Flying $200 Million Boeing 747-SP Private Jet ALONE Sam Chui 2024-10-14 | Flying $200 Million Boeing 747-SP Private Jet ALONE
Saudi Arabias New National Airline - Riyadh Air Takes Flight Sam Chui 2023-07-01 | Riyadh Air made its international debut at the Paris Airshow with a striking purple Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The new airline has plans to carry more than 100 million passengers with a network of more than 100 destinations by the end of the decade.It placed a large order with Boeing for 787-9 Dreamliner jets in March, with 39 confirmed orders and 33 options. The airline CEO Tony Douglas recently said more orders for planes were being discussed with manufacturers. The airline is targeting the launch of its first commercial services in 2025.CEO Tony Douglas has mentioned it plans to focus on the needs of the Saudi market rather than trying to compete with its bigger rivals like Emirates and Qatar Airways.
The Best of Paris Air Show 2023 - Salon du Bourget Sam Chui 2023-06-24 | A full detailed review of the Paris Air Show 2023. Join me for all the Paris Air Show highlights and the flying displays in this video. Watch Boeing 777X, Boeing 737 MAX 10, Airbus A321XLR, Embraer E2, Dassault Falcon 6X, Patrouille de France, and many more in flying action.Join me for new aircraft cabin tour given by industry experts including Boeing 777X, Riyadh Air B787, Boeing 737 MAX 10, Qatar Executive A319CJ, Air France A220. In addition, there are demos on how aviation can achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and new EVTOL providers such as Wisk Aero.At the end of the show, I visited the Air and Space Museum (Musée de l'air et de l'espace) at Le Bourget, which houses 2 Concorde and many more interesting aircraft. https://www.museeairespace.fr/en/
Flying the COMAC C919 - Chinas Game Changer? Sam Chui 2023-06-17 | I just flew on China’s new airplane COMAC C919 from Shanghai to Chengdu with China Eastern Airlines.It’s been more than 3 years since I last visited mainland China. The flight was a pleasant and modern one for me and many other aviation enthusiasts. Powered by the same CFM leap engines, the C919 shares many similarities with Airbus and Boeing. My flight took almost 3 hours, flying at 34,000 ft with a maximum speed of Mach 0.78.During the flight, I experienced both C919 Business and Economy class seat features, the lavatory and galley. The middle seat width on C919 is half an inch wider to compensate for the shoulder room like A220. I spoke with the operating crew about their training and operation on the new C919.At the end of the flight, I gave my verdict as a passenger on the C919. In short, the C919 needs to prove itself in commercial service that it can meet the economics and the required efficiency. Currently, there are over 500 orders by Chinese airlines and leasing companies but the future success depends on foreign certification of this airplane.
Double Decker Airplane Seat - Future Economy Class? Sam Chui 2023-06-14 | Future Economy Class Concept - double-decker seating on display at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023
Crazy Hard Landing on Boeing 727 Sam Chui 2023-06-10 | Surprise hard landing on Astral Aviation B727 Cargo at Mogadishu, SomaliaFull video: youtube.com/watch?v=nILL0AQVHJM
What Happened to Cathay Pacific? Recent Incident and Experience Sam Chui 2023-06-03 | Cathay Pacific is one of the hardest hit airlines by the pandemic……but the recovery of Cathay isn’t smooth. The airline was hit hard by a discrimination incident against mainland Chinese passengers recently. I will talk about the latest Cathay inflight experience and all the issues in this video.I took my mother on a Cathay flight from Los Angeles back to Hong Kong. It was Mom’s first long-haul travel in nearly 4 years. During the flight, I discover the latest Cathay Pacific service and some cost-cutting is evidently showing. Clearly, Hong Kong and Cathay still have a long way to go on the recovery path.On landing, I experienced a powerful go-around from the Boeing 777 due to unclear traffic on the runway. We saw Hong Kong International Airport from above and landed safely on the new third runway of Hong Kong.During my time in Hong Kong, I went on a meaningful flight over the skies of Hong Kong. The Cathay Community Flight 2023 brought 170 underprivileged teenagers, mentors, and volunteers to experience aviation together.
My First Aerobatic Flight - Spin Awareness Flight Training Sam Chui 2023-05-27 | I flew on the Super Decathlon with aerobatic pilot Armando at Sling Pilot Academy for spin awareness flight training and got my first taste of aerobatics!After takeoff, we practiced on some Dutch rolls, power on and off stall before entering my first 360 degrees roll, then a loop in the sky and more aerobatic like hammerhead, and finally some spins. The whole flight is about spin awareness and how to recover from spin situation.
India’s Oldest Flight Kitchen - Air India’s New Onboard Menu Sam Chui 2023-05-20 | I visited Ambassador’s Sky Chef at Delhi which is India’s oldest flight kitchen that caters to Air India and many other airlines. The unique Indian kitchen setup cooking North and South Indian flavor dishes, samosa, curry, snacks, and sweets. Many thousands of meals were made from this mega airline kitchen.Next, the kitchen presents some new dishes from Air India onboard catering. Chef explains the upcoming food and beverage on Air India which is very different from other airlines.
Exclusive: Air India’s $70 Billion Makeover - Can They Make it? Sam Chui 2023-05-13 | I met with Air India CEO, Campbell Wilson on the transformation of Air India since the TATA group takeover. We discussed about new aircraft orders, existing aircraft retrofit, all the changes and challenges to revive Air India.Mr Wilson gave the latest update on project Vihaan.AI. (Air India Transformation). The airline is in the process of consolidating four airlines (Air India, Air India Express, Air Asia India and Vistara) into one full-service and one low-cost airline. The CEO reacted to some skepticism about the changes.Then, I attended an Air India cabin crew training class to see it first hand about recruitment. Air India has over 100 batches of new cabin crew recruitment to support the unprecedented growth.
