Dallas Fort Worth to Kona
I’m taking a break from my weekly 757 post just because this is the one route I’ve been waiting to fly since the 777 rework was announced last year. Yesterday I had the perfect opportunity to fly it, and I did for @AmericanVirtual. I don’t think I have to go into my whole why I love Kona story, but basically because we went to the Big Island last summer and flew into Kona. One day we were sitting on the beach at Kua Bay, just outside of Kona watching small props and the occasional inter island 717 approach the airport at 5,000 feet. We were watching them and then I heard a really loud roar, looked up and saw a giant 777 flying toward the airport. I checked FlightAware and it was American 229, a 777-200ER from Dallas Fort Worth. The American 777 is the biggest passenger plane that goes to Kona, although the runway is 11,000 feet long. The 777 just beats out a Japan 767 from Tokyo, the United 757 from Denver and Delta 757s from Seattle and Los Angeles. American flies this route daily and it arrives around 2:30 in Kona. I flew this route yesterday and left Dallas at 7:30 Eastern, which was as the sun rose in Dallas. I flew North and West as the sun got higher, flew over San Francisco and then started my trek almost half way across the Pacific to Kona, where we fly the always beautiful visual approach to runway 17 in Kona. I touched down just after 3 PM Eastern, and 9:06 AM in Kona after a flight time of 7 hours and 26 minutes.
Summary
Dallas Fort Worth to Kona
KDFW-PHKO • DFW-KOA
American 229 Heavy (AAVA643)
Boeing 777-200ER
7:26
@JulianB @Ur_Friendly_Approach
An early morning rotation from Dallas in the Orange sun light The shining cockpit in the Texas sun as we climb out of Dallas The red deserts and mountains of Winslow, Arizona Over the bay city and Oakland as we approach the Pacific Coast Above San Mateo and the world famous Golden Gate Bridge Nothing to look at for almost 5 hours except the Blue Ocean and this beautiful beast The first island in our view is Maui as VNAV descends toward the Big Island Crossing the coast over the Waipio Valley (Amazing spot for sunrises) The gear go down over the Pacific in the shadow of the worlds tallest volcano and mountain, Mauna Kea. The peak is a scared spot for native Hawaiians A rough touchdown on runway 17 in Kona!
As always please let me know your thoughts and your favorite photo! And @Suhas I didn’t include my IF-Operations sheet because you don’t need to see my landing VS
I just have a poll instead of a quiz today, becauSe I love flying to Hawaii, but I’m not sure if people are tired of seeing Hawaiian flights, so are you tired of seeing me post Hawaii?
- Yes, it’s boring now
- No, More Hawaii is better
- I don’t really care, it’s whatever
0 voters
The answer to the last question was the Funeral industry which 26% got correct!
