My First Plane Picture - EVER - Air Pacific BAC1-11

The year is 1979, and this is my first ever picture I took of an aircraft.

I took these pictures while on a family holiday to Fiji.

Seen here is Air Pacific's BAC1-11 (sorry not sure on the rego) which operated to Auckland from Suva on Saturday's. These machines were pretty dam noisy, but I enjoyed the ride anyway, and this is where my interest for airplanes really started.

The top photo was taken at Suva, just before I boarded the flight which for today was operating SUV-TBU-AKL.
 As we approached TBU (Tonga) the Captain advised that due low cloud and a passing thunderstorm we might not be able to land today in TBU and might have to divert back to SUV for fuel. Well this was the case and after 2 approaches we diverted back to SUV.
We then flew SUV-AKL non-stop later that day in the same aircraft.

The second photo is out the window looking east en-route SUV-TBU about 20 minutes into the flight.

(photos have been scanned from slides)

Air Pacific BAC1-11
Suva, Fiji - 1979

Air Pacific BAC1-11
En-Route Suva - Tonga
1979

Air Pacific, DQ-FJL

Air Pacific FJ410 operating back to Nadi from Auckland with the B747-400, DQ-FJL

The B747-400 days for Air Pacific's (Fiji Airways) flights to Auckland are numbered, now with the introduction their new A330-200 aircraft.

DQ-FJL

DQ-FJL

DQ-FJL

 

Fiji Airways Brand New A330-200, DQ-FJT

It was a hot sunny day in Auckland, the 2nd April 2013 for the arrival of FIJI AIRWAYS first brand new A330-200, DQ-FJT, on her maiden trip to New Zealand.

Touch down on NZ soil was at 1302 local time.

Today saw the first commercial flight to New Zealand for the newly branded Fiji Airways pride and joy in their new A330-200 which is the replacement aircraft for its aging B747-400's. Well Done Fiji Airways.....

DQ-FJT
Welcome to New Zealand

DQ-FJT

The Front End

The Back End

DQ-FJT

Touch Down on New Zealand Soil
13:02

Air Pacific (FIJI Airways) DQ-FJL

Air Pacific's B747-400, DQ-FJL departing Auckland as FJ410 bound for Nadi Fiji.

The B747-400 usually services Auckland on Saturdays.

DQ-FJL

DQ-FJL

DQ-FJL

DQ-FJL

DQ-FJL
& a Beech 1900D

AIR PACIFIC - DQ-FJF

This year Air Pacific was re-launched as Fiji Airways

Their B737 Fleet consists of 3 Next Generation B737's. 2 B737-800's and 1 B737-700.
Seen here departing Auckland is DQ-FJF, B737-7X2.
This airframe first flew in August 1998 with a flight test registration of N1786B, and enter service with Air Pacific one month later in September 1998.
The Seating Configuration is 8 Business Class and 112 Economy.

 

DQ-FJF, FJ410, AKL-NAN

DQ-FJF 

DQ-FJF

Air Pacific B747-400 DQ-FJL

Air Pacific's B747-400, DQ-FJL seen here arriving in Auckland from Nadi as Flight FJ411.

Air Pacific's name will soon return to the name, Air Fiji.

Landing AKL Runway 05R