herpa2003
10-03-2005, 10:37 PM
Flight 1
Airline: Continental Express
Aircraft: Embraer 145 Regional Jet
Registration: N12563
Flight number: 2565
From: Syracuse, NY (SYR)
To: Newark, NW (EWR)
Departure time: 10:10 am
Arrival time: 11:08 am
Date: July 19, 2005
After a whopping one day without flying, it was time to get into the air again. The flight from Syracuse to Newark would be my first on an Embraer regional jet, however I had flown on an EMB-120 previosly on a FAY-ATL fliht in 1998. We woke up early, loaded the luggage and began the one hour drive from Watertown to Syracuse Hancock International. We arrived two hours early and checked in using the self-service E-check in kiosks. After checking our bags, we went through security which at this time of day was a breeze.
After proceeding to Continental Express's only gate at SYR (gate 21), I sat down and read a few pages of Richard Preston's "The Hot Zone" before two Continental (Express?) pilots sat in front of me, and, being the aviation nut that I am, their conversation seemed to be worth listening to. Seems that they were both deadheading to EWR, and one (who looked to be in his 20s) sounded as if he was a 757 FO while I gathered that the other flew ERJs. Regardless, listening to their chatter over the situation at CO and the other airlines made the time fly.
Eventually it was time to board. We proceeded to board through a jetway, and I took window seat on the 2 seat side of the aircraft. Parked next to us at the terminal was a TMA 757-200. Taxi was quick, and soon we were holding short of the runway. We were waiting for a few minutes and I was starting to get curious until I glanced out the window and saw 4 Syracuse based NYANG F-16 fighters lining up side by side on the runway. One by one, each released their breaks and shoved the throttle forward. It really was interesting to watch being that close to them. Soon, all four had departed and it was our turn. The throttles were pushed forward, and our aircraft quietly took to the sky. I was amazed at how quiet the EMB-145 was! I could hardly even tell we were taking off, and once we were airborne it was almost silent! A big difference from the somewhat noisier CRJs, in my opinion.
After takeoff I glanced to the left and was treated with an aerial view of beautiful downtown Syracuse. To the right the Carousel Center mall was visible. We began climbing and soon we were headed souteast, passing over the beautiful rolling countryside of upstate NY. It was a sunny day, and visibility was pristine. Soon we were passing over the Hudson, and houses and neighborhoods began to replace the farms and small towns that we had flown over only minutes before. We began our descent, and the landing in EWR was routine. The taxi to our gate at EWR took a while, but soon we were out stretching our legs in the beautiful CO EWR terminal.
Flight 2
Airline: Continental
Aircraft: Boeing 767-400
Registration: N69059
Flight number: 15
From: Newark, NJ (EWR)
To: Honolulu, HI (HNL)
Departure time: 1:30 pm
Arrical time: 6:05 pm
Duration: 10hr 35min
After the quick jaunt into New Jersey, a much longer flight lay ahead of us. The flight, at 10 and a half hours and nearly 5,000 miles, would by my longest single flight to date. Once we were all situated at the gate (which was extremely crowded with tourists on their way to their Hawaiian vacations), I took the opportunity to walk around and look at the various CO aircraft at the gates. Visible were a few 777-200s, as well as numerous winglet-equipped 737s and a few 757-200s with winglets. I took a picture of a Continental 767-400 heading towards the terminal-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr1.jpg>
Boarding began shortly after, and we proceeded to our seats. I was seated in a window seat in row 32 facing the right side of the aircraft. Playing on the individual TV screens were images of the sites and sounds of Hawaii. They seemed to be on a repeat track, and they were on for about 15 minutes before we began our taxi. The aircraft was pretty full, about 98% would be my estimate, and we had to wait a few minutes for some last-minute passengers to board. However, after they were all situated we began our taxi to the runway. Visible out my window was a SAS A330 at the gate and various ERJs of CoEx, also on their way to the runway. We eventually made it up there, taxied into position, and took off. The power of the 767-400 was immense, and it was a very long takeoff roll.
Soon we were settling into our cruise. The FAs came around and served drinks and lunch, and I watched a movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mack (I can't remember the name right now). Our path took us northwest across Pennsylvania, over Cleveland and just south of Chicago before heading on a more southwest direction towards SFO and the Pacific Ocean. We passed directly over KCLE, and even from 35,000 feet I could make out the white shapes of CO aircraft parked at their gates below. A short while after we passed just south of Chicago, giving us on the right side of the aircraft an impressive view of the skyline. It was my first view of the city, and it came from 35,000 feet!
After Chicago, I began to really get settled into the flight, reading and playing a poker game every once in a while on CO's PTVs. Soon we were over the rough terrain of the west, and I took a picture (although I can't remember where exactly this was)-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr2.jpg>
Eventually we made it to SFO, but it was cloudy and I was unable to see much of the city. After SFO, the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean beckoned-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr3.jpg>
With nothing more to see, I went to sleep for a bit, watched another movie on TV, and pulled the camera out shortly before we reached the Hawaiian islands-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr4.jpg>
We descended and overflew the city of Honolulu (sorry for the blur caused by the engine!)-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr5.jpg>
Soon we were over the ocean again, flying parallel to HNL-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr6.jpg>
A short while later, we were low over the ocean and overflew some pleasure boats at a low level before we landed at beautiful, sunny HNL. Deboarding took about 20 mins, with lots of inexperienced travelers trying to squeexe out the things that they had crammed into the overhead bins, but eventually we were out and ready to start the rest of our vacation.
If demand dictates, I will post HNL-OGG-HNL-HOU-EWR-SYR with more pictures a bit later.
