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Welcome back in NinetyTwo ...and quite a few PICs
And thanks ever again for your visits and comments. Another year now starting. Fewer rides, but practically no type and airline overlapping with '93. As for your first rides, a MD11 and a 747 get the lead roles. Enjoy the rides.
Alain
April 16/17th 1992
RG 729
Mc Donnell Douglas MD11, PP-VOQ, 48435/478
Paris/CDG 1-Rio de Janeiro/Galeon (origin Amsterdam, dest Sao Paulo),
4,946 nm
23.20 / 05.40+
Airborne 10 hrs 55
Seat 29L
[photoid=5713178]
Boarding was called for at 23.12 as the weeks old MD11 had arrived early from Schipol. Configurated in a 2+5+2 layout as far economy was concerned, the mighty trijet was in fact half-full or half empty depending of your position.
So getting two seats by the window was not a problem and I picked 29L. Pushback off course came next at 23.24 while a first round of oshiburis was processed with. Spooling up the engines was next on agenda at 23.26 and four minutes later we vacated the gate. Westerly winds were prevailing and accordingly we rotated from runway 27/09 at 23.40.
Life on board was punctuated by a four course dinner and associated choice of drinks, two movies, quite a few small features on Rio, trying squeezing a couple of hour sleep, another round of Oshiburis and breakfast.
Still in the dark, we initiated the descent at 05.05. Next were the finals fifteen minutes later and landing at 05.25. Five more minutes were required to reach the gate, during which we taxyed past a FAB/Força Aerea Brasileira 707 hosting the main remote ramp opposite the terminal.
The place was very busy as incoming Varig fleet members filled the gates. They ranged from brand new 747-400s to numerous 737-300s. Mingling in between were a Pluna DC.8-62 leased from Nationair and a Cruzeiro 727-100.
Starting with local born jewellers Stern, shops were already opened....
April 17th
RG 910
Boeing 747-2L5B/SCD, PP-VNA, 22105/435, Lybian Arab NTU
Rio de Janeiro/Galeon-Buenos Aires/Ezeiza-(final destination Montevideo)
1,078 nm
09.00/12.10
Airborne 2 hrs 42
Seat 55L
[photoid=5715261]
But it was soon time to report for boarding as November-Alpha was still being serviced at gate, economy class was configurated in a 3 + 4 + 3 and looked pretty used up, I landed on seat 55L and push back finally materialized at 09.20 and so did spooling up at 09.25. Txi came next and we rotated at 09.39 and then started mapping out Rio de Janeiro, I was so exited that I overlooked the BLURR from the pipes of the CF6/50s
:nono:
Part of the Harbour area
Santos Dumont
Pao de Azucar
Pao de Azucar, Ipanema and Leblon beaches
[photoid=5713988]
A full meal services was provided and my neighboors were Argentines living in New York who made it back for some holidays.
Getting close, overflying the extensive Rio de la Plata estuary
Then according to a well oiled mechanism, descent at 12.10, finals at 12.17 and landing at 12.21.
Till the next
Alain
Alain
April 16/17th 1992
RG 729
Mc Donnell Douglas MD11, PP-VOQ, 48435/478
Paris/CDG 1-Rio de Janeiro/Galeon (origin Amsterdam, dest Sao Paulo),
4,946 nm
23.20 / 05.40+
Airborne 10 hrs 55
Seat 29L
[photoid=5713178]
Boarding was called for at 23.12 as the weeks old MD11 had arrived early from Schipol. Configurated in a 2+5+2 layout as far economy was concerned, the mighty trijet was in fact half-full or half empty depending of your position.
So getting two seats by the window was not a problem and I picked 29L. Pushback off course came next at 23.24 while a first round of oshiburis was processed with. Spooling up the engines was next on agenda at 23.26 and four minutes later we vacated the gate. Westerly winds were prevailing and accordingly we rotated from runway 27/09 at 23.40.
Life on board was punctuated by a four course dinner and associated choice of drinks, two movies, quite a few small features on Rio, trying squeezing a couple of hour sleep, another round of Oshiburis and breakfast.
Still in the dark, we initiated the descent at 05.05. Next were the finals fifteen minutes later and landing at 05.25. Five more minutes were required to reach the gate, during which we taxyed past a FAB/Força Aerea Brasileira 707 hosting the main remote ramp opposite the terminal.
The place was very busy as incoming Varig fleet members filled the gates. They ranged from brand new 747-400s to numerous 737-300s. Mingling in between were a Pluna DC.8-62 leased from Nationair and a Cruzeiro 727-100.
Starting with local born jewellers Stern, shops were already opened....
April 17th
RG 910
Boeing 747-2L5B/SCD, PP-VNA, 22105/435, Lybian Arab NTU
Rio de Janeiro/Galeon-Buenos Aires/Ezeiza-(final destination Montevideo)
1,078 nm
09.00/12.10
Airborne 2 hrs 42
Seat 55L
[photoid=5715261]
But it was soon time to report for boarding as November-Alpha was still being serviced at gate, economy class was configurated in a 3 + 4 + 3 and looked pretty used up, I landed on seat 55L and push back finally materialized at 09.20 and so did spooling up at 09.25. Txi came next and we rotated at 09.39 and then started mapping out Rio de Janeiro, I was so exited that I overlooked the BLURR from the pipes of the CF6/50s
:nono:Part of the Harbour area
Santos Dumont
Pao de Azucar
Pao de Azucar, Ipanema and Leblon beaches
[photoid=5713988]
A full meal services was provided and my neighboors were Argentines living in New York who made it back for some holidays.
Getting close, overflying the extensive Rio de la Plata estuary
Then according to a well oiled mechanism, descent at 12.10, finals at 12.17 and landing at 12.21.
Till the next
Alain
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