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Trip Report: DJ BNE-SYD-PQQ-SYD-BNE
Hi all,
On Saturday I flew from Brisbane to Port Macquarie via Sydney and return also via Sydney. The main reason for this trip was to fly on Virgin Australia’s brand new ATR72-500s (actually owned by Skywest). Introduction As soon as I heard Virgin would be getting ATR72s I knew I had to fly on them :D My friend Josh who went with me to Sydney in May and Melbourne in June also wanted to come. And when Virgin announced the routes they would be operating we started to think about where we would fly to. At first we thought we would fly Brisbane to Gladstone return, one way on Virgin and one way on QantasLink. And then the flights went on sale so I checked and Gladstone was on sale for $69 I believe. And Qantas was about the same, but I couldn’t find these fares for the days I wanted to travel. So we left for the time being. And one day I was just searching random flights on the Virgin site and saw that the normal fare for BNE-PQQ via SYD had been reduced to $99 one way due to direct flights being announced. So I looked at a few different dates and found the flights I wanted for travel on October 22nd. The flights were DJ900 departing BNE at 0500 and arriving in SYD at 0735 local time, connection time in SYD was 1 hour and 5 minutes and then on to DJ1187 to PQQ arriving at 0940. We would have a bit over 3 hours in Port Macquarie and then onto DJ1188 back to SYD departing at 1255 and arriving at 1400, and then 3 hours connecting time in SYD and then onto DJ965 back to BNE arriving at 1730 local time. I told Josh and he said it sounded good, so I then asked my parents for permission and they said that I could go. So I booked, all up it cost $207, Josh didn’t pay a cent as he used his frequent flyer points he recently got from his trip to the US. We booked in August and started counting down straight away :D and before we knew it October 22nd had arrived :D Brisbane Airport I arrived at the airport at around 0415 very tired after a 0315 wakeup call :D Josh had already arrived and was at our departure gate. I was very happy to see VH-YIB at our gate :D New rego for me and a very new plane which was great. My second time in a new VA B738 after flying on VH-YFE last month. And Josh’s first time in one. At around 0440 boarding commenced so we lined up to board the aircraft :D October 22, 2011 Virgin Australia DJ900 BNE-SYD VH-YIB B738 (Un-named) Seat 12A Boarded through the rear stairs, unfortunately I didn’t get any good photos boarding the plane as it was still quite dark. Took my seat (12A) with Josh in front in 11A. Pretty soon everybody was on board and we were being pushed back. About to be pushed back http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/...e445c171_z.jpg VOV and VBH http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/...15276f03_z.jpg Taxied to RWY01 for takeoff, saw FVH at an off bay, would see her later in the day ;) And saw VBY who I was hoping I would see later :D Roaring down RWY01 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6097/...f6bcc510_z.jpg GA Apron http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/...0d06f01f_z.jpg Right turn http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6060/...5272926c_z.jpg |
Was a nice sunrise
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/...649c76c8_z.jpg Row 12 is definitely my favourite row for the 737-800 :D http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/...197774ba_z.jpg The sun still coming up, climbed up to 40 000ft http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/...6f19229a_z.jpg Descending, very cloudy in Sydney! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6044/...6c9ea335_z.jpg On finals for RWY16L, came out of the clouds and had already passed the CBD, had an awesome affect coming off the wing and it kept going! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6119/...d69512a8_z.jpg And touchdown! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6060/...9b0b7641_z.jpg T1 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/...97972a70_z.jpg Korean B744 about to land on RWY16R! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6218/...eac6c3d7_z.jpg Sydney Airport Was happy to see a United/Continental B744 over at T1, my first time seeing one :D Parked at Gate 31 and de-boarded through the aerobridge. After that we had a quick look around T2 before grabbing some breakfast. YIB at the gate, preparing for her flight to Cairns http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6097/...1a8808c1_z.jpg ZPR looking awesome, first I have seen the new livery on an E190 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/...d7a435a1_z.jpg XFB about to depart for Perth http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/...ca66d267_z.jpg Got some hot cakes and orange juice from McDonalds and then found a seat in the food court over looking T2. 4 QantasLink Q400s http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/...737357b9_z.jpg |
YIB :D
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/...4da064cb_z.jpg Emirates A380 taxiing to T1 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6059/...41118108_z.jpg After breakfast we went to Gate 39 for our flight up to Port Macquarie. At around 0810 our plane landed on RWY16R from Canberra and it was VH-FVI “Mission Beach”. Here she is about to park at the gate http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/...2001e88b_z.jpg At about 0840 (our scheduled departure time) boarding commenced so we lined up and walked out to our aircraft! October 22, 2011 Virgin Australia (operated by Skywest) DJ1187 SYD-PQQ VH-FVI AT72 “Mission Beach” Seat 4A Walked out and boarded FVI and went down the front of the plane to seat 4A with Josh behind in 5A. VUJ at the gate next to us http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/...d3c24f8c_z.jpg VH-FVI and VH-YIB :D http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/...84d96d0d_z.jpg Ready for the flight up to Cairns! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/...5ea898c0_z.jpg Boarding :D http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6220/...5a7397e8_z.jpg There was a small delay and at about 0905 we were taxiing to RWY16L :D Passing the mound with a few spotters out! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/...d785bffd_z.jpg Holding short for a Rex Saab 340 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/...e93aa738_z.jpg Takeoff! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/...77a46cc3_z.jpg Above the clouds http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/...88b84065_z.jpg Reached our cruising altitude and the crew came around with a complementary drink and a snack which Virgin offer on all ATR flights. Drinks on offer are water, juice, tea and coffee and todays snack was a cookie. I just took the cookie which I didn’t think tasted very nice. Some awesome views of the NSW coast line inflight, very nice! |
