|
Post by Canucks on Sept 16, 2008 14:21:42 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Nickfro on Sept 16, 2008 15:11:40 GMT -8
Some nice photos from the both of you.
Karl, you are a rare breed. I, personally, like the A-to-B approach when it comes to flying. Unlike a ferry, there isn't really anywhere to get up and walk around on a plane. Therefore I like the quickest route possible!
An easy way to distinguish between an A-320 from a 319 is the fact that the 320 has two exit doors on each side above the wing. . .the 319 has only one.
The only Westjet plane I have flown on with them is their 737-700. It seems to always be that one.
I have flown on quite a few Air Canada planes, including: -De Havilland Dash 8 (100) -De Havilland Dash 8 (300) -Embrarer E190 -Airbus A319 -Airbus A320 -Airbus A321 -Boeing 767-200 (soon to be replaced by new 787's) -Boeing 767-300
I almost went on one of their Boeing 777's last week coming home from Toronto, but it was full. I intentionally booked myself on the last flight of the day, but tried for the 2nd to last (the 777) since I was finished in T.O. early, but it was 25 people overbooked! The 767-300 I flew on had those angled 'pods' in business class. I have lots of trouble sleeping on a plane but I'm sure I could sleep in one of those if I was ever so fortunate to feel like I'm kind of a big deal and get the opportunity to fly up front! ;D
Other planes I have flown on include: -numerous types of B737's -Boeing 747 -McDonnell Douglas MD-11 -McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (back in the day) -Piper Navajo to Tofino from YVR South Terminal -Saab 340 -De Havilland Beaver (seaplane) -De Havilland Twin Otter (seaplane)
|
|
Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
|
Post by Mill Bay on Sept 16, 2008 15:58:07 GMT -8
Great images, guys...
Is it just me, or do airplanes always seem to wear grumpy expressions... something about their rounded, pointy noses and small angular cockpit windows always seems to make it look like they are glaring angrily at you.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 16, 2008 21:47:14 GMT -8
Some awesome photos you have there. I love the head on shots and the WestJet photos at Abbotsford. I have never seen a Horizon CRJ before as we only have Horizon Dash 8's come into Victoria. I really would love to fly on the Air Canada 777 and a CRJ too as I have never been on any of those.
As far as long flights go I dont mind if they are non stop but if I was going to say Calgary which is only just over an hour flight from here I would rather take a flight that stop or connects and for the same price more flying time. It is true on a plane you really cant get up and wonder around unless you need to use the lavatory but I just like sit and relax and enjoy the flight.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 17, 2008 6:58:17 GMT -8
I loved flying the CRJ into DCA (Reagan Airport in DC or if you are a local you refuse to call it that that and it is still National ). Occasionally they would fly with the cockpit door open (prior to 9/11). The landing attitude of the CRJ is nose down until just a few feet over the runway when the aircraft flares (raises the nose). So if you were on the aisle you could lean over and watch the approach over to the runway. Older CRJ's have the worst seats - feels like there is bar in the middle of your back, and the CRJ200 windows are lower than comfortable to look out so you end up with a crooked neck. The larger CRJ700 and 900 series have a lower floor and a slightly raised window so you don't get the same neck ache. I have yet to fly Air Canada's 777's. My brother has quite a number of times now and never misses an opportunity to call me and brag about it.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 17, 2008 10:26:54 GMT -8
I have never had any trouble with taking photos around an airport or on the plane. I usually try to do it when the flight attendants are away if I want to snap a quick cabin photo, but you really shouldent be afraid to take photos. I mean we are tourists, tourists take photos all the time on planes out the window of the scenery and so on. I guess if you have a small point and shoot camera it is easy but if you have a bigger more proffessional camera that is more easy to spot, lol! I have only taken photos at Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Las Vegas airports and I have had no trouble.
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Sept 17, 2008 10:41:13 GMT -8
Great idea for a thread, Karl, I'm looking forward to contributing. Nice shots, Karl and Canucks. That Royal Air Force Lockheed is especially interesting. - Once I was taking photos of the Vancouver transit garage, VTC, and climbed up a part of the remaining dock infrastructure of the Eburne mill that used to be there that was about 30 feet up and all of a sudden the planes stopped landing at the north runway and started landing at the south runway, lol. Hope I didn't do that.
|
|
|
Post by DENelson83 on Sept 17, 2008 14:14:17 GMT -8
Next challenge: Take a video of a takeoff from inside a plane while holding a GPS.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 17, 2008 14:27:39 GMT -8
Now if that doesn't attract some very unwanted attention from FA on the flight I would be surprized since they still make the announcements to turn off electronic devices on take-off and to leave them off until cruising altitude is reached. Some testing is underway and has been done about cell phones during flight and even that still has a huge amount of controversy about it. You likely still would not be allowed to use them until cruising height is reached.
|
|
|
Post by DENelson83 on Sept 17, 2008 14:43:20 GMT -8
According to this page, WestJet allows the use of a GPS receiver during the cruise phase of flight. And I've seen countless YouTube videos of takeoffs from a passenger's point-of-view with a GPS receiver being used. But I imagine they only use the GPS for the first few minutes of takeoff and then turn off the units until cruising altitude.
|
|
|
Post by Canucks on Sept 17, 2008 15:05:08 GMT -8
According to this page, WestJet allows the use of a GPS receiver during the cruise phase of flight. And I've seen countless YouTube videos of takeoffs from a passenger's point-of-view with a GPS receiver being used. But I imagine they only use the GPS for the first few minutes of takeoff and then turn off the units until cruising altitude. Most of Westjet's planes have a TV in the seat with about 16 different channels. One of which is a GPS station with ads about Westjet, kind of a default station. It tells you the height of the plane and the speed in MPH but is not very accurate as the plane is not to scale with the map. The plane fills up the space between Vancouver and Calgary, however it is still better then Air Canada. As For electronic devices, I flew this summer and had my camera out and visible when we were taxiing out and recorded a video during take-off without any one commenting on it.
