Dubai spotting, OMDB/DXB 2015.01.20

During my short visit in the United Arab Emirates I did spend a couple of days in Dubai. Of course I had to go to the airport to take some pictures. I decided to go to the parking near the Emirates headquarters. Also, because of temperatures and plans that I've made for the day I chose do go rather in the morning than the evening. As a matter of fact, because it was quite windy, the heat haze continued quickly to arise I decided to get back to the city and continue with my preplanned itinerary.
See also spotting in Abu Dhabi and my flights to/from the UAE with Air Serbia.

Abu Dhabi spotting, OMAA/AUH 2015.01.18

Back in January I've paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates. Flying via BEG to AUH with Air Serbia. During my stay in the capital city of Abu Dhabi I had little time for some airplane photography. All of the photos (with the exception of the five last ones) are taken from the top floor (which is also the pool floor) of the Premier Inn situated near the airport (which I do highly recommend). For pictures from inside the terminal visit the Air Serbia post.
As spotting wasn't my primary motivation for the trip, photos are only from a period during which I've been at the hotel or in general near the airport that is either early morning or before sunset. Unluckily the traffic wasn't high.
See also photos from spotting in Dubai.

A6-EIH

A6-BLA and the new tower

Spotting guide for Warsaw Chopin Airport

For some time now I had the idea to create a spotting guide for Warsaw Chopin Airport. I know that it isn't an airport that comes as a first to mind when we think of a place that we would like to spot at. Nevertheless, maybe someone does feel the need.
WAW/EPWA is located near the city center and is very easy to get around. To most spots you can easily arrive by public transport. The guide currently consists 18 spots (there is a map with the location). Each spot is described with the information: where, when, what, with what and has (if needed) advice about what to do or what not to do.
I attach the map to this post. For the full entry visit the Warsaw Chopin spotterguide.

Viewing terrace and a "new" terminal. 2015.05.23

After more than two years of construction work, the "new" terminal has been opened on the 22nd of May 2015. Or rather reopened. Now the entire airport area is one. No longer do parts dramatically differ from each other. It is clean, spacious with lots of chairs to sit or lay on. The opening added baggage belts to the 5 existing ones at the arrivals level and also check-in counters, stores and shops for departing passengers. A McDonald has been opened both air- and land-side for the first time in Warsaw Airport history. You can still see the decorations (mostly balloons) which accompanied the opening ceremony. Together with the grand opening a new website for the airport has been officially launched and some changes have been made in the organization of car movements at the terminal (detailed maps at the bottom).
Also, a viewing terrace has been reopened. Although in a different form than before and in a slightly different spot it is good news for families and people who just want to simply have a look at the planes. The terrace has a glass wall, but you still are a bit on fresh air because the wall isn't connected with the roof. The glass surely will be a problem when photo-shooting, it will get dirty, it will reflect other lights, it will get greasy and it is at an angle to the floor. Heat haze will be disturbing for those wanting a quality photo or two. The location has been also moved away from the tarmac so you are unable to see planes standing near the terminal. The only things you'll be able to photograph in a way are: planes landing and departing, planes taxiing and planes standing at apron 5B. For the thirsty ones there is a bar and a souvenir shop located beside the terrace. Also, for your convenience there are screens with the timetable and a screen with the radar situation around the airport.
The entrance is located near the exit from the railway station. There is no direct passage to the terminal itself.

Entrance overview

Austrian 767 experience

OS64 (1125LT-1550LT)
22nd September 2014, the alarm goes off (well, a 777  flies by to be exact), I have around five hours to my flight. The weather outside is bad, foggy (or smoggy), little sun. While laying in bed a couple of rare planes (and liveries) land just outside my window but I was too lazy to grab my camera. With Clint Eastwood talking in the TV I finish packing my bags. Check out. A bus to the terminal and a scoop of ice-cream for a goodbye. As I have checked in for my flight on-line I don't have to stand in the long queue, always spares me a lot of hassle. A couple of photos of the terminal, security check, emigration, a train to the gates and woah, the terminal seems empty, I've been prepared for a lot more people. A quick round around the gates to see what is there to photograph, not much as a matter of fact (some of it may be found in the post about spotting in Beijing). A little shopping (breakfast was desired) and with two new bags in my hand boarding for my flight has commenced. It only is a matter of time when I get on the plane, find my seat and install all electronic devices. First impression of the interior? Quite nice, I like the composition of colors. The seat is alright, the PTV works great. Soon push-back has started and after a while, with some stopping in line for departure, we taxied onto runway 01. Full thrust and we are airborne. Well, it would be more fun if you could see something through the windows. a couple of minutes flying through smog and clouds when finally we get to see the sun and a sea of fluffy clouds which goes on all the way to Mongolia. The flight goes on pretty smoothly, overflying cities like Kyzyl, Nizhny Novgorod and Warsaw (under clouds) time flies pretty fast. The main, a chicken, was good, 4/6 is what I'd give it. An hour before landing we get a hot sandwich with ham and cheese. Landing on time, in some post-rain weather. Good to be back in Europe and at an airport that I really like flying to. A visit to the cockpit and a chat with the friendly crew summed up the flight. Now all I have, after the very smooth immigration control, is to wait around 3 hours for my flight back home. Luckily I found a fantastic, quiet spot.

