W Goh

Holy heck! That is not a good sight at all!

Open skies? Now where's Jetstar or Tiger when I need em to fly from KUL-KCH I wonder... As for the president, you're completely lost it I think. I'm not even gonna bother on this one. Suffice to say, the president would never have to walk to AF1 drenched.

I think you are the one missing the point here, flee. Profit isn't a dirty word. Exploitation is. Especially when your monopoly on the budget segment is government sanctioned. Unless a true open skies policy is implemented and competitors are allowed into the budget segment, don't tell the average Joe Public to take his money elsewhere - and that's simply because he doesn't have the affluence you seem to think everyone has. The maxim of "you get what you pay for" only works when there's competition. Low-cost doesn't mean low-class, and I think many commentators here have already mentioned that before. It's a shame that there are still so many Malaysians who think low-prices justify crappy service.

My link Says here the Thunderbirds are gonna be performing at RMAF Subang and the Sukhois will be in action too. Does anyone know if buses go there? Last I remember, RapidKL's U81 only goes to the passenger terminal.

I agree. The timing just seems so rushed. Assembled in a week and flown on that weekend? And with the company secrecy surrounding the project I guess we'll never really know if enough ground tests were ever conducted somewhere else before this will we? A side question though: is there any way to know the registration of the aircraft? It would need a rego even though it's a prototype right?

The wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVCEN_Jetpod The only shot I managed to get last Monday: Dang I was so hoping the aircraft would work! Instead the worst that could happen did - the pilot died and plane was destroyed.

I'm shocked! I've been seeing the aircraft being assembled at a large tent over the past week at Taiping airstrip and was so excited about the test flight. Even got a spy shot before I was chased away by the official photographer who zealously pointed to a small, obscure 'no pictures' sign. Just my luck I'm in Kuching this weekend for my convocation and didn't get the opportunity to catch the test flight - and subsequent crash. Didn't expect this to happen at all though. Condolences to the test pilot. Always awful when someone dies like that.

Lol will be back one last time in August for my convo. Don't know how long more it will be before I return...but whatever it is, i'll still try to squeeze in some spotting on that weekend of 15-16 Aug depending on when my ceremony is.

Blu skies at KCH...miss my old 'home'!

MWA! Sweet! Nice shots guys!

Any idea on the ETA of Perdana One?

Taken yesterday (25/4/09)? If so here she is from another angle:

Once again thanks for your input staff-side Adrian. I'm just hoping that this software thing is done soon so problems like kids being separated from their parents, couples being separated, etc won't happen in the future. Then those who don't want to pay climb aboard with a ladder after everyone has boarded? lol

Thanks for clearing things up Adrian. But while I appreciate the fact that AK staff are often short on time, my point still remains: why charge? Why must AK charge RM5 per seat and take tens of ringgit off a group of more than 2 passengers? Wouldn't it be better if seat selection could be done online for free on a first come-first serve basis when you book your tickets ? Or if AK really wants to charge, then maybe charge RM5 for the whole group instead of per person. OR, if random assignment is done through computer, then program the computer to assign group bookings to sit together? These are just some suggestions. I still honestly don't see the need to stoop so low and charge passengers for anything the company can think of charging for.

Well I remember reading somewhere that it's 100% random assignment by computer, just can't remember where I read it. But even if it's not computerized and it's the AK check-in staff who do seat assignment, why on earth wouldn't or can't they assign groups together? Doesn't really make sense to me.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Personally, I don't mind if random seating doesnt give me a window seat. What I do mind is AK randomly assigning group travelling passengers all over the plane. Can't they just do one better and allow groups to sit together if they request or check in together? Sounds like another AK money milking scheme to me.

gaahh...my busy season officially ends sunday but bike will prolly be in the workshop for the following wk...

Darn I missed the F27 on Saturday. Would've jumped outta bed if I knew it was coming. Anyways what's the story about the run-in with the authorities on Sunday? I was on the hill at Rwy25 Saturday evening and nearly an encounter with them. Came in a pajero with red light on top. And there was a police helicopter that flew overhead at that exact moment too, though I think it was just returning to base and not scrambled specially to chase me away.

Ah well weather still ain't too good today was it? Grrrr...this coming Friday then!

Sounds tempting...I just might show up on me bike if the weather's okay...

It's always cloudy on Saturdays like today when I'm free to spot...

Woweee! Great shot bro. When was this taken? A 744 taking off from Rwy25? Outside of Hajj season?

Thanks for the comments guys. Glad you loved the shots. Iggy: Sure thing bro. Just drop me a msg or something when you wanna spot. I'm trying to go on an all out spotting frenzy this final semester of mine anyway. Subject to how busy I will be of course. Dr Chuo: I wasn't exactly on the runway . I was technically just outside it! But anyway, there were some airport authorities I reckon. They came to the end of Rwy25, made a quick u-turn in their pickup truck and left. Lucky me I guess? Nizam: Don't think I have your phone no. PM me? Ian: Weather only started turning good at about 4pm. Before that it was intermittent rain. Hmm...weather doesn't look promising today at all...

Ahh...line's back up again. So here's some results from yesterday. Firstly, at the perumahan (housing area): Skies threatened to open up, so I moved...to Rwy 07. If anyone happened to see a guy in a bright yellow raincoat beside a motorbike with camera in hand yesterday, odds are it's me: Then, off to Rwy 25 as the sky slowly turned a nice shade of blue. Twotter snapped from the bottom of the embankment: First shots from the perimeter fence at Rwy 25: Shame I couldn't get the entire bus' in the frame: Sun was at the right angle, illuminating even the insides of the engines: What I was really waiting for: sunset shots! Foxtrot Yankee And a final sunset shot before I left: Gotta love WBGG at dusk I must say. Things just look...surreal through a camera lens:

Today = 27 Dec? Don't think there was a 744 near the time you described. I should know - I was at the perimeter fence around Rwy 25 from about 3pm to 7pm. Line's crazy now though, so I couldn't post the results. Thinking of spotting again tomorrow evening. Anyone else thinking the same?