Boeing 747-200 (VH-EBJ)

For those who aren’t familiar with Australian airport vehicles, the ute is painted in what was then standard DCA (Dept of Civil Aviation) yellow. What APPEARS to be happening here is that a photog knew someone who could get him airside which in those days, wasn’t unheard of…if only.

Beautiful shot Gavin!

5 *'s!

Richard, St Hauler, Darryl - thank you all.

Classic 5x'er any photog would pay for a shot like this....( of them in place )

Thanks Tom.

This was the first 747 I had a ride in. Stepped on in Sydney and didn't get off until London LHR. November '79. Good old BJ. I got to sit in a jump seat on the flight deck over the Timor Sea: those were the days. I spent the rest of the flight in 24K: it looked down the leading edge of the starboard wing. You could see the wing flex on spool-up and flap as it went over joints in the runway. Those old P&Ws used to pull a fair vacuum standing still, in hot, humid weather. The clouds inside the nacelles were spectacular and on rotation, you could see the airflow deflected to the top of the intake by the angle of attack. Not long later, 24K became a crew rest seat: what a waste.
Thanks for the memories, Gavin.

Thank you Geoffrey for the story. Indeed, those were the days.

Gavin, you commented .... " which in those days, wasn’t unheard of…if only."
I can assure you with 100%++ certainty .. it still IS possible. I'm a nobody but just two days ago all of my various RNO access badges were approved for renewal. I don't know how to pilot an airplane, I've never owned one, I'm not an aircraft mechanic, I have never worked in any aviation-related profession, and except for my membership here in FA I have no "social media" accounts or memberships, my photog skills do not qualify me to claim professional status and they earn me not one cent of cash; yet I have access to over a dozen commercial and military airports and I can get access to others with one phone call. Trust me, my friend, it still IS possible. For proof, just view my folder. I'm a nobody but that begs the question - how can a nobody like me get the wide variety of close-in pics at so many different airports that I get? Gavin, my friend, it IS still possible.

Thanks for the comment Gary. You are in a much more fortunate position than here it seems. I know of a couple of guys here who are well known and respected at the airport but even they can't get out there now. 9/11 scared the crap out of security here and they're over the top with caution. We are allowed to use ladders, but if you're not photographing from the ladder you have to move it 3 m back from the fence until you move back to the fence for the next pic.