Post by ddave on Jan 2, 2012 21:47:25 GMT 1
Hi all.
I havn't posted anything for a while as I have been very busy travelling around the middle east.
The main purpose for this trip was for the airshow, this trip was with TAS. This was my first trip to Dubai so I was expecting a big haul of aircraft and some exotic ones in the haul, I was not to be disappointed.
We met at T1 check-in around 11.15, nice easy check-in and a stroll through security. Man has vastly improved over the years, as a Mancunian by birth, MAN was always my the airport I used but the experience was not nice - that has defiantly changed and even though I know live in Warwickshire, it is my preferred airport to travel through due the the ease of access through check-in and security compared to LHR and others. It was then a stroll up the escalator to the T1 bar with views over T2 and aircraft taxing from the end of the runway for several Stella's and a snack.
We were on the lunch time Emirates flight (A6-EDM - our return bus as well) and this was going to be my first A380 flight. Once on board I could see why people rave about this aircraft. The seats were wider and more leg room and also lots of head room, I had a window seat and could easily stand up with plenty of room. I had seat 72A which was just behind the wing, when sat just behind it you could see just how big the wing is. The flight itself was effortless and IFE was superb. After 6 hours and 50 mins we landed at Dubai, it was approx 12.30AM. Once we had all collected bags, cleared customs etc it was around 2.00AM. If you have never been to Dubai, just before you exit the terminal there is a duty free shop which sells alcohol - very handy to know.
We were staying at the Nojum Appartments, these are overlooking the airport and we had all been allocated rooms with balcony's on the airport side. The rooms are for 4 people and quite spacious, most have very good sized balconies, except the one we were allocated, room 511 had a tiny balcony which would not even let the door open, so after a word with reception we were allocated room 311. Most rooms on the front would be ideal for spotting, the higher floors get better overall views of the ramps although our 3rd floor room seemed to do very well in seeing under the mist in the mornings, either way, almost everything can be logged. The view from the Nojoum is almost side on as they land or take-off. If using the Nojoum you would need to share as it would be expensive on your own for these rooms.
So here is an overview of what we saw during the week. Almost all the Emirates fleet were seen - 777 EWJ eventually showing its face on Friday morning before it set off to Zurich. The EG registered 777's were also elusive, EGC and EGF took some getting. In no particular order are some of what we saw:-
LH 340's AIHA/B/C/F/H/S/T/U/Y with AIGU also making an apperance
Garuda use A330-300's and all 6 were seen, PK-GPI/J/K/L/M/N
Ethiopain 777's ET-ANP/Q/R
Ausrtian 767's OE-LAX/Y/W
Cathay 330's B-LAD/HLM/N/R/S/V
Transaero 777's EI-UNR/S/T/U and 747 EI-XLD
Korean 777's HL7530 ( 4 days in succession) 7714
Lots of UPS MD-11's - 2 a day 250/6/77/80/85/91/93 plus 747's 573/83 and 767 314
Fed Ex MD-11's 590/1/4/5/7/609
Aeroflot IL-96's RA-96010/15
Malaysian 330F 9M-MUA and B turned up on the Tuesday and was moved into the show area then on to Malaysian for delivery I believe
Malaysian 330's 9M-MKC/D/H/W/X
Delta 777's N703/7DN N860/2DA
Saudi 330's HZ-AQE/G and lots of 320's
China Sothern 777's B-2052/56/62/70 and 330's B-6056/77/78
Oman 737's A4O-BA/B/D/E/F/G/J/M/N/P/S + 330 DE
Gulf Air 319/320 A9C-AA/A/B/C/D/E/F/H/I/K/M/O/U/V + 330's KA/E/F/G + Embraers MA/B/C
Qatar 320/321's A7-ADA/C/D/E/G/H/J/K/S/T/U/X/Z AHB/F/H/J/L
Iran Aseman Fokker 100's everyday plus the odd B727 and an ATR
Kish Air Fokker 50's EP-LCC/E/F
Eritrean B767 E3-AAQ
TAAG 777's D2-TEE/TEH
All the FlyDubai 737's
Air India Express 737's VT-AXD/E/F/H/I/J/M/P/Q/R/T/W/X, AYB/C/D
Plus lots more - plenty of biz for the show plus regular biz. These can be very tricky to read off from the Nojuom Appartments when parked but a trip upto a higher balcony located outside the gym would help. As has been said many times before, lots of the good movements here are at night, including a big chunk of the Emirates fleet so some late nights spotting sessions are required - I managed to do a couple of 20 hour sessions through to 4AM
Lots of great stuff at the show, with full access to a lot of the aircraft. My own highlight was getting on the UEA C-17, I'm not a military aircraft person but this was very nice and a pleasure to look inside it. When at the show you get a great view of landing aircraft and departures as has been shown in previous photo threads.