Overall the combination of Austrian Airlines and the Boeing 767 is really fantastic and I do recommend it to everyone. Videos between the photos. Flight review video at the end.

Beijing Capital Airport spotting; ZBAA/PEK 21.09.2014

Both before departing to North Korea and after arriving back to China I have had a couple of opportunities to spot a bit at Beijing Capital Airport. I can divide them into 4 parts where part 1: before departure from PEK for FNJ; part 2: after landing in PEK from FNJ; part 3: the main spotting part; part 4: before departure from PEK to VIE. Part 1 and 4 feature photos mainly made from the terminal area while part 3 is the more standard "beside the fence" spotting.
During my stay winds were mostly southernly thus runway 36L, 36R and 01 in use. Unfortunately I would not say that the weather was great. I'd rather say it was more of a typical Beijing aura with smog around.
For some detailed information about spotting locations in Beijing visit spotterguide

An Air China A330 landing at 36R (B-6079)

Queue from both sides to depart from 36R

Air Koryo Tupolev 204

This entry will be a two part one (divided in itself). The first part is getting to North Korea and the second one leaving it. Both of the flights I've done on the Tupolev 204-100 operated by Air Koryo. The -300 is just a bit shorter and apart of that doesn't differ much inside.

JS152
13.09.2014 PEK-FNJ
1255-1600
I got to the airport around 10am by the train that rides between the center and both terminal areas at the airport. There I met up with part of the group and later we passed through security prior to getting to our check-in area. Some unusually sized luggage could be seen checked-in. After getting my boarding pass with what looked like a good seat (10F) I proceeded on the yet another security check and the immigration counters. Airside, after localizing our departure gate I moved on to looking for a place to spot at, windows gave a couple good shots at aircraft that have been docked and one, in the "corner" had an overview on the main taxiway and one of the three runways at PEK. There many of my trip mates gathered. We spent the hour prior to boarding here taking pictures, notes and laughing together. We had to bond at least a bit, a full week with the company of us and only us was ahead.
It was boarding time, still before entering the jetway most of us made a slight detour for a photo of the 204. On board we were greeted by the friendly crew of todays flight. Just after a couple of minutes push-back commenced, engines have been fired up and taxiing started. A long one, with some stops due to traffic. Finally we were in the air.
In flight service was rather poor. The "Kim Burger" we got was rather a 1/10 than something you would like to eat. Fortunately the soft drink was kinda good!
Maybe it was just me, or it was the airplane or the way the pilots flew but I could feel practically every turn, something that usually doesn't happen in the "western world". One strange situation also happened. A slight bank right turned into a steep one, than the pilot suddenly over-banked left, tried to level it off and again banked right before finally leveling off. Someone even screamed at the back.
Finally after 1h 22min we touchdowned at Pyongyang Sunan airport, deboarded the plane and boarded a bus and traveled towards the terminal for our customs and immigration control. All of it did take some time and finally after around 8-9 hours we've arrived at our hotel.

