Nothing earthshaking in this post, just thought I'd share what is becoming a regular sight for me here in SAN.
On several occasions while driving east on I-8 to work, I've looked up and noticed a brilliant white plane gliding overhead with just the smallest hint of red on its tail. I've recognized it immediately as JAL's 787 heading east over the city before turning and lining up with Lindbergh Field's runway. There is something about that plane in flight. Those wings. And I don't know if it's just because the plane is brand spanking new or what, but it sparkles. The 787's fuselage looks so smooth and shiny in flight - it catches the light unlike any other plane I've seen in the sky - and we have an awful lot of white planes in our skies these days. The graceful turn the 787 makes over the city is a sight to behold each time I see it.
Moderators: jsumali2, richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
I'm definitely jealous that I don't live in a city that gets classy traffic like JAL 787. I used to work airport ops at BIL and Boeing would bring the 787 there for test flights. It was always an amazing sight looking up and seeing the wing flex on that plane. I'll never forget when Boeing landed and allowed us ops workers to board the plane for a tour. And yes I sat in the left seat! Boeing employees were always friendly and more than happy to give us tours of the planes they were testing and to answer many of our questions. I definitely miss those days when I got to see Boeing fly those test flights to little ol' BIL.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
I've seen it depart many times from the patio at Liberty Station. It's a nice looking plane in the air--still not a huge fan of the nose. It just looks...odd.
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- Silver1SWA
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RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
Honestly, I kinda miss the 777. lol
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
| Quoting JAAlbert (Thread starter): On several occasions while driving east on I-8 to work, I've looked up and noticed a brilliant white plane gliding overhead with just the smallest hint of red on its tail. I've recognized it immediately as JAL's 787 heading east over the city before turning and lining up with Lindbergh Field's runway. There is something about that plane in flight. Those wings. And I don't know if it's just because the plane is brand spanking new or what, but it sparkles. The 787's fuselage looks so smooth and shiny in flight - it catches the light unlike any other plane I've seen in the sky - and we have an awful lot of white planes in our skies these days. The graceful turn the 787 makes over the city is a sight to behold each time I see it. |
I have been watching the bird over BOS for the last year ... gorgeous indeed!
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- boeingguy26
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RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
My first sighting of the 787 was yesterday (8/10/13) in San Diego of that very same JAL flight! I'm from Orange County, CA and don't see much of LAX. But yesterday on a day trip to San Diego, I went to Hodad's for a burger and kept noticing flights taking off from SD and looked up the departure time for the JAL 787 and it was still at the airport. As I was sitting eating my burger, I hear a much different thrust sound in the air and looked up to see her! I stood up and yelled "There she is!" haha, I turned some heads but it was an amazing sight!
Those wings are beautiful!
Those wings are beautiful!
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- sanscott744
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RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
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Taken on Saturday August 10th, 2013 while attending the pre opening tours of the new T2 expansion (Green Build)
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
Saw the QR 787 over ZRH today. I also noticed that special glow...
"No more window seats in business class, sir!" "Any in economy? Yes? Then downgrade me!"
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
Would anyone in the know know if the composite fuselage helps reflect light at a different character than older aircraft with an aluminum skin? The "glow" comments just makes me wonder if the fuselage body even under the paint reflects light differently.
GO Dawgs, Sic' em, woof woof woof
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- boeingguy26
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RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
| Quoting sanscott744 (Reply 6): |
Pretty sweet that I saw the same plane at the same time from a different angle.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
It is a great airplane to see flying. I was traveling north on I-5 around Pacific Beach and saw it coming in. At first, I thought it wasn't moving because of the way the sun was glaring on it. But once it made the turn to the east, I could tell what it was and was a great sight.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
I saw it not too long ago in flight over my neighborhood, heading east
before turning into Lindbergh's flightpath. Those 787 wings are certainly
unique, especially in flight.
There's still the BA 777 that arrives each day from LHR.
before turning into Lindbergh's flightpath. Those 787 wings are certainly
unique, especially in flight.
| Quoting Silver1SWA (Reply 3): Honestly, I kinda miss the 777. |
There's still the BA 777 that arrives each day from LHR.
PSA Gives you a lift!
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
I'm kind of bummed because I actually booked tickets on this flight for late September - but I had to cancel after I realized that the connection options out of NRT on JAL (or any other airline) to HIJ were pretty much non-existant. We had to rebook with UA/ANA instead.
My wife and I travel to HIJ once a year, and we were really looking forward to trying JAL.
Maybe next year, if we plan on overnighting in Tokyo or something.
My wife and I travel to HIJ once a year, and we were really looking forward to trying JAL.
