Back On The Devil: QantasLink 717 and Q400 - CBR✈MEL✈DPO✈MEL✈CBR
I am not going to include much narrative for this trip report, rather, just let the photos tell the story, and provide some captioning. Some photos may be slightly out of order. 
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Last June, it was time to head to Tasmania for another family catch up and holiday as well.
CBR✈MEL
Booked on the 717 or was it another flight change, so long ago.. but, it would be another flight on The Devil. 
 Photo © Daniel G Foster - YBBN Spotters Group |  Photo © Steven Austen |
Canberra (International) Airport on a cold winter’s morning.
The VA terminal side of the airport.
B738 VH-VZT – ‘Kalgoorlie’
The Q Streaming iPad app.
The black and white photo is VH-NXK..I think.. did write it down at the time.. 
Deja vu Devil.. VH-YQW, from Christmas 2014. Same gate as well. 
Read that the following month, the Devil got struck by lightning on approach to CBR. 
Not an uncommon occurrence but was taken out of service for a couple of days.
Quite a common sight at CBR in 2015 – many B717-200’s. 
One of the nervous flyer aspect things I don’t like about the 717.. the wing is quite close to the ground.. 
By the way, the QantasLink 717’s must have the longest seatbelts I have ever seen on an aircraft. Didn’t get a photo on this trip, but you get the idea.
For someone to need a seatbelt at least a metre long.. they would not be able to sit comfortably on the flight in general anyway.
I see long seatbelts as being as being a hazard in a non-routine event, or maybe they are that long for a reason? The trailing end when I use it is nearer the floor.
From the inflight magazine, showing my route, CBR✈MEL✈DPO
Their iPads worked during the flight, mine would not – probably a user error.. worked on VA in February.
I am one of these people that has to try everything out, even before it is time to actually use it.
VH-YQS @ maintenance.
Lunch was good, up to standard and expectation, right type of food for flight and time of day.
Bank 
Here comes the bumpiest part of the flight, the landing. 
~ VIDEO ~ As I was filming it probably caught me a bit by surprise too, the pax behind me didn’t let it go uncommented.
Arrival @ a rainy MEL.
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MEL✈DPO
My flight was already there, waiting – even though I had at least an hour before departure.
 Photo © Zach Liepa |  Photo © Andrei Bezmylov |
Because I checked in using my new iPhone, and was taking photos with it, my devices were in need of charging at the end of the first flight. 
One of the down sides about using technology over paper boarding cards for flying and transiting.
While waiting.. –XZF, I love the rain effect on this photo. Named ‘Cygnet’ after a town in the state where I am visiting.
First time I have seen an A321 close up. Not familiar with Jetstar and not having flown them yet, I didn’t realise they had A321’s in their fleet.
Arrival @ DPO
The flight takes about an hour. A smooth, routine flight. The crossing of Bass Strait can be turbulent but I find the Q400’s are much better than other, smaller aircraft, i.e. Saab 340 and Dash 8 Q300, for this journey.
I have never done this journey in a jet, but have from MEL-LST. Higher and quicker of course, but one of my aviation wishes, is that B717 will fly this route one day. Peak times like Christmas would be great.
There was discussion some years ago about the future of the airport being uncertain. However, now only QF fly the main commercial flights, and Rex use BWT.
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Although this was a visit to family and holiday as well for me, I still like to be out and about and do the touristy things.
One of my bucket list items was to visit a National Trust home property estate, Clarendon, and Clarendon House. This also fitted in perfectly with other plans. Also noted was that it is under the flight path for LST.
The Mersey River at Devonport, to Bass Strait.
In the background, one of the two vehicular / passenger ferries ‘Spirit of Tasmania’.
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DPO✈MEL
VIDEO OF TAKE OFF AND CLIMBOUT FROM DPO ~
Back on the same aircraft as the flight over – VH-QON.
 Photo © Steven Austen |  Photo © Allen Zhao |
Most people here remember where they were when aviation made a first impression on them, this place was it for me.
A special place indeed - a basic, simple airfield, with lots of fresh air, and the smell of aviation fuel, accompanied by sea breeze.
I shared anecdotes and my experiences over the years, but this is the first time I have shared photos and video with my friends on A.net.
Think I must be the only member on A.net who has also actually been here.. 
The City of Devonport, the ferry, and Cradle Mountain in the distance.
Bass Strait.
Port Phillip Bay, Victoria.
The mainland.
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.
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MEL✈CBR
My flight to CBR.
 Photo © Paul McCarthy |  Photo © Xing Stanley Li |
Ready to depart, and a patched-up Jetstar A320. According to the A.net photo database it has been patched since at least 2006 -2007, what happened here?
My thoughts and observation is that relish is messy and does not go too well on an economy flight and in a confined space.
Bit of snow on the peaks.
The statues / sculptures, not real kangaroos. 
A winter solstice afternoon welcome.
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Thank you for reading and browsing.
Cheers =
