The Planespotting/General AV Geek Thread

[docjames]

Saw this Globemaster arrive at MEL this morning, 10.23am. Loved watching its long and slow approach!

View attachment 84476

There was a military A330 arrived around 1220 too but couldn't get pic or rego.

Wonder why the military aircraft at MEL yesterday?

 

[lastrow]

It may have been the new RAAF surveillance aircraft. TV pics show the PM going aboard and a but of footage of the interior. I think there are several more to come.

 

[lastrow]

I saw this the other night, absolutely awesome. They showed the aircraft eater gobbling up a twin engine passenger plane, it might have been an old 737. This machine had a huge set of jaws on the front and it took the plane to bits a mouthful at a time seats and all. The whole job couldn't have taken more that fifteen minutes and it was all fed out the back into a waiting truck.
The newer aircraft are stripped down for parts (like your local auto wrecker). Second tier airlines provide a big market for this stuff but the majors wont touch it.

 

[petercr]

It may have been the new RAAF surveillance aircraft. TV pics show the PM going aboard and a but of footage of the interior. I think there are several more to come.

Another 14 of them according to this article by the new owners;

https://airforce.gov.au/News/Austra...s-down/?RAAF-rQBPwT8xhvLNmgClsWfyTebe2/X/tim6

I had heard from another source (sound-bite on the ABC) that it was 12 in total.

 

[Altair]

Another 14 of them according to this article by the new owners;

https://airforce.gov.au/News/Austra...s-down/?RAAF-rQBPwT8xhvLNmgClsWfyTebe2/X/tim6

I had heard from another source (sound-bite on the ABC) that it was 12 in total.

15 Planned only 12 ordered so far according to australianaviation.com.au

 

[ozbeachbabe]

This one is from a trip back in 2013 when the folks did a Baltic Cruise. They snapped the pic at CPH of a Norwegian 738 rego LN-DYU in Jorn Utzon livery. A Danish architect most famous probably for designing the Sydney Opera House.

 

[defurax]

An unusual sight, AA83 (LAX-AKL) on the tarmac at PPT! Stayed on the ground for ~24 hours before continuing on to AKL (I imagine getting a replacement crew to PPT is not really an option...). I snapped the picture when the aircraft was boarding to continue its journey to AKL.

I wonder if AA put delayed PAX in 4 and 5 star hotels...F PAX in over water bungalow maybe!

 

[Major]

Did you take the photo from that dreadful Motel on the side of the hill ?

 

[defurax]

Did you take the photo from that dreadful Motel on the side of the hill ?

Yes, indeed! Tahiti Airport Motel...very expensive for what it is...but very practical for its proximity to the airport.

There was also a passenger 747 parked at the terminal (I imagine a charter, since no scheduled 747 service operate to PPT). I can't figure out which airline it is! I've been looking online for any 747 with three blue lines across the nose and can't find anything...

 

[docjames]

Looks like a -200 (or possibly -300)

 

[docjames]

Looks like a -200 (or possibly -300)

Or an SP? Did you get more of a look?

How about the Las Vega Sands -SP?

Would make sense for it to be in PPT (sort-of).

 

[docjames]

https://m.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/747/21649/VQ-BMS-Las-Vegas-Sands-Corporation

 

[defurax]

Or an SP? Did you get more of a look?

How about the Las Vega Sands -SP?

Would make sense for it to be in PPT (sort-of).

Wow! I think you are spot on. I walked just a few meters from it when disembarking from my TN flight and I could see it was an older version of the 747.
There was also another charter flight at PPT, CS-TFX owned by Hi-Fly (https://m.planespotters.net/airframe/Airbus/A340/912/CS-TFX-Hi-Fly).

 

[JohnM]

Anyone know what's going on above PER today? Lots of loud jet engine noise, so I presume some military exercise but only one aircraft at a time by the sound of it. It's been on and off for several hours.

 

[docjames]

Here's a couple from AMS, the most "interesting" being the TUI 787 and the tiny-looking Luxair 737 (?-700).

I swear that gate reno in the foreground of the second shot was at the same stage when I was here in April!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Or an SP? Did you get more of a look?

How about the Las Vega Sands -SP?

Would make sense for it to be in PPT (sort-of).

Definitely looks like an SP to me. Never seen the Vegas Sands SP's anywhere other than Vegas.

Here's a couple from AMS, the most "interesting" being the TUI 787 and the tiny-looking Luxair 737 (?-700).

I swear that gate reno in the foreground of the second shot was at the same stage when I was here in April!

Have seen the Arke Fly (TUI) 787 arrive in SXM when we were there. Below is a pic of the KLM 744 that flew SXM-CUR-AMS taken from the rooftop balcony of our Airbnb aparment back in March.

 

[docjames]

Just saw the KL 744 arrive from MEX.

Also the Kalitta 742F cruised by (twice - weirdly).

 

[flydoc]

737 Max operating as Boeing 104, takeoff roll at ASP today

 

[docjames]

Hot weather testing in ASP??

 

[flydoc]

Hot weather testing in ASP??

Just long enough to do a loop down to Ayers Rock, now back in Darwin: