An-124-100M-150 UR-82008 'ADB2406'

Antonov Design Bureau Antonov An-124-100m-150 UR-82008 msn 19530501006 arrived 17.29hrs landing RWY 21 ex: Vancouver Intl Airport (CYVR) via Stavanger Airport Sola (ENZV) Norway, and Bandarainke Intl Airport (VCBI) Colombo, Sri Lanka as flight 'ADB2406'.
This aircraft making her 6th appearance into Perth today, and her last prior visit being six years ago in 2006.  Hexcode: 50801C

B737-7HZ (BBJ) P4-NGK departs to Dubai

copyright 2012

Privately operated B737-7HZ (BBJ) P4-NGK msn 37583 departed at 02.07hrs to Dubai (OMDB) with Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, both recently in Australia and New Zealand with accompanying trade delegation representatives.

The aircraft arrived into Perth on 22nd November at 18.46hrs ex: Tan Son Nhat Airport, Vietnam (VVTS),  its first known visit to Perth and Australia, its only Australian port of call. Hexcode: 4844B2

Qatar Airways B77W A7-BAC (1st visit to Perth)

Qatar Airways B777-3DZ (ER) A7-BAC msn 36010 operated today's 'QR900/901' services from / to Doha, arrived 17.06hrs landing RWY21 & departed at 23.04hrs. (1st visit to Perth) Hexcode: 06A062 last updated 03.30hrs 30/11.

Qantas Airways A330-202 VH-EBV (1st visit)

Photos: Mark Lynam

(copyright 2012)

Qantas Airways  A330-202 VH-EBV msn 1365 named 'Kangaroo Island' arrived 14.47hrs ex: Sydney Kingsford Smith (YSSY) as flight 'QF577' having departed earlier at 13.21hrs (AEST) for the flight to Perth.

The outbound return flight 'QF566' from Perth to Sydney (YSSY) departed at 16.12hrs (as seen above)  Hexcode: 7C1479

BD-700-1A10 N889CP re-visits Perth

Kirra Aircraft Leasing Bombardier BD-700-1A10 N889CP msn 9104 arrived 17.26hrs. Hexcode: AC3F84

F-2000 (F2TH) OY-MHA 'MMD3088' Arr / Dep

Danish registered Dassault Falcon 2000EX OY-MHA msn 156 operated by Air Alsie arrived 01.21hrs landing RWY21 ex: Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (WMSA) Subang, Malaysia as flight 'MMD3088' flying under the callsign of 'Mermaid 3088'  & departed 14.03hrs 29/11 returning as same. Hexcode: 45B501

A320-232 VH-VFK (1st visit to Perth)

Jetstar.com's latest A320-232 VH-VFK msn 5334 made her debut appearance into Perth today, arriving at 21.08hrs ex: Cairns (YSCB) as flight 'JST978' and departed at 22.05hrs returning to Cairns as flight 'JST979' (1st visit to Perth) Hexcode: 7C6B0E

Perth may well have seen its last Qantas B747

Qantas Airways will operate wide bodied Airbus A330 aircraft on all of its weekday services between Sydney and Melbourne from May 2013, according to newspaper reports from Melbourne today.

Qantas believes the move will better compete against rival Virgin Australia who already operates wide body A330s on both these routes.

The last B747-438  flight from Sydney to Perth v.v operated on  Monday 19th November, by B747-438 VH-OJD on the 'QF575/580' services.

This past weeks 'QF581/582' SYD-PER-SYD services operated with a mix of B763/A330 aircraft.

Speculation is that Perth may well have seen its last scheduled Qantas Airways B747 services operate into and out of the city which would be a shame if thats the case.

As a tribute to this fine aircraft we here at the Perth Airport Spotters Blog, have compiled some images all taken from Perth Airport for your enjoyment.

Thanks for the Perth WA memories Qantas, and our tribute to the classic Queen of the Skies!

B747-48E VH-OEB

B747-438 ER VH-OEI

B747-438ER VH-OEJ

B747-438ER VH-OEF

B747-438 VH-OJA

B747-438 VH-OJD

B747-438 VH-OJM

B747-438 VH-OJN - Retired (5th pod)

B747-438 VH-OJO - Retired

B747-438 VH-OJQ - Retired

B747-438 VH-OJS

B747-438 VH-OJU

Photography by Mark Lynam & Greg Wood

(copyright 2012 all images)

Star Oriental Intl GLF4:SP M-GFOR + (Pics)

Star Oriental International Gulfstream G-1V:SP M-GFOR msn 1487 arrived 15.20hrs ex: Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport (WMSA) Subang, Malaysia landing RWY21 after a flight time of 5hrs.18mins. Hexcode: 43E897

Photo: Peter Watson

(copyright 2012)

Update: 25/11  Departed 08.50hrs to Busselton Regional Airport (YBLN) flight time 27mins to visit Margaret River winery (see photo above) the aircraft arrived back into Perth this afternoon landing RWY21 at 16.43hrs.