Maybe next year, if we plan on overnighting in Tokyo or something.My name is Scott, and I am addicted to writing obnoxiously-detailed trip reports.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
| Quoting JAAlbert (Thread starter): Nothing earthshaking in this post, just thought I'd share what is becoming a regular sight for me here in SAN. |
Thanks for starting this thread. Finally a topic that really is the essence of why we are here on A.net. We need to be reminded sometimes.
Flying at the cruising altitude is (mostly) boring. I wish all flights were nothing but endless take offs and landings every 10 minutes or so.
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- bellancacf
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RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
My thoughts, too. Thanks.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
It's up to daily now, right? I caught the flight while it was a 777, and I want to make the trip down there again. But it's kind of a long haul and it would be embarrassing to go that distance on a day when the 787 wasn't actually visiting.
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- Silver1SWA
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RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
I think what everyone is noticing that stands out with the JAL 787 is that the entire plane is white. That includes wings, stabilizers and control surfaces.
I know. I just think the 777 is a better-looking bird.
| Quoting SANMAN66 (Reply 11): There's still the BA 777 that arrives each day from LHR. |
I know. I just think the 777 is a better-looking bird.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
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- 777Boeing777
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RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
SAN is a great airport to do spotting at, especially if the approach pattern is coming in over the downtown. I wish ET would bring back the 788 into IAD instead of the daily 777.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
| Quoting GRUIAD (Reply 17): Maybe you could use JL on SAN-NRT then switch to Narita Express / Shinkansen to Hiroshima ? |
We looked at that option but, according to the schedule, the timing to get to the Shinkansen would be very tight.
If anything, this whole experience has made me a bit less excited about JAL's service to SAN. It's an awesome option for anyone going to Tokyo or making international connections (to SIN, HKG, etc), but it's not so great for anyone who needs to make a domestic Japanese connection.
My name is Scott, and I am addicted to writing obnoxiously-detailed trip reports.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
| Quoting BEG2IAH (Reply 13): Thanks for starting this thread. Finally a topic that really is the essence of why we are here on A.net. We need to be reminded sometimes. |
Seconded. With all the silly A vs B crap going on, it's nice to talk about the pure thrill of being an aviation nut for a change.
I guess I got spoiled living here in the Seattle area and on the flightpath to BFI - was able to view the 787 fairly regularly during the flight test program (the 748 too). I still stop and watch when the 748i they're currently testing comes in. Am looking forward to when UA starts SEA/NRT with the 787 now that NH has gone back to the 77W.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
I was excited as a fan of aviation to finally take the tour at Boeing's plant. Pretty amazing to be riding in a bus next to a bunch of 787s outside 
Even spotted the 787-9 (and before the tour guide mentioned it )
Wish I could have taken pictures from that side of Paine Field!
Unfortunately, it was on a Saturday, so no flights going on to hear its silence!
Even spotted the 787-9 (and before the tour guide mentioned it )
Wish I could have taken pictures from that side of Paine Field!
Unfortunately, it was on a Saturday, so no flights going on to hear its silence!
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
| Quoting sanscott744 (Reply 6): Taken on Saturday August 10th, 2013 while attending the pre opening tours of the new T2 expansion (Green Build) |
Did you take pictures for the rest of us??
| Quoting SANMAN66 (Reply 11): There's still the BA 777 that arrives each day from LHR. |
I work out in Balboa Park on M W F evenings and see the 777 fly by - such a sight to see, I love it! The other plane that's fun to see is the HAL 332 that flies over about 9pm. The tail is lit up and with the plane flying relatively low and slow, it's quite a sight.
| Quoting Silver1SWA (Reply 16): I think what everyone is noticing that stands out with the JAL 787 is that the entire plane is white. That includes wings, stabilizers and control surfaces. |
Perhaps that's it - the white wings are striking - as you say the entire plane is actually a uniform white - and no grease stains on the wings that I can see. It's just gorgeous.
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
| Quoting JAAlbert (Reply 22): the plane flying relatively low and slow, it's quite a sight. |
Every time I see a widebody plane coming in to land at SAN, they always seem so much
slower than the countless 737s,A320s,or A319s. The larger planes seem to float in.
PSA Gives you a lift!
RE: JAL's 787 To SAN - Gorgeous In Flight!
Consider you all lucky But then again, living in tokyo, I'm luckiest 
I saw your daily from NRT depart yesterday. I even snapped it too but the quality is so low...not in the mood to share it
But then again, living in tokyo, I'm luckiest
I saw your daily from NRT depart yesterday. I even snapped it too but the quality is so low...not in the mood to share it
Follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/phx787
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