Awesome view from 4A
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/...c282b164_z.jpg A very quick flight SYD-PQQ! On finals for RWY03. Quite a bumpy approach http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/...0124b36f_z.jpg And were down! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/...a1b1f7ae_z.jpg At the gate http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6226/...13497411_z.jpg The interior http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/...13c4f235_z.jpg [img]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6214/6275999222_496d***372_z.jpg[/img] Leaving FVI behind http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/...8b27cedb_z.jpg Port Macquarie Airport After hopping off FVI, we had a quick look around the car park and took some photos of the GA planes. And then walked back to the arrivals area to watch FVI being prepared for the flight back to Sydney. Mission Beach http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/...c11b8a68_z.jpg The captain handing over some paper work http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/...dd81b625_z.jpg Nice looking tail! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/...9b39711f_z.jpg Off to Sydney http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/...fd1d455e_z.jpg After watching FVI depart we just sat down in the terminal. Very small but looked very nice, love small airports like this :D At about 1045,QantasLink staff announced that the flight from Lord Howe Island was on final approach and that passengers travelling to Lord Howe should go through security so Josh and myself went outside to catch her arrival. TQS coming to a stop http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/...8905923b_z.jpg At the gate http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/...a109697c_z.jpg |
We waited outside for her departure, only a 20 minute turn around, she departed on time
TQS taxiing out to RWY03 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/...4969673e_z.jpg Off to Lord Howe Island! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/...c360f0a6_z.jpg I would love to go to Lord Howe Island one day, looks amazing! Will see TQS later in the day ;) http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/...d99776ee_z.jpg After TQS departed we got lunch at the small café at the airport. Got a burger which was very nice and a coke. After lunch I wanted to have a wonder around the car park and get some photos inside and outside of the terminal. A NSW Air Ambulance plane that landed while we were there http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/...2dd626fd_z.jpg Arrivals area at the terminal, which offers a great view of the apron http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6057/...d33fc7bc_z.jpg Outside the terminal http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/...8854a0e1_z.jpg Some GA planes parked against the fence http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/...a85c59b7_z.jpg Qantas check in http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6042/...2c5945f9_z.jpg Virgin check in http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/...03ee8e8c_z.jpg Café is behind the wall to the right http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6039/...a2575d16_z.jpg After I had all the photos I wanted it was 1225 and our ATR72 that would take us to Sydney was about to land, so we went to the arrivals area. I knew it was FVH as I went on balus on my phone :D Was hoping to get the first ATR72 in the Virgin fleet. Saw her in Bundaberg in August and went inside her in the school holidays for the evacuation demo :D FVH arrives from Brisbane http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6054/...64c0056c_z.jpg Four Mile Beach! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6045/...ff0b343d_z.jpg So after photographing her arrival we went through security and into the very nice departure lounge. |
The Departure lounge
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/...6e715f86_z.jpg Boarding commenced on time and I was one of the first to board October 22, 2011 Virgin Australia (operated by Skywest) DJ1188 PQQ-SYD VH-FVH AT72 “Four Mile Beach” Seat 9A Boarding! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/...400c45ed_z.jpg Onboard in Seat 9A with Josh in 8A, I counted just over 30 people onboard http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/...ea594c00_z.jpg Backtracking RWY03 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/...caf04013_z.jpg Lining up http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6220/...52543c2b_z.jpg And were up! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/...9d4cd187_z.jpg Left turn http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/...14c56bcd_z.jpg Port Macquarie Airport http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/...cea9d0b7_z.jpg Port Macquarie! [img]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6275543271_5f9f9e4***_z.jpg[/img] Was a very smooth flight, complementary snack and drink was offered, the snack was cheese and biscuits. I just had an orange juice. Again, some fantastic views inflight! On descent, saw Bondi Beach and thought we were too high for RWY16R/L and then we had a steep right turn and when we levelled out we were passing Sydney! Looked fantastic, a lot better than in the morning! Sydney http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/...d71aeb86_z.jpg We were too low for RWY34R/L so I thought we must be heading for RWY07! First time for me using the cross runway at Sydney. Turning finals over Bankstown! Fantastic view! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6228/...c584b71b_z.jpg Short finals http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/...ec6a9d9e_z.jpg Two United B744s (N117UA old livery and N119UA new livery) http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/...b0dff19c_z.jpg Thai and Virgin Atlantic A340-600s http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6223/...f66e1b46_z.jpg |
