This trip came about when Qantaslink announced they were going to restart Adelaide Kingscote flights from December 2017.

Qantaslink last operated the flight for a short time in 2005. Barely lasted 6 months.

Monday 4 December 2017
Adelaide (ADL) Kingscote (KGC)
QF2142
Dash8-315 VH-TQY
8D

History of VH-TQY
http://www.aussieairliners.org/dhc-8/vh-tqy/vhtqy.html

Tried the online check in the day before, but this flight was not available, so had to check in once at the airport.

Checked in ok with the self check in machine, but when it spat out a boarding pass for the flight over that wasn’t a window seat, I immediately found a staff member who tried to fix that, but since the flight was full, they couldn’t. However I did end up with a window seat. I’ll go into how I managed to do it later on.

No issues with getting through security.

A few aircraft seen before the media event got underway.

Virginaustralia737-8FE-VH-VOO by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Qantaslink717-2BL-VH-YQU by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

TigerairA320-232-VH-VNF by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Although the aircraft was at gate 50, there was a media event for the flight at gate 21, since I’m booked on the flight, I’ll have a sticky beak at what’s going on.

There were speeches from the Premier of South Australia, Jay Weatherill, Tourism Minister Leon Bignell, CEO of Qantaslink, John Gissing, Mayor of Kangaroo Island Council, Peter Clements and Mark Young, Managing Director at Adelaide Airport. Plus all their hangers on which explains why the plane was full.

Probably me and a few others paid for their flight with their own money, knowing what politicians are like.

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-2 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-3 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-4 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-5 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-6 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-7 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-8 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-9 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-10 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-11 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-12 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

It was soon time to board VH-TQY which has been repainted in the latest Qantas livery, the one with the grey stripe and the kangaroo that looks even less like a kangaroo than before.

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-13 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-14 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Adelaide-ADL-YPAD-Terminal-15 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-2 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Took my assigned seat of 8C, when the person who had 8D came I suggested that they will most likely get off the plane before me and I’m a bit slower getting off, so it would be better if he had the aisle seat.

The plan worked, I got the window seat.

Since this was the first flight of the day for this aircraft, the flight crew wanted to check that the propeller pitch controls worked properly, so we sat there for a couple of minutes while that was done.

Since this is the first flight, we had a water cannon salute, but my view of it was quite restricted.

Before takeoff an ice cream from Kangaroo Island Ice Cream company was offered, while not a mad ice cream fan, I didn’t say no to a freebie ice cream.

However the ice cream had to wait until we were in flight as trying to eat it and take photos during take off could get messy.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-3 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-4 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-5 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-6 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-7 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-8 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-9 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Took off on runway 23 and was quite smooth. Conditions were cloudy.
Flying time about 25 minutes.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-10 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-11 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-12 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-13 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-14 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-15 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-16 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-17 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-18 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-19 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-20 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-21 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-22 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Water and biscuits were offered.

Cruise was quite smooth with a very slight amount of turbulence descending into Kingscote.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-23 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-24 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-25 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-26 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-27 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-28 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-29 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-30 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-31 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Quite a smooth landing.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-32 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-33 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-34 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-35 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-36 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-37 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-38 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-39 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-40 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-41 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-42 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-43 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-44 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Crew weren’t that keen on me having a look upfront this time around, so no look up front this time (thanks alot to people who wear funny things on their heads who live in the middle east).

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-45 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-2 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

The new terminal is still under construction, so the existing terminal is still being used.

No other aircraft seen during my visit.

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-3 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-4 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-5 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-6 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-7 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-8 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-9 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-10 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Kingscote-KGC-YKSC-Old-Terminal-11 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Monday 4 December 2017
Kingscote (KGC) Adelaide (ADL)
QF2143
Dash8-315 VH-TQY
5D

About 35 mins later, reboarded for the return flight.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-46 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-47 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-48 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Load on the return flight was about 15 passengers. Seat next to me was vacant.

Take off was a bit more spritely with a lighter load on board, but there was a bit more turbulence on this flight.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-49 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-50 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-51 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-52 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-53 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-54 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-55 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-56 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-57 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-58 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Similar flight time to the flight over.

Same water and biscuits offered.

Again views of investigator strait was obscured by cloud.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-59 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-60 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-61 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-62 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-63 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-64 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-65 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-66 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-67 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-68 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-69 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-70 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

A bit bumpy on descent into Adelaide. Landed in runway 12.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-71 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-72 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-73 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-74 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-75 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-76 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-77 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-78 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-79 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-80 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-81 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-82 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-83 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-84 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-85 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-86 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-87 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-88 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Some of the aircraft seen during the taxi back to gate 50.

