tinek6 HD aviation: Flying the Helvetic Airways Fokker 100

LX1343 (0935LT-1140LT)
Helvetic Airways operates on behalf of Swiss International Airlines on some routes. One of them is Zürich - Warsaw. Helvetic (2L OAW) has 6 Fokker 100 planes and 1 Airbus A319. Warsaw gets the F100, sometimes Swiss sends its own metal, an Avro or an Airbus. Luckily the plane on my flight did not change and I got to fly on HB-JVG (serial number 11478; first flight 29/09/1993; powered by two RR Tay 650-15 engines). Unfortunately the 'best' seats have been reserved by PZPN (Polish female U17 team going for a couple of friendlies in Switzerland) thus having a view into the engine was impossible and seat 10A had to do. Just in front of the leading edge of the wing. Some might say it's only 8 rows away and the sound will be similar but the truth is that it is very different, much quieter. The more up front you're seated the quieter it gets.
A short session before the flight:

SE-LRA, Saab 2000 on Apron 10 - taken before arriving at the terminal

SP-LND arriving at its gate

Boarding got delayed 20 minutes. Pushback another 10 and overall the departure has been delayed half an hour. Taxiing via U ZB A E L H B6 B8 for a full lenght runway 33 departure.

Traditionally, as in the Fokker, with no flaps. After a couple slight left turns we more or less directed west south west, had a view over the airport.

After we've passed the level of clouds basically for the next 45 minutes the sky did not change. Flat, level clouds, without any larger bumps. On this flight we got a snack. A croissant and of course a swiss made Swiss chocolate. Choice of beverages: standard. What stayed in mind after that flight? Surely the never fading, beautiful smile of the charming, blond stewardess.

Time passed by and we begun our approach into Zürich Kloten airport. The landing on runway 16 was preceded by a scenic swiss approach through the local hills. 10 minutes of delay upon arrival.

HB-JLT, a new A320 being prepared for its next flight just beside us.

We taxi via H H1 J A to our jetway and when everybody got out the captain lets me into the cockpit for a short photo session and I do get a clear shot of the empty cabin (with help from the crew in making it look perfect).