Phuket (VTSP/HKT) - 02/03/2012

[ToVeR]

A series of my planespotting pictures from Phuket (VTSP), 02-Mar-2012

These pictures are related to my report on my spotting stay at Phuket, available on http://forum.scramble.nl/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=82475.

A general overview of the spotting location I used in relation to the airport, the entrance to the national park in which Nai Yang Beach is situated and the short distance from the hotel where I was staying (not a suggestion, just to indicate the short distances).
http://maps.google.be/maps/ms?msid=2100 ... cf62&msa=0

First, what the conditions are like.
Nai Yang Beach. Another spotter is visible walking away.


A typical view of the approach to RWY09 over the Andaman Sea. This is Thai Airways International Airways Boeing 777-200 HS-TJE, also visible in a picture later on this page.


A second view of the approach to RWY09. This time Boeing 767-300 G-OBYD of Thomsonfly (see also below).


9M-MLK, Boeing 737-8FZ, c/n 39321/3778, Malaysia Airlines


HS-ABU, Airbus A320-216, c/n 4807, Thai AirAsia


9V-TAP, Airbus A320-232, c/n 4445, Tiger Airways


HS-TJE, Boeing 777-2D7, c/n 27730/89, Thai Airways International, Chaiyaphum


G-OBYD, Boeing 767-304/ER, c/n 28042/649, Thomsonfly


VQ-BHR, Boeing 757-2Q8, c/n 30046/1006, Nordwind Airlines


HS-DDQ, Boeing 737-4M0, c/n 29204/3051, Nok Air, Nok Kiwi


HS-TAW, Airbus A300B4-622R, c/n 784, Thai Airways International, Suranaree. This is the airplane flying me from Bangkok to Phuket the previous night.


B-HSE, Airbus A320-232, c/n 784, Dragonair


EI-UNX, Boeing 777-222/ER, c/n 30213/232, Transaero


HS-PGG, ATR ATR-72-500 (ATR-72-212A), c/n 692, Bangkok Airways, Chang


HS-TES, Airbus A330-343X, c/n 1074, Thai Airways International, Sukhothai


HS-ABI, Airbus A320-216, c/n 3729, Thai AirAsia


1313, Cessna T337H-SP Summit Sentry, c/n 337-01927, Royal Thai Navy, 103sq


OY-VKG, Airbus A330-343X, c/n 349, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia


HS-DDL, Boeing 737-4Y0, c/n 24917/2071, Nok Air, Nok Keow Waan


As stated in the report of my spotting on this day at Phuket, there was only limited movement using RWY09. Early in the morning and in the afternoon, RWY27 was used. As there appeared to be no decent spotting locations available (according to another spotter on the site and who was send away from different other, otherwise accessible, locations). So, staying on the beach one has to satisfy oneself by take-off shots. I do not like them, really. I took them to get an impression of what it looks like. Another option might be to photograph some taxiing aircraft (like HS-BIE below). But note: most of the time the airplanes will not use the complete lenght of the runway and use taxiways further away from the beach. Due to the sun and heat, the picture quality will be low due to the inevitable heat haze. Also keep in mind that strictly speaking it is not allowed to take pictures over the airport fence, as indicated by warning signs. I have not seen them, but there appears to be airport police that can send people away (I have read somewhere they might even ask you to delete any pictures you have taken, but this has not been confirmed).

EI-UNX, Boeing 777-222/ER, c/n 30213/232, Transaero


OY-VKG, Airbus A330-343X, c/n 349, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia


HS-TER, Airbus A330-343X, c/n 1060, Thai Airways International, U Thong


OY-VKF, Airbus A330-243, c/n 309, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia


HS-BIE, Boeing 767-383/ER, c/n 25088/359, Business Air

[PH-BRAD]

Thanks for the effort!!! very nice! I like the last take off pictures the most!

[culpano]

Great shots Tom. Great variety.

[Stephan Lodewijks]

Love the navy Skymaster!!! Nice!!!

[SPL]

Nice impression! Thanks.

Groeten Martijn

[Basman]

Very nice report, also the additional information in your other post is very interesting. The Navy push-pull Cessna is a great catch!

Bas

[ToVeR]

Thanks for the nice words.
The Navy push-pull was indeed an unhoped for catch. Biggest drawback: the plane is small and even with a 100-400mm lens it does not fill the frame from the good spotting positions for the airliners. The small size and limited sound emission made it difficult to spot it on approach on time, so going to a better position was not an option for me. However, it turned out it was on a training flight and it flew approaches three or four times. So, plenty of opporunity ot make some decent pictures.
That is the good thing for me not arriving at such locations with specific or high expectations and being open to anything that comes by. These small intermissions make the day all the more interesting.

[Bastiaan Middelkoop]

Like the "NOK" photo's

[Pancake]

Thanks for sharing. I like the pictures !
Regards,
Johan

[ToVeR]

The Nok Air planes were pleasing. Guess every plane has its own specific c/s, with the beak on the nose and tail being a recurrent theme.

For pictures on my second day at Phuket: http://forum.scramble.nl/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=84879.