Airliners-India.com

jbalonso777

Hey all
This will be a 4 part thread, with plenty of pictures of aviation!
Do let those comments / criticisms drop in! Very Happy

EVENING SPOTTING FROM THE SKYDECK - 23RD AUGUST
So while Mum was being 'social' and Dad was watching 'Rush' on their tablets, I ran up to the Aviation Discovery center. A HK$15 ticket to the SkyDeck. I had my smaller 18-105 mm lens that evening, so the pictures might not be all that good, I do apologize...

Anyways, as the lift door opened, I certainly did enter.....heaven! The mammoth HKIA structure had oh so many planes around! The first plane I saw was a red tail with yellow stripes on it - yes, the Air India B787! Very Happy

There was also the customary ANNOYING UL plane. An A332 to BKK and of course, CMB.
Also, there were so many people, all with massive lenses! And tablets, tracking the planes' arrivals. I sure felt underpowered....
Now, let the pictures do the talking Smile

So I was saying....

Isn't this such a lovely feast to the eyes?!

B-6096, A333 of Shanghai Airlines from...come on Wink

(FM837)

Such variety.....

B-HLJ, A333 of Dragonair from Nanjing (heavily delayed flight KA811)

N725AN, B77W of American from Dallas (AA137). Curiously, she went and parked at a remote stand. Jet doesn't do that in HKG.....just saying.

Bus, taxi, MTR...

B-HLP, A333 of Cathay Pacific from Sydney (CX162)

3 A380s! One off to CDG, one off to DXB, one off to BKK and then to DXB

B-HSK, A320 of Dragonair from Haikou (KA693)

Mismatched cowling much?

All of a sudden, there were a million camera clicks when she arrived!
VH-OQK, significantly delayed A380 of Qantas from Sydney (QF127)

Oh, look who tried to hide!

Cargo arrivals on the other side...everyone ran that way!

B-HLN, A333 of Cathay Pacific inbound from Taipei (CX405)

Quite a scene!

B-LAA, A333 of Dragonair from Naha (KA379)

Destroyed the colors a bit to get the tails Neutral

PAL A343 to Manila...must be!

N222UA, B772 of United from ORD, later to SIN (UA895)

Maybe the first McDonnell Douglas aircraft....surely not the last! Wink

Oh, I see you!

The sun is setting for the Boeing 747 Sad

Yeah, please go away Smile

I'm so happy Smile

B-5219, B73G of Xiamen Airlines from Jinjiang (MF8001)

Head to head!

Wow....

Maybe the second McDonnell Douglas aircraft....surely not the last! Wink

Our soon to be hotel! Very Happy

9N-ACA Nepal Airlines B752 from Kathmandu. Perhaps, I was on this plane in 1996...or on ACB. (Since the other 757s were delivered in 1998..)

Beautiful, isn't it?

N178UA, B744 of United from San Francisco. UA869. Fantastic bird!

B-LAX, A333 of Cathay Pacific from Bangkok as CX654. She'd later fly to BOM...

Well, well, well! Very Happy

B-16408, Boeing 747-400M operating flight BR871 from Taipei! Will this be my bird in a few days? Or will it be sister bird B-16409? Or will it swapped to something else? Crying or Very sad

Don't fly into the sunset, 747 Sad

B-18303, A333 of China Airlines from....Taipei. CI919 is quite late....

Oh, aren't you too cute?
RP-C3275/6 A320-200 of Cebu Pacific from Manila as 5J118

And the last but not least....

9V-SQN, Boeing 777-200ER of Singapore Airlines from..you know this Razz

as SQ872.

It got really dark now, and it was almost 1900 hours, so it was time to check in for the flight to Taipei Smile

More to come!
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http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Thanks for such a lovely part 1! I am still not done with reading all the TRs I had missed (which include three of yours), but I just could not resisit looking up this post. I presume that the SkyDeck is at T1, close to the MTR station. I did not know that there was a spotting paradise right outside. I think I'll try this out some time. It would also be time well spent, since the Air India counter for instance, opens 3 hours before the scheduled departure only. I am also curious as to what parts 2, 3 and 4 will contain, given that it got dark here. Of course, this may be a stupid question, since I do not have the background on the trip, from your TR.
Cheers, Sumantra.

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:02 pm Post subject:

Jishnu, you have a strong potential to be a good photo journalist. Keep posting all your picture, we will enjoy.
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Sabya99

vivekman · Member Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 1897 Location: BOM

Nice set of pictures, Jishnu!

HKG is truly a spotter heaven. Can't wait to go back there... Very Happy

Cheers,
Vivek
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Boeing makes planes. Airbus makes videogames!

Nimish · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 12:31 pm Post subject:

jbalonso777 · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:34 pm Post subject:

Thank you ALL for your quick replies! Its really very encouraging! Very Happy

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

jbalonso777 · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 5:00 pm Post subject:

Sumantra sir, thank you for your words of encouragement!
Unfortunately, these cut downs are inevitable, however, I'll try my best and ensure that they won't be obvious! I have to do this because of demands in school: university application processes are underway!

T2 is an exact replica of T1 check in area, without the Wright Flyer mock up and lesser check in areas. T2 is used by a handful of airlines (including 9W), only for check. Then the Automated People Mover takes them to T1, and the awesome airside! The satellite terminal is connected via a shuttle bus from T1, more on this in the BR1852 HKG-TPE TR.

