Remarks:Not as hardcore as she is! A lovely lady has her SLR at a unique angle as she captures AA's daily JFK arrival over Maho Beach in picturesque St. Maarten. I believe we were both kneeling in the sand for this particular arrival, but she definitely had the one up in the contest for the most interesting photo perspective. There was one other key difference, however: she was about to get extremely wet. I wasn't!
Remarks:The Hub That Was. In 2007, US Airways operated a large hub in Vegas, with over 200 daily flights. Two years later, the airline operates less than 40. I count 17 US aircraft at the A and B gates in this photo, a scene likely never to be repeated. Southwest's C concourse is busy on this hot afternoon, just as it would be today. Also note the (now defunct) ATA 757 parked near Southwest's gates, which was operating the short lived Vegas-Hawaii service at the time.
Remarks: DFW's Terminal D (opened in 2005) serves as the airport's primary international terminal. This modern steel and glass mega-structure sticks out like a sore thumb nestled right in between the airport's other four nearly identical, and much older, terminals!
Remarks: The small airport of Whittier, Alaska (in its entirety) can be seen in this overview at the end of the single gravel runway. In the foreground, the only airplane on the field, Cessna 175 N9305B, can be seen.
Remarks: ENGINE OUT! N9056R is returning to Anchorage in the late evening (10:43pm) with the no.1 engine shut down. The airport emergency equipment didn't even roll for this one, as inflight engine shutdowns on older round motor cargo haulers are fairly common these days!
Remarks: A Rust's Beaver taxis away from the remote Redoubt Bay Lodge in preparation for departure back to Lake Hood. Seaplane is the only way in or out of here, but the trip is very much worth it; there are more black bears, bald eagles, and other wildlife out here than you can imagine.
Remarks: The light load on today's Las Vegas-Oklahoma City flight gives us a chance to move around and explore the cabin of one of the last flying passenger 727s in North America. There are still visible reminders of this airframe's early days with Singapore Airlines, such as the oversized galleys (a reminder of the times when airlines provided real service). Surprisingly, this is the first cabin shot of a Champion Air 727 anywhere on the 'net!
Remarks: Shortly after departing Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, our vintage trijet is low, slow, and much like the wind, sweeping across the plains of Oklahoma. This is the first Champion 727 wing view on the internet, and I was happy to able to fly one of these relics before they're inevitably retired!
Remarks: A panoramic overview of McCarran Airport's Terminal 2 (Charter and International Terminal), seen from a departing Delta 757 at about 12:30pm. Currently at the gates: an Aviacsa 737-300, BMI A330-200, Westjet 737-800, and Zoom 757-200.
Remarks: Here's something you don't see every day - a 747 freighter parked at a passenger gate! This Anchorage-LAX flight diverted to Vegas due to fog, and is parked at gate D-14 with the jet bridge attached. Maybe the pilots wanted to sneak in a little gambling at the airport slots during the delay!
Remarks: How many airports in the U.S. still host flying DC-6s, DC-7s, 727-100s, DC-3s, C-46 Commandos, and even the world's only remaining flyable C-133 Cargomaster? The answer: one - Anchorage. All of these aircraft, and more, are visible from 1000ft above the field; there's even a PenAir SF340 rotating off runway 25L! [1600px]
Remarks: Shortly after takeoff from Phoenix, we are treated to a gorgeous scene as the setting sun dramatically highlights a number of monsoonal thunderstorms rumbling in the distance.
Remarks: Ramp 9 at UPS' Louisville hub is packed with planes on a beautiful Saturday morning, with every type in UPS' fleet represented; there are 6 MD-11s, 5 DC-8s, 4 A300s, 3 757-200s, and one each 727-100, 747, and 767-300.
Remarks: The dreary overcast which had engulfed Anchorage for most of the day has faded to just a few clouds clinging to the Chugach Mountains at the inversion layer as a beautifully painted 185 approaches Lake Hood west for landing in the midnight sunlight.
