ME707
02-12-2004, 04:10 PM
Cairns to Ayers Rock
Qantas 737-300
After a very nice stay at Trinity Beach, Cairns, we are heading to Perth via Ayers Rock with Qantas.
We check in early in the morning and board our 737-300.
The aircraft had been delayed in Adelaide due to "Techinal Reasons".
I have finally got a window seat! :D
We are offered head phones before taxi.
The aircraft plows through the clouds after a quick take off. I manage to take a picture of the beach we were staying next to amongst others.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00289.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00292.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00294.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00299.jpg>
We are given chicken rolls and drinks on the flight. Rick, my girlfriend and clair, another friend play cards during the flight.
The captain comes on the PA and tells us that we are due to land in about 20 minutes. He also warns that we will be expecting "strong turbulence".
I don't like turbulence, but it's not been that bad in the past for me to worry about.
However, I think the captain underestimated the situation! Or perhaps I did. As we were descending into temperatures that exceeded 45c, we hit air pockets, bringing the aircraft into a number of sharp descents. The aircraft was banking heavily whilst we were buffeted about.
This has to be the worst I've experienced ever. The aircraft was basically being blown about. Condensation was starting to form on the windows and we were descending quickly with a lot of thrust.
Here you can see the angle at which we were being blown off by..
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00305.jpg>
Turning to land... you can see the runway
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00308.jpg>
Landing...
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00311.jpg>
Thankful to be alive and off the aircraft, we head for the small terminal. Our friend, Rick, who I mentioned before, says he's no way getting back on another plane and heads for Budget car retals to hire a car to drive to Perth. We drag him away and lead him to the bar.
Not before I head outside and have a quick smoke with another friend.
I am still shaken by the turbulence and know that our next flight is on a BAe146..
We take Rick to the bar and get him smashed with white wine. I see our plane land and have a quick look round the small (very small!) terminal. There isn't much there- a bar and a shop and seats.
It reminds me a of Southend in England (EGMC).
Ayers Rock- Perth
BAE146 National Jet/Qantas
Soon we are boarding onto the aircraft...
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00317.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00318.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00320.jpg>
The aircraft's interior is noticably older and more worn against the better kept interiors of Qantas. (The flight is operated by NationalJet).
There are 4 flight attendants on today's flight. The leg room and width is very good- not like the 3 / 3 seating I've seen on some airlines.
Todays is 3/2.
The flight attendants give a pre take off demonstration and note that the unusual noise of the flaps retracting is perfectly normal.
The pilot also informs us of the expected turbulence ( like I didn't guess already!)
The take off is good. We experience a high rate of ascent and about 4 minutes after take off we start to experience the turbulence.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00321.jpg>
I didn't remember the FA's warning about the flaps and once they start to retract I am convinced we are going down. (Iam sat under the wing so it's LOUD!). I am crossing my self. My girlfriend is laughing at me, and so is the woman who is sat on our row (she had awful boils over her face).
We were served another cold meal, a roll, a chocolate and a drink. I spend $AU 20 on drinks from the FA, thinking that if I'm drunk I'll relax.
The descent into Perth is also quite turbulene, but I've calmed down enough to relax.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00333.jpg>
We taxi to the gate and disembark. My girlfriend's case is broken so we head to Qantas desk to get a voucher.
All in all, good flight if not for weather. Crew were also nice.
Next: Perth-Kuala Lumpur- London :)
Qantas 737-300
After a very nice stay at Trinity Beach, Cairns, we are heading to Perth via Ayers Rock with Qantas.
We check in early in the morning and board our 737-300.
The aircraft had been delayed in Adelaide due to "Techinal Reasons".
I have finally got a window seat! :D
We are offered head phones before taxi.
The aircraft plows through the clouds after a quick take off. I manage to take a picture of the beach we were staying next to amongst others.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00289.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00292.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00294.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00299.jpg>
We are given chicken rolls and drinks on the flight. Rick, my girlfriend and clair, another friend play cards during the flight.
The captain comes on the PA and tells us that we are due to land in about 20 minutes. He also warns that we will be expecting "strong turbulence".
I don't like turbulence, but it's not been that bad in the past for me to worry about.
However, I think the captain underestimated the situation! Or perhaps I did. As we were descending into temperatures that exceeded 45c, we hit air pockets, bringing the aircraft into a number of sharp descents. The aircraft was banking heavily whilst we were buffeted about.
This has to be the worst I've experienced ever. The aircraft was basically being blown about. Condensation was starting to form on the windows and we were descending quickly with a lot of thrust.
Here you can see the angle at which we were being blown off by..
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00305.jpg>
Turning to land... you can see the runway
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00308.jpg>
Landing...
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00311.jpg>
Thankful to be alive and off the aircraft, we head for the small terminal. Our friend, Rick, who I mentioned before, says he's no way getting back on another plane and heads for Budget car retals to hire a car to drive to Perth. We drag him away and lead him to the bar.
Not before I head outside and have a quick smoke with another friend.
I am still shaken by the turbulence and know that our next flight is on a BAe146..
We take Rick to the bar and get him smashed with white wine. I see our plane land and have a quick look round the small (very small!) terminal. There isn't much there- a bar and a shop and seats.
It reminds me a of Southend in England (EGMC).
Ayers Rock- Perth
BAE146 National Jet/Qantas
Soon we are boarding onto the aircraft...
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00317.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00318.jpg>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00320.jpg>
The aircraft's interior is noticably older and more worn against the better kept interiors of Qantas. (The flight is operated by NationalJet).
There are 4 flight attendants on today's flight. The leg room and width is very good- not like the 3 / 3 seating I've seen on some airlines.
Todays is 3/2.
The flight attendants give a pre take off demonstration and note that the unusual noise of the flaps retracting is perfectly normal.
The pilot also informs us of the expected turbulence ( like I didn't guess already!)
The take off is good. We experience a high rate of ascent and about 4 minutes after take off we start to experience the turbulence.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00321.jpg>
I didn't remember the FA's warning about the flaps and once they start to retract I am convinced we are going down. (Iam sat under the wing so it's LOUD!). I am crossing my self. My girlfriend is laughing at me, and so is the woman who is sat on our row (she had awful boils over her face).
We were served another cold meal, a roll, a chocolate and a drink. I spend $AU 20 on drinks from the FA, thinking that if I'm drunk I'll relax.
The descent into Perth is also quite turbulene, but I've calmed down enough to relax.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/PIC00333.jpg>
We taxi to the gate and disembark. My girlfriend's case is broken so we head to Qantas desk to get a voucher.
All in all, good flight if not for weather. Crew were also nice.
Next: Perth-Kuala Lumpur- London :)