The Planespotting/General AV Geek Thread

Was lucky enough to be at Edinburgh today to see the last two remaining P-3 Orions perform their final flight. Departed Edinburgh and went for a short flight before a flyby of the base. On landing they were greeted by a water cannon salute from the firefighting brigade before receiving a guard of honour to the hangar.
Plenty of teary eyes and pretty much the whole base stopped to check it out
 
Stay at OOL for a couple of nights at the Rydges. Heard it is quite good for aircraft photography. Booked a concourse premier room. Is the movements and hotel quite good does anyone know? Looking for stuff that will not just be QF and VA!!
 
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I did not see this plane but apparently it could become a "regular" visitor - now that the Sunshine Coast Airport has extended the runway !


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A Royal Australian Air Force plane has become the largest aircraft to ever land at Sunshine Coast Airport, touching down last week as part of a training exercise.
The KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport visited last Monday, making it the first Code E aircraft to land at the airport.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation classifies a Code E aircraft as having a wingspan between 52m and 65m. The KC-30A is a heavily modified Airbus A330 airliner with a wingspan of 60.3m.
A Defence spokesperson told Sunshine Coast News the visit was to help the aircraft crew develop skills.
“The KC-30A crew, who are based at RAAF Base Amberley, were conducting a crew training mission to maintain pilot skills and proficiency,” they said.
“The mission involved flying from RAAF Base Amberley to RAAF Base Townsville, then to Sunshine Coast Airport and back to RAAF Base Amberley.
“The aircraft landed following an instrument approach, then remained on a taxiway with the engines running whilst the crew prepared for the following sector from Sunshine Coast to RAAF Base Amberley.
“Sunshine Coast Airport was chosen as it is one of the suitable alternate landing airfields in vicinity of RAAF Base Amberley.

“The coordination and planning conducted with the Sunshine Coast airfield manager provided valuable information on the support services available and provided outstanding training opportunities for KC-30A pilots.”

According to the RAAF website, the KC-30A is used for air-to-air refuelling and strategic airlift.
It can carry a fuel load of more than 100 tonnes, and is capable of taking 270 passengers and 34 tonnes of equipment.
It measures 59m long, 17.4m high and has a cruising speed of 860km/h.
The RAAF has seven KC-30A aircraft based at RAAF Base Amberley, operated by No.33 Squadron.

Sunshine Coast Airport posted on social media saying an aircraft of this size was only able to land as a result of the runway expansion project that was completed in June 2020

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Quickstatus said:
Were they built in AU at one time?.
Click to expand...
All but the first couple were assembled in Oz. Twenty or so from imported parts, but the remaining 70 mostly made here. Engines would have been imported.
Quickstatus said:
Good trainers?
Click to expand...
It was an excellent aircraft. Reasonably vice free, but it would bite if you took your mind off the job. Not great rear seat vision for the instructors, but they seemed to manage.

The shot above was taken about a week before my graduation. The student in 33's front seat had finished his 'wings test', and we were just waiting for it to become official. Sadly he was killed exactly 40 years ago today, in a Mirage mid air collision.
 
A few years ago, when sitting, bored, in random hotel room, I wondered what had become of all of the pilots who had flown the RAN A-4Gs. So, I set about finding out, and came up with a contact list. Sadly though, time is catching up with us, even if some of the aircraft live on. A few days ago I was informed about the passing of one of the pilots, who had come to us from the RN. Looking around, I found this wonderful story about a 'race' that he was involved in, way back in 1969. Vale, Alan Hickling.

 
Was in Hualien, Taiwan earlier this week and the ROC Air Force operates F-16s out of Chiashan Air Force Base (Hualien airport is part of the same complex). One of the popular tourist spots in town is Qixingtan Beach and besides being a beautiful spot it has the advantage of being right across the road from the end of the runway. While I was there half a dozen F-16 took off over head. Two in formation and then one at a time.

https://imgur.com/g7mIQwt
https://imgur.com/k55tPvN
https://imgur.com/yEHF3Qt

On the way back to Taipei there was a Chinook coming in to land at Taichung airport. Didn't get a pic cause I was too busy being impressed lol.
 
Are you sure they were F16s? I think they look more like F5s, and Taiwan is still operating a few of those.

Either way, well spotted and photographed by you.
 

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