Auckland - Feb 20

[JonARNZ]

You know, my life is a tough one. I get flown around the country, and have to put up with airports and planes all over the place, I don't know if I can go on........

Until I decide, here are some shots from my 1 dayer in Auckland today. Contrary to the photos I did actually spend more time away from the airport than at it

Hmm, what time of the day do you call this Auckland *yawn*, red-eye special all right, spose I should snap a pic out the window, doubt I'll see anything interesting..





With the work day done 7 hours later, I wonder what can be seen on the threshold this arvo...



I luv Boeing, shame about what followed her...



But I am the self proclaimed king of runway kisses (Is that something I should say publicly? ), check out the left main landing gear..



The pilot clearly didn't like his gentle touch down, he bounced it and lost most of his tyres once he hit the second time, got that on 'film' as well. Anyway, whats that coming along the runway...



The 340-600 I mean, not the Americas cup 'boat' being towed towards that big behemoth further down, but well come to that soon enuf..



I dislike Airbus, but this ain't a bad angle, 1 because its leaving and also because even I can't deny the 600 is ok looking on this angle, I guess....



Anyway, time to drive up to the airport and see what those 'boats' are up to..





And for those who like big trucks with there big planes...




The 320 looks kinda insignificant here, in fact ALL the aircraft in the first photo look insignificant next to the Antonov

[ZK-Brock]

Cool pics of the Antonov, esp the last one Pity there was a blemish in the form of an airbus sitting behind

[J_Eden]

I'm sure if those trucks went fast enough, they could fly too and make it look better than the A380

The Antonov just looks like it means business. Must see if I can get one as a company vehicle B)

James

[JonARNZ]

Cool pics of the Antonov, esp the last one Pity there was a blemish in the form of an airbus sitting behind

I was kinda hoping the Antonov would just rock back on its gear and crush the Airbus into the concrete, alas...

[h290master]

Cool pics of the Antonov, esp the last one Pity there was a blemish in the form of an airbus sitting behind

I was kinda hoping the Antonov would just rock back on its gear and crush the Airbus into the concrete, alas...

LOL I agree with you on that Jon

[ardypilot]

Superb shots John- great to see the Antonov at Auckland- you're fortunate to see it in real life, thank you very much for sharing.

I just realised that in shot #10 there are two of the beasts! What a treat- did you happen to see either of them landing or taking off?

Also, where did you go spotting for the other aircraft pics- was my map of any use to ya?

[Brennanx]

dam you people mocking my airbuses a340-600 is my favorite then 777-300 i like the biggest. The bigger the better. There was an antonov at sydney one day and said that it has to site on the runway for 5min before taking of does anyone know why? im thinking navigation or something. This was happening when i was in the mighty a320

[Zöltuger]

awesome pics Jon, as always

[JonARNZ]

Supurb shots John- great to see the Antonov at Auckland- you're fortunate to see it in real life, thank you very much for sharing.

I just realised that in shot #10 there are two of the beasts! What a treat- did you happen to see either of them landing or taking off?

Also, where did you go spotting for the other aircraft pics- was my map of any use to ya?

Yes, two, one for each 'boat' by the looks. Both were parked up where you see them when I landed at 0720, and neither looked like moving in a hurry when I left at 1630.

I'm a regular in Auckland Trolly, so have staked out most of the spotting 'spots' over the years. Time was short today so I only loitered at the car park for approaches for about 30 mins, and the Qantas terminal fence line for the An's.

[kiwiflyboy]

One was for both Team NZ boats, and the other was for Oracles, who are also being sent today...

[JonARNZ]

Wow, tight fit...hmm, probably not now I think about it

[Charl]

Actually...
these are remarkable photos, the Antonov is the world's heaviest lifter in daily use, and the A340-600 is the longest airliner.
Built for guaranted tailstrike.
Interesting, the AN is actually shorter than a 747, but it has that huge wing.

[h290master]

Apparently its costing close to 2 million dollars to send the team NZ yachts to Valencia but doing this gains them an extra 6 weeks training

[ardypilot]

Its odd I have not heard the Anatonovs coming landing as most airliners coming from overseas descend to 2000 feet-ish overhead the Bucklands Beach peninsular where I live and head off east, Whitford way, before turning back west for 23L.

I thought they would sound different from the typical Boeing and Airbus engined aircraft that I am used to hearing too, it would be terrific to see them taking off eh? I'll keep my ears on my scanner for the Russian accents.

BTW, I heard it is taking 50 something hours for these aircraft to get to Spain from here which I thought was odd, a 747 can make it in under 24 hours so what is the huige delay for? Don't the Antanovs have the speed/range of its American counterparts?

[kiwiflyboy]

The Antonov AN124-100, operated by Russian-based company Volga-Dnepr Airlines, will make refuelling stops in Sydney, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Karachi and Istanbul on a 56-hour journey to Valencia.

One would think it would have better range than that with 100t of payload..... maybe its for the pilots to stop for more Vodka.......

[Jimmy]

Its certainly not the most rounded shaped aircraft iv seen.

I bet that was more in the upper end of the "boat moving" price range, two massive aircraft like that from russia lol

[ZK-Brock]

I read somewhere that the 777's fuselage is the "roundest" out of all twinjets. Just if anyone cares

[Zöltuger]

BTW, I heard it is taking 50 something hours for these aircraft to get to Spain from here which I thought was odd, a 747 can make it in under 24 hours so what is the huige delay for? Don't the Antanovs have the speed/range of its American counterparts?

short legs i'd imagine- to prevent defection from the motherland

[ardypilot]

By the way, does anyone know of a decent AN124 model apart from 'an124_antonov_design_bureau.zip' (which sucks IMO)

I even search avsim.ru but found nothing else...

[scon]

dam you people mocking my airbuses a340-600 is my favorite then 777-300 i like the biggest. The bigger the better. There was an antonov at sydney one day and said that it has to site on the runway for 5min before taking of does anyone know why? im thinking navigation or something. This was happening when i was in the mighty a320

Mighty That could be a Tui Add