What Changed on my Air India Flight? Mumbai to Delhi B787 Sam Chui 2023-05-06 | I invited 5 Indian followers to fly with me on Air India Boeing 787 flight from Mumbai to Delhi. Some of them are first-time flyers, engineering students and future pilots. Find out what happened on my Air India Flight!2 female pilots were in charge of our flight. They spoke about their passion and motivation to fly. India has the highest percentage of female pilots in any country. During the flight, I explored Air India in-flight service offerings. Many passengers also spoke about their latest Air India experience.Next week, I met with Air India CEO Campbell Wilson to hear about Air India’s future strategy “Vihann.AI” follow by behind the scenes of Air India's new crew training and India’s oldest in-flight kitchen; Ambassador’s Sky Chef.
Starlux Airlines First Class - A350 Inaugural Flight Taipei to LA Sam Chui 2023-04-29 | Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free!26th April is a milestone for the new Taiwanese airline Starlux as it launched its first long-haul flight to Los Angeles, CA. The chairperson of Starlux, Chang Kuo-Wei 張國煒 personally flies the A350 flight as the captain.I was invited to fly in Starlux First Class. There are just 4 First Class fully enclosed private suites in the front and 26 Business Class suites on the Starlux A350-900. Check out all the cabin, seats, amenities, food and beverage offerings during the launch flight. I gave my verdict about the entire product at the end of the video.Find out all the details about Starlux Airlines and behind the scenes with Chairman Chang Kuo-Wei 張國煒 flying the plane. He talked about his upbringing in the aviation industry.Starlux Airlines started operation at the beginning of 2020; the worst time in aviation history. The airline persisted and now flies 20 brand new Airbus including 13 A321neo, 4 A330neo and 3 A350-900.
Flying with Scoot as “Air-pprentice” - What Passengers Don’t See! Sam Chui 2023-04-22 | I worked as an “Air-pprentice” onboard Scoot Boeing 787 flight from Singapore to Melbourne. Compare to my usual travel as a passenger, this is a totally different flying experience! Watch how I perform as a cabin crew!Before the flight, I got to attend pre-flight crew briefing, learn the safety aspect of the flight, the operational planning from dispatcher and did some flight simulator training on the Boeing 787 with Scoot pilots.It was a full flight to Melbourne with 372 passengers. On the flight, I performed the pre-flight checks and greet passengers at door 2 left. After takeoff, I serve passenger food and beverage. There was a lot of hard work to deliver services and handle unexpected situations. During the flight, we did “SCOOTITUDE” exercise, which is an engaging exercise to make passengers' experience more fun and enjoyable.At the end of the flight, I was given my performance from the purser and my own thoughts about working as a Scoot cabin crew.
Flying the World’s Last Lockheed Constellation - HARS Australia Sam Chui 2023-04-15 | I visited HARS Aviation Museum in Australia and tell my story of flying on the World’s last airworthy Lockheed “Connie” Constellation. It was really something different from yesteryear’s aviation - Smokey start of engines, flames on takeoff, navigator and bunk beds onboard.President of HARS, Bob De La Hunty gave me a detailed tour and explanation of operating the last Constellation.Next, I visited Qantas first B747-400 VH-OJA City of Canberra. It flew into HARS in March 2015 to preserve as part of Australian aviation history. Join me for a tour onboard the 747. HARS Aviation Museum: https://hars.org.au/
Garuda Indonesia New Experience + B737 Private Jet Villa Sam Chui 2023-04-08 | I had a sneak peek at how a retired B737-200 is turning into a luxury private jet villa with amazing ocean views from the cliff in Bali. It should be opening later this year for stay.After a great time in Bali, I flew out on Garuda Indonesia A330 to Jakarta. It was a short 1 hour 40 minutes flight but with full service in both Business Class and Economy Class. The usual amenities have returned with the exception of face covering is still required onboard. Garuda Indonesia is well known to have some of the best cabin crew, which reflects Indonesian hospitality.Next, I met up with Garuda Indonesia CEO Irfan Setiaputra. I asked him about the future of Garuda Indonesia and how it can compete with other airlines.
BIZARRE! Airplane Graveyard of Bangkok + Routes Asia 2023 Sam Chui 2023-04-01 | I visited Thai Airways restaurant in Bangkok. A lot of used airplane seats and parts turned into furniture which makes the place unique. The food price was very reasonable too. After lunch, I joined my friend Rena in showing me the airplane graveyard in Bangkok. In the middle of the city, there are 747 and MD-80 abandoned. Unfortunately, when we arrive at the graveyard, the planes were gone! They became the ghost planes of Bangkok!Next, I followed Patee, who is launching a new airline called Really Cool Airlines to another airplane in the middle of the night market. This airplane is a L1011 Tristar from Thai Sky Airlines which I have flown on it once. It is now a restaurant and cocktail bar in the middle of ChangChui market.Next, I visited Routes Asia 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I went behind the scenes to speak with airlines, airports, and tourism authorities about their desire to reconnect in Asia and what’s new in their network strategies.Take a look at the video with many great insights from airlines such as Finnair, Fiji Airways, STARLUX Airlines, Thai Lion Air and airports such as Melbourne Airport, Edmonton International Airport (YEG), and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority all wanting to expand their Asia presence.The event is hosted by Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT).Cover Image: instagram.com/ourbackpackjournal
World’s Largest Airline Kitchen - Emirates Flight Catering Sam Chui 2023-03-18 | I visited the world’s largest airline kitchen - Emirates Flight Catering. On an average day, the kitchen produced 225,000 meals and over 1 billion meals since its inception. Join me for the eye-opening behind the scenes tour.My tour started at the end of an A380 flight, over 100 used trollies, leftover food, and dirty items arrived at Emirates Flight Catering for offloading and cleaning. On average, over 3 million items are being cleaned every day by mega washing machines. The cleaned trolley and item are then board on a “monorail” to travel to the other side of the building for packing.The next stop is the hot food kitchen. Emirates has a separate kitchen section for Western food, Asian food, Arabic food and Indian food. Executive chef James Griffith showed me around each section. After the food is cooked, they go into chillers for 4 hours before arriving at portioning and packaging for flight. I witnessed the cooking by specification and weighting of food to ensure consistency.At the tray build-up area, new trays and portioned food were then loaded onto the cleaned trolley. All catering were then kept chilled before being taken by high loader truck into the airplane for passengers.Last, I visited World’s largest vertical farm, Bustanica which produces fresh lettuce for Emirates Flight Kitchen from farm to fork in just 14 hours! The vegetables were grown sustainably without using soil and fertilizer.
