Monthly Archives: April 2016

Aerial Firefighting Demonstration

C59F7974.jpgEvery other year the Aerial Firefighting conference comes to North America.  This year it was held at McLellan Field near Sacramento.  A tow day conference, I originally was going to attend on both days.  Unfortunately, I had a work conflict and had to miss the first day.  Fortunately I was able to be there on the second day which was the day that included a demonstration session on the airfield.  An internal exhibition of products and services was open for the entire time but the demonstration included a wide number of airframes – far too large to fit indoors.

C59F8003.jpgThere was a wide variety of types on display.  Helicopters are a big part of aerial firefighting and there was a number on display.  Airbus Helicopters had brought their H215 demonstrator along as the conclusion of their North American tour.  This version of the Super Puma is a derivative of the AS332 (and indeed this airframe had a data plate that listed it as an AS332) and is designed to be a simplified and cheaper version providing a more affordable utility type.  It was alongside a new Bell 412 and some refurbished airframes including a Bell 205 and a freshly refurbished UH-60 Black Hawk.

AU0E2137.jpgFixed wing types came in all shapes and sizes too.  Air Tractor AT802s were on display in both wheeled and amphibious configurations and these two aircraft put on a number of water drop demonstrations.  A Pilatus PC-12 provided a demonstration of management of a fire with down linked information.  Calfire had a Bronco and a Tracker on the ramp while a bunch of Broncos were busy in a flying program to get ready for the season.  MAFFS had a P-3 on the ramp while another took off early in the program.  A Bombardier CL415 shared ramp space with a Neptune conversion of the BAE Systems RJ85.

C59F7932.jpgHowever, the ramp was dominated by one aircraft.  Global Supertanker had brought their converted Boeing 747-400 to show off.  They have taken the system from the 747-100 airframe previously in use and added it to a more modern version of the airframe.  Fresh from the paint shop and shortly to receive approval of the STC, they were keen to show off the aircraft.  I am not sure how well it will fit in with the needs of firefighting agencies around the world but it certainly is an impressive beast.

C59F7979.jpgI didn’t get to take as many stills as I had planned.  The organizers asked me to shoot some video for the, which I did.  Hayman was working with me so he made sure we had the necessary shots for the GAR feature.  After a few passes, I was able to switch and get some stills anyway.  I also got roped in to taking the group photo for the conference attendees.  If I had known that was required, I would have made some arrangements to get a better vantage point.  Still, it was a good day out and the conference sessions I saw were similarly informative.  Next year it is in France.  Perhaps we shall have to go!

Hyperlapse Oakland Approach

I was a sitting by the window on the approach to Oakland and decided to play with the video functions on my phone.  I have shot video clips a number of times of the approach but it takes a lot longer than you realize and makes for a very dull video without editing aggressively.  Also, the turbulence when handholding a phone means the video is very jerky.  Instead I switched the phone to time lapse mode and pointed it out of the window.  The result is an accelerated version of the approach.  The bumps are smoothed out by the compression of time and the maneuvers become more aggressive.  I let the thing run until we are at the gate since that provides a more natural finish point.  We spent a lot of time facing the water as we descended which is a bit less interesting than I would like but you can see that we are getting closer quite quickly.

Nice Challenger 300

AU0E0437.jpgI may joke about what my favorite business jet would be to buy but, of course, I am not getting one any time soon. That doesn’t stop me considering which would be a good choice. The large cabin ultra long range jets are, without doubt, a nice idea but I would actually like something in the super midsize bracket. This would meet most of my needs (except for paying for it of course). One great looking jet and a good performer is the Bombardier Challenger 300 (and the newer 350). I would certainly be happy with one of these. This example is one that I saw at Hayward recently. Should I get one do you think?

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Marine Corps C-9

AU0E3039.jpgIf you had asked me whether the McDonnell Douglas C-9 Skytrain was still in service, I would have said no.  Used by the Navy and Marine Corps, the fleet had been wound down as C-40 Clippers were introduced.  I thought that they had all gone by now.  You can guess, then, that I was rather surprised when I saw one at SFO.  Two aircraft were on parallel approaches – one a Delta 757 and the other appearing to be a DC-9/MD-87/Boeing717.  I wasn’t paying a lot of attention but parallel approaches are always worth a shot so I was taking pictures when I realized that the aircraft was a C-9B Skytrain in Marine Corps markings.  The conditions were a bit heat hazy but I wasn’t going to miss this.

C59F9152.jpgI grabbed a bunch of shots as it landed and felt rather pleased with the turn of events.  I then stopped thinking about it.  A little later I moved around to the other end of SFO to get some head on departures of some of the widebodies that were due out.  You don’t get many narrowbodies taking off on the 28s unless the wind is particularly strong down those runways.  One or two will use it but not many.  I saw a narrowbody start its takeoff roll and almost ignored it AGAIN!

AU0E3064.jpgHowever, I did end up trying some shots and then realizing as it got closer that it was the C-9B again.  I guess it was just my lucky day that I had two opportunities to miss it and didn’t either time.  As it flew overhead, I was able to get some far better angles on it than were possible when on approach.  I also got to experience the noise levels that jets of this vintage came with.  I did a little research afterwards and apparently only two jets remain in use with the Marine Corps and all Navy and Air Force examples are retired.  This one is a rare one indeed, not least because it is based on the east coast.  No idea how long they have left but this was certainly a fortunate encounter.

