Bravocharlie

Flying coach on a couple of flights. Please correct me if I'm wrong on whether the left/right sides are the best for sunrise/sunset views for these flights:

QF 36 SIN-MEL (2130 - 0630) - Left
QF 420 MEL-SYD (0930 - 1055) - Right
QF 5 SYD-SIN (1510 - 2120) - Left

Thanks in advance!

DownUnderFlyer

For QF36 depending on time of the year you might not see the sun rise as you might land too early for that. For the next few months this will be the case. QF420 won't also have any sunrise views as the sun will be up for hours already. Now in regards to QF5 you are correct. However, if you sit on the right you will see the land (or sea) below illuminated in the sunset light which also isn't too bad. Weather and location permitting of course.

og

[QUOTE=Bravocharlie;22693823
QF 36 SIN-MEL (2130 - 0630) - Left
QF 420 MEL-SYD (0930 - 1055) - Right
QF 5 SYD-SIN (1510 - 2120) - Left
[/QUOTE]

SIN-MEL: correct - but in winter it may still be dark for arrival
MEL-SYD: correct - but the sun will already have risen 2 to 4 hrs earlier - so you'll only get a sunny glare through the window (not so nice - you might be better off on the shady side). Best views of Sydney city from the left for a landing on RW16. If on RW34, then your views will be of the coast and the Bay (check out FlightAware to see the typical landing patterns - wind dependent).
SYD-SIN: you'll certainly get the sunset on the left but, depending on the time of the year, you will probably get the sun on the right for the first hour or so of the flight. The crew up front get to look at the sun directly. IMHO this flight will give the nicest views over the outback especially the sand dune country in the centre where the low sun angle should make the pattern of the dunes quite spectacular.

Bravocharlie

Oh my. Thank you so much guys.

og, the SYD-SIN flight would give me great views of the sand dunes regardless of which side I am at right? Would it be wiser to choose the side where the sun is setting or the other? Saw a couple of photos in airliners.net taken at the right side and it seems likely to get a view overlooking Sydney downtown right after departure as well as bright orange glows from the setting sun!





Also, does it mean it's worth a shot choosing the left side for the MEL-SYD route since there's a chance the plane will land on RWY 16?

Thanks!

og

I'd opt for the side away from the setting sun. At sun-set, the dunes should cast a shadow which will make them stand out (the dunes otherwise may be hard to see). Of course cloud or haze may spoil your day. But then again, looking at the setting sun - especially with nice clouds beats any IFE system.

The best Sydney city view for arrivals will be on a southerly approach - therefor a seat on the left is best. Make sure you are well away from the wing. If you land to the north, then your view will be "suburban".

serfty

Yes, I have found ground viewing to be generally far better on a window away from the sun.

To be honest I actively avoid the sun 'side' where I can as even with the shade closed it can be like a flat plastic radiator when the sun is shining on it.

og

I tried that on the Concorde in 2002 - but even the shady side window was warm. ( sorry - couldn't resist )

AustralianPoochie

Planes do not always follow the same flight path all the time.
They also follow the wind and what ever direction ATC instructs.
I also do like window seats, and my flights ADL SYD, do not always follow the same flight path. I have also had myself been moved from a window seat. They do say seating is not guaranteed due to operational or security reasons.
For SYD, sometimes it can come in over the sea, sometimes it comes in over land, facing the sea.
Take off is the same.
ADL MEL arrivals, sometimes it's over the Tullamarine old cemetery, sometimes it's not.
MEL ADL can also be land arrivals, or over Gulf St Vincent's.
Best of luck anyway. Just being able to just get a window seat 100% of the time will be the bonus.

JClasstraveller

With all due respect, the above reply doesn't answer the OP's question. The question was about sunrise and sunset and which runways are in use has no bearing on this.

Routings are generally correct as the rough direction of travel is fixed in cruise, i.e to get SIN to SYD, you have to travel SE or some slight variant of that.

Globaliser

With all respect due to AustralianPoochie, we're now getting used to seeing replies like this.

nux

Try this website: http://sunflight.net/

Do you ever read what you've posted and the actual topic of the thread?

Unless the aircraft fly the long way via the poles or the rotation of the earth changes, SIN-MEL for example will always be flown mostly south-east with sunrise on the left of the aircraft.

Shamrock55

I used to book window seats to try catch sunrises and sunsets and be able to enjoy the view if it was a dayflight, but the problem is the crew always come and tell me to put my shade back down as the other blinds are all down and other passengers are trying to sleep so I never got to see the lovely view I had paid for! I normally cant sleep so staring out the window is a great way to passtime while listening to music.

og

Just put the shade down when the crew do the rounds - then lift it again afterwards. Some views are stunning - so long as the sun is not shining directly on someone who is (trying to) sleep. My favourite being a westbound flight from Europe crossing the E coast of Greenland.