Worlds First Expandable Airplane Toilet #Shorts Sam Chui 2023-03-14 | At AIME-MRO 2023, ST Engineering presents World's first “extendable” airplane lavatory for people of determination.
The Future Airplane Seats and Interiors - AIME 2023 Sam Chui 2023-03-11 | The video showcases the latest in aircraft seats, interiors, inflight entertainment and connectivity at Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) 2023. It is where the aviation industry gets together, showcasing the latest products and exploring new bold ideas.At AIME 2023, I tried out the biggest single-aisle aircraft business class by Stelia. ST Engineering presented the “extendable” lavatory for people of determination. There are lightweight Business Class seats, hard shells, and conventional recliners on display by seat makers AVIO Interiors and GEVEN.Then I caught up with Alex from Chaise Economy Lounge who has the “double-decker” economy class concept to provide more legroom and more seats with affordable airfares.Seat interior expert from Perrone explains the latest trend in using leather and synthetic leather as airplane seats. The following aviation supplier appeared in this video:Stelia AerospaceST EngineeringAvio InteriorsChaise Economy LoungeGEVENPerrone AerospaceScnellerUUDS
Lufthansas €2 Billion New Cabin - First Class Double Suite Sam Chui 2023-03-04 | I flew on Lufthansa B747-8 from Los Angeles to Germany to see their new "Allegris" cabin product launch. The current Lufthansa Business Class seats have some shortcomings and lack privacy. I flew on the upper deck of the legendary B747.Lufthansa unveiled its €2.5 Billion cabin upgrade program "Allegris". The most impressive product is on Lufthansa First Class which features a floor-to-ceiling double suite in the middle. The suite can convert into a double bed with a 43" TV screen.Lufthansa's new Business Class also features a 2m long bed and suite. There are up to 7 different seat configurations in Business Class. Watch the video for the details.Less impressive are the Premium Economy and Economy, those are fairly standard and without much improvement in my opinion. In the video, I gave my impression, pros and cons after trying out these seats.
My WORST Flight Experiences - What Happened on These Flights? Sam Chui 2023-02-25 | What was your worst flight experience? I recently experienced some of the most uncomfortable, expensive, and basic services on my recent flights.I had an uncomfortable flight on Southwest Airlines to Dallas. Nothing really went wrong. Just one of those days you have no shoulder room with 3 big guys in the same row. It was beyond a tight squeeze. Southwest has a free seating policy which is more speedy but has no guarantee of seat and space. The narrower width on the 737 didn’t help of course, I think A320 may be better in my situation with a wider fuselage.Next, I flew on Delta B717 to Atlanta. The flight time was 2 hours and there was only a snack available in First Class. This does not compare well with many international airlines which serve a full meal for the same length of the flight. It reflects the current state of airline service. The fares are much higher now but passengers are not getting more out of it.On my recent United flight from New York to LA, I was served very basic food and the spoon was not even cleaned and checked properly. United has probably one of the worst in-flight catering over the years.I’ve also had some good experiences recently on Bangkok Airways and Korean Air. All passengers on Bangkok Air can enjoy the airport lounge before the flight and receive a full meal on a 1-hour domestic flight.Bangkok Air footage: Jakkrit Prasertwit
Korean Air B747-8 First Class - Worlds Longest 747 Flight Sam Chui 2023-02-18 | Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free!I flew on a Korean Air Boeing 747-8 from Atlanta to Seoul Incheon in First Class. This is the current longest Boeing 747 flight in the world with over 7,100 miles and with 15-16 hours of flying time.Check out the Korean Air First Class Suite (Kosmo Suite II) and its amenities. During the flight, I tried out the Korean Bibimbap, which is served across all classes on Korean Air. I also learned about Korean culture from the Korean cabin crew.For many of us, the journey itself is the most exciting part of the trip. Korean Air B747-8 First Class is one fine example of luxury travel with a fully enclosed private suite, fine dining, amenities and attentive service. The only thing missing is the Wi-Fi connectivity to make the experience perfect.
