In recent months, I have captured two new-to-me types. (Well, almost.)
Qantas started up a new service between Brisbane (BNE) and Wellington (WLG). From what I have heard, they selected the Embraer E190 aircraft to gauge demand, rather than the usual trans-Tasman Boeing 737-800s used into Wellington. The latest news is they will soon up-gauge to the 737 after all, as demand has been strong.
But at least it gave us a new-to-Wellington type for a while. I headed out to the airport to catch the first scheduled service. (There had been a prior route-proving flight.)
Now for the admission. I have actually photographed an E190AR before — a Virgin Australia example at Sydney Airport in 2012 — but I have never published any photos. Maybe I will now.
The other type is one that has been to Wellington before, but I have never seen anywhere. I was lucky to see this one.
I was sitting at home, thinking the daily E190 flight must be due soon, and as flights were approaching over my house, I might look out at it. I heard an aircraft approaching, went to the window, and saw… what I thought was a Boeing C-17, about to pass over the house.
I knew my camera was next to the back door, so I raced upstairs, grabbed it, ran outside and as I was aiming the camera and focusing, I realised it wasn’t a C-17 at all!
An A400M did visit Wellington when the RNZAF and New Zealand Government were yet to decide what would replace our ageing Lockheed C-130H(NZ) fleet, however I was not lucky enough to see it at the time.
This aircraft arrived ex Papeete, and after around an hour on the ground refuelling, headed of to Melbourne.
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