In the tunnel from the train to the terminal

Landside in the T2, pre customs check

Air Koryo Mi-17

I wake up. A morning like many others. At a first glance there is nothing spectacular about it. But wait! I look out of the window and the same view comes to my eyes, the sight of Pyongyang city. The day has come. The day that most of us anticipated most. The day of flights. The day that I am going to hop on 5 flights, on 4 different planes, all of them being my first time. The Ilyushin 76, Ilyushin 62, Tupolev 154 and the Mi-17 helicopter. The 18th day of September 2014. A date I surely will remember, not only for the reasons stated above ;)

This was the last flight scheduled for me this day. After a tiring morning with four flights included and a lunch our group has been transported to a pair of helicopters (a Mi-17 [867] and a Mi-8 [847]) at Pyongyang Airport. We have been previously divided into smaller groups two of which were to fly today and the other two would return the next day back to Pyongyang while we would take the roads in our coach. I've been designated to fly on the 867. Inside: a side couch, a table, an air conditioner, a clock and two big chairs with a floor made to look like wood. The second helicopter (with which we have had a short 'A2A' session during the flight) was slightly different inside. It included a greenish carpet with flowers, kinda kitschy IMO.
We were headed for the Myohyang mountains. Landing somewhere in the area of Hyangsan. After deboarding we all could take pictures from basically any angle of both flying machines. Additionally the scenery is in the region very spectacular, truly breathtaking. Well I've got no words to describe it. It took mine away. Together with the weather it made up a fabulous setting for any session, let it be a Mi-17.

At FNJ ground before boarding

Air Koryo Tupolev 154

I wake up. A morning like many others. At a first glance there is nothing spectacular about it. But wait! I look out of the window and the same view comes to my eyes, the sight of Pyongyang city. The day has come. The day that most of us anticipated most. The day of flights. The day that I am going to hop on 5 flights, on 4 different planes, all of them being my first time. The Ilyushin 76, Ilyushin 62, Tupolev 154 and the Mi-17 helicopter. The 18th day of September 2014. A date I surely will remember, not only for the reasons stated above ;)

Midday came fast. We were already after two flights. We got on the bus after deboarding the Il-62 and moved a coupe of meters towards the Tupolev 154. This wasn't my first encounter of the type. It has previously visited many times Warsaw, and let's not forget about the Polish Air Force planes (101 and 102) that have been stationing at EPWA. One of which later crashed under Smolensk. For some it is the most beautiful plane ever made (I won't argue, it has its looks). It surely is the fastest sub sonic commercial plane made. with a huge amount of power form the three engines mounted at the back of the plane. There have even been situations when it flew the entire flight on only two engines as the third one was broken and they had to transport the plane to its base for a fix. Now, would any western plane be capable (or permitted) to do so? to takeoff, cruise and land without one engine?

We were already familiar with todays route, to Hamhung and back. This time without dinner, only a photo session after arrival and then we hoped on to return to Pyongyang. The B version has different engines than the M one. The sound they make at startup is unbelievable. Until now the I only had the pleasure to see it in flight, landing or departing. And it was fantastic! This day I was to fly on one. To hear it from the inside, to smell it. Worth any hassle! Unfortunately the seats at the rear are much more closer to each other than at the front, giving your knees some pain, so because of that, and to give others the possibility of flying at the end of the plane I returned to Pyongyang in business class. Quiet comfy :P

Now it's time for some (detailed) pictures and videos of the main character of this entry. 

 

Resting in Hamhung

Air Koryo Ilyushin 62

I wake up. A morning like many others. At a first glance there is nothing spectacular about it. But wait! I look out of the window and the same view comes to my eyes, the sight of Pyongyang city. The day has come. The day that most of us anticipated most. The day of flights. The day that I am going to hop on 5 flights, on 4 different planes, all of them being my first time. The Ilyushin 76, Ilyushin 62, Tupolev 154 and the Mi-17 helicopter. The 18th day of September 2014. A date I surely will remember, not only for the reasons stated above ;)

After we have deboarded the Ilyushin 76 we took the bus for a short ride to the plane that was standing next to us. The Ilyushin 62. I have been looking towards this flight for the last days. Once it was possible to get it on the flight to/from Beijing, but since China banned them from flying to their country now only the T204 and An148 do the flights. Also that type was once the backbone of LOT Polish Airlines Intercontinental fleet. It carried the crane to almost every continent! Later replaced by the Boeing 767. Boarding proceeded smoothly and I managed to get a decent seat. Row 28, seat F. The last row, just beside the engines. Oh my god, how great do they sound in real life! even better than on film. Listening to them spool up before takeoff was incredible. During the short flight, everybody could freely move around. While doing so, one thing being easily noticed is the difference in sound level throughout the plane. Up front it is quite, nearly like on a Dreamliner or a A380, at the back, some would say it would be impossible to go through a full transatlantic flight. After the flight, I couldn't go by the opportunity of taking a couple detailed shots of the interior and a cockpit shot. Later, before boarding our next airplane a short walk around the plane and I had to say goodbye to this beauty. Luckily the weather was on our side.

Before boarding

Boarding