1:200Freak

Friday the 13th, usually superstitious and scary, it was everything but that!! I decided to go to the airport to see Emirates B77W depart at 2140. Ever since they started flights last year I was bent on going one day in summer during the week to see her take off (they only come in during the week 1,3 & 5). I went directly from work and got to the airport well in advance. On the way an Icelandair 757 was on finals to Rwy23 in the distance (which I saw for the first time, but hazy and smoggy weather did not let me see her wonderful colours properly). As the transit bus travelled on intertwining roads that lead to the terminal, the tail of the CX 77W could be seen. And then there was a full glimpse of her and she was stunning! Finally got to the area around Rwy 23 and it was still dusk. A few AC jets were lining up so I decided to get something to eat; it was now only 2030. While standing in the line at Wendy's a LOT 767, Thomas Cook 757 touched down and while enjoying my meal, two AC A333s landed one of them being the Star Alliance colour scheme. Back outside a thunderstorm started to brew to the West, heading East towards us. As the jets were lining up to depart Rwy 23 the lightning danced across the sky, while the runway, taxi and airport lights added to the scene in front of me. An AC 77W lined up to take off and by now the clouds had turned darker and were closer. The clouds lit up while the lightning now danced even crazier than before, the wind picking up as well. The AC 77W thundered down Rwy23 and it had hardly taken off when it banked sharply to the right like the rest of the jets before it had to avoid the approaching thunderstorm clouds ahead. It's lights blinked as it raced across the dark horizon, it's silhouette briefly appearing as the clouds lit up as it moved against the backdrop. It was followed by a Zoom 767. Slight rain drops started to fall around and it was time to take refuge.

I got into Coffee Time and a Westjet 737 was in the take off position but it stayed there. I ordered something and by the time I looked out again the rain had started to pour outside, battering the huge glass windows of the store. The thunder roared overhead and the lightning danced furiously, like a major rave party over Pearson. The lights of the store reflected on the glass and even through that you could see how heavy the rain was outside. The Westjet 737 stayed in that position for at least 15-20 minutes, while in the holding position near the runway an AC A320 and an Air Transat A310 waited their turn, while the rain came down with all it's fury!! It was much later the rain subsided but it continued to rain intermittently. It was now around 2210 and I took refuge in a bus shelter nearby. Rwy 23 was still active, however jets landed on Rwy 15. No sooner a jet landed on Rwy 15 and crossed Rwy 23, the jet on Rwy 23 thundered down the runway. I waited for EK 77W and had a wonderful surprise when the Icelandair 757 appeared. She looked wonderful against all the crisps lights of the tarmac. Spotting at night is a completely different experience. It taxied into position and waited for the jet to land in front of it on Rwy15 and then screamed down, lifting ever so gently and climbed into the dark night sky! It was now 2230, and I had given up hope of seeing the mighty EK 77W. I let a few of the buses to go back home pass by and hoped this bird would turn up. And then at 2305 the lit up tail of the EK 77W appeared as it lined up waiting it's turn to depart. An AC A320, AC Jazz were before it, while approaching on Rwy 15 was a CX 747F which touched down and then raced behind the tails of the waiting jets as it slowed down out of sight on the runway. The AC jets departed and the EK 77W taxied towards the runway using all of the taxiway to use every inch of the runway ahead. This causes the jets to come really close to the fence and by now I left the bus shelter, opened my umbrella (as it was raining again) and pushed my face into the fence openings to get the best view of the mighty beast in front of me. It was all well worth the wait!! Her full length moved in front of me, while in the cabin you could notice the lights were off. She turned and performed a rolling take off, kicking up the rain and sending what seemed like black smoke against the backdrop of the twinkling lights. The trail of vapour continued all the way down the runway, momentarily hiding the racing jet, the EK 77W climbing out of it as it left this darkness behind to enter the darkness of the sky above!! Friday the 13th would never be the same again!!!