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-88 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-89 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

JetstarA320-232-VH-VQH by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-90 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-91 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

JetstarA320-232-VH-VQE by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-92 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-93 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-94 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-95 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-96 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-97 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

QantaslinkDash8-315-VH-TQY-98 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Again the long walk through the jail like tunnel system I’ve talked about in previous reports on regional trips out of Adelaide.

Again the long walk through the jail like tunnel system I’ve talked about in previous reports on regional trips out of Adelaide.

A quick look around the airport before heading home, saw a couple of corporate jets, a Hawker 500XP and a Cessna 510.

Hawker800XP-VH-OFJ by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Cessna510-VH-PWX by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

How long is the flight and how much does it cost?

lychemsa wrote:

How long is the flight and how much does it cost?

Flight time is about 25 minutes each way.

Since I booked when the flight was first announced, fares were A$99, but usually A$140.

Ryan h wrote:

lychemsa wrote:

How long is the flight and how much does it cost?

Flight time is about 25 minutes each way.

Since I booked when the flight was first announced, fares were A$99, but usually A$140.

Ouch thats an pretty expensive lead-in fare for an 25minute flight, it amazes me that Qantas can use the same Q300s within New Zealand operated by the same QLink entity an have fares starting at NZ$19 for an 45minute flight.

A nice report sadly spoiled by poor and inappropriate atempt at humour around your cockpit visit. Casual racism is sadly too widely accepted in Australia. Perhaps the crew were simply busy, doing their job and didn’t want you in their office?

I have ZERO respect for self involved people, and those who LIE to others to get what they want. Wont be reading anymore of your posts. Cheers

Not remotely funny in any way. There could be a number of reasons that a cockpit visit was declined, more than likely preparation and briefing for a departure never flown by the crew before, could also be working through minor aircraft defects as there would be no engineering support at Kingscote. The pilots of any aircraft are very busy on turn arounds, particularly quick ones like this, it is their office and they have the right to say no, blaming it on any person or race is not remotely funny and can only be seen as stereotyping and racism.

As for the window seat debacle....I simply have no words, an aisle seat would not have killed you especially knowing you would get a window seat on the return!

undertheradar wrote:

I have ZERO respect for self involved people, and those who LIE to others to get what they want. Wont be reading anymore of your posts. Cheers

Lighten up Francis. I’m sure the poster could care less if you read another of their posts. Great pictures BTW!

zkncj wrote:

Ryan h wrote:

lychemsa wrote:

How long is the flight and how much does it cost?

Flight time is about 25 minutes each way.

Since I booked when the flight was first announced, fares were A$99, but usually A$140.

Ouch thats an pretty expensive lead-in fare for an 25minute flight, it amazes me that Qantas can use the same Q300s within New Zealand operated by the same QLink entity an have fares starting at NZ$19 for an 45minute flight.

Getting to Kangaroo Island by any means is pretty expensive. You’re looking at around $140 each way to take the ferry across (plus it’s a 2.5 hour drive from Adelaide to get to the ferry).

Hi Ryan!

I always look forward to seeing your trips to regional and/or local Australian airports. This one was all the more interesting for covering an inaugural flight. Hopefully the route will prove successful.

Shame that you couldn't visit the flight deck for whatever reason, which as others have pointed out might not have been entirely security related. Some airlines are more flexible when it comes to flight deck visits than others and even with those that do allow visits, the decision is ultimately with the pilot in control.

Regards,
Roy.

RoySFlying wrote:

Hi Ryan!

I always look forward to seeing your trips to regional and/or local Australian airports. This one was all the more interesting for covering an inaugural flight. Hopefully the route will prove successful.

Shame that you couldn't visit the flight deck for whatever reason, which as others have pointed out might not have been entirely security related. Some airlines are more flexible when it comes to flight deck visits than others and even with those that do allow visits, the decision is ultimately with the pilot in control.

Regards,
Roy.

Hello Ryan! Hello Roy! Happy New Year 2018.

Thanks Ryan, this was a good trip report for an inaugural service, and the photos to accompany. As I've said before, the quality of your photography in your TR are a pleasure to browse through. I am amazed though that you get away with photographing on the tarmac, as I know QantasLink are very strict about this - or maybe it is just the phone, which in my case is the camera as well. I have been told twice now I think so know not to try anymore, as well as the reminder announcement they give out each time now too. Actually one of the times was with VA.

I love the photos of the inaugural flight cake too. My parents did Kangaroo Island, taking their car on the ferry and staying a few days or a week, can't remember. I have not been there myself, but if flying is the option to take, then the competition is only a good thing.

I have flown on the -300 and see them at CBR. They are quite noisy compared to other aircraft nowadays I find. Not that that is a problem but it makes them stand out in that regard.

I didn't read the part about the cockpit visit, maybe it has been deleted.. I agree with Roy and sometimes you can visit and others not, depends on a lot of factors.

Cheers. =