Tri-Holer was up next. Had to lift the camera up real high to clear those fences, and even so, the fences still ended up in the shot. Better than blocking the jet. 

End of part 1. With the number of shots taken, looks like it will be a 3-part session.

Stay Tuned..

Tags:

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