Has Kuwait Airways Changed? New A330neo Flight + Kuwait Visit Sam Chui 2023-02-11 | I traveled on Kuwait Airways recently to witness the transformation of the airline. I flew on their new A330-800neo from Dubai to Kuwait City. It was a night flight with rainy weather in Dubai and fog in Kuwait. During the flight, I explored both Kuwait Airways Business and Economy class products including the seat and food. Kuwait Airways is a dry airline.I visited Kuwait Airways' integrated operational control center (IOCC) to see how an airline operates behind the scenes. Then I visited the cabin crew training center to see how the new crew are joining the airline after the pandemic. Next, I tried out the new inflight food. There’s also a Kuwait Airways museum gallery in their headquarters.I interviewed Kuwait Airways CEO Maen Razouqi on the transformation of the state owned carrier. It is not an easy task to transform. Previously it was functioning like a government department, the culture was bigger than the strategy. The airline needs stability and no political interference to succeed. I wish them luck and hope the blue bird will fly high and proud in the sky.I flew out of Kuwait Airport Terminal 4 and reviewed Kuwait Airways’ Business Class lounge before departing. Have you flown Kuwait Airways recently? What are your thoughts and feedback on them?
The Last Boeing 747 - Final Delivery Flight Sam Chui 2023-02-02 | The last Boeing 747, a -8F is the 1574th built of a production run that has spanned 55 years. Join me in the final B747 delivery Ceremony at Boeing Everett factory.Listen to Boeing’s current and former CEO honoring the “incredibles”, John Travolta talking about his love of B747 and Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr announcing the upgrade of their 747-8 cabins. I spoke with Charlie Trippe Jr, grandson of Pan Am’s founder Juan Trippe and many Boeing employees who worked on the 747 line with their stories and emotions.The last B747; Atlas Air N863GT departed Everett the next morning at 8:19am. She received a water cannon salute, followed by a quick takeoff with a steep climb out. Then she performed a low flyby to say goodbye! Later, she drew a 747 and a crown in the sky!Over the years, I have been fortunate to fly on the 747 a total of 282 times, with every model from the 747-100 to the 747-8F, from 747-SP to SR to SUD and Combis. There are many memorable ones….I picked some special 747 flights to share with you!747 Forever Incredible!Air747 Book Giveaway Link: gleam.io/Z2Y8t/air747-book-giveawayTo buy Air747 Book with special offer: shop-theairlineboutique.co.uk/products/air-747-pre-order747 Quiz Answer1. Japan Airlines2. Atlas Air3. B747-4004. LufthansaCover Image: by Lukas Souza
The Last Boeing 747 #shorts Sam Chui 2023-01-30 | The last 747, a -8F is the 1574th built of a production run that has spanned 55 years.Full video: youtu.be/Gs1QVMOGd_g
Stormy Flight - Air France B777 NEW Business Class to New York Sam Chui 2023-01-28 | I flew on Air France's new Business Class seat on their refurbished B777-300/ER from Paris to New York. The weather in New York was bad with rain and low visibility. Watch the exciting landing at JFK.The newly configured Air France B777-300/ER has 48 Business Class suites, 48 Premium Economy class seats and 273 Economy seats. It features a privacy door in Business class. Row 1 and 9 has a massive footwell and extra room due to the bulkhead position. Air France’s new Premium Economy seat comes with a deep recline which is different from the current fixed shell design.3 refurbished Air France 777-300/ER currently fly between Paris and JFK (AF22/15), Dakar and Rio with this new configuration. 9 more B777 will be refurbished by the end of this year.Before my flight, I visited the Air France Operation Control Center (OCC) to see how my flight was dispatched. A rare behind-the-scenes discovery! The weather in New York was very bad with rain and low visibility. Our plane was on hold for 40 minutes before cleared to ILS approach on Runway 13L. Watch the exciting landing at JFK.
Short Runway and Crazy Wind - New Zealand’s Most Challenging Flight Sam Chui 2023-01-21 | After a 17 hour non-stop flight from New York to Auckland, I continue my journey to Queenstown, in the South Island of New Zealand. Queenstown is one of the best scenic and most challenging airports in New Zealand. I am flying on an Air New Zealand A320neo in the cockpit behind the pilots. Captain Grant explains the multiple challenge factors due to the terrain, wind, low clouds and even snow in Queenstown. Enjoy the scenic ride across New Zealand.My next flight is to the capital of New Zealand; Wellington. The flight time from Auckland to Wellington was just 45 minutes. We flew at 34,000 ft on Air New Zealand A320neo. The pilot told me Wellington is usually very windy, and the runway is very short with just 6,000 ft making it even more challenging. Check out the landing!
What Happened to Thai Airways? B787 Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur Sam Chui 2023-01-14 | Thai Airways was a great airline but started its decline in the early 2000s. Since COVID, Thai has lost about 50% of its fleet as their A380, 747, older 777s and A330 were all grounded. Thai Airways has also stopped flying domestically altogether. As a result, there are no more wide-body flights in Thailand.This is my first Thai Airways flight in nearly 4 years. I started my trip at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. I visited the new Royal Orchid Prestige lounge. There is a good amount of food in the new lounge but many other Thai Airways lounges including the Royal Orchid Spa are still closed.The Thai B787-9 has the new individual pod seat in Business Class. However, Thai’s Business class product is generally one generation behind and with a lot of inconsistency across the fleet. The Economy Class seating on 787-9, however, has decent legroom with a footrest. There are several cutbacks in service; there are no more printed menus, or newspapers and magazines. On regional flights, the cabin crew no longer wears the traditional Thai dress. The food in Business Class is fairly simple. I gave my final thought at the end of my flight.
