Brons2 From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2969 posts, RR: 5 Posted (8 years 10 months 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 1505 times:
I had an appointment at my house at 3pm. My work, and my house a few short miles away, are both under the approach path for runways 17R and 17L here. Well as I was walking out to my truck, a plane that was for sure a 747 and looked like a 747SP, flew over on approach. It had white bottom with stripes and a brown upper, with a brown tail with some kind of gold insignia on it.
So then, I go to my house, have my appointment, and as I am walking out to come back to work (about 30 minutes later), here comes the same plane on approach again! I got a better view of it this time, definitely a 747, and looked stubby so I think an SP. I suppose it could have been a 747F of some variant, but it looked really stubby. Same white bottom/stripes/brown upper and brown tail with gold insignia.
Lastly, I drive back to work, on the way I see the same plane for the 3rd time! I stopped by the bank on the way back so this was probably 15 minutes after the 2nd sighting. We don't get a lot of 747's at AUS so I assume it was the same plane anyways.
Questions:
Was this an SP? Or a regular 747F?
Was it the same plane, or 3 different 747's?
Was the plane doing touch and goes perhaps? Seems like they would do that in the simulator.
One note, it didn't look like a UPS plane because of the stripes around the window line, and the gold insignia looked like a crown and not a UPS logo. Also, I thought UPS had retired their 741F.
Comments?
Firings, if well done, are good for employee morale.
Ssides From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 4059 posts, RR: 23 Reply 4, posted (8 years 10 months 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1350 times:
Well, I was just driving home (about 5:45 CDT) and there was another 747 over North Central Austin heading in the direction of the airport. I'm pretty sure it was too big to be an SP, but it fits the description given here. I'm not really sure what it was.
Brons2 From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2969 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (8 years 10 months 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1328 times:
Ssides, it had to be the same one. 747's are rare in Austin, as I'm sure you know.
I wonder what they're doing with it? I saw that it was owned by Worldwide Aircraft Holding, perhaps they have an interested buyer that is taking it out for a testdrive?
Firings, if well done, are good for employee morale.
Aeromexico757 From Mexico, joined Aug 2000, 292 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 years 10 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1313 times:
Hello:
I just saw the 747SP landing back at SAT at 6:30pm, the callsing was "WW1 Heavy"
Probably they took the plane to AUS for some touch and goes to test something and then it flew back to SAT.
As I said the plane arrived here in march, they repainted the plane with exactly the same c/s, and they did something to the engines, that's all I know.
If anyone is interested in San Antonio Aerospace there is also a Saudi Arabia MD-11, reg. HZ-HM7, and an Ex- Air Canada 747-400 N895NC.
Flyinfroggie From United States of America, joined May 2004, 87 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1183 times:
I almost wrecked my car when I looked up through the sunroof and saw the bird fly over Capital of Texas Highway (360)... I had to pull over to take a better look. I couldn't believe I was seeing a 747, let alone an SP... It was, too, about 5:00pm
FedExHeavy From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 226 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1149 times:
SSides-
I remember checking FBOweb the day of the SP sighting and saw that Kallita had a B747 at AUS, perhaps that's the one you saw?
FedExHeavy.
KAUST From United States of America, joined Jun 2009, 91 posts, RR: 27 Reply 10, posted (8 years 10 months 22 hours ago) and read 1003 times:
I used to be a rampy for DAL at AUS, once saw a 747 on hardstand near the cargo ramp (but on the taxiway.) This was back in like early 2001, probably an errant cargo plane or a sports charter of some kind?
Also, did the 747 SP land on 17L or 17R? Just asking cause I figure 17R since it's much longer (although neither are very short.)
KAUST
"Houston, this is Apollo 8. We are now in Lunar orbit."
A340Spotter From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1973 posts, RR: 26 Reply 11, posted (8 years 10 months 22 hours ago) and read 1000 times:
Aeromexico 757,
WW1 heavy as a callsign? Interesting...VP-BAT is still the registration worn as of Thursday when I saw it at SAT Aerospace, but I wonder if this is going to be re-registered before it leaves?
Also for those wondering about what's out at SAT, add EC-GTB ex Iberia DC10, G-VRUM VS 742 all white and a Polar 747F (reg unknown) as planes stored or being worked on at SAT Aerospace.
AMX757, what was the other large airplane in the hangar near Dobbs (or SkyChefs, can't remember)? Looked like another ex AC 744 maybe?
Jeffrey
"Irregardless, it's a Cat III airplane, we don't need an alternate!"
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2969 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 1118 posts, 
From Mexico, joined Aug 2000, 292 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
