Kuala Lumpur KLIA2 pre-flight spotting, WMKK/KUL 2015.10.09

Before my flight to Bangkok I had a couple of hours to spend at the airport. I wanted to have them to take some pictures. My flight departed from KLIA2 (the rather low-cost terminal) so all the pictures are from over there. At the entrance to the terminal there is a possibility to watch planes from two terrace like places at two ends, each pointing to a different section of the airport. Both are areas that you can smoke at. One is additionally almost part of an restaurant. After security and immigration there is a great spot at the bridge over a taxiway to take pictures of aircraft moving both in and out of their stands. The traffic is dominated by Air Asia. Very dominated.

Iran Air 747SP IKA-KUL

It was time to leave Persia. Destination: Kuala Lumpur. After dinner at the Iran Air maintenance facility we head back to the hotel, take a quick shower, grab our luggage and take a taxi to IKA. At least those who fly this evening to Malaysia. STD is at 2055LT. We arrive at the airport around 1900 hours so we have plenty of time to check-in and some shopping before the flight.

Iran Air Maintenance Facility

After flying to and from Mashhad in the morning and before my flight to Kuala Lumpur in the evening we visited the Iran Air maintenance facility where we had the chance to get inside a F100, A320 and an 742 on maintenance. Additionally we get a chance to meet some of the people that work there, chat with them about the machines, work and their hopes for the future. We spend there a couple of hours.

Airbus A320 engine

Iran Aseman B727 THR-MHD-THR

Our last day in Iran started (like the previous ones) with a pair of flight. Again to Mashhad. This time on a Boeing 727 from Iran Aseman Airlines. Later that day we visited the Iran Air maintenance facility and in the evening I boarded my flight to Kuala Lumpur.

Mahan Air A300B4-600 THR-MHD-THR

The day nearing its end, we slowly proceeded again to the airport for a round trip flight to Mashhad and back. Scheduled was a Boeing 747-300 but unfortunately it broke down a couple of days before our arrival and it was swapped for an Airbus A300-600. Unlucky, but still not very easy to catch. First flight in business class and accompanied with a visit in the lounge at THR and the return in economy. Our plane will be EP-MNQ, an ex Lufthansa bird.

Tehran Aviation Museum

After the morning flights to and from Mashhad on the Pouya Air Antonov 74 our group headed to the local aviation museum. The facility isn't very big but does contain a couple of nicely preserved planes (if we can call it preserved, not much seems to have been altered from their flying days). They are in possession of a couple of 747s, a L-1011, two ex-Royal family 727s - those would be the nicest plane on stand. What was more, we have been granted access inside the L-1011 and one of the 727s. I do not want to know how much bacteria were flying around us and later in us after those two visits. Both of the planes have been nearly intact from the times they have arrived at the museum. At the entrance/exit there is a map of the museum with a key to where do what planes stand, some descriptions are quiet funny