Flying Ethiopian Airlines A350 New Business Class Across Africa Sam Chui 2023-01-07 | I continue to discover Ethiopian Airlines operations behind the scenes at Addis Ababa Airport. There are 2 peaks every day, one in the morning and one in the evening with many arrivals and departures connecting at Addis Ababa. Check out the latest Ethiopian Airlines Business Class lounge in Addis Ababa.I boarded a new Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 to Cape Town, it has a new Business Class in 1-2-1 staggered layout. The pilot showed the A350 cockpit and explained the high-altitude operation at Addis Ababa and its limitation on takeoff weight.Flight time to Cape Town is 6 hours from Addis Ababa, flying through Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana before reaching South Africa. During the flight, traditional Ethiopian cuisine is served with injera bread. Discover more about Ethiopian Airlines' service and flight operation on the A350 in my video.
Qatar Airways A380 First Class Flight - World Cup Fever Sam Chui 2023-01-01 | I traveled on Qatar Airways First Class from Dubai via Doha to Bangkok using just 50k award miles. The first flight is from Dubai to Doha on Qatar Airways B787-9. I shared my World Cup stories onboard the quick 40 minute flight to Qatar.Once I landed in Doha, I visited the garden in the new terminal expansion at Hamad International Airport. It was an amazing terminal experience and I couldn’t believe this was in the Middle East! My next flight to Bangkok is operated by the double-decker Qatar Airways A380. Very glad to see Qatar Airways brought them back into service. Many onboard products on this flight still feature the World Cup. Find out the Qatar Airways First Class experience and learn how to use miles to redeem the First Class seat.
Flying Ethiopian Airlines - How They Became the Biggest in Africa? Sam Chui 2022-12-24 | I flew on an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 from Vienna to Addis Ababa. Find out Ethiopian Airlines latest onboard product in both Business Class and Economy class. The flight was overnight and took 5 hours and 45 minutes. Before landing, a beautiful sunrise greeted all passengers. Join me for landing inside the cockpit of Boeing 787.After landing, I toured the passenger terminal and up to 10,000 passengers in the morning transit at Addis Ababa Bole Airport making it the busiest hub in Africa.I was given a tour of the Ethiopian Airlines Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility where a Boeing 767 is undergoing cargo conversion. Then I went inside an Ethiopian A350 passenger freighter full of cargo in the cabin. Last, I went on a day tour in Addis Ababa city.In next episode, I continue to explore Ethiopia and flew on their new A350 across Africa to Cape Town. Video: youtu.be/zf2YuCoQrQg
EXTREME FLIGHT - Landing on Antarctica Ice Runway Sam Chui 2022-12-17 | I boarded a Hi Fly A340 chartered for White Desert Antarctica (Tour Operator) to fly to the seventh continent; Antarctica. The flight time from Cape Town to Wolf’s Fang Runway in Antarctica is 5 hours and 15 minutes. Flying from 33 degrees South to 71 degrees South in latitude. Commander Carlos Mirpuri explained the Antarctic flight operating conditions and requirements.During the flight, the founder of White Desert Antarctica Patrick explained what to expect in Antarctica. As we flew closer to Antarctica, passengers changed to winter clothing and got ready for the exploration. The Antarctic season is from mid-November to early February every year.The weather condition was good with clear visibility for landing at Wolf’s Fang runway. The runway friction index was also sufficient to allow the airplane to stop during braking. Our A340 landed at Wolf’s Fang runway (71º 32’ 00” S 8º 50’ 00” E) around 1930 UTC time. I was lucky to observe the Antarctic landing from the jumpseat.The runway length is 2500 m (8200') long and 60 m (196') wide. Wolf’s Fang Runway is operated by White Desert Antarctica and it’s the only blue ice runway. It takes 22 hours to groom and prepare the runway for every jet landing.After landing, we climbed a nearby Nunatak (small mountain) and were just amazed at the pristine landscape; the white desert! The sun never set during the Antarctic summer. I also visited the newly opened Echo Camp for refreshments before the flight back. Certainly one of "The Greatest Day" in my aviation and travel memory!For more information on Antarctica tour, visit white-desert.com
Nepals Thrilling Mountain Flight - STOL Aircraft Let-410 to Jomsom Sam Chui 2022-12-10 | Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free!I flew on Summit Air Let L-410 from Pokhara to Jomsom to discover what makes this flight one of the most challenging in the world. The flight took just 20 minutes at 10,500 feet and flew through a narrow valley passage around two 8,000m mountains (Annapurna and Dhaulagiri) en route. The video highlights flying in Nepal’s rugged and challenging Himalayan terrain.Jomsom lies on the arid north side of the Himalaya and has operations only in the mornings because of high winds and cloud build-up during the course of the day. The route has seen many fatal accidents, and nearly all due to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) during bad weather. The elevation of Jomsom Airport is 8,976 feet (2,736m) above sea level.The weather was excellent in the dry season but soon the wind picked up and flight operations between Pokhara and Jomsom were temporarily halted. I managed to explore Jomsom and finally took the last flight back to Pokhara. It was a beautiful mountain flight with the wings flying close to the high mountain terrain.
Flying to the Arctic - La Compagnie A321LR to the Northernmost Airport Sam Chui 2022-12-03 | I flew on La Compagnie A321neo all business class special chartered flights from Paris to Svalbard.Svalbard Airport is the main airport serving Svalbard in Norway. It is 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Longyearbyen on the west coast and is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights.This is not a scheduled flight but a chartered flight for Ponant, a luxury cruise company. The charter was arranged and managed by LunaJets. There are just 76 lie-flat business class seats onboard the La Compagnie A321neo. Take a look at the amazing scenic approach from the cockpit into Svalbard. Once I landed in Svalbard, I explore the isolated airfield and terminal before flying back.More information on charter: lunajets.com
Inside Korean Air - Painting a 747 + Airplane Food Sam Chui 2022-11-30 | This week, I took a flight to Busan, South Korea and visited the Korean Air Aerospace tech center to see how they paint a Korean Air B747-8. Korean Air is the only airline that manufactures Boeing and Airbus parts. I discovered behind the scenes how the B787 wingtip, tail cone, flap support fairing and A320 sharklet are made there.Then, I visited the Korean Air catering center to see how they prepare airplane food. I was shown the popular traditional Korean Bibimbap and Mukbap dish.