Photo: Peter Watson

(copyright 2012)

Last Updated:
27/11: Departed Perth at 17.13hrs to Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport (WMSA) Subang, Malaysia, with an expected flight time of 5hrs.53mins, arriving into Subang at 23.05hrs (LT).

Atlas Air B747-47UF(SCD) N496MC

Photos by: Mark Lynam

(copyright 2012)

Atlas Air B747-47UF (SCD) N496MC msn 29257 arrived 08.19hrs ex: Chatrapati Shivaji Intl Airport (VABB) India as flight 'GTI 2395' callsign 'Giant 2395' landing RWY03, after a flight time of 8hrs.24mins.

The outbound flight departed at 14.07hrs to Chep Lap Kok Intl Airport (VHHH) Hong Kong, as 'GTI2394 / callsign 'Giant 2394'with an expected flight time of 7hrs.46mins, arriving into Hong Kong at 21.52hrs (LT) approx. Hexcode: A62778

Last updated: 14.10hrs (WST) 24th November

Network Aviation F-100 PH-AQA 'SXI-1273'

Qantas Airways subsidiary Network Aviation took delivery of their latest Fokker 100 PH-AQA msn 11449 today arriving at 14.34hrs landing RWY21, after a two day delivery flight from the Netherlands as flight 'SXI-1273 c/sign: Southern Cross 1273' the aircraft will be then re-registered to become VH-NHM. 

Hexcode: 484FCE

Our Airline B737-3YO VH-INU 'RON915/916'

Our Airline B737-3YO VH-INU msn 23684 arrived 12.10hrs landing RWY21 ex: Darwin Intl  (YPDN) as flight 'RON915' c/sign: Air Nauru 915 after a flight time of 3hrs.24mins, and departed at 13.32hrs returning to Darwin (YPDN) as flight 'RON916'. Hexcode: 7C2A68

Breaking News: Qatar to fly B787s to Perth from December 2012

Qatar Airways is scheduling into operation its newly delivered Boeing 787 Dreamliner onto the Doha - Perth route effective from late December 2012, when frequencies increase from thrice weekly to daily services from December 2nd 2012.

This will be Australia's first 787 service and also Qatar Airways first long haul 787 station.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has ruled out services to Sydney (YSSY) until the airport becomes a 24hr operation to meet Qatar Airways scheduling requirements.

Qatar Airways commenced services into Perth on Tuesday July 3rd 2012



Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium visit to Australia and New Zealand

(copyright 2012)

Corporate B737-7HZ (BBJ) P4-NGK msn 37583 arrived 18.46hrs ex: Tan Son Nhat Intl Airport (VVTS) Saigon, Vietnam with Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium and wife Princess Mathilde who are visiting Australia and New Zealand with Belgian ministers and up to 91 company representatives on a trade delegation to the region.

The delegation will be in Perth for 3 days with a visit planned to Port Hedland also expected, prior to heading to Sydney, Canberra Melbourne and to Wellington New Zealand .

In Perth the delegation will visit Perth's Curtin University, Rio Tinto's Perth Operations Centre, Kings Park & have meetings with the Premier Colin Barnett and Governor Malcolm McCusker.

Update: This aircraft departed Perth on Friday 30th November, at 02.07hrs (WST+8) to Dubai (OMDB).
Hexcode: 4844B2 (1st visit to Perth)

Qantas/South Africa codeshare given the go-ahead until 31 Dec 2014

The International Air Services Commission has just announced a decision to grant Qantas' application for an allocation of seven services per week on the South Africa route for a further five years.


Under the decision, South African Airways is also authorised to code share on Qantas' flights operated to and from South Africa until 31 December 2014.

The determination continues to express "serious concerns that the code share arrangement may not be of benefit to the public," with third country carriers providing very limited competition from the codeshare gateway cities of Sydney and Perth.

The IASC said that it considers both carrier's incentives to introduce additional capacity in response to expected demand growth is "unlikely to materially differ in the future with and without the code share agreement".

It's also concerned that in this duopoly environment the intensity of competition is greatly limited by the way that the marketing carrier charges the other airline for its block of seats.

After 2014 the Commission believes there's a greater prospect of two carriers competing directly on one or both of the Sydney and Perth routes or possibly on another city pair.

