Etihad Airways A340-600

Some more photos from a recent trip to Sydney, and this time my first shots ever of an Etihad Airways
A340-600 and A6-EHL 

Prior to been towed to the terminal, it was parked over on the far eastern side of the airport for its day layover in SYD and in the first photo its been towed to the gate in preparation for the long flight back to
Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways commenced operations in November 2003 and now has a fleet of 88 aircraft.

A6-EHL
Been towed to Gate

A6-EHL
 Taxing out to Runway 16R

China Airlines - CI53

China Airlines operates the B747-400 on its TPE-BNE-AKL-BNE-TPE flights.

Seen here is B-18205, Flight CI53 arriving from BNE on a great summers evening in AKL.

B-18205

B-18205

B-18205

B-18205

B-18205

B-18205

Beach Incident - ZK-ORN

These photos are from two incidents that happened to ZK-ORN, a Jabiru J200
Microlight Class 2 aircraft at Martins Bay in the North Island of New Zealand.

The two incidents happened on the 10th Jan 2014.

The facts that I know are from my own PERSONAL eyewitness accounts only, as the CAA will be following up with their own investigation I'm sure.

1. ZK-ORN was flying from Ardmore Airfield to Whangarei when it en-counted engine problems causing it to stop.

2. The pilots commenced a Forced Landing, looking for a suitable spot, Martins Bay Beach was the closest and the pilots just managed to make it to the beach safely from over the water in non powered flight, landing to the south. The pilot advised me that they glided for about 3 minutes to make it to the beach. 

3. The fault seemed to be a Fuel Problem.

4. After the fault was addressed by the pilots, the public were cleared from the beach by the police so the pilots could takeoff again. The tide was coming in at the time.

5. A takeoff attempt was made, but ended in a crash after the left hand rear wheel ran into the waters edge causing to pull the plane further into the water and causing the propeller to hit the water snapping off one blade making the aircraft almost most flip and rotating 90 degrees to the left, very quickly and stop resting on right wing.

6. Beach goers raced to the rescue and righted the aircraft and both pilots got out uninjured with no injuries apparent and walked away from it. Both very lucky.

Photos as follows.

ZK-ORN
Parked under trees on beach after Forced Landing

View looking South East from Martins Bay

South End of Martins Bay

Engine Covers Off

The next 7 photos are from the Takeoff Attempt.

Full Power Applied

Take Off  Roll

Very Close to the Water

Wave about to break into the beach

Wave Breaks

Wave rolls up beach and hits left rear wheel.
Full Right Rudder applied for Engine Torque.

1-2 seconds before almost sudden stop and flip.
Stopped taking photos and started running to aircraft.

Left Hand Wing Tip  damage

Being towed off beach by tractor.

Both Wings were cracked.

Towed up the boat ramp and taken to the carpark area

Wings removed later in the day awaiting truck
to collect for ride back to Ardmore.

China Eastern A330-200

China Eastern Airlines operated a special flight down under to Auckland arriving yesterday the 28th Jan direct from Pudong as MU7069 touching down at 7:07 pm

This special Chinese New Year Flight was operated by B-6121, an A330-200.
It returned back to Pudong later the same evening.

China Eastern A330-200
B-6121

B-6121

B-6121

B-2121

B-6121

B-6121

B-6121

United Airlines - N171UA

In 2014 United will be replacing the B747-400's on their Australia routes with B777's.

I was lucky enough to get some photos of N171UA in Sydney, and this was most likely my last chance get some shots in SYD of a UA B747-400.

N171UA (ms/n 24322)  first flew on the 25 May 1989 making this queen of the skies almost 25 years old.

After checking my flight records, I have flown over 85,000 miles on N171UA over the Pacific Ocean, and Tasman Sea on theses sectors.
LAX-AKL, AKL-MEL, MEL-AKL, AKL-LAX, SFO-SYD, LAX-SYD, SYD-LAX, LAX-MEL.

Note in these photos, No.4 Engine is sporting a Grey Engine Cowling....

N171UA
Parked at Gate in SYD after arriving from LAX

N171UA
Parked at Gate in SYD after arriving from LAX

N171UA
Parked at Gate in SYD arriving from LAX

N171UA
Landing back in SYD from MEL

N171UA
Landing back in SYD from MEL

Add caption

N171UA
Sporting a Grey Engine Cowling on No.4

Air Freight NZ, Convair CV580

I was on location just before sunset to capture these photos of Air Freight NZ's Convair CV580 ZK-KFL taxing out for takeoff on very warm summers evening on another freight run down the country.

ZK-KFL

ZK-KFL

ZK-KFL

ZK-KFL

ZK-KFL

CareFlight - VH-ZCF

These photos are of CareFlight's Australia Augusta 190E Helicopter, VH-ZCF over the Sydney Harbour.

CareFlight provide full aeromedical services including full airlift capability for critically injured patients supported by fully trained Doctors and Nurses.

CareFlight has been operating since 1986.

Keep up the good work guys.

For more information on Careflight and it's service, see HERE

VH-ZCF

VH-ZCF

MASkargo 9M-MUA

Seen here on push back in Sydney from the cargo terminal is 9M-MUA
operated by MASkargo.

This A330-223F is heading back to Kuala Lumpur, KUL.

9M-MUA
A330-223F