jb747's last operational flight

[lovetravellingoz]

Well, I've packed the GoPro, but as I haven't used it for a couple of years, I'm not even sure I remember how to. We'll see how that goes. My Nikon is also there. Maybe that elusive St Elmo's will give me one more chance.

Well all the best, enjoy your last trip and congratulations on what I am sure has been a most satisfying career for yourself.

 

[VPS]

All the best - your feedback on Ask the Pilot has been great. Enjoy retirement and no CASA

 

[MathNerd]

Congrats again JB, a stellar career indeed.
Best wishes for the final flights. The final landing is going to be particularly memorable I'm sure.

 

[jb747]

Congrats again JB, a stellar career indeed.
Best wishes for the final flights. The final landing is going to be particularly memorable I'm sure.

Don’t want it to be too memorable. Decent would be perfectly acceptable....

 

[CaptJCool]

Don’t want it to be too memorable. Decent would be perfectly acceptable....

Just remember. It’s finishing up working for the income as one never retires from life.

I know because that SUPER money gives you a great feeling to do whatever pleases

 

[Ric]

Best wishes and enjoy your retirement!

 

[daft009]

Congrats JB! Welcome to the world of civilian aviation

 

[Melburnian1]

The first (paxing) leg is QF436 (B738 VH-XZD, first flight 22.3.2013, so almost six years old) that departed 11 late at 1341 on Sunday 20 January 2019, taking off expeditiously at about 1348 on runway 27. Arrival is predicted as 12 late at 1507 hours, so that's a 'green' on monitoring websites, given the 15 minute generous allowance for flights to be considered 'on time.'

At 1412, the flight passed over the lower reaches of Lake Hume.

UPDATE: It arrived at the gate at about 1502 (adding the standard five minutes to touchdown at 1457).

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQI (first flight 26 May 2010, so almost nine years old) is QF1, the 1700 hours SYD - SIN - LHR. It departed at 1702, taking off at 1716. This was a minute behind QF9 that departed MEL, some 700 air kilometres south, at 1715 after being off blocks at 1705. QF1 is showing as 'on time' into SIN but often once an aircraft reaches cruise, QF alters the predicted arrival that in this case may well be early.

 

[drpurpleturtle]

Managed to snap jb747's last outbound departure from Aus this arvo departing off 16R at YSSY (apologies for the poor image quality).

Enjoy your retirement JB!

 

[Melburnian1]

...this arvo departing off 16R at YSSY (apologies for the poor image quality).

To my untrained eyes, it looks a very good photo. No need to apologise. Looks so barren one would wonder how it's less than 15 kilometres from the CBD of Australia's (presently, not for many more years) most populous city.

 

[kookaburra75]

I can confirm we did take off and land on time into Singapore. JB very kindly dropped back for a chat and also showed me around his 'office' after we landed. A lovely person and wish him all the best for his retirement. The SO and FO were starting to make jokes about how he would be treated as a paying passenger in the future.

 

[mjt57]

One down, three to go...

 

[jb747]

Gear going down during the approach, and short finals, to Singapore.



In the first of the pictures, the lower screen, and the gear lights are all showing red, i.e. unsafe. The gear is in transit, so we expect that. I was with the same FO a couple of years ago, on the way into LA, when all four of the mains took beyond the allowed time to become safe, and we ended up with a go around. The gear sorted itself out during the go around.

 

[mjt57]

Great shots, again. Was this with the 800? And if so, your settings, please?

 

[jb747]

Great shots, again. Was this with the 800? And if so, your settings, please?

These shots are always a balancing act. I need the shutter speed to be long enough to give some decent motion, but the longer it goes, the more the inherent vibrations in the aircraft soften the shot. There's actually a noticeable change in the sequence when the gear extends.

It's the D800, with Nikkor 14-24 lens, set at 22mm. Shutter speed is 3 seconds, and aperture F14. ISO 100. The shots are taken in raw, and I add one more stop of exposure in Lightroom.

 

[mjt57]

Thanks JB. Great job, as usual...

 

[flyer89]

Did you fly it into SIN JB?

 

[jb747]

Did you fly it into SIN JB?

No. I don't think it's fair to have an FO come to work for a week long trip, and not get a fly, so I gave that first sector away. I'll do the rest though.

 

[mjt57]

No. I don't think it's fair to have an FO come to work for a week long trip, and not get a fly, so I gave that first sector away. I'll do the rest though.

That's fair enough. They have the rest of their careers in front of them. This is your last.