Aviation Security + Safety & Emergency Training (SEP) at Korean Air Sam Chui 2022-11-26 | I visited the Korean Air Crew Training Center in Seoul and attended their aviation security class. First, the black belt instructor demonstrates how to restrain unruly passengers with a simple hand-twist trick. Then, the crew shows how to use a taser gun as a last resort to target trouble passengers.Next, I was invited to observe the emergency ditching class of Korean Air crew training. The airplane simulated a forced landing on water and passengers had to brace themselves. The crew demonstrates how to inflate the life vest and slide down the airplane in a stressful scenario.Next week, I will visit Korean Air Busan tech center including painting a B747-8, seeing how they manufacture Boeing and Airbus parts, visit Korean Air cargo at Incheon and take a look at the Korean Air catering center.
Flying New Dassault Falcon 6X - TransAtlantic to Paris Sam Chui 2022-11-19 | At the end of NBAA 2022, I hopped on the new experimental Dassault Falcon 6X, the latest Falcon jet transatlantic from Orlando to Paris. It was my first time flying on a private jet across the Atlantic and what an experience it was!The Falcon 6X is in a new category of Business Aviation: the Ultra Widebody business jet. It flies at a top speed of Mach 0.90 and has 5,500nm (10,186 km) range. My flight to Paris was an 8 hours overnight flight. We used just 4,500 ft of runway out of Orlando Executive Airport.The aircraft was extremely quiet with a cabin altitude of just 3,900 ft which is much lower than commercial aircraft. On this factory demonstrator, the rear sofa on each side can turn into a huge super king bed. I experienced a good night of sleep and watched the sunrise in bed with breakfast at 47,000 ft. Enough said for the private jet experience.3 years ago at Paris Airshow 2019, I saw the Falcon 6X mock-up and today I have flown on the jet itself. The Dassault Falcon 6X is expected to be certified in 2023 and so far 19 examples have been built.
A Flight to Mount Everest + World’s Most Dangerous Airport - Lukla Sam Chui 2022-11-12 | Our helicopter was one of the first to take off at sunrise around 6:20am from Kathmandu Airport. There are many helicopter operators offering tours to see the majestic mountains in Nepal but there’s only a small window of season to do this. I’d recommend going in April or October when the weather is at its clearest and not so cold.Lukla is the gateway to Mount Everest. There is no road so no car can get there. A flight to Lukla is 25 minutes on a fixed-wing airplane or 40 mins by helicopter. We arrived there at 7am.We took off again after refueling and headed to Mt Everest, on the way we passed Namche Bazar, Syangboche airstrip, Khumbu Icefall…Mount Everest is the one with the sharp peak with snow blowing at the top. We were almost at 20,000 ft but Mt Everest stood really tall from where our helicopter was. We were trying to get up to Camp 2 of Mt Everest which is the absolute limit of the helicopter.We eventually landed at Kala Patthar. I was so frantically taking photos and videos and started to use the oxygen supply from the helicopter. Our next stop is the pristine Gokyo Lake. On the way, we saw the world’s highest glacier, Khumbu Glacier. It really amazes me how close we fly to those mountain terrains. After a brief stop on the lake, we headed towards the world’s highest hotel, hotel Everest view for breakfast.The whole trip took about 5 hours. The cost of doing it is about $1200 per person sharing on the helicopter. Helicopters don’t just bring tourists, they also bring cargo and bring down sick and fatigue trekkers from the mountain down on a daily basis.Way Point of our helicopter flight:1. Kathmandu (4,390 ft / 1,338m)2. Lukla (9,380 ft / 2,860m)3. Namche Bazar (11,290 ft / 3,440m)4. Syangboche (12,402 ft / 3,780m)5. Khumbu Icefall (17,999 ft / 5,486m)6. Mt Everest (29,031 ft / 8,849m)7. Kala Patthar (18,519 ft / 5,644m)8. Cho La Pass (17,782 ft / 5,420 m)9. Gokyo Ri (17,575 ft / 5,357m)11. Hotel Everest View (12,729ft / 3,880m)13. Lukla (9,380 ft / 2,860m)14. Kathmandu (4,390 ft / 1,338m)
Himalaya Adventure - Flying Nepal Airlines A330 to Kathmandu Sam Chui 2022-11-05 | Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free!I flew on Nepal Airlines A330 from Dubai to Kathmandu as the beginning of my flying adventure in the Himalayas.I met Captain Vijay Lama onboard, he is a local celebrity and YouTuber in Nepal. The flight time to Kathmandu was 4 hours across the Indian subcontinent. Shortly after takeoff, a beautiful sunrise appeared as we fly to the East. Nepal Airlines crew showed me their uniform and food offering on the flight.The weather was good enroute. Before landing, many tall mountains appeared on the horizon. 8 of the world’s top 10 highest peaks are in Nepal. We can see Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Fishtail, Manaslu, and many tall mountain peaks. The landing into Kathmandu is very exciting with mountains and high terrain around. Watch the final approach from the cockpit.Next week, I will share my experience flying to Mount Everest by helicopter. This is a once-a-lifetime experience.