Dad? Wow, he was a life saver! He did a fantastic job in Session 2, more on this when I post it Smile

Regards
Jish
_________________
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

jbalonso777 · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:59 pm Post subject:

jbalonso777 · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject:

MORNING SPOTTING FROM THE COMFORTS OF A HOTEL ROOM - 26TH AUGUST
It will be a lie if I said - I was sick of the airport life. Living this life, albeit for 3/4th of a day was some experience! The airport was there as our restaurants, convince stores, business centers, etc, while the airport hotel was there for our accommodation and shower. Entertainment? The view through the massive window of the hotel room! It was simply staggering! God, what I would've given to stay in that room for a few more days! I was living the perfect airport life of a traveller - something we all avgeeks love and dream of!

I woke up the next morning, around 0800 hours. I heard a rather faint mooo of the GE90s. This was Singapore Airlines' SFO-HKG-SIN SQ1 flight, preparing to head back to SIN. A significantly delayed EK A332 took off from Runway 7 Left, so that meant, the plane would go just above the hotel room - not good! With the SKyDeck opening only at 1100 hours, this weren't looking rosy. However, 7L became the key landing runway, which I preferred, while 7R became the take off runway. Good so far. I slept for another half an hour before actually waking up - this time to see that my camera battery was only at 68% - not enough for 3 spotting sessions and 2 flights! I put that for charge, and used Dad's much heavier camera. It took me quite some time to cope with it. Enough with the jabber, here are the pictures! Very Happy

DL A332 to SEA

CX plane - different one from last night. She came in from MXP and would later go off to JFK!

Macau ferry - the TurboJet

Soon, it was time for the first Indian plane of the day. 9W78 from DEL, the A332 made me smile

After the NZ 772 picture, disaster struck as my fingers on the left hand started to get constant cramps due to handling of a heavy camera (heavier than mine) and an even heavier lens! Dad took over. Dad took the pictures while I updated him on the incoming birds using FR24 on my laptop. Mum was a spectator as at the end of the day, she managed to identify: An A320, A321, A330-200, A330-300, A340-600, A380, 737-800, 747-400, 777-200 and a 777-300! Come on, props to Mum, she did an amazing job when she told me - Jish, Jet Airways A330-...er..200 is turning in! (That was the BOM flight!) This is what happens when you spend a night in the hotel room with avgeeks Razz

No prizes for guessing where she came from!

One from TPE arrives, another one leaves

How much would I love walking over there?!

Always fun to catch special liveries! Smile

The longest! Smile

That's from Taichung, the 747 is from Taipei Smile

Only Dad can think of images like this..

From Saigon

Face off!

From Kota Kinabalu

This is SQ857..the bird comes in from SIN at night, stays in HKG overnight before going back to SIN at 0905 in the morning

Living the airport life Smile

That KLM cargo bird was only a sign of things to come Smile

CX bird landed in from Chennai!

THERE'S SO MUCH!!!!!

In the midst of the excitement, Mum said to me - the Jet A332 is turning in! Smile

Wait a minute, there are no ground vehicles next to the 77W...does this mean....

YES! She goes! Off to JFK, the long flight!
And when she went, it was all quiet in the room as the majestic GE90s were brought into life!

That angle? I never would've thought. Only Dad can.

747 - done!
380 - done!
767 - next on the list

She's still beautiful, even if they are hairdryers Smile

First BR MD90 of the day!

And then the BR 77W pops in Rolling Eyes

Still have to pinch myself - I have been on a similar plane! Very Happy

Where will you be parked?
Dad and I became 5 year olds mentally as we saw this beauty taxi in..right in front of our hotel room! Very Happy

HKG is Mecca for all 747 fans! Very Happy

UA 772 from SIN, would later fly to ORD

Who needs beautiful scenery, when there are beautiful airplanes?! Very Happy

Korean Air blue of KLM blue?
KLM for me Smile

Quick check of the time - it was 1030 already!
A very productive spotting session came to a close as I packed my stuff, organized everything and got ready for the day: which will now include 2 more spotting sessions, and 2 flights!
In the next part - I'm back at the SkyDeck!

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Sir, thanks for yet another mesmerising session to view the goodies from you and Mr. Basu Senior, whom we miss on this forum after his one exotic trip report, and the sneak-peak pictures you show us from his photographic equipment! You are lucky to have Aviation geeks in your family: the fact that your Mummy can identify so many different types of planes speaks volumes about the aviation-related interest in the family. This is really amazing. You had us glued to the screen, waiting for the action to envelope before our eyes. You also had some interesting breaks, which added to the anticipation of the beholder. Amazing, and looking for ward to much more!
Cheers, Sumantra.

jbalonso777 · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 4:03 am Post subject:

Sumantra sir, thank you so much for your reply! I remember Dad has quite a backlog to complete too, he's flown way too much since the TR he wrote, including 12-13 flights in a week, and then a few flights on AI and 9W here and there, there's easily 30 odd flights....there is plenty to go through, wow!

Yes, we've converted Mum into an avgeek, next up is the most disinterested person in aviation: big brother. This will be a huge effort for all of us, so we might as well give up even before trying. He said the 787 (flew that on DEL-CCU-DEL) was too darn quiet - now if he criticizes even the most comfortable aspect of flying...what can one do? Razz

Once again, thank you so much for your lovely and kind words! Very Happy

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777

Nimish · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 4:03 pm Post subject:

Amazing pictures Jishnu - what a treat! Thanks for sharing Smile

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We miss you Nalini!

jbalonso777 · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 8:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks so much, Nimish...sir! Very Happy

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jbalonso777 · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject:

Continued here: http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?p=140605#140605
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me111993 · Member Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 3225 Location: MAA/AMD

wow
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Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.

- Greg House