Perth Spotting 2019.06.25 Part 1

Hello hello once again, it has been quite some time since my last post. Managed to head over to the viewing gallery of Perth International Airport with a few friends. The viewing gallery sits right at the threshold of Runway 03 (2 runways at Perth, 03-21 and 06-24), and lucky for us, 03 was in use for arrivals the entire time we were there. It is an elevated spot which gave unobstructed views to the runway.

This was sort of the first spotting opportunity I had since I arrived and it was an amazing one.

Now quickly heading off to our first catch of the day and this already put a smile to my face. One that we do not see very often (if not at all) in the SEA region, a quad-high-wing regional jet.

Cobham Aviation BAe 146-300 (VH-NJP)

Cobham and Skippers are the few "Mining" airlines used as shuttles to the remote mining regions around Australia. They do short hops here and there.

Next we have Virgin Australia's 738.

Virgin Australia B737-8FE (VH-YFW)

3rd one was another one that I wanted checked off my to-spot list. The Boeing 717.

Qantas Link B717-23S (VH-NXD)

Now this Boeing doesn't quite look like one (707,727,737) as it is essentially derived from the DC-9. The looks are similar to that of the MD-80, but with much bigger engines.

While focusing on the 717, this one crept in front of us to the holding point of 03, waiting for an arrival.

Qantas B737-838 (VH-VXB) - Yananyi

Which was this little Fokker. The Fokker 70s and the 100s are the regional aircraft here, fulfilling a similar role of the ATRs back home. A few of those up ahead.

Alliance Airlines Fokker 70 (VH-QQW)

Skywest (Virgin Australia Regional) Fokker 100 (VH-FNY)

One of their remaining aircraft still in the Skywest livery. It has now been taken over by Virgin Australia.

Qantas Link Fokker 100 (VH-NHZ)

Now for a familiar colour. The striking red and white.

Indonesia AirAsia A320-216 (PK-AXX)

Virgin Australia A320-232 (VH-VNP)

Another rather regional airline, Skippers also fly into Perth, and sometimes with exotic aircraft (later in the post).

Skippers Dash 8-300 (VH-XFV)

We do get a fair share of private jets operating into Perth as well. You have the larger Bombardiers as well as the smaller Embraers.

Private Bombardier Global 6000 (VH-IQR)

Embraer Phenom 300 (VH-NJC)

Followed by another volley of regional jets.

Virgin Australia Fokker 100 (VH-FZO)

Qantas Link A320-232 (VH-VQU)

Virgin Australia A320-232 (VH-VNB)

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 (VH-FKF)

The last time I saw an alliance Fokker was back in Penang when they did a Tech Stop.

These shuttle props get smaller as we progress along the post. Another new catch for me, the Saab 340.

Regional Express Saab 340B (VH-ZLC)

Zooming out, we have the first of the widebody jets coming in for landing. This is the shorter but longer ranged 330. Most of the 330s here are of the -200 variant.

Virgin Australia A330-243 (VH-XFD)

More Alliance jets.

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 (VH-FKG)

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 (VH-FKC)

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 (VH-XWP)

REX Saab 340B (VH-ZRM)

Alliance Airlines Fokker 70 (VH-QQR)

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 (VH-FKJ)

And now for an even smaller shuttle. The Fairchild Metroliner, with the good-ol-fashioned piston engines.

Skippers Metroliner (VH-WAJ)

And then... the sun came out.  It was a rather gloomy afternoon with lighting coming on and off (more off than on).

Qantas A330-202 (VH-EBJ)

Qantas Link Fokker 100 (VH-NHG)

One of the great things about this spotting location is that a taxiway sits between the runway and the location, which allowed for really good closeups of the few aircraft taxiing past us.

Wonder what's on his mind?

Qantas A330-202 (VH-EBA)

And when the timing is just right, you get one of the greatest opportunity for a photo like this.

2 A332s

Qantas A330-202 (VH-EBP)

VH-EBA lining up

Will continue the next half in part 2.

Tags:

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Sultan of Brunei's visit 16 May 2016

The Sultan of Brunei came visiting during May. Stayed for a few days before departing back to Brunei in his Private jet (V8-001). And luck would have it that Skywest's Fokker 100 (VH-FNT) stopped by after a repaint. It is now in Virgin Australia Colours.

