Aviation

Yes, I do like forms of transport that aren’t trains!

Airside adventures at Melbourne Airport

On the Sunday just gone, I headed off to Melbourne Airport for the first time in years – I had an 7am date with a Qantas A380, having been lucky enough to win a spot on an airside tour to mark it returning to Melbourne after the Covid-19 triggered disruption to aviation. Paperwork ahoy The […]

Backyard approaching lighting at Adelaide Airport

Located smack bang in the middle of South Australia’s capital city, Adelaide Airport has an interesting runway approach lighting system – located in suburban streets and residential backyards! Some background Adelaide Airport is located approximately 6 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD. With the suburbs of Brooklyn Park and West Richmond under the approach path to […]

Pilots confusing Essendon Airport for Melbourne Airport

Over the years there have been many examples of pilots confusing one airport for another, and Melbourne has seen more than it’s fair share – thanks to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport being located near Essendon Airport. Google Earth 14 January 2014 Air India flight AI301 Boeing 787-8 VT-ANM Photo by byeangel from Tsingtao, China, via Wikimedia […]

What is the biggest aircraft to land at Essendon Airport?

Today Essendon Airport? is mainly used by business jets and light aircraft, but it was once Melbourne’s main international gateway. But what was the biggest aircraft to land there? Some history Until the 1960s Essendon Airport was Melbourne’s main airport, seeing a wide range of piston-powered airliners. Photo by Peter Hough, via Wikimedia Commons But […]

Photos from ten years ago: August 2011

Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is August 2011. Trains This month ten years ago I went for a trip around the Melbourne suburbs in a restored Diesel Electric Rail Motor operated by DERMPAV We headed out to Upfield, Alamein and Belgrave, with a lunch stop at […]