My #Australia trip started in Sydney. On the way out of town on January 27, @Leighton@avgeek.social and I stopped at a viewing point for #SYD / #YSSY Airport's runways. Pictured here: Singapore 777-300ER, Qantas 787-9 in special Aboriginal art livery, 2 Qantas 737-800NGs, Malaysian A330-300. #aviation #travel #avgeek #photography
While @Leighton@avgeek.social was driving, we both witnessed from #Melbourne a fireball meteor on January 28. Due to being on the road, we didn't have good enough direction info to make a report. I recall I looked at my watch and it was 2057 local time (AEDT), during local twilight. But apparently enough people had info to report and AMS eventually posted it. It had to be one of the longest-lasting meteors I've seen. https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/event/2025/575 #asteroid #meteor #fireball #astronomy #LowFlyingRocks #Australia
As much as tourists in #Australia would like to see them, it's hard to find a Koala🐨
in the wild. Fortunately @Leighton@avgeek.social spotted this one. And I got a picture. This was on Feb 1 at the Tower Hill volcano and surrounding wildlife reserve in southwest Victoria. #travel #photography
My #Australia trip started in Sydney. On the way out of town on January 27, @Leighton@avgeek.social and I stopped at a viewing point for #SYD / #YSSY Airport's runways. Pictured here: Singapore 777-300ER, Qantas 787-9 in special Aboriginal art livery, 2 Qantas 737-800NGs, Malaysian A330-300. #aviation #travel #avgeek #photography
The most dangerous moment in my #Australia trip was due to #weather that could happen anywhere, not due to wildlife🐨🦘
🐍
. On a walk in a park with lakes in Melbourne, I heard distant thunder & saw sporadic large raindrops. Thunderstorms to the west were moving in. I started back to my friend's place. Almost there, I heard loud buzzing sound from a metal residential fence. I recognized it as St Elmo's Fire, a potential imminent lightning🌩
️ strike there. I ran and got indoors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elmo's_fire
As much as tourists in #Australia would like to see them, it's hard to find a Koala🐨 in the wild. Fortunately @Leighton@avgeek.social spotted this one. And I got a picture. This was on Feb 1 at the Tower Hill volcano and surrounding wildlife reserve in southwest Victoria. #travel #photography
I'm safe at home in #Portland #Oregon. So I can declare the trip to #Australia a complete success. I had a wonderful time and saw so much more than my previous visit. The hot weather was expected since it's summer there. I got to fly for the first time on an A380 outbound and 787 on the return. And from all the likes and boosts it seems a lot of you appreciated that I shared the experience. #aviation #travel #avgeek
The most dangerous moment in my #Australia trip was due to #weather that could happen anywhere, not due to wildlife🐨🦘🐍. On a walk in a park with lakes in Melbourne, I heard distant thunder & saw sporadic large raindrops. Thunderstorms to the west were moving in. I started back to my friend's place. Almost there, I heard loud buzzing sound from a metal residential fence. I recognized it as St Elmo's Fire, a potential imminent lightning🌩️ strike there. I ran and got indoors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elmo's_fire
On the ground in #Portland #Oregon. I saw snow at low altitude on final approach but it's raining at ground level. #KPDX #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
I'm safe at home in #Portland #Oregon. So I can declare the trip to #Australia a complete success. I had a wonderful time and saw so much more than my previous visit. The hot weather was expected since it's summer there. I got to fly for the first time on an A380 outbound and 787 on the return. And from all the likes and boosts it seems a lot of you appreciated that I shared the experience. #aviation #travel #avgeek
Video clip from Wednesday morning's arrival in rainy Los Angeles #LAX #KLAX. They need the rain so it's good to see. And yes, I arrived Wednesday morning after a Wednesday afternoon departure thanks to crossing the Date Line. For me today is Wednesday-again. #aviation #travel #avgeek
On the ground in #Portland #Oregon. I saw snow at low altitude on final approach but it's raining at ground level. #KPDX #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Video clip from Wednesday afternoon's departure from #Melbourne #MEL #YMML. #Australia #aviation #travel #avgeek
Video clip from Wednesday morning's arrival in rainy Los Angeles #LAX #KLAX. They need the rain so it's good to see. And yes, I arrived Wednesday morning after a Wednesday afternoon departure thanks to crossing the Date Line. For me today is Wednesday-again. #aviation #travel #avgeek
Images from Wednesday afternoon's departure from #Melbourne #MEL #YMML. #Australia #aviation #travel #avgeek
Video clip from Wednesday afternoon's departure from #Melbourne #MEL #YMML. #Australia #aviation #travel #avgeek
Boarded. #MEL #YMML #aviation #travel #avgeek
Images from Wednesday afternoon's departure from #Melbourne #MEL #YMML. #Australia #aviation #travel #avgeek
I spy a red-tailed roo. Well, there are lots of these here. But this one will be my ride home. This is my first time flying on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This is a 787-9 model. Though I have been aboard static display 787-8 test planes in Seattle & Oshkosh which had ballast tanks instead of seats, and "experimental" painted over the doors. #MEL #YMML #aviation #travel #avgeek
Boarded. #MEL #YMML #aviation #travel #avgeek
Ian Kluft ✅
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️🎈
🌋