David Eyre

Qantas 747-400 repatriation flight Wuhan – Learmonth

VH-OEE Boeing 747-438ER (MSN 32909-1308) of Qantas at Perth Airport – 24 June 2019. This was the first of six 747-438ERs ordered by Qantas and was the first 747-400ER (Extended Range) built by Boeing. Photographed departing of runway 21 at 1:28 pm. Bound for Sydney. Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)

Interesting movements

Qantas 747-400 repatriation flight Wuhan – Learmonth

David Eyre 3 February 2020

3 February 2020 David Eyre Qantas Boeing 747-438ER, VH-OEE, today operated a repatriation flight to evacuate Australian citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the Coronavirus (later named...

Artist impression of the Aspire Airport Lounge in the former Operations Control Centre. The lounge also extends eastwards, replacing half of the Observation Deck in Terminal 1 International at Perth Airport. Image © Swissport International

Airports

Construction starts on Aspire lounge at Perth Airport Terminal 1, halving the Observation Deck

David Eyre 21 January 2020

21 January 2020 © David Eyre Construction has commenced of a new pay-per-use premium airport lounge in Terminal 1 International at Perth Airport. Sadly for aviation enthusiasts and the...

B-5936 Airbus A330-243 (MSN 1461) of China Eastern Airlines at Perth Airport – 15 January 2020. *First visit to Perth by China Eastern*. The first of three times weekly flights over 5 weeks between Shanghai and Perth. Flight MU265 from Shanghai, taxying in at 9:49am. Photo © David Eyre.

China Eastern first Shanghai – Perth service

David Eyre 15 January 2020

15 January 2020 © David Eyre China Eastern Airlines today commenced three times weekly services between Shanghai Pudong and Perth, for a five-week trial period from 15 January to...

WA Aviation News

Firefighting aircraft in Western Australia 2019 – 2020

David Eyre 7 January 2020

David Eyre and Brenden Scott have compiled a list and photos of the fire fighting aircraft in Western Australia for the summer fire season (Oct 2019 – April 2020)....

N138CG Boeing 737-3H4 (MSN 27928) of Coulson Flying Tankers at RAAF Pearce – 16 Dec 2019. Operating for the NSW Rural Fire Service, this aircraft visited Perth for a few days to help fight fires in the South West of WA. Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)

Interesting movements

Boeing 737-300 Fireliner assists with fighting bush fires in Western Australia

David Eyre 17 December 2019

17 December 2019 © David Eyre Coulson Aviation Boeing 737-300 Fireliner N138CG / BOMBER 138 visited Western Australia for a few days, to assist with fighting a series of...

RAAF retires the Pilatus PC-9/A

Flight Lieutenant Raymond Werndly brings A23-011 Pilatus PC-9/A of 2 Flying Training School (2 FTS), RAAF in to park at hangar 1, at RAAF Base Pearce - 12 December 2019. After ceremonial flypasts to commemorate the final flights of the PC-9/A in RAAF service. Photo POIS Yuri Ramsey © Commonwealth of Australia.

RAAF retires the Pilatus PC-9/A

David Eyre 12 December 2019

12 December 2019 © David Eyre The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) farewelled the Pilatus PC-9/A on 12 December 2019, completing over 30 years of operations and more than...

A7-APB Airbus A380-861 (MSN 143) of Qatar Airways, named 'Al-Aasimia', over the northern suburbs of Perth – 25 Sept 2018. Photo © David Eyre. QR900 from Doha, heading east to join the approach to Perth Airport's runway 21 at 6:01pm.

Airline Services

Qatar Airways Airbus A380 returns to Perth services after temporary downsize to Boeing 777-300ER

David Eyre 8 December 2019

8 December 2019 © David Eyre Qatar Airways temporary use of the Boeing 777-300ER on Doha – Perth services has finished, with the Airbus A380 returned to the route...

A6-ECK Boeing 777-31H ER (MSN 35584/743) of Emirates, at Perth Airport - 2 February 2018. Photo © David Eyre Flight EK425 to Dubai, about to push back from bay 155 at 5:39am.

Airline Services

Emirates temporarily resume second Perth – Dubai service

David Eyre 1 December 2019

1 December 2019 © David Eyre Emirates will re-introduce its second daily Perth to Dubai service from 1 December 2019 through to 20 January 2020, using a 365-seat Boeing...

PK-GTI Airbus A320-251N (MSN 8303) of Citilink at Perth Airport – 8 November 2019. First Citilink service to Perth, first visit by this aircraft and first A320NEO to visit Perth as well. Photographed here pushing back and taking off from runway 06 at 9:43 am.

Citilink first service to Perth, from Denpasar; first visit by A320neo

David Eyre 8 November 2019

8 November 2019 © David Eyre Citilink, the low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, today operated their first service to Perth, flying in from Denpasar. This was also the first...