B747-438 VH-OJD 'QF575/580' today

Qantas Airways operated for the last time today, or at least the forseeable future the Boeing 747 classic into Perth, which had up until yesterday been operating on the airline's Sydney to Perth 'QF581/582' services.

From today, Qantas will discontinue with B747 services on this route, and as a result will see a mix of  Boeing 737-838 , B767-338, and A332/3  variant used to operate this daily operation.

Today's final B747-438 service was operated by VH-OJD msn 24481 arrived at 10.28hrs landing RWY21, on the earlier SYD-PER-SYD 'QF575/580' services and departed at 11.50hrs as flight returning to the coathanger city!  Hexcode: 7C4827

Today's 'QF581/582' services was being operated by B767-338  VH-OGG msn 24929.

B777-3DZ (ER) A7-BAF (1st visit) QR900/901

Qatar Airways B777-3DZ (ER) A7-BAF msn 37761 operated today's 'QR900/901' services fron Doha to Perth and return, arrived 17.21hrs and departed at 22.58hrs for the return back . Hexcode: 06A070 (1st visit to Perth)

In memory of Ben Thiele (1947-2012) aged 64

Its with great sadness that long time member of the Aircraft Enthusiasts Group of WA (AEGWA) in Perth, Mr Ben Thiele passed away earlier this morning at Bethesta Hospital in Claremont, with wife Bev at his bedside after a 3 year battle fighting stomach cancer, he was aged 64.

Ben was well respected, liked by all, a prolific flier, who just loved flying in an aircraft, anytime, to anywhere! we all enjoyed Ben's company and he will be sadly missed by all those that knew him.

Your pain & suffering's now ended Ben, but one thing that will never go away are the fond memories you leave behind with us all today.

Rest in Peace

An-124:100 Ruslan RA-82047 VDA2294/2295

Volga Dnepr Antonov An-124:100 'Ruslan' RA-82047 msn 9773053259121 arrived 09.41hrs landing RWY03 ex: Kansai Airport (RJBB) Osaka Japan, as flight 'VDA2294' after a flight time of 10hrs.57 mins.

Sunday 18/11: Departed 04.38hrs to Karratha (YPKA) as flight 'VDA2294' and arrived at 06.40hrs after a flight time of 2hrs.00mins. 

Photos: Richard Siudak

(copyright 2012)

Departed Karratha (YPKA) at 10.47hrs for Perth as flight 'VDA2295' arriving at 12.43hrs (see photos above)  landing RWY21 after a flight time of 1hrs.56mins.

Monday 19/11: Volga Dnepr An-124:100 RA-82047 was originally scheduled to depart at 03.10hrs departure, but this was re-timed for a 04.40hrs to for the 10hrs.30mins flight to Xian Xianyang Intl Airport (ZLXY) Shaanxi Province, North West China as flight 'VDA2295'.

The 'Ruslan' eventually departed for China departing off Perth Airport's RWY21 at 05.33hrs (WST+8).

Hexcode: 15407F

B747-412F (SCD) 9V-SFP 'SQC7291'

Singapore Airlines Cargo B747-412F (SCD) 9V-SFP msn 32902 'Mega Ark' arrived 13.48hrs ex: Melbourne (YMML) as flight 'SQC7291' and departed to Singapore Changi Airport (WSSS) at 16.41hrs as same. Hexcode: 76CCDO

2 x WA Warbirds up "For Sale" as advertised in Aviation Trader

Photo: Greg Wood

(copyright 2012)

Adverised in current edition of Australian Aviation Trader is this North American T-28D Trojan VH-PFM msn 174-125 'Airborne Angel' ex: USAF 51-3588 coded 'TO' on tail (as seen here above) at Serpentine Airfield (SABC) Open Day in 2009. Asking price US$265,000 + + + Bargain price for this old girl!

Photo: Greg Wood

(copyright 2012)

Another West Australian aircraft also advertised in this month's Aviation Trader is this Beech H18 Tri Gear VH-ATX msn BA-704 is  " For Sale"  

Chinese Icebreaker MV Xue Long 'Snow Dragon'

Chinese Icebreaker Research vessel 'MV Xue Long' arrived into Port of Fremantle at 08.00hrs 16th November ex: Port of Guangzhou, to 'C Berth' to replensish stores before sailing to Antarctica and Southern Ocean on 19th November at 16.00hrs. The vessel carries on board a single Kamov Ka-32 helicopter.

SIA 'SQ213/226' A333s to return from 01 DEC

Singapore Airlines announces an aircraft change onto its Singapore to Perth and return 'SQ213/226' services effective from 01 December. Details in attached link below:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/11/15/sq-sydper-dec12/