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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New Year spotting

Happy New Year everyone. A new year calls for new things, new spotting locations and other new things. And since we are now at the beginning of the year, lighting will be much much better than before. Hope you all enjoy.

First up will be Thai Airways, departing in the morning at about 8 as usual.

A320-232 (HS-TXA)

I have seen them sending their 737s, their A300s and their A330s. With the retirement of the A300s and the slow withdrawal of their 734s, Thai Airways have been sending their A330s and sometimes their 772s to operate the PEN - BKK route. Now however, they are using the A320s from Thai Smile.

Dragonair A330-342 (B-HLB)

Next up was Dragonair, on their daily morning flight to Hong Kong. This was just moments before they made the right turn to avoid Butterworth AFB airspace. Slowly starting to miss Cathay's fleet - their 340s, 777s, 747s and 330s.

Apart from taking closeups of departures, there were many flying overhead. MAS, SQ and AirAsia were among them. Here's MH cruising in the sky.

Malindo Air ATR72-600 (9M-LMO)

ATRs are common still. Some all good, while others without landing gear doors. This one's good.

Air Contractors A300B4-622RF (EI-EXR)

Now back to movements on the ground. Have always been bugged by heat haze coming from the runway. However this time, -EXR arrives slightly earlier in the morning. Seen here about to exit the runway with full spoilers and flaps.

RMAF B200T (M41-03)

This was one of the surprise. While waiting for an aircraft to depart, there was a small black speck in the distance slowly ascending. Grabbed my camera and zoomed in, and it was still a small speck, now with wings and two propeller engines. This Beech looks like its going over to Butterworth AFB.

AirAsia A320 (9M-AHH)

Ahh...... one of the first few AirAsia departures for the day. No Idea where it's headed to. See the blue skies ?? 

Korean Air Cargo B747-4B5F (HL7449)

Changed location and caught Korean Air Cargo with a little bit of Penang in the background. Engines are at full power, emitting smoke and all. Looking at this picture makes me feel amazed at how designers made the Queen of the Skies. 

From some little reading, the cockpit placement on the second deck was mainly meant for the placement of the front cargo door for cargo operations. This trait became so well accepted and has been enhanced over and over again, from the -100 to the -800 series.

Air New Zealand Link ATR72-600 (ZK-MVF)

After Korean Air's departure, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw a black T-tail. No mistake whatsoever. Should be on a delivery flight from Toulouse to New Zealand, wherever it is based. Penang usually play host to delivery flights, serving as a fuel stop. 

Still many more to come. Stay Tuned.....

Tags:

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Tuesday Spotting [2014.09.16] - Part 2

Continuation ....

Once again, we have another aircraft attempting to lose weight and save fuel by removing on landing gear door. :) Should be a maintenance routine as it happened to 9M-FYA last year. Link

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYF)

Next up we have the Air Contractors' aircraft. They are operated by Air Hong Kong and are quite frequent into Penang. Here, it extends all its flaps and spoilers for us to see. Wonder what's up with the extreme rudder deflection.NOT RELATED but lots of leaves growing on the metallic fence wire.

Air Contractors A300B4-622R(F) (EI-EXR)

Up next are two narrowbodies from competing companies, Boeing and Airbus.

Malindo Air B737-9GP(ER) (9M-LNK)

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AQY)

Aaaaannnddd the main catch of the day. Korean Air Cargo.

Korean Air Cargo B777-FB5 (HL8285)

This freighter was a real treat as most of the Korean Air Cargos that I've snapped were 744Fs. This is a great change. The new outlook, the elegant raked wingtips, those huge engines, and the AWESOME sound it emitted. (so much different from the 773s and 772s of Cathay, granted they are different engines)

After a great burst of happiness, it was time to head over to the arrivals part to get even more traffic. One arrival that I was anticipating was UPS' 767 from Kuala Lumpur which sadly never arrived.

Treated with baby Boeing of Sriwijaya Air though.

Sriwijaya Air B737-524 (PK-CLH)

Followed by Airasia. Bird sees plane, pilots see bird, bird flies away, pilots continues approach.

AirAsia A320 (9M-AQE)

One more edition coming up.


Tags:
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