VH-WOQ Pitts Model 12 Macho Stinker (MSN 343) owned by Rodney Edwards, and VH-YGJ Yakovlev Yak-52 'Yakka' (tailwheel conversion) (MSN 822802), named 'Hard Yakka', owned by Gordon Johanson, at Sport Aircraft Builders Club (SABC) Annual Fly-In, Serpentine Airfield - 27 October 2019. VH-YGJ: A tailwheel conversion of a Yak-52, formerly operated by DOSAAF, a Soviet paramilitary organisation which trained pilots. Built in 1982, ex DOSAAF-134, N25239. VH-WOQ: The Macho Stinker was designed by Curtis Pitts during 1993-1995, and he released the design on his 80th birthday in December 1995. It is a high-performance aerobatic biplane with a Russian Vedeneyev M14P/PF radial engine. It can be built from plans, kits, or can be factory-built. It uses fabric-covered, welded steel tubing for the fuselage, and fabric-covered wings and wood spars. Photo © David Eyre.

Aviation Events

Sport Aircraft Builders Club Annual Fly-in, Serpentine Airfield: 27 October 2019

David Eyre 27 October 2019

RA-82046 Antonov An-124-100 (MSN 9773052255117/06-10) of Volga Dnepr Airlines, at Perth Airport – 25 October 2019. Arrived 23 October 2019 as VI2086 from Melbourne. It stayed for 20 days, waiting for its next cargo load, then departed on 12 November 2019 back to Melbourne as VI2087. Built in 1992 as CCCP-82067, later RA-82046, for Volga-Dnepr. Photo © David Eyre.

Interesting movements

Airside visit to RA-82046 Antonov An-124-100 of Volga-Dnepr Airlines at Perth Airport: 25 October 2019

David Eyre 25 October 2019

25 October 2019 © David Eyre Aviation Association of Western Australia Inc (AAWA) was invited to have a close-up look around RA-82046 Antonov An-124-100 of Volga-Dnepr Airlines. SEE OUR...

B-LXA Airbus A350-1041 (MSN 118) of Cathay Pacific, at Perth Airport - 27 October 2019. *First visit by an Airbus A350-1000 to Perth* Flight CX171 taxying in to park at bay 151 at Terminal 1 International at 11:48pm. Photo © Dylan Thomas.

First visit to Perth by Airbus A350-1000 as Cathay Pacific upgrades CX171/CX170

David Eyre 22 October 2019

28 October 2019 © David Eyre (photo © Dylan Thomas) Perth Airport and Cathay Pacific tonight celebrated the first visit to Perth by the Airbus A350-1000, operated by B-LXA...

ANA commences Tokyo – Perth services

JA814A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (MSN 34493/69) of All Nippon Airways (ANA), at Perth Airport - 1 September 2019. *First ANA scheduled service to Perth*. Flight NH881 on approach to runway 21 at 8:03pm, arriving direct from Tokyo-Narita, after a flypast over Perth city. Photo © Gordon Innes.

ANA commences Tokyo – Perth services

David Eyre 1 September 2019

Artist's impression of the Airbus A321P2F in Qantas Freight/Australia Post livery. The aircraft will be operated by Express Freighters Australia and delivery is expected from October 2020. Image © Qantas

Airline Services

Qantas Freight to get three Airbus A321PCF freighters, following agreement with Australia Post

David Eyre 19 August 2019

19 August 2019 © David Eyre Qantas Freight has announced that it is to acquire three Airbus A321P2F (Passenger to Freighter) converted aircraft from October 2020. Qantas will be...

VH-WEJ Leonardo (AgustaWestland) AW139 (MSN 31319) of CHC Helicopters Australia at Karratha Airport - 7 July 2011. Built 2010, ex G-CGRG. Photo © David Eyre.

WA Aviation News

CHC Helicopter commences offshore helicopter services contract in Northwest

David Eyre 18 August 2019

18 August 2019 © David Eyre CHC Helicopter commenced a five-year contract in July 2019, providing Woodside, Jadestone Energy, Vermilion Energy and BHP with passenger transfer flights, medical evacuation...

David Eyre

Qantas 747-400 repatriation flight Wuhan – Learmonth

Construction starts on Aspire lounge at Perth Airport Terminal 1, halving the Observation Deck

China Eastern first Shanghai – Perth service

Firefighting aircraft in Western Australia 2019 – 2020

Boeing 737-300 Fireliner assists with fighting bush fires in Western Australia

RAAF retires the Pilatus PC-9/A

Qatar Airways Airbus A380 returns to Perth services after temporary downsize to Boeing 777-300ER

Emirates temporarily resume second Perth – Dubai service

Citilink first service to Perth, from Denpasar; first visit by A320neo

Sport Aircraft Builders Club Annual Fly-in, Serpentine Airfield: 27 October 2019

Airside visit to RA-82046 Antonov An-124-100 of Volga-Dnepr Airlines at Perth Airport: 25 October 2019

First visit to Perth by Airbus A350-1000 as Cathay Pacific upgrades CX171/CX170

ANA commences Tokyo – Perth services

Qantas Freight to get three Airbus A321PCF freighters, following agreement with Australia Post

CHC Helicopter commences offshore helicopter services contract in Northwest

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