Total Weightless! What Happened on my Zero Gravity Flight? Sam Chui 2022-10-29 | I went onboard the Zero-G Boeing 727 flight to experience Zero Gravity. The Zero-G specially modified B727 has a large open space in the forward fuselage. We took off from Las Vegas, and within 15 minutes we reached our designated airspace. The plane flies in a series of parabolic arcs so everything inside can be in freefall. I followed the instructor’s advice to lie on the floor while the Boeing 727 entered the parabola, you can feel about 1.8G while the plane is on a sharp climb.When the Zero gravity moment happened, you can feel it in your body that you became weightless and began to float and flip. We have fun catching water droplets and catching candy floating around. Each parabola lasted about 30 seconds. We did a total of 12 parabolas on our flight before we returned to land. This is the experience to feel like an astronaut and truly one of a kind experience!Use discount code SAMCHUI5 to receive 5% off your Zero-G flight at gozerog.com
NBAA 2022: Flying Cirrus Vision Jet + New Gulfstream G800 Sam Chui 2022-10-22 | I flew a Cirrus Vision Jet G2+ from Atlanta Hartsfield Int’l; the world’s busiest airport to the 2022 NBAA-BACE in Orlando. My Cirrus instructor Joel Mayo showed me all the features inside the Vision Jet. It is the most affordable personal jet out there; costing about $3 Million. We rotated at 85 knots of speed out of the busy airspace of Atlanta. En route to Orlando, I flew several maneuvers inside the Vision Jet such as steep turns and stalls. My instructor also showed me the auto land and parachute features onboard. Watch my landing at Orlando Executive Airport. The jet has GA handling quality and it is easy to fly with the side stick.The new ultra-long-range Gulfstream G800 made its debut at 2022 NBAA-BACE. It has the longest range of 8,000 nautical miles. The test pilot explained the flight test program and the experimental airplane. New electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles are also on display. I met up with many aviators there to see their favorite airplane.A year ago, I toured the Cirrus Vision Jet at NBAA. This year I flew in one to the show! The opportunities created from networking and face-to-face meet at the NBAA-BACE is like no other. It is the greatest Business Aviation event.#NBAA2022 #NBAA #PrivateJet
BULA FIJI! Inside Fiji Airways and its Treasure Island Sam Chui 2022-10-15 | Bula Vinaka everyone! Fiji is my last stop in the South Pacific. I flew on Fiji Airways Airbus A350 from Sydney to Nadi. The island charm of Fiji started when I step inside Fiji Airways. I was on Fiji Time! Take a look at Fiji Airways new A350 product, meals, and services.The next morning, I traveled domestically from Nadi to Savusavu on a Fiji Link Twin Otter flight. Savusavu is located on the Island of Vanua Levu which has a short landing strip and it is a captain’s landing-only airport. The 1-hour scenic flight allows me to see Fiji from above. Watch the video for the exciting landing there.During my stay in Fiji, I also visited the Sigatoka River safari and went to a local Fijian village to learn about their culture. Lastly, I visited the recently opened Fiji Airways Aviation Academy. I met with trainees of Fiji Airways on safety training and flew a flight simulator.
The Most Beautiful Flight - Air Tahiti to Bora Bora Sam Chui 2022-10-08 | I traveled on Air Tahiti to explore the beauty of French Polynesian islands. My flight is from Papeete to Bora Bora with a stop at Huahine. I was invited to fly in the cockpit jumpseat on Air Tahiti ATR 72-600. Our first leg from Papeete to Huahine took about 30 minutes flying at 12,000 ft. We had a clear view of Moorea on the way.Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands. Our flight brings in locals, tourists and daily supplies. Flying time to Bora Bora was just 15 minutes, at 4,000 ft. The weather becomes clear and I can see the turquoise-blue ocean and crystal-clear lagoon. The scenery was out of this world and it was one of the most beautiful flights I’ve taken.There are no roads and no cars at Bora Bora airport. The only transportation is by boat to the main center or hotel. My flight back to Papeete was equally scenic, we flew low over some Tahitian overwater bungalow. Aviation plays an important role in transporting travelers and cargo supplies to these islands.
Tahitian Dreamliner: Air Tahiti Nui - The Most Exotic 787 Sam Chui 2022-10-01 | I hopped on an Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Auckland to Papeete, French Polynesia. Air Tahiti Nui 787 is the most colorful and the most exotic 787 I’ve flown. Flight attendants gave out tiara flowers to passengers. The flight was an immersive experience of Tahitian culture.I literally traveled back in time and gained a day by flying from the earliest time zone (New Zealand) to the last timezone (Tahiti) by crossing the dateline on this flight. Tahiti is located in the middle of the South Pacific with isolation. The nearest diversion point is Cook Island. As a nice welcome, Polynesian music was performed after landing at Papeete Faa’a International Airport.I spent a day exploring the island of Papeete by visiting a waterfall and spending some time planespotting. Next week, I will fly on Air Tahiti domestically to explore the Tahitian Islands of Huahine and Bora Bora.