Airline: Continental Express
Aircraft: Embraer 145 Regional Jet
Registration: N12563
Flight number: 2565
From: Syracuse, NY (SYR)
To: Newark, NW (EWR)
Departure time: 10:10 am
Arrival time: 11:08 am
Date: July 19, 2005
After a whopping one day without flying, it was time to get into the air again. The flight from Syracuse to Newark would be my first on an Embraer regional jet, however I had flown on an EMB-120 previosly on a FAY-ATL fliht in 1998. We woke up early, loaded the luggage and began the one hour drive from Watertown to Syracuse Hancock International. We arrived two hours early and checked in using the self-service E-check in kiosks. After checking our bags, we went through security which at this time of day was a breeze.
After proceeding to Continental Express's only gate at SYR (gate 21), I sat down and read a few pages of Richard Preston's "The Hot Zone" before two Continental (Express?) pilots sat in front of me, and, being the aviation nut that I am, their conversation seemed to be worth listening to. Seems that they were both deadheading to EWR, and one (who looked to be in his 20s) sounded as if he was a 757 FO while I gathered that the other flew ERJs. Regardless, listening to their chatter over the situation at CO and the other airlines made the time fly.
Eventually it was time to board. We proceeded to board through a jetway, and I took window seat on the 2 seat side of the aircraft. Parked next to us at the terminal was a TMA 757-200. Taxi was quick, and soon we were holding short of the runway. We were waiting for a few minutes and I was starting to get curious until I glanced out the window and saw 4 Syracuse based NYANG F-16 fighters lining up side by side on the runway. One by one, each released their breaks and shoved the throttle forward. It really was interesting to watch being that close to them. Soon, all four had departed and it was our turn. The throttles were pushed forward, and our aircraft quietly took to the sky. I was amazed at how quiet the EMB-145 was! I could hardly even tell we were taking off, and once we were airborne it was almost silent! A big difference from the somewhat noisier CRJs, in my opinion.
After takeoff I glanced to the left and was treated with an aerial view of beautiful downtown Syracuse. To the right the Carousel Center mall was visible. We began climbing and soon we were headed souteast, passing over the beautiful rolling countryside of upstate NY. It was a sunny day, and visibility was pristine. Soon we were passing over the Hudson, and houses and neighborhoods began to replace the farms and small towns that we had flown over only minutes before. We began our descent, and the landing in EWR was routine. The taxi to our gate at EWR took a while, but soon we were out stretching our legs in the beautiful CO EWR terminal.
Flight 2
Airline: Continental
Aircraft: Boeing 767-400
Registration: N69059
Flight number: 15
From: Newark, NJ (EWR)
To: Honolulu, HI (HNL)
Departure time: 1:30 pm
Arrical time: 6:05 pm
Duration: 10hr 35min
After the quick jaunt into New Jersey, a much longer flight lay ahead of us. The flight, at 10 and a half hours and nearly 5,000 miles, would by my longest single flight to date. Once we were all situated at the gate (which was extremely crowded with tourists on their way to their Hawaiian vacations), I took the opportunity to walk around and look at the various CO aircraft at the gates. Visible were a few 777-200s, as well as numerous winglet-equipped 737s and a few 757-200s with winglets. I took a picture of a Continental 767-400 heading towards the terminal-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr1.jpg>
Boarding began shortly after, and we proceeded to our seats. I was seated in a window seat in row 32 facing the right side of the aircraft. Playing on the individual TV screens were images of the sites and sounds of Hawaii. They seemed to be on a repeat track, and they were on for about 15 minutes before we began our taxi. The aircraft was pretty full, about 98% would be my estimate, and we had to wait a few minutes for some last-minute passengers to board. However, after they were all situated we began our taxi to the runway. Visible out my window was a SAS A330 at the gate and various ERJs of CoEx, also on their way to the runway. We eventually made it up there, taxied into position, and took off. The power of the 767-400 was immense, and it was a very long takeoff roll.
Soon we were settling into our cruise. The FAs came around and served drinks and lunch, and I watched a movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mack (I can't remember the name right now). Our path took us northwest across Pennsylvania, over Cleveland and just south of Chicago before heading on a more southwest direction towards SFO and the Pacific Ocean. We passed directly over KCLE, and even from 35,000 feet I could make out the white shapes of CO aircraft parked at their gates below. A short while after we passed just south of Chicago, giving us on the right side of the aircraft an impressive view of the skyline. It was my first view of the city, and it came from 35,000 feet!
After Chicago, I began to really get settled into the flight, reading and playing a poker game every once in a while on CO's PTVs. Soon we were over the rough terrain of the west, and I took a picture (although I can't remember where exactly this was)-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr2.jpg>
Eventually we made it to SFO, but it was cloudy and I was unable to see much of the city. After SFO, the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean beckoned-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr3.jpg>
With nothing more to see, I went to sleep for a bit, watched another movie on TV, and pulled the camera out shortly before we reached the Hawaiian islands-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr4.jpg>
We descended and overflew the city of Honolulu (sorry for the blur caused by the engine!)-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr5.jpg>
Soon we were over the ocean again, flying parallel to HNL-
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/syrhnltr6.jpg>
A short while later, we were low over the ocean and overflew some pleasure boats at a low level before we landed at beautiful, sunny HNL. Deboarding took about 20 mins, with lots of inexperienced travelers trying to squeexe out the things that they had crammed into the overhead bins, but eventually we were out and ready to start the rest of our vacation.
If demand dictates, I will post HNL-OGG-HNL-HOU-EWR-SYR with more pictures a bit later.