Heads Up in Newcastle - Antonov AN-124 arriving

[glend]

AT 4pm today folks around Williamtown and Newcastle might want to look to the sky to see one of the largest aircraft in the world coming in to land at Williamtown RAAF Base. It is delivering F-35A equipment before departing tomorrow morning between 9 and 10am.

All you Plane Spotters in the area get your camera and get out there.;)

[ChrisV]

Maybe it's flying in Melbourne supporters for the grand final on saturday

[LewisM]

Seen one a few times now - never disappointing! Most recent was departing over the Perth escarpment enroute to Melbourne - that was about 8 years ago.

I have shots here somewhere of the prototype doing wing overs at the 1988 Bicentennial Airshow at Richmond AFB.

Had 3 F/A 18's here yesterday...2 were noisy, the last was SCREAMING and boiling rumble in full afterburner at 100 ft... :) THAT was something

[FlashDrive]

Vodka Burner ..... BIG ISN'T IT..

Big Brother is a MONSTER ... check the tyre pressure please..!!

Col...

[Dennis]

Hope someone managed to get a few shots. Here is a collection of the 124-100M parked at Brisbane Airport back in Jan 2013.

Have a look at the scuffed tyre on the nose wheel!:eyepop:

Cheers

Dennis

[FlashDrive]

Blimey ... that's cutting it fine :eyepop:
Not ' airworthy ' IMHO

Col.....

[Dennis]

Hmm, yes there seems to be excessive wear and tear on that tyre. I once read that (some) aircraft tyres have "plugs" that blow out sideways should a tyre be in danger of bursting.

I wonder if the Russian airworthiness regs are as stringent as the Aussie Regs?:shrug:

Cheers

Dennis

[LewisM]

Not Russian - that's Ukrainian. Ukraine is broke, bankrupt and destitute (apart from the billions the US throw at it every year, and just re-equipped militarily) - tyres are the least of their problem :lol:

The Antonov Design Bureau is still located in Ukraine, and going broke fast too. Antonov Airlines - the aircraft you see here and also the one that flew into Newcastle/Williamtown is owned and operated by Antonov Design Bureau.

Because of Antonov's situation, having certification and safety inspections renewed is a major problem for operators of the 124.

[Dennis]

Thanks for that.:)

Should have read the advertising blurb emblazoned on the side of the fuselage.;)

Cheers

Dennis