So here they are, 2 in one.

Two lovely visitors to Penang

SSLee

Penang Planespotting #002 - 16 April 2016 Part 2

Gosh... it has been 2 months........ Gotta keep up.

Korean Air Cargo B747-4B5F (HL7437)

This is where the fun is, with big ones moving in opposite directions for takeoff and landing. 

And now for the narrowbodies.

Malindo Air B737-8GP (9M-LNQ)

Some Malindo planes are already having their tails in Batik Colours. Waiting for one to come in to Penang.

China Southern Airlines A320-214 (B-6289)

SilkAir B737-8SA (9V-MGI)

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AQA)

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 (VH-FKA)

This Fokker is on it's trip back to Perth after some heavy maintenance in Slovakia. Curious to have to send a plane so far just for maintenance, unless of course there are no other facilities available nearby.

AirAsia A320-216 (9M-AJA)

Sriwijaya Air B737-86N (PK-CLA)

Notice the turn angle of the nose gear as Sriwijaya prepares to make that 180-degree turn on the runway.

Semangat Harimau Muda (9M-AFI)

Sky was getting gloomier and gloomier. No rain though, but with the abscence of good lighthing, it was time to head off. One last shot for the road with a blip.

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

That's all for this session. There are quite a number of trips made within the past 2 months. Will be posting them shortly.

SSLee

Tags:

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Fokker hunting [31 January 2016]

So here we are, in the new year. Would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers a Happy New Year. Thank you for all your visits and your support. I shall strive to add more posts per month this year.

Although this wasn't the first spotting of the year (the first was actually on the 25th), this one is surely more memorable than the first one.

As the title suggests, the main aim of this session was to hunt for a Fokker, doing a stopover at Penang along its long flight from Perth to Slovakia (Thanks to the Perth Airport Spotter's Blog for the flight details) along the route: (SXI 1602) YPPH - WIHH - WMKP - VOHS - OMAL - LTCG - LZIB. Many stops indeed.

Didn't know the route originally, but Fokkers have been known to stop by Penang based on previous experiences. By the time I saw it, it was somewhere over Johor (southern part of Peninsular Malaysia), which meant IF it were to come to Penang, I would have another 40 minutes max. Some digging got me the blog above and it was then when I decided to go for it.

It is getting much more difficult to spot at the end of runway 04 with the construction work going around though.

I did see that UPS had just left KUL (though I wouldn't have thought that I could get this), and it would be an added bonus to catch it. Thanks to traffic, or rather the lack of it, it was seen.

UPS B767-34AF(ER) (N344UP)

Always great to see them UPS birds, whether they are the wingletted or not. The best times would be when their 757s come to Penang.

Next on the list was a regional carrier, Firefly. This was their -500 series, easily distinguishable by the lack of black bandit masks around the cockpit.

Firefly ATR72-500 (9M-FYC)

And after waiting for what seemed like an eternity, it came. It FINALLY CAME.

Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 (VH-FKA)

It was such a splendid view. Penang doesn't get a nice supply of these Fokkers very often, so you could imagine how big the grin on my face was.

It was pretty much the usual after the Fokker, with an ATR and a 737.

Malindo Air ATR72-600 (9M-LMG)

Lion Air B737-8GP (PK-LPO)

One thing fun about the weekends is that you may be pleasantly surprised by Cargo operators with their 747s. Sometimes a Cathay Pacific bird comes, sometimes this one, China Airlines Cargo.

China Airlines Cargo B747-409F (B-18717)

From the big 747, the next one subtly ends this spotting trip. Here's a Cessna.

Private Cessna 525C Citation CJ4 (N194SS)

There was then an itch to head over to the terminal building to see if the Fokker could be spotted parked by the ATC tower. It was, though it was blocked by a much bigger cargo aircraft, Air Hong Kong's A300-600F, with its doors open.

It was just a short 40-minute spotting trip, though the returns are much much more than some trips. That's all for this post. If you have any suggestions or just want to ask anything, do drop comments below.

SSLee

Tags:

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