Ultra Long Haul - Air New Zealand B787 New York to Auckland Flight Sam Chui 2022-09-24 | Air New Zealand has just launched non-stop flights between New York and Auckland, New Zealand. I was invited to fly on the inaugural flight which is currently the fourth longest flight in the world. The flight time was 16 hours 35 minutes. The video documents the whole flight experience from takeoff to landing.However, the inaugural did suffer a setback with a storm enroute which required additional fuel for safety so some bags were left behind. The current inward-facing Business Class seat on Air New Zealand will be replaced by a new product in 2024. I visited the new Skynest mock-up in Auckland. For the first time ever, economy class passengers are going to have the option of stretching out for some sleep on actual beds during their flight.There are also some great views of JFK Airport and New York City from the helicopter by ZIP Aviation in this video. zipaviation.com
Saudi Arabian Airlines Uncovered - Should You Fly SAUDIA? Sam Chui 2022-09-17 | Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) recently launched flights to South Korea. I flew on SAUDIA B787 Dreamliner from Seoul Incheon to Jeddah via Riyadh.It is interesting for me to see who travels on this new SAUDIA flight as the country only recently opened to tourism and transit. During the flight, I reviewed all the SAUDIA in-flight service offerings including an onboard chef cooking fresh eggs for breakfast.SAUDIA is a no-alcohol airline, there is a dedicated prayer area on their widebody aircraft. The transit in Jeddah was easy. Finally, the airport is under one roof. During the transit, I visited the new SAUDIA Al Fursan Lounge. The lounge is the largest lounge in Skyteam airlines, which can accommodate up to 10,000 passengers a day.During each Hajj season, the airline carries over 100,000 passengers within a few weeks in and out of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I hope to document it in the next Hajj season.
Flying on the Worlds Busiest Route - Korean Air and Jin Air Sam Chui 2022-09-15 | I traveled to South Korea and flew between Seoul Gimpo and Jeju. There are about 155 daily flights, with over 40,000 passengers flying on this route each day which makes it the world's busiest air route.My flight from Seoul to Jeju is operated by Jin Air B777-200. The staff at Jin Air wear jeans as the uniform. The flight time to Jeju was 50 minutes with the 390-seater B777. Once I landed in Jeju, I visited the island and tasted the famous Korean BBQ. I also did some plane-spotting in Jeju.On the way back from Jeju to Seoul, I flew on Korean Air's new A220. It has all economy seating in a 2-3 configuration. Find out more from my video on why Seoul to Jeju is the world's busiest air route by far?
Flying the $5 Million Honda Jet - The Cheapest Private Jet? Sam Chui 2022-09-10 | I flew my first Honda Jet from Paris to Milan. Honda Jet is a light private jet with 4-5 seats and costs around $5 million which makes it one of the cheapest private jets. It is like a Japanese car with every inch of space utilized. It even has a private bathroom. The plane is powered by GE Honda HF120 engines mounted on the pylon above the wings.My flight is arranged by charter broker LunaJets; one of Europe’s leading charter brokers. The flight is operated by JetClub, which allows you to own a fraction of the plane. The owner can even fly in the Honda Jet to build jet hours! A cool concept for pilot training. We climbed to 31,000 ft and crossed the spectacular Alps in great weather. It feels very cozy with just me as the sole passenger.After landing in Milan Malpensa, I rushed off to the main terminal to catch an Emirates A380 to Dubai. This time, I flew in Economy Class. From a private jet to the back of the A380 Super Jumbo. I experienced two unique flying experiences in one day!About LunaJets: lunajets.com/enAbout JetClub: jetclubgroup.com
Flying Turkish Airlines New A350 + My First Hot Balloon Ride Sam Chui 2022-09-03 | I flew on Turkish Airlines' new A350 from Montreal to Istanbul. I went behind the scenes on flight operations from the cockpit and in the cabin as a passenger to experience the brand-new aircraft. The mask is no longer mandatory on Turkish Airlines unless the destination requires it. Welcome drink, and full meal service have now been returned onboard. The Turkish Airlines A350 Business Class cabin has an understated luxury silver/gray decor with all aisle access. Window seats are even number 2/4/6/8. While the privacy is excellent, I found the seat to be quite narrow for myself. In Economy, the Turkish Airlines A350 feature standard 3-3-3 configuration with seat 28A and 28K have extra leg room with no seat in front.I continued my connection to Izmir from Istanbul. The 50 minute domestic flight in Turkey really impressed me with a full meal served. I traveled by car to Pamukkale to see the famous pools of Pamukkale. It was my first time in a hot balloon and what an experience!Follow Irem Ciray: instagram.com/iremciray#goturkiye #gotürkiye
Air Canada B787 Cross Country - Hits and Misses Sam Chui 2022-08-27 | After 3 days of raw aviation megafun with Buffalo Airways at Yellowknife, NWT. I am “back to the future” and flew out on Air Canada CRJ900 to Calgary. The CRJ even has a Business Class product. An impressive hot meal was served on the 2 hour flight.I stayed overnight in Calgary and flew on Air Canada B787-9 Dreamliner to Montreal the next day. The Air Canada lounge in Calgary has decent food selection. I met with two other Canadian travelers there, and they told me the airfare within Canada is sometimes higher than flights to Europe. My flight out of Calgary was delayed by an hour due to a late inbound flight.Once onboard Air Canada B787, the crew showed me the cockpit and the pilot crew rest area on the B787. A course-by-course full lunch was served onboard with a printed menu and paired wines. The Air Canada B787-9 also features Premium Economy Class.At the end of the 3.5 hour flight, I highlighted two observed issues with aviation in Canada.1. The airfares are high. I was redeeming miles to fly for better value.2. If you didn't get a refund but got a voucher instead, given the current high airfare and inflation, the voucher value is unlikely to hold.
Ice Pilots of Buffalo Airways - Raw Aviation in Northern Canada Sam Chui 2022-08-20 | It's the wild wild West in Northern Canada. The 1940s made Curtiss C-46 Commando, the world's last flying Lockheed Electra and other classic planes are still flying every day to deliver vital supplies to remote communities. I joined Mikey McBryan at Buffalo Airways to discover their unique operation.Pilots at Buffalo Airways need to roll up their sleeves, not only flying the plane but also loading cargo, refueling and servicing these classic airplanes. It is a full day of action following what these "ice pilots" do there.At the end of the video, pilots talk about the harsh and unique winter operation. It is extreme flying!
