We hopped on a bus and began our way out onto the live runway...
From this vantage point we got some fantastic photos, with the planes landing right over Airport Drive and in our direct line of sight.
The only thing threatening our day was the rain - and when we had had our fill of this area and jumped back on the bus for a spin around all three of Sydney's runways - our bus stopped. A blue light was flashing on a pole above us: lightning within a 10km radius.
Luckily for us, the danger passed and we moved onto a part of the tour I wasn't particularly looking forward to, but I was dead wrong. The bus pulled up into the parking bay of Sydney Airport's Fire Service, and the fluro yellow beasts within were exposed.
One lucky member got his name called out, and was firing that strong stream of water from the firetruck. Despite the light but persistent rain chilling me to my bones, it was still fun to be hit by the truck's water 'spout' as it was moved from side to side to create a sort of hazy-water-spiral.
As the rain began to get heavier, though, we moved onto our final plane-watching spot, which was the closest to a live runway we had gotten all day!
I had a brilliant day - could not stop talking about it for the rest of the afternoon, and hardly wanted to give back my safety vest hehe!
If you fancy a day well-spent at the airport, the day is run by the YSSY forum, and was not limited only to this day. The Sydney Airport open day was run for the Friday and Saturday, with a trivia night and dinner also available to win! If you don't live in Sydney, never fear, for the open days run Australia-wide :) I'll definitely be putting my name in the draw again next year!
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