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Southern Hemisphere Rest Stop

C59F1678.jpgThe scheduling of flights from Australia and New Zealand to the west coast of the US is not ideal for getting maximum utilization from your aircraft. There is a long time between the arrivals and the most desirable time for departing on the return journey. Consequently, there are a lot of jets that spend a good portion of the day sitting at LAX. Rather than waste valuable gate space, these jets are disembarked and then towed to remote stands to await the time when the evening flights will be readied.

C59F1699.jpgThere is a large parking area to the west end of LAX where these jets are kept. You will see Qantas, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand aircraft all parked up here in the middle of the day.  We were able to make a short detour from our normal operating area to the west end of the airport when ATC was able which meant we could get a good view of the jets parked up here. One of the Qantas jets was carrying special markings for the Wallabies rugby team.  Later in the day they will have started the return trek across the Pacific.

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San Luis Obispo

AU0E2405.jpgWe took a short trip to San Luis Obispo while staying in Paso Robles.  I didn’t know what to expect of the town other than that it is rated the happiest town in America (or some similar “statistic”).  We got a map of the town from the visitor center and the first stop off was the mission.  California is not short of mission buildings and I was expecting something similar to most.  I was pretty surprised to discover that it was a pretty large area.  The grounds were nicely landscaped and the buildings were extensive.  It was far bigger than I had expected.  I guess this was an important mission in its day.

AU0E2433.jpgA short distance away was the town museum.  Originally a library funded under the program Andrew Carnegie created for providing libraries across the country, the library moved many years ago to a larger facility.  After some debate, the building was re-purposed as a museum.  It was a pretty interesting little place.  My mum works with a local heritage organization in her town and I couldn’t help but imagine this place experiencing the same things she goes through on a regular basis.  We took a look around, made our donation and headed out.

AU0E2428.jpgThe town center itself is pretty vibrant.  We started out in an area that was mainly populated by individual businesses.  The whole thing felt very interesting and different.  I was impressed.  As we walked on, we came to the area that had all of the familiar chains.  You knew that they couldn’t be far away.  It did seem that the town had managed to avoid the homogeneity of many other towns though.  It also had a river running through the heart of the area.  Much effort had gone into designing nice pathways along the river and encouraging people to use it.  This is a big improvement on so many small rivers in towns which seem like glorified drainage ditches.

It seems like a nice place to visit and something that would have enough to encourage me to return.

Regional Parks Astar

AU0E0640.jpgWhile I was getting lucky catching the Huey at Hayward, this wasn’t the only helicopter I came across in action.  A short distance away from me, an Astar was running up on the ramp.  Before too long, it lifted, taxied across to the active runway and then departed to the southeast.  It turned out to belong to the Regional Parks service.  I had actually seen this airframe before when it had been at Livermore.  This time I was a lot closer to it and able to get a far better view.

AU0E0688.jpgIt is actually quite a nice paint job that they have applied.  Some quick research suggests that they have a couple of these Astars.  I wouldn’t mind finding out more about them and what they are used for.  It could make for a more detailed piece at some point.

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Bomb Shelters(?)

C59F7828.jpgWith the outbreak of the Second World War, Mare Island rapidly added some bomb shelters for the workers and residents.  These concrete bunkers were built quickly but have lasted a long time.  The doors to them have gradually decayed and they are now predominantly sealed with steel doors.  As bomb shelters go, they were of reasonable use.  A direct hit would have destroyed them and whoever was unlucky enough to be inside.  However, they should have provided protection to the occupants from shrapnel resulting from a nearby impact had it ever happened.  Now they just look a little incongruous amongst the trees but there would have been a time when they were considered a very welcome feature to those nearby.

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More Aerials from LAX

C59F0392.jpgI have put together a number of posts about specific aspects of our flight over LAX.  However, there were lots more aircraft that we shot on the flight.  It is just that they didn’t seem to warrant their own post.  Instead, here is a selection of additional shots taken on the flight.

Ospreys on the Docks

AU0E1643.jpgI might have been visiting Mare Island to see the museum and surrounding area but I also got to fit in some wildlife viewing while I was there.  I had stepped out of the back of the museum towards one of the dry docks.  One of the guys working in a business nearby starting chatting and saying how he wished he had a long lens with him to photograph the ospreys.  I could hear a lot of noise but he pointed out the source.  All of the high structures around the docks be they cranes or gantries seemed to have a nest on them.  Ospreys were all over the place.  They had access to the fishing in the water a short distance away so the metalwork was providing a great vantage point with plenty of privacy.

AU0E1670.jpgThe noise from the nest close to me was pretty loud.  A chick was obviously awaiting some food.  At first I thought the parents were going to come right in but then I realized that there were so many nests that the birds I could see flying were not necessarily anything to do with this chick.  I don’t know whether it had worked that out, though, given the noise it was making when any bird came close.  I have no idea how much the nest impact the operation of the machinery and whether there are any restrictions on what can be done when they are in place but they are clearly all over the place.