More heavies!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/...c773f079_z.jpg http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/...553be23c_z.jpg And at the gate 31 again :D http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/...5abed900_z.jpg She would be off to Canberra in a few hours http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/...523653e5_z.jpg Sydney Airport Had a look around the terminal to see if there was anything interesting, just missed XFA which came in from Perth, she had already been towed to an off bay. ZPQ, probably won’t be in this livery much longer http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/...1455506e_z.jpg ZPF http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6057/...b0c3d029_z.jpg So after a quick look around I decided to go to ‘The Stairs’ to do some spotting and to show Josh the spot. Glad we went here as we caught a few good departures :D DHL B752F G-CSVS http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/...790f323b_z.jpg Ex Qantas B763 VH-OGF departs Australia :( http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6060/...00f6b8d6_z.jpg VH-OEH off to Dallas/Fort Worth http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6119/...61fbdb35_z.jpg United B744 N117UA departs http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/...bb8f29b2_z.jpg After seeing UA depart we went back inside as it was quite hot! Was going to wait outside and catch the Cargolux B744F arriving but I looked on the net and it was delayed and wouldn’t arrive till late in the night. FVH again :D http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/...d5c4f400_z.jpg |
Cathay Pacific A333 B-LAK departs for Hong Kong
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/...b00c69b8_z.jpg REX Saab 340 VH-ZRH and UPS MD-11 N274UP http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/...b96c7013_z.jpg Singapore Cargo B744F 9V-SFF http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6212/...8d1e0b12_z.jpg United B744 N119UA departs :D http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/...e0fc7bc9_z.jpg Air Austral B77W F-OSYD departs for Paris via Reunion Island http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/...2a6234b5_z.jpg TQS after flying PQQ-LDH-SYD :D And an Air NZ B772 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/...f2dbb417_z.jpg Virgin Blue B738 VH-VUW at her gate http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6059/...cf255082_z.jpg VH-VBM after arriving from Townsville, she would be the aircraft taking me home to Brisbane, was hoping for VBY as she will apparently lose her special scheme soon and this would be my last opportunity to fly on her, but still a new rego for me, first time on a VB B737-700! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/...6a93cceb_z.jpg FedEx MD-11 N585FE arrives from Honolulu http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/...734ee143_z.jpg Love MD-11s, wish we got them in Brissy! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/...6e2be789_z.jpg Norfolk Air B733 VH-NLK arrives http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6218/...a44c8afc_z.jpg BA B772 with a VB B737 on finals for 07 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/...da659925_z.jpg At about 1645 boarding commenced! |
October 22, 2011
Virgin Australia DJ965 SYD-BNE VH-VBM B737 “Tassie Tigress” Seat 10A Onboard in 10A, only my second flight in a B737-700, my first being over 8 years ago on DQ-FJF from NAN-BNE!! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6104/...cfb3fdc3_z.jpg Love seats with a view like this :D Another low load, just over half full http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/...490b193b_z.jpg PRX seen as we push back http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6045/...8b52666b_z.jpg Taxiing out to RWY34R after a change of runways http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/...09ae3fb5_z.jpg Roaring down 34R passing a Qantas B763 taxiing out http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/...343171b9_z.jpg Takeoff! Nice effect over the wing http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/...58ea272f_z.jpg Right turn http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6096/...d0c3cb7b_z.jpg Sydney! Third time I saw it from the air that day! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6220/...9d7b7a5f_z.jpg Was a smooth flight, flicked between the flight map and a Hyundai A-League match. Seen here on finals for RWY01 passing the city http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/...5d52bceb_z.jpg The old ITB with all the regulars (Mineralogy MD82, Solomon A320, Heavylift B734F and Hi Fly A343) http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/...448ccfd7_z.jpg The ITB http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/...af7cc35a_z.jpg Rare visit by a Eva Air B744 Combi :D http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/...51ac7949_z.jpg |
Short finals
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/...c786577f_z.jpg Slowing down http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/...499aa28c_z.jpg Last photo for the trip of brand new VH-YFH http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6055/...7ea9c91c_z.jpg And that was the end of a fantastic trip! Conclusion Awesome trip had a fantastic time. Doing well with the Virgin rego’s :D VH-YIB was great, brand new plane, love the new interior and livery. VH-FVH and FVI were great, the ATRs are fantastic, very comfortable and look forward to whenever I fly on them again! VH-VBM wasn’t so nice, was looking a bit old and there wasn’t much leg room, still a nice flight though. Love flying with Virgin :D Port Macquarie Airport was nice, nice terminal and a few movements so enjoyed my time there. Sydney was awesome as usual, lots of movements :D No more daytrips booked at the moment, for my next one I am planning to go up to Mackay with QantasLink to fly on the Boeing 717s once they arrive and also on a Dash 8 for the first time :D Thanks for reading! :D Also, if you are interested, Josh took videos of the takeoff's and landing's (except the SYD-BNE flight) and has uploaded most of his videos just a few more to go. http://www.youtube.com/user/Joshmatica25 |
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