At the appartments there is a roof top pool which can be very handy for photography and there is a gym on the top floor which has windows overlooking the airport and has the small balcony I mentioned which we used, the gym attendant came out and didn't bother us at all. At the Nojoum you also get stuff flying over that has departed Sharjah and some can just about be seen on the way into Sharjah.
As for food/ drinks, opposite the appertments is a very large store which sells all inds of food and drink but slightly lacking in alcohol and next door to the left is a large shopping mall. On the lower floor of this mall is a food hall with burgers/chicken etc plus a buffet style all you can eat section which at 49UAED is very good value ( around a tenner). Speaking of money, you will almost certainly get a better rate out in Dubai than at home. In the UK it is currently about 5.7UAED per £, out there we were getting 6UAED per £.
Big thanks to Mark Williams/Steve and Richard who I shared the appartemnt with - we had a good laugh and some late nights. Also met up with mates Ian and Mick from the Banad trips.
Came back to the UK on A6-EDM, the same aircraft we flew out on.
Sorry for the lack of more detail in the logs but I am a lot behind in my logging at the mo.
I hope some of this has been useful to anyone planning a visit to Dubai.
Regards
Dave
I havn't posted anything for a while as I have been very busy travelling around the middle east.
The main purpose for this trip was for the airshow, this trip was with TAS. This was my first trip to Dubai so I was expecting a big haul of aircraft and some exotic ones in the haul, I was not to be disappointed.
We met at T1 check-in around 11.15, nice easy check-in and a stroll through security. Man has vastly improved over the years, as a Mancunian by birth, MAN was always my the airport I used but the experience was not nice - that has defiantly changed and even though I know live in Warwickshire, it is my preferred airport to travel through due the the ease of access through check-in and security compared to LHR and others. It was then a stroll up the escalator to the T1 bar with views over T2 and aircraft taxing from the end of the runway for several Stella's and a snack.
We were on the lunch time Emirates flight (A6-EDM - our return bus as well) and this was going to be my first A380 flight. Once on board I could see why people rave about this aircraft. The seats were wider and more leg room and also lots of head room, I had a window seat and could easily stand up with plenty of room. I had seat 72A which was just behind the wing, when sat just behind it you could see just how big the wing is. The flight itself was effortless and IFE was superb. After 6 hours and 50 mins we landed at Dubai, it was approx 12.30AM. Once we had all collected bags, cleared customs etc it was around 2.00AM. If you have never been to Dubai, just before you exit the terminal there is a duty free shop which sells alcohol - very handy to know.
We were staying at the Nojum Appartments, these are overlooking the airport and we had all been allocated rooms with balcony's on the airport side. The rooms are for 4 people and quite spacious, most have very good sized balconies, except the one we were allocated, room 511 had a tiny balcony which would not even let the door open, so after a word with reception we were allocated room 311. Most rooms on the front would be ideal for spotting, the higher floors get better overall views of the ramps although our 3rd floor room seemed to do very well in seeing under the mist in the mornings, either way, almost everything can be logged. The view from the Nojoum is almost side on as they land or take-off. If using the Nojoum you would need to share as it would be expensive on your own for these rooms.