|
|
|
Post by Nickfro on Sept 17, 2008 15:06:50 GMT -8
So tell me this: what is the point of filming a takeoff while using a GPS receiver?? What does one accomplish by doing such a thing? Is it just for the thrill of tracking exactly where you are, or is it for the thrill of seeing how many different technological instruments one can have in their hands and play with at the same time? (of course, during moments where you're not supposed to be using electronic devices)
I can't figure out where you're coming from on this one.
|
|
|
Post by Canucks on Sept 17, 2008 15:09:13 GMT -8
It's all about multitasking! How many devices can I have on the go at once when I'm not supposed too. A camera to take off, a GPS to see where we are, an ipod to listen to music and cell phone to call your friend in the next row to tell him what can he see from his side. Although this may seem silly a lot of people I know do 3 out of 4 on a daily basis.
|
|
|
Post by Canucks on Sept 17, 2008 15:47:03 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 17, 2008 17:06:25 GMT -8
Air Canada has a similar feature called AirShow. There is a better version coming with the new inflight system that has been installed on most of the older aircraft that are staying in the fleet for a while and all of the new aircraft. The Airbus 330's are just receiving them and all will have them by Christmas. The last of the 767's that are staying around for a while are just getting the system. It is an entertainment system on demand with tons of movies, Sirius satelite radio, TV and games. You can build your own playlists of music. There will be some additional for pay features added. The system is by Thales and is the first installation so unfortunately there have been a lot of bugs but it is pretty cutting edge - when it works .
|
|
|
Post by DENelson83 on Sept 18, 2008 1:13:56 GMT -8
How about hearing communications between the plane and ATC? Can you do that on board WestJet?
|
|
|
Post by Nickfro on Sept 18, 2008 6:30:02 GMT -8
Air Canada has a similar feature called AirShow. There is a better version coming with the new inflight system that has been installed on most of the older aircraft that are staying in the fleet for a while and all of the new aircraft. The Airbus 330's are just receiving them and all will have them by Christmas. The last of the 767's that are staying around for a while are just getting the system. It is an entertainment system on demand with tons of movies, Sirius satelite radio, TV and games. You can build your own playlists of music. There will be some additional for pay features added. The system is by Thales and is the first installation so unfortunately there have been a lot of bugs but it is pretty cutting edge - when it works . I really enjoyed their entertainment system on my recent trip to Toronto. They have lots of shows, movies and documentaries to watch. They also have boatloads of music to choose from, including full albums that you can listen to from start to finish. That feature came in really handy for me on my flight home, as my eyes didn't want to stay open very much on the 1055pm last flight of the day out of Toronto. The two planes that I was on for that trip were the 767-300 and the A321. According to this page, the Airbus 330's (all 8 of them) will have their upgrades complete by the end of next year, not this year. They call this upgrade Project XM.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 18, 2008 7:28:55 GMT -8
Correct Nickfro I reversed the models with the correct statements. The A333's are just starting and the 767's will all be complete by Christmas. There have been some chinks to the schedule because AC was considering not giving the Airbus the XM treatment. They had to see what flights were being cut during the recent route cancelations and cutbacks. As well they were looking for some leased aircraft to fill in for the smaller 762's that are being retired. The aircraft market is particularly tight right now (as the Liberals leasing a clunker of an old very non-green 737 for the election attests )) with the 787 delays, so AC has decided to XM the A333's and keep them in the fleet a bit longer. * Dave some airlines have a channel on their entertainment systems that allow you to listen in on the cockpit airtraffic control conversations. Some airlines also have a live outside cam that you can watch as well. Emirates has a tail mounted one on the A380 so you watch the take off and landing from that high vantage point.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 18, 2008 8:23:23 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by DENelson83 on Sept 18, 2008 12:43:39 GMT -8
* Dave some airlines have a channel on their entertainment systems that allow you to listen in on the cockpit airtraffic control conversations. Yes, I know. United Airlines is one example. ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DV2LqGwjDGwI meant from inside the plane you're travelling on.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 19, 2008 7:43:51 GMT -8
Yes Dave I meant both. Some airlines have visual views outside the aircraft and some airlines you can hear the ATC on the audio system.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 19, 2008 16:24:03 GMT -8
If you have a lot of time and interest here is the videos of the delivery of the first Qantas A380 in case you haven't seen it. www.a380delivery.com/qantas/*fixed link
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Sept 20, 2008 11:53:26 GMT -8
Cool, Karl, they look so small on land eh, those Snowbirds.
That's a radical site, NE, thanks for the link.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 20, 2008 15:54:45 GMT -8
Dave United had Channel 9 that listens in on the cockpit to ATC channel currently in use, on their audio systems on the jets that don't have personal AVD screens at each seat. The pilots can choose whether to activate it or not. Since 9/11 it has been used less frequently than prior with estimates at about only half the flights using it. I asked a FA friend who sometimes deadheads back to Toronto on United flights.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 29, 2008 21:22:26 GMT -8
In light of the Queen of Tsawwassen's decomissioning ceremony I thought I would post this video on youtube. This is the retirement ceremony WestJet did in Calgary for the last of their 737-200's which were the workhorses of the fleet when WestJet began back in 1996. Well it was more of a flyby and water salute to the 200 but it was really neat to see the video and I would of loved to have been in Calgary that day to see it live. Here is the video ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yfo7uJeb8VI And one other one I found too ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DzU1pzsS6qk
|
|