Hi all,
Last Saturday (18/08/07), I had the opportunity to join the crew of OASiS Hong Kong Airlines on one of their Base Training flights over at Kent International Airport (Manston/MSE). This is the second time I have done this, and I was allowed to sit in the flight deck for a few of the ‘touch n go’s’, and I took these pics…
Turning to line up with MSE approach path…
Runway in sight…
Almost there…
About 10m from touchdown…
The wingtip…
The right-side wing…
The left-side wing…
The South-Coast…
After completing the ‘touch n go’s’, we had to make a full-stop landing at MSE to allow some staff and myself to get off the aircraft as it was due to do a fly-by at the Eastbourne Air Show, but unfortunatley I was not able to do that bit! We had a few minutes wait on the ramp before getting our taxi back to LGW, so I took these pics of the magnificent Boeing 747-400 (B-LFC) aircraft…
Hope you enjoyed looking at these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them!:D
By: Manston Airport - 1st September 2007 at 17:03
Well Im back from me hoilday:D Anyway fantastic shots mate glad you enjoyed the ride lucky git 😀 Will you be doing that again into MSE this year if so I pop up and meet you.
James
By: A Spalding - 23rd August 2007 at 08:19
Love the ground shots, makes u realise how big those beasts really are!
I would have to agree.
What an experience to have?! I havent even stood along side a parked B747 let alone been up in the flight deck mid flight.
I would say i hope you enjoyed yourself….. But then again i already know the answer to that.
Thank you for sharing
Adam
By: cloud_9 - 22nd August 2007 at 13:33
Wow, really interesting shots! Can I ask how you got the chance to do that, do you work for them or something?
I work for the ground handling company that handles OASiS Hong Kong Airlines at LGW. I was chatting to one of the captains on the flight deck one night before begining to board the passengers onto that evenings flight to HKG, and the Base Training Captain was up there as well; we got talking, and he said that they do training flights at Kent International Airport, and as crazy as it sounds, I just asked and he said “Of course you can!”:D
By: wannabe pilot - 22nd August 2007 at 12:02
Wow, really interesting shots! Can I ask how you got the chance to do that, do you work for them or something?
By: Manc - 22nd August 2007 at 09:19
what a great experience! lucky you!
By: adamdowley - 21st August 2007 at 20:18
Wow. I bet the original take off was an experience and a half! You lucky so and so! 🙂
By: snogger_@_EGGD - 21st August 2007 at 18:11
Love the ground shots, makes u realise how big those beasts really are!
By: cloud_9 - 21st August 2007 at 16:10
Thanks for all the kind comments. I was suprised by how good the pictures came out, the weather was not great and it was a tad bumpy at times!
Must’ve been a lot of fun!
Yes, it was a lot of fun indeed, although I did feel a bit giddy afterwards because we did 16 ‘touch n go’s’ one after the other…but the crew did alternate the circle pattern between landings which helped a bit.
After sitting on the flight-deck, I went to the back galley on the upper deck and had a cup of tea and a chat with one of the crew, and the next landing was really nice and smooth, but the one after was very bumpy, resulting in me spilling hot tea all down me – ouch!:o:D
And slightly more embassarasing was the fact that that evening’s flight to Hong Kong went tech (uh-oh!), resulting in all pax being HOTAC’d for the night…but I swear I had nothing to do with it. Hydraulic problem – honest!:D:diablo:
By: Future Pilot - 21st August 2007 at 15:47
You lucky son of a……….
I echo that :D, your one lucky sod! great selection :cool:.
By: tomfellows - 21st August 2007 at 15:08
Lucky person. Must’ve been amazing!
By: PMN - 21st August 2007 at 14:59
What an awesome opportunity! Must’ve been a lot of fun!
Paul
By: lukeylad - 21st August 2007 at 14:02
You lucky son of a……….
Awesome shots there.
By: Global express - 21st August 2007 at 13:54
What an amazing experience that must have been… Great shots to boot as well!
Sign In
August 21, 2007 at 1:16 pm