So here is an overview of what we saw during the week. Almost all the Emirates fleet were seen - 777 EWJ eventually showing its face on Friday morning before it set off to Zurich. The EG registered 777's were also elusive, EGC and EGF took some getting. In no particular order are some of what we saw:-
LH 340's AIHA/B/C/F/H/S/T/U/Y with AIGU also making an apperance
Garuda use A330-300's and all 6 were seen, PK-GPI/J/K/L/M/N
Ethiopain 777's ET-ANP/Q/R
Ausrtian 767's OE-LAX/Y/W
Cathay 330's B-LAD/HLM/N/R/S/V
Transaero 777's EI-UNR/S/T/U and 747 EI-XLD
Korean 777's HL7530 ( 4 days in succession) 7714
Lots of UPS MD-11's - 2 a day 250/6/77/80/85/91/93 plus 747's 573/83 and 767 314
Fed Ex MD-11's 590/1/4/5/7/609
Aeroflot IL-96's RA-96010/15
Malaysian 330F 9M-MUA and B turned up on the Tuesday and was moved into the show area then on to Malaysian for delivery I believe
Malaysian 330's 9M-MKC/D/H/W/X
Delta 777's N703/7DN N860/2DA
Saudi 330's HZ-AQE/G and lots of 320's
China Sothern 777's B-2052/56/62/70 and 330's B-6056/77/78
Oman 737's A4O-BA/B/D/E/F/G/J/M/N/P/S + 330 DE
Gulf Air 319/320 A9C-AA/A/B/C/D/E/F/H/I/K/M/O/U/V + 330's KA/E/F/G + Embraers MA/B/C
Qatar 320/321's A7-ADA/C/D/E/G/H/J/K/S/T/U/X/Z AHB/F/H/J/L
Iran Aseman Fokker 100's everyday plus the odd B727 and an ATR
Kish Air Fokker 50's EP-LCC/E/F
Eritrean B767 E3-AAQ
TAAG 777's D2-TEE/TEH
All the FlyDubai 737's
Air India Express 737's VT-AXD/E/F/H/I/J/M/P/Q/R/T/W/X, AYB/C/D
Plus lots more - plenty of biz for the show plus regular biz. These can be very tricky to read off from the Nojuom Appartments when parked but a trip upto a higher balcony located outside the gym would help. As has been said many times before, lots of the good movements here are at night, including a big chunk of the Emirates fleet so some late nights spotting sessions are required - I managed to do a couple of 20 hour sessions through to 4AM
Lots of great stuff at the show, with full access to a lot of the aircraft. My own highlight was getting on the UEA C-17, I'm not a military aircraft person but this was very nice and a pleasure to look inside it. When at the show you get a great view of landing aircraft and departures as has been shown in previous photo threads.
At the appartments there is a roof top pool which can be very handy for photography and there is a gym on the top floor which has windows overlooking the airport and has the small balcony I mentioned which we used, the gym attendant came out and didn't bother us at all. At the Nojoum you also get stuff flying over that has departed Sharjah and some can just about be seen on the way into Sharjah.
As for food/ drinks, opposite the appertments is a very large store which sells all inds of food and drink but slightly lacking in alcohol and next door to the left is a large shopping mall. On the lower floor of this mall is a food hall with burgers/chicken etc plus a buffet style all you can eat section which at 49UAED is very good value ( around a tenner). Speaking of money, you will almost certainly get a better rate out in Dubai than at home. In the UK it is currently about 5.7UAED per £, out there we were getting 6UAED per £.
Big thanks to Mark Williams/Steve and Richard who I shared the appartemnt with - we had a good laugh and some late nights. Also met up with mates Ian and Mick from the Banad trips.
Came back to the UK on A6-EDM, the same aircraft we flew out on.
Sorry for the lack of more detail in the logs but I am a lot behind in my logging at the mo.
I hope some of this has been useful to anyone planning a